Published: November 12, 2009 10:23 pm      

Trail could attract thousands

TAZEWELL, Va. — A proposed seven-county trail system could attract as many as 200,000 visitors to Southwest Virginia and add an additional $30 million in new revenue to the local economy, according to a study released Thursday.

The proposed Spearhead Trail system also could create 300 to 500 new jobs for the region within the next 10 years, the report released by the Southwest Regional Recreational Authority concluded. The findings of the five-month study were presented at a conference in Norton. The trail system is proposed for ATV riders, bikes, hikers, canoeists, horseback riders, naturalists and others.

The Hatfield-McCoy Trail in neighboring West Virginia is the inspiration for the Spearhead Trail, Tazewell County Administrator Jim Spencer said.

“There is no need in recreating the wheel,” Spencer said. “I think there are many things we can learn from the West Virginia trail, and use them as a model. So we are excited about the potential of these trails.”

Jim Campbell Jr., who was sworn in Thursday as the new Northern District Board of Supervisor member, said the Pocahontas community has embraced the idea of the Spearhead Trail.

“The best thing about it is the citizens have embraced this concept,” Campbell said. “Many of the trails are already in place.”

Campbell said the trail system could be just the economic boost the Pocahontas area needs.

“I’m very excited about it,” Campbell said. “I look forward to working with the residents of Pocahontas on it, and other county officials and board members.”

With the Pocahontas community located near the state-line border of West Virginia, Spencer said Tazewell County is an ideal strategic location for the Spearhead Trail system.

“Our proposals are due Monday for a consultant to help us,” Spencer said. “As soon as we have a consultant on board, we are ready to start moving.”

The Spearhead Trails study was presented by the We Make Things Happen Corporation. A large crowd of local and state officials attended Thursday’s conference.

The Southwest Regional Recreation Authority was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 2009 for the purpose and goal of overseeing the development and management of the trail system within the counties of Tazewell, Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Wise and the city of Norton.

The project was initially facilitated by the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s Partnership Alliance Marketing division, and has received funding from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Revitalization Commission and the Motorcycle Industry Council.

– Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com