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Gov. Patrick Morrisey and state leaders, including House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, were in Clay County Thursday to celebrate the opening of a 4.3-mile expansion of the Elk River Trail, along with a new visitor’s center.
The visitor’s center was designed to resemble an historic train depot in recognition of the area’s railroad heritage near the former junction of the Buffalo Creek and Gauley Railroad and the Elk River Railroad.
“We know our history, but we also see a great future ahead of us,” Secretary of Commerce Matthew Herridge said. “More than 30 historic train depots were also reviewed for part of that design exploration, and that final design was chosen because of the colors, because of the roof line, and these outstanding features.”
The governor said the project is a perfect example of how West Virginia is turning its industrial heritage into outdoor recreation, tourism and public health.
“I want to salute all the people that did all that backbreaking work for many, many years,” Morrisey said. “Today we may not be seeing as much of that as we did in the past, but we have rail cars full of hikers and bikers and kayakers, and that’s part of the new wave for West Virginia.”
The trail expansion into Clendenin was made possible through a $1.5 million Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization grant used by the state to purchase land from Elk River Railroad Inc.