& We Ain't Ready
Just above
is the ERTS hiking trail in Dundon.The dusting of snow added
some niceness to Winter fun. To get this far, it has
taken three full years of track removal, new substrata and top
coat, and rebuilding culverts / bridges. It has been an epic
journey.
As of
right now, few if any think of ERTS as a place to cross
country ski. Truth is, since construction brought us this new
travel venue, County Clay has had no major snow storms.
Even with heavy equipment working and the old railroad landscape changing right before our eyes, few believe having a state park in our midst will make any economic difference. We are a land of naysayers and dumbarsses.
As of Feb 2023, our Land of Little has done zero in prep for the coming tourists. Other than trying to turn the only municipality into a speed trap complete with their own version of Barney, the Town of Clay has done nothing in prep of our changing economy. Nothing.
County leadership is in the same sinking boat.
With gazillions of COVID dollars ready to be used to create a tourism mecca, the County Commission ain't done squat during these "build out" years. In 2023, for sure, the trail is up and running, the old BC&G RR tracks have been upgraded, there will be some kind of train ride, kayaking will grow more, Lake Sampson will be at capacity once again, and thanks to County Commission leadership, there are no new signs, no new restaurants, no new housing / rental opportunities, and the countryside is littered with trash and falling down buildings.
Our only hope is for thinkers outside the county to come in and start the build out. Knowing the potential of a tourism based economy, those "foreigners" know there's money to be made in Clayberry.
We're seeing some of that with the influence of the Elk River Trail Foundation based out of Clendenin. Those folks see the future and are working (volunteering) to grow the stuff we need to make travelers feel at home.
In Nov of last year, the Foundation tried to take control of the one horse Dundon Campground and turn it into something able to handle the influx of campers, RVers, and people wanting a place to sit down and enjoy our mountains. The owners of the campground, Central Appalachia Empowerment Zone (CAEZ) were so dismally shallow in thought, they "un-voted" efforts to be ready for the tourists coming our way in 2023. That Dec 2022 decision by the pee poor CAEZ leadership really set us back.
In a nutshell, based on lack of oversight of local leaders, we don't deserve that bright future. Come on foreigners, build it, make real money, and leave the locals in the dust.
Even with heavy equipment working and the old railroad landscape changing right before our eyes, few believe having a state park in our midst will make any economic difference. We are a land of naysayers and dumbarsses.
As of Feb 2023, our Land of Little has done zero in prep for the coming tourists. Other than trying to turn the only municipality into a speed trap complete with their own version of Barney, the Town of Clay has done nothing in prep of our changing economy. Nothing.
County leadership is in the same sinking boat.
With gazillions of COVID dollars ready to be used to create a tourism mecca, the County Commission ain't done squat during these "build out" years. In 2023, for sure, the trail is up and running, the old BC&G RR tracks have been upgraded, there will be some kind of train ride, kayaking will grow more, Lake Sampson will be at capacity once again, and thanks to County Commission leadership, there are no new signs, no new restaurants, no new housing / rental opportunities, and the countryside is littered with trash and falling down buildings.
Our only hope is for thinkers outside the county to come in and start the build out. Knowing the potential of a tourism based economy, those "foreigners" know there's money to be made in Clayberry.
We're seeing some of that with the influence of the Elk River Trail Foundation based out of Clendenin. Those folks see the future and are working (volunteering) to grow the stuff we need to make travelers feel at home.
In Nov of last year, the Foundation tried to take control of the one horse Dundon Campground and turn it into something able to handle the influx of campers, RVers, and people wanting a place to sit down and enjoy our mountains. The owners of the campground, Central Appalachia Empowerment Zone (CAEZ) were so dismally shallow in thought, they "un-voted" efforts to be ready for the tourists coming our way in 2023. That Dec 2022 decision by the pee poor CAEZ leadership really set us back.
In a nutshell, based on lack of oversight of local leaders, we don't deserve that bright future. Come on foreigners, build it, make real money, and leave the locals in the dust.
West Virginia
leadership has been talking about taking this old company
store foundation (Dundon) and using it for a new ERTS Welcome
Center. That's a great idea and one that might actually take
place in 2023. It's location is perfect for those on the trail
and on the rails.
Instead of incorporating the stick in the mud Town of Clay into future plans, maybe the best idea is to forgot the Town and do the growth on the ERTS State Park property. Heck, anyplace other than downtown Clay, might be the best approach.
Instead of incorporating the stick in the mud Town of Clay into future plans, maybe the best idea is to forgot the Town and do the growth on the ERTS State Park property. Heck, anyplace other than downtown Clay, might be the best approach.
Right now,
there's actually two parts to the ERTS State Park. One is the
hiking, biking, horse bike riding trail from Hartland to
Gassaway. That is open for the world to enjoy year around.
Part 2 is the old BC&G RR tracks and a scenic train, rail bus, ride. Those old tracks have been upgraded with the final touches completed in Jan 2023. Sometime in May of this year, bids will be opened for a contractor to come in and set up some style of tourism attraction via the rails. Most likely, sometime this Fall, the first rides will kick off.
But, having the rails ready ain't all it's going to take. For any engine, steam or diesel, or rail bus, it takes other infrastructure like fuel tanks, maintenance yards, side rails, back up rolling stock, restrooms, and training workers in hospitality ethics.
The picture just above is the recently completed Cressmont bridge complete with hand rails. Unfortunately, for those wanting to hike or bike along the 14 miles of rails, there really ain't no hiking trail. Walking between the rails is no where good for foot travelers and that's not even mentioning safety concerns.
This is an example of the newly rebuild BC&G RR spur line.
Notice, on either side of the track, there's little room for hikers or bikers.
Even where there's a few feet of gravel thrown for foot traffic, it's too coarse for much use via a bike.
If you try riding your bike, better have plenty of Poly Grip available.
Already in 2023, we have seen
several equestrian trips on the main line. Ditto for groups of
bikers having a big time on the banks of the Elk River.
For those wanting to try out the BC&G RR spur line, don't. Someday there might be a hiking trail there but for now, forget it.
See you on the ERTS, remotely beautiful.
AW
Part 2 is the old BC&G RR tracks and a scenic train, rail bus, ride. Those old tracks have been upgraded with the final touches completed in Jan 2023. Sometime in May of this year, bids will be opened for a contractor to come in and set up some style of tourism attraction via the rails. Most likely, sometime this Fall, the first rides will kick off.
But, having the rails ready ain't all it's going to take. For any engine, steam or diesel, or rail bus, it takes other infrastructure like fuel tanks, maintenance yards, side rails, back up rolling stock, restrooms, and training workers in hospitality ethics.
The picture just above is the recently completed Cressmont bridge complete with hand rails. Unfortunately, for those wanting to hike or bike along the 14 miles of rails, there really ain't no hiking trail. Walking between the rails is no where good for foot travelers and that's not even mentioning safety concerns.
This is an example of the newly rebuild BC&G RR spur line.
Notice, on either side of the track, there's little room for hikers or bikers.
Even where there's a few feet of gravel thrown for foot traffic, it's too coarse for much use via a bike.
If you try riding your bike, better have plenty of Poly Grip available.
For those wanting to try out the BC&G RR spur line, don't. Someday there might be a hiking trail there but for now, forget it.
See you on the ERTS, remotely beautiful.
AW