Meadow River Rail Path to enhance tourism, and supply college students with studying alternative

GREENBRIER COUNTY, W. VA. (WVVA) – The Meadow River Rail Trail is a hiking and biking trail that stretches from the Meadow River Valley in Rainelle to Nicholas County.

It is a collaboration between executives in Greenbrier and Fayette Counties.

Greenbrier County’s commissioner Tammy Tincher said there is hope that more tourists will come to the new river gorge region.

“Being a national park is just another perk for the Meadow River Trail, Meadow River Valley, and both Greenbrier and Fayette Counties to bring non-local people to this area for our outdoor benefits use “said Tincher.

The trail project will also be used as a teachable moment for engineering students at Greenbrier West High School.

Angela Leef, the engineering teacher at Greenbrier West High School, said this project has the opportunity to use skills learned in the classroom, such as laser engraving, to create the signage for the trail.

“We’re really excited to help our community here, especially because we’re kind of a socio-economically weak area and we really want to build things up so our children have a place to return to,” said Leef.

She said the project is also preparing students for their future.

“We can teach them these skills along with their core classes, whether they want to go to college or even a technical school,” said Leef. “These kids get a lot of skills that make them smoother, not just studying books, everything.”

The Rail Trail project has been in the works for almost a decade.

Tincher said a natural disaster five years ago was responsible for the delays in construction.

“The work was completed before 2016, and in June 2016, when the floods hit, the trail was severely damaged in both Greenbrier and Fayette Counties,” Tincher said.

The County Commissioners are confident that this project will be completed within the next two years.

The district is currently completing the financing.