in Elkins, DGVR operates offices in Belington, Durbin and Cass in Barbour, Randolph and Pocahontas counties. With more than 120 miles of rail, 90,000 visitors and more than $ 4 million in annual revenues, the DGVR combines historic rail travel with West Virginia’ s rugged scenery to form a destination that appeals to broad audiences.
Situated within a single day’ s drive from Washington, D. C.; Pittsburgh, PA; Columbus, Ohio; and anywhere throughout West Virginia, the railroad brings in a wide range of tourists looking to experience railroads, scenery and an array of special events that tie into railroad and local culture.
One example is the Elkins-based Polar Express holiday train. Beginning in early November and lasting into mid-December, the Polar Express brings more than 15,000 visitors into Elkins to experience reenactments from the children’ s movie made famous by author Chris Van Allsburg. Families from a 250-mile radius of Elkins travel to West Virginia to experience Christmas cheer on a cozy passenger train.
Onboard actors and a visit from Santa personalize the experience for families, but more importantly, they create memories that keep them coming back each holiday season. The Polar Express results in overnight lodging in the Elkins and I-79 region, as well as family package options with area restaurants and shops. The holiday trains contribute to an annual economic impact of more than $ 29.5 million, according to a study conducted by DGVR in 2010.
In 2015, railroad operations expanded again when DGVR began operating the Cass Scenic Railroad. Since then, DGVR has transformed day trips to Cass into overnight accommodations where visitors can board a train in Cass or Elkins and spend the night in the opposite destination. As opposed to a single-day trip, this creates more revenue for the region in that the overnight package options provide lodging, theatre and other on-site activities. Instead of the trains being the destination, they serve as the transportation to the destination.
The rail tourism industry is constantly changing because the staff at DGVR is always looking for new ways to diversify and build customer value. They are currently rebuilding a rail line that will connect Cass and Durbin, and that new corridor, about 11 miles in length, will offer outdoor recreation opportunities and more overnight options. With customer choices and different activities at each location, the railroad creates a valuable destination that keeps visitors returning year after year.
Whether it’ s a holiday-themed train in Elkins, an overnight camping trip on a caboose or a visit with the world’ s largest collection of geared Shay steam locomotives, DGVR appeals to a wide range of audiences that appreciate local culture and West Virginia.
Hatfield McCoy Trail System
BY JEFFREY LUSK. When the Hatfield McCoy Trail System opened on Columbus Day in 2000, very few people realized how the trails would change the economy and future of Southern West Virginia. Today, in celebration of the trail system’ s success, Columbus Day weekend is celebrated in the town of Gilbert in Mingo County with its annual Hatfield-McCoy National Trail Fest. The event plays host to more than 2,000 ATV riders who converge on the town for a near weeklong event of trail riding, outdoor music and a lot of mudslinging fun.
In 2000, the trail system opened with just over 300 miles of trails in two counties. On that opening day, Governor Cecil Underwood rode an ATV through the yellow ribbon at
Photo by Hatfield McCoy Trail System.
the beginning of the trails, followed by a dozen other riders. Was it possible that all the years of planning and hard work would pay off with a new tourism economy for Southern West Virginia? That small processional, led by the governor, was a signal to the world that Southern West Virginia was open for visitors— specifically, the kind who ride ATVs— but would they actually come? Almost 17 years later, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, on most weekends, more of them want to come than there are beds, cabins, campsites and hotel rooms for.
The challenges the trail system faces today are far different than the initial challenges faced by this fledgling tourism destination. The first challenge was that the trail system had opened in very rural areas. The towns of Man and Matewan and the cities of Logan and Williamson were anchors for the new trails, and these locations had almost no lodging, very few restaurants and, outside of trail riding, no other developed tourism activities.
Despite these challenges, the growth of the trails exceeded everyone’ s expectations. The caravans of trucks and SUVs towing trailers full of ATVs were enough to quiet even the greatest skeptic. The first full year of operations saw almost 4,000 riders visit the trail system, and in 2016, that number grew to 39,352.
The trail system now reaches out over five Southern West Virginia counties with more than 600 miles of trails, connecting 11 incorporated cities and towns. The latest economic impact study shows
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