Update on newest Mercer Co system

January 9, 2012

Mercer’s Hatfield-McCoy Trails segment soon to be complete
By CHARLES OWENS
Bluefield Daily Telegraph The Bluefield Daily Telegraph Mon Jan 09, 2012, 05:00 AM EST

BRAMWELL
— Construction crews with the Hatfield-McCoy Trails are hoping to have a
new 100-mile segment of the trail system in Mercer County finished
within about 30 to 45 days.

In the meantime, trail officials are
working with the state Division of Highways on design plans and entrance
permits to develop an access road from U.S. Route 52 in Bramwell to the
site of a new trailhead facility and parking lot, according to
Hatfield-McCoy Authority Executive Director Jeff Lusk.

“We are
designing that road now and getting the entrance permits from Route 52
from the highway department,” Lusk said. “It will be about a
quarter-mile access road taking us from Route 52 to the level land on
top (of the mountain). The only thing we don’t have built is our road
into Matoaka. We are working with Matoaka on how to get into the town.”

Lusk
said construction on the trailhead facility planned near Bramwell won’t
begin until after timbering operations on the mountain are finished.

“They
wanted to remove some timber off the property before we use it,” Lusk
said. “So we are going to go ahead and let them do the timber
operations. We are almost done with the (trail) construction. We will be
able to finish the system within 30 to 45 days. So we are hoping for an early to mid-summer opening of the trails. The actual trailhead structure with the restrooms and all will open later in the fall.”

Lusk
said the new Pocahontas Trail system in Mercer County will connect with
the existing Indian Ridge trail system in McDowell County and the
existing Pinnacle Creek system in Wyoming County.

“It is going to
be a good year for us,” Lusk said. “I think Mercer County is going to
be one of our most successful systems, and it is going to be the first
system people reach from the south on I-77.”

Lusk said trail permit purchases grew by 2 percent in 2011.

“We
were one of the few tourist attractions in the state last year that saw
some growth,” Lusk said. “Really the biggest problem we have with
growth is our capacity. We just don’t have enough beds to accommodate
the number of riders that want to come here. Until we see more growth
and lodging facilities, our growth is going to be somewhat tempered. We
are hoping that Mercer County will step up and put in some of those
facilities that will be absolutely necessary. You can’t have that
overnight tourist attraction if you don’t have the lodging component.”

Lusk
said existing hotels and motels along Exit 1 and 9 in Princeton and
Bluefield will help. However, he said ATV riders prefer to stay closer
to the actual trails. That’s why the authority is hoping that additional
ATV resorts, bed and breakfast facilities and hotels and motels can be
developed closer to Bramwell and Matoaka before the trail system opens
to riders later this year.

CAN'T WAIT TO HIT THE NEW TRAILS...........

I can't wait....

As we all know, the official trail opening is Memorial Day Weekend! We are eargerly awaiting the opening!! Hope to see y'all out on the trails!!

We will be on the trails that weekend & we will sure be over to scout out the new trails.

where is the bramwell entrance for parking

martywalker wrote:

where is the bramwell entrance for parking

I don't know but I was told that Bramwell is already stopping riders from driving thru town and making everyone park in the grassy area on the left and walk from there to eat etc.

Bobby D wrote:

martywalker wrote:

where is the bramwell entrance for parking

I don't know but I was told that Bramwell is already stopping riders from driving thru town and making everyone park in the grassy area on the left and walk from there to eat etc.

Yep Bramwell has put a ATV route that runs in behind the post office and all to keep riders from going down the main drag foir some reason. And the speed limit is 10mph on that route. The cops hung out right there at the old train station all Memorial weekend.

Yea Bobby they want everybody to take the back street on the left before you get to Main St and park behind the Cafe and Soda Shop! No parking or riding on Main St at all.

We rode to Bramwell on Saturday June 16th. Drove past the train station and right down main street. We parked on main street along with about 20 other SXS, ATV's etc. Cop was driving and walking around, very friendly didn't say anything to anyone. They do have some ATV route signs up and that keep you out of the residential areas. We had some good ice cream at the Soda shop. Several people asked us about trails and how we liked them. They seemed very appreciative that we were visiting. My wife even got a golf cart tour of some of the homes from a friendly Bramwell resident. I think she said she was the mayor of the town. It looks to me like they have a ATV loop route so that you can come in or go on either main street or the road behind the shop.

I have got to get over there and try those trails out ..... From what I hear must b some good riding

Upontheridge yea that mayor Lou a little ole gray haired lady that told us about parking in back and let us park in her yard across from her house. It sound like they are relaxing the rule about main street and that great. Everybody we met were the same way as for being friendly and all. Had a great time in the soda shope too, good food. Loved the ruben and ice cream.

The soda shop has some good food! Awesome little historic town!