Pocahontas system in Mercer County, WV

This is the article rockrolls was talking about in Dates and Announcements


http://www.wvgazettemail.com/Outdoors/201109233307


Linked Hatfield-McCoy trail systems make 300-mile rides possible

Kenny Kemp
Riders negotiate a hairpin turn on the Indian Ridge section of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail. Connector trails link the Indian Ridge trail system in McDowell County, shown here, with the soon-to-open Pocahontas system in Mercer County and the Pinnacle Creek system in Wyoming County.


A nine-mile trail connecting the Hatfield-McCoy Trails' Indian Ridge trail system in McDowell County to the nearly complete Pocahontas system in Mercer County will make trail rides of nearly 300 miles possible.
By Rick Steelhammer
The Charleston Gazette



CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A nine-mile trail connecting the Hatfield-McCoy Trails' Indian Ridge trail system in McDowell County to the nearly complete Pocahontas system in Mercer County will make trail rides of nearly 300 miles possible.

Meanwhile, a new trail system of nearly 100 miles is taking shape in Lincoln County, across Corridor G from the Hatfield-McCoy's existing Little Coal River trail system.

Since the 63-mile Indian Ridge system is already connected to the 80-mile Pinnacle Creek system in Wyoming County, riders would be able to travel the Hatfield-McCoy from Bramwell, gateway to the 100-mile Pocahontas system, to Pineville on the Pinnacle Creek system.

While work on the new Pocahontas trail system should be complete within 60 days, according to Jeff Lusk, director of the Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority, a new trailhead facility at Bramwell is not likely to be complete until spring.

"We work around coal, timber and natural gas extraction and other new developments, which are fairly active around Bramwell, and at the moment, we can't figure exactly where to put the new trailhead," Lusk said. "We want to have it in the Bramwell area, and we hope to have a site down there nailed down by the end of this year. Since it takes us about 90 days to construct a trailhead facility, it could be ready in April or May, depending on how the weather treats us."

Meanwhile, Lusk said, a soft opening for the new Pocahontas system may be possible by the end of this year, with riders connecting to the Mercer County trail from Indian Ridge, using the trailhead facility in Ashland. "We need to figure out a way to get riders into Bramwell, so they can get gas," Lusk said. "Otherwise, it's too far to go without refueling."

Lusk said he has high hopes for the new Pocahontas trail system.

"We believe it will be hugely successful," he said. "Its riders will have access to all that lodging along the Princeton and Bluefield exits of Interstate 77. Right now, we don't have enough beds in the project area to accommodate the visitors we we're getting, and the situation is only getting worse. So far, 44 entrepreneurs along the trails have added 1,100 beds, but we could still use another 300 to 400."

Nearly 100 more miles will be added to the Hatfield-McCoy's existing 600-mile system trail mileage by late summer or early fall of next year, Lusk said, when a new Ivy Branch trail system opens in Lincoln County.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A nine-mile trail connecting the Hatfield-McCoy Trails' Indian Ridge trail system in McDowell County to the nearly complete Pocahontas system in Mercer County will make trail rides of nearly 300 miles possible.
Meanwhile, a new trail system of nearly 100 miles is taking shape in Lincoln County, across Corridor G from the Hatfield-McCoy's existing Little Coal River trail system.

Since the 63-mile Indian Ridge system is already connected to the 80-mile Pinnacle Creek system in Wyoming County, riders would be able to travel the Hatfield-McCoy from Bramwell, gateway to the 100-mile Pocahontas system, to Pineville on the Pinnacle Creek system.

While work on the new Pocahontas trail system should be complete within 60 days, according to Jeff Lusk, director of the Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority, a new trailhead facility at Bramwell is not likely to be complete until spring.

"We work around coal, timber and natural gas extraction and other new developments, which are fairly active around Bramwell, and at the moment, we can't figure exactly where to put the new trailhead," Lusk said. "We want to have it in the Bramwell area, and we hope to have a site down there nailed down by the end of this year. Since it takes us about 90 days to construct a trailhead facility, it could be ready in April or May, depending on how the weather treats us."

Meanwhile, Lusk said, a soft opening for the new Pocahontas system may be possible by the end of this year, with riders connecting to the Mercer County trail from Indian Ridge, using the trailhead facility in Ashland. "We need to figure out a way to get riders into Bramwell, so they can get gas," Lusk said. "Otherwise, it's too far to go without refueling."

Lusk said he has high hopes for the new Pocahontas trail system.

"We believe it will be hugely successful," he said. "Its riders will have access to all that lodging along the Princeton and Bluefield exits of Interstate 77. Right now, we don't have enough beds in the project area to accommodate the visitors we we're getting, and the situation is only getting worse. So far, 44 entrepreneurs along the trails have added 1,100 beds, but we could still use another 300 to 400."

Nearly 100 more miles will be added to the Hatfield-McCoy's existing 600-mile system trail mileage by late summer or early fall of next year, Lusk said, when a new Ivy Branch trail system opens in Lincoln County.

"It's right across Corridor G from the Little Coal River trail system," he said. "The project's funded and we've already mapped in all of the trails. After the environmental clearances are complete, hopefully before the end of the year, we'll start construction in April and have it ready to open by late summer or early fall."

Identifying the best location for a trailhead center to serve the new trail network will be a challenge, Lusk said.

"It's a very rural area with no direct access to Corridor G," he said. "We need a place with a ton of developable acreage" for trail user services.

Long-range plans call for developing a trail to link the Little Coal River and Ivy Branch trails -- the northernmost Hatfield-McCoy trail systems. Connecting trails will also be built to connect the Pocahontas, Indian Ridge and Pinnacle Creek systems to the Buffalo Mountain system in Mingo County and the Bear Wallow and Rock House systems in Logan County.

Eventually, the Hatfield-McCoy network will include more than 1,000 trail miles.

"Nobody in the east is coming close to offering what we have," said Lusk. "For this type of activity, we are the East's Disney World."

About 2,000 trail riders are expected to converge on the town of Gilbert, population 440, Oct. 6-10 to take part in the 11th annual Hatfield-McCoy National TrailFest celebration, which includes mud-pit and drag racing, demonstration rides from factory dealers, food, music, a parade and trail riding.

"It's the largest event we have," Lusk said. "All our lodging down here will be filled, so people will be staying as far away as Charleston to take part in TrailFest."

Reach Rick Steelhammer at rsteelham...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5169.

January 9, 2012

Mercer’s Hatfield-McCoy Trails segment soon to be complete
By CHARLES OWENS
Bluefield Daily Telegraph


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.

As a small side note..Kenny Kemp went thru the same photography school that I did. He used to be the offical photographer for the governors office before he went to work for the Gazette

More Trails the better....

May 2, 2012

Readying for riders
GREG JORDAN

Bluefield Daily Telegraph The Bluefield Daily Telegraph Wed May 02, 2012, 05:00 AM EDT

BRAMWELL — Fresh opportunities for entrepreneurs start this Memorial Day weekend when a new branch of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail brings visiting ATV riders into Mercer County.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony May 25 will welcome new visitors to the center that will be providing them with information and other services needed for enjoying the new local attraction, said Mayor Louise Stoker of Bramwell

“The Hatfield-McCoy Trailhead will have a soft opening that day,” said Stoker said. “The ribbon cutting for the trailhead will be at the old Bluestone School on Route 120 near the exit off Route 52.”

The former school building was recently chosen for the trailhead center, said Jeffrey Lusk, executive director of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail Authority. Its soft opening will include a parking lot.

“We think that reusing an old building like that is the greenest thing we can do,” Lusk said. “It’s a very good use for that structure. Todd Boggess of E.T. Boggess Architects is doing an internal design for us.”

One asset communities along and near the new trail need is lodging for ATV riders, Lusk said.

“We are going to be in desperate need for beds May 25 and then on out,” he said. “The demand is going to outstrip supply.”

The most successful investments along other branches of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail have been cabins and campgrounds, Lusk added.

Local entrepreneurs are already moving to meet the demand for lodging that ATV riders will bring to Bramwell and other parts of Mercer County, Stoker said. One will have its opening ceremony on the same day as the trailhead center.

“We’re having more than one ribbon cutting,” she said. “The other will be the new ATV resort that will be opening that weekend. It is just outside of Bramwell toward Pocahontas. It’s a piece of property that is being developed as the Pocahontas ATV Resort.”

Another source of lodging, the Bramwell ATV Resort near Route 52 is adding another building, Stoker said. Its ribbon cutting is scheduled to take place during the Memorial Day weekend. Other accommodations have been opened or are being developed in Bluewell, in downtown Bramwell and off Lorton Lick Road.

Good Stuff coming online ...

I really enjoyed the trails down there, great addition for HMT.

I guess we'll have to plan a trip.
Some of you have already ridden these trails, right?

Why yes we have. I think the contest is seeing whom's GPS tracks most closely match the official map, when released. There are some nice trails in there.

giddyupgirl wrote:

I guess we'll have to plan a trip.
Some of you have already ridden these trails, right?

Someone told me that I "will" be in the area on that weekend.

Now just got to make sure the 2-up is in the bed of the truck when I leave home.

What a coincidence Sportsman. I know a couple or 6 other folks that will be in that area during that timeframe. Go figure...

May 10, 2012

ATV’s gain right-of-way access for new branch
By GREG JORDAN
Bluefield Daily Telegraph The Bluefield Daily Telegraph Thu May 10, 2012, 04:58 AM EDT

PRINCETON — Places where ATV enthusiasts can reach the newest riding opportunity in Mercer County were approved Wednesday by the Mercer County Commission.

Chief John Hall Jr., northern field office ranger from the Hatfield-McCoy Trail, spoke to the commission about right-of-way access for the Pocahontas Trail, the new ATV branch in Mercer County. He spread maps out so the commissioners could see the access routes.

The trail authority was asking the county commission to approve ATV use from the former Bluestone School near Bramwell, located along Route 120, to the trail entrance approximately a mile from the town. Mayor Louise Stoker said later that ATV riders would leave the Bluestone School, go past the Pop Shop convenience store, and go under the bridge that holds a section of U.S. Route 52.

Hall pointed out a second access way, a gravel road at Windmill Gap of Route 52, which would connect the new Pocahontas Trail with the Indian Ridge Trail in McDowell County. In turn, the Indian Ridge connects with the Pineville Trail in Wyoming County, he said.

“Everything will connect with everything else. Isn’t that amazing?” Stoker said.

On Route 120, ATVs would travel along the sides of the road whenever possible, Hall said.

The commissioners vote unanimously to allow ATVs to ride on the designated routes. Commissioners Jay Mills and Mike Vinciguerra were present. County Commission President Joe Coburn was absent.

The new Pocahontas Trail, the new Mercer County branch of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail, is scheduled for a soft opening May 25 during the Memorial Day weekend.

Stoker said Bramwell already has an ATV ordinance in place that will allow riders to reach downtown Bramwell.

Plans call for extending access to the trail at the town of Matoaka. Communities along the trail are hoping for an economic boost from the influx of ATV enthusiasts.

Jeff Lusk, executive director of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail Authority, said that many of the trail’s visitors will be from out of state, and that Mercer County needs more lodging in order to enjoy the maximum economic benefit.

May 10, 2012

‘Fisher’s ATV World’ come to Bramwell to welcome Hatfield-McCoy Trailhead
By BILL ARCHER
Bluefield Daily Telegraph The Bluefield Daily Telegraph Thu May 10, 2012, 04:57 AM EDT

BRAMWELL — The cosmic tumblers of the universe appear to be falling into place as Bramwell, the home of the millionaire coal barons will soon be featured on the popular Outdoor Channel show, “Fisher’s ATV World.”

The Fishers, Brian and Melissa, arrived in Bramwell Wednesday afternoon, and will be the first two riders to sample Bramwell’s connection to the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System. While it has long been known as the architectural crown jewel of the Pocahontas coalfields, Bramwell is about to be exposed to a nationwide audience of ATV enthusiasts through the popular show.

“I didn’t expect this,” Melissa Fisher said as she sat on the porch of the Hewitt mansion, now owned by Harold and Rhonda Brown. “We were on the highway, and when we got off, we dropped into a scene that was right out of Mayberry. The houses are so beautiful, the people are so friendly and the community is just so,” she said and paused. “Peaceful.”

About 10 years ago, the Fishers parlayed their love of all-terrain-vehicle riding into a television show that allows them to travel to some of the best ATV-riding communities in the U.S., and to experience the unique qualities that make each community special.

“When we were driving down here, we stopped at a place on I-77, and some guy saw our trailer, came up to us and said: ‘Hey, I’ve seen you guys on TV,’” Brian Fisher said. “Every time I come to West Virginia, I feel like I’m at home. The people are nice and the state is ATV-friendly.”

Jeff Lusk, executive director of the Hatfield & McCoy Trail System said that he started inviting Brian Fisher to each new trail head opening about 6 years ago, and in the interim, first Brian, and later Brian and Melissa together, started making frequent visits to the system. “They’ve done 12-14 shows from this trail system in the past six years,” Lusk said.

The Fishers hail from Dover, Pa., between Harrisburg and York, Pa. They met after high school, dated for four years, and have been married for 20 years. Brian, 43, characterizes himself as a dreamer, and while Melissa, 42, said that she told him to take the cameras back when he brought them into their ATV dealership, “but he didn’t do it,” she said. Brian Fisher worked for a year to get their first sponsor — Yamaha — and the show has grown in popularity since then.

“Once we put it on television, everyone will see it,” Brian Fisher said of Bramwell.

The Fishers are staying in the Hewitt carriage house during their Bramwell visit. As he showed them around the place, Harold Brown explained that he and his wife visited Bramwell, “and we thought it was a magical place,” he said. They bought the Hewitt house in 2009, and are in the process of returning it to its 1914 splendor. “On Saturdays and Sundays, there are always people walking along the street just looking at the house,” Brown said.

The Hatfield-McCoy Trail System has nearly 300 miles of trails, and with the opening of the Bramwell trail head later this month, ATV riders can travel through the mountains of southern West Virginia from Bramwell to Twin Falls State Park, Lusk said as he took the Fishers on a walking tour of the town. “Virginia is now developing a trail system that will connect with the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System in Bramwell,” he said.

Bramwell Mayor Louise Stoker gave the visitors a heaping helping of hospitality as well as a running narrative of Bramwell’s history. The Fishers seemed captivated as Stoker told them about the Bank of Bramwell, and provided the history of each home. “You can walk in the street if you want to,” she said.

“Bramwell is really a special place in the trail system,” Lusk said. “When the coal was gone from so many of the towns in the system, new business owners just stripped the facades off of the old stores and put in new businesses. But here, the architecture has been preserved. The homes are just beautiful.”

A pair of owls, an adult and a juvenile, caught the eye of the visitors as they strolled down Main Street. Mayor Stoker said that the Fishers would be guests of honor during a dinner at the Corner Shop to cap off their first night in Bramwell in style. Today, Lusk will introduce them to the new section of the trail that is due to open on May 25.

Would it kill someone at HMT to post a map?? I have called and no one knows anything about the trail at the office. The maps have been sitting there for over a week according to the lady that answers the phone.

Some things never change!

What's the number? I'll ask her to fax me one!

I called again and was told that they could not give them out. I could not talk the lady on the phone into sneaking over and faxing me one. The HMT officials supposedly will ride they trail Monday and make sure that everything is as it should be and she did not know if they would give out the maps after Monday. She said that there would be maps at Ashland resort when we got there. What ever!!
Have GPS will trespass.
FYI Lee the number is 1-800-592-2217 if you want to give it a try.

Well that sucks but I'm with you. Whatever. We dont need no stinking map!!

DJ750 wrote:

Would it kill someone at HMT to post a map?? I have called and no one knows anything about the trail at the office. The maps have been sitting there for over a week according to the lady that answers the phone.

Some things never change!

You still need a map

You got one?

DJ750 wrote:

You got one?

Have Fun, Be Safe & Take Pics

...

Thanks Captain

Wacker, I am impressed. Does GUG know what you promised that lady to get the map?

I just realized that HM has posted the map on their website.

BObT...are all the new trails on your gps maps now?

The latest version 3.0 does not have them. I have the tracks for all but 5 of the Pocahontas trails and I should get them this weekend.

Next week I will publish a new map with Pocahontas and the trails between Mullens and Twin Falls State Park, and some updated in other areas.

I have attached the tracks that I have for Pocahontas if you are interested.

I don't think the attach function worked, if you want them PM me your email address.

I'll wait till you get the new one finished. I think Sportsman and I are gonna check out the new system Sunday. From the map it looks a little like Pinnacle Creek in that you have a bunch of short trails in a small area. I dont think we'll be riding the connector so I think I can get by with a paper map for this trip