Bluefield Daily Telegraph
— Two historic towns in our region whose history was built upon coal are now preparing to embrace a new future.
Town officials in Bramwell and Pocahontas have been working tirelessly in recent weeks to prepare for the pending arrival of the Hatfield-McCoy Trails, and the new Spearhead Trails. Neighboring communities such as Boissevain and Abbs Valley also are preparing to open their doors to the off-road visitors.
After years of waiting, the new Mercer County segment of the Hatfield-McCoy Trails will be constructed this year, and a trailhead site is planned near Bramwell. That means visitors from far and away will soon be looking for places to stop and sleep, eat or seek other forms of entertainment when they aren’t riding the trails.
Mapping on the trail system in Mercer County is already underway. That’s why town officials in Bramwell are expediting their efforts to prepare for the trail system, and the off-road visitors who could soon inundate the historic Home of the Millionaires.
According to Bramwell Mayor Louise Stoker, work is underway on a new enterprise called the Bramwell ATV Resort. Located near the intersection of Route 52 and Route 120, the proposed lodgings would have two units with kitchenettes and other amenities, Stoker said. The town also is working on a proposed ATV campground project.
Stoker said plans also are being made to welcome ATV travelers into Bramwell itself. “Signs have been made, but haven’t been put up yet,” Stoker said last week. “They will direct riders on streets where they may or may not travel and on which streets they may park. There will also be a parking area for them.”
In neighboring Pocahontas, Va., an area where the Hatfield-McCoy Trail could connect with the new Spearhead Trail, the town is making preparations to accommodate an influx of off-road visitors as part of an ongoing downtown revitalization plan.
A restaurant, an antique store and a bed and breakfast are in the first phase of the revitalization plan, according to town officials. The second phase of the project will focus more on the arts and culture; revitalizing the town’s Opera House, building campgrounds, and creating an amphitheater are all parts of the downtown revitalization plan.
We applaud town officials in Bramwell and Pocahontas for their forward thinking. The off-road visitors are their way to Mercer County — and they will be here sooner than later. That’s why it is critical for officials to take steps now to ensure that their municipalities are ready to welcome and serve the ATV riders. After all, these visitors will be spending money on gas, food, lodging, entertainment and other amenities when they are in town.
We believe both Bramwell and Pocahontas are well on their way to meeting this challenge.
