The Virginia Creeper Trail in southwest Virginia is a popular way to enjoy fall foliage while getting exercise by biking or hiking. The 34-mile former railroad line runs from Whitetop Station to Abingdon. It passes through scenic woodlands, farms, and streams. In the fall, cyclists can coast downhill for 17 miles from Whitetop Station, taking in colorful views. The lower section from Damascus to Abingdon through farmlands is also suitable for enjoying the changing leaves while exerting some physical effort by pedaling. The Virginia Creeper Trail offers a great outdoor activity for appreciating the natural beauty of autumn.

1. TARGETING ECONOMIC AND
HEALTH BENEFITS OF GREENWAYS
AND TRAILS
Stunningly beautiful Southern Appalachia has some outstanding greenways and
trails. This workshop exposes attendees to the Virginia Creeper Trail, a
successful example of creating economic and health benefits. Hear how
wellness, environmental, and agriculture experts work with urban planners in
addressing challenges in adding trail mileage and improving livability. Learn of
stakeholder efforts to promote healthy lifestyles and go well beyond tourism
dollars to target schools and workplaces.
ANTHONY J. (TONY) DELUCIA, PH.D.
EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY
423 439-6202
delucia@mail.etsu.edu

2. OBJECTIVES:
• VIRGINIA CREEPER TRAIL
• HOW LINKS TO OTHER HEALTH EFFORTS
• HOW LINKS TO OTHER ECONOMIC EFFORTS

3. CONTRIBUTOR:
• GARRETT JACKSON-IN ABSENTIA
• FORMER PLANNER FOR DAMASCUS
• CURRENT TOWN PLANNER FOR ABINGDON
• VIRGINIA CREEPER ADVISORY BOARD

4. CONTRIBUTOR:
• TIM PETERS
• REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR HEALTH FITNESS
CORPORATION (EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
ACCOUNT)
• FORMER CHAIR, KINGSPORT TOMORROW
• BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE TENNESSEE CENTER FOR DIABETES
PREVENTION AND HEALTH IMPROVEMENT

5. CONTRIBUTOR:
• ROY SETTLE – IN ABSENTIA
• DIRECTOR, APPALACHIAN RESOURCE CONSERVATION
AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
• SULLIVAN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
• LANDS OF BOONE AND CROCKETT LAND TRUST,
LOCALGOODS.ORG, QUILTTRAIL.ORG

6. CONTRIBUTOR:
• ANTHONY (TONY) DELUCIA
• PROFESSOR (PULMONOLOGIST), EAST TENNESSEE
STATE UNIVERSITY
• LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION (SMART GROWTH)
• LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS

7. CARTOON “SAYS IT ALL”

8. FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN A
RESEARCHER…
• TOOK ME TO THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION
– FROM RECEIVING THEIR GRANT FUNDING TO BECOMING A NATIONAL
SPOKESMAN
• TOOK ME TO KINGSPORT TOMORROW
– FROM USING MY GRANT FUNDING TO BECOMING A REGIONAL
SPOKESMAN

9. FOR YOURS TRULY, A BIT OF A “LIFE
CYCLE” THING

10. WE WOULDN’T BE HERE W/O
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THIS
MISSION: TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
IN DETERMINING OUR FUTURE, SUCH AS CITY’S BAYS MOUNTAIN PARK

11. PEOPLE, PLACES, PLAY,
JOBS, GOVERNMENT

12. ABINGDON, VA
KEEPING HEALTHY THROUGH HISTORY

13. THE VIRGINIA CREEPER TRAIL

14. 35 MILES…ABINGDON TO NORTH CAROLINA

15. VIRGINIA CREEPER TRAIL
• ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR “RAILS-TO-
TRAILS” IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY
• OVER 150K VISITORS/YEAR
• $MULTI-MILLION DIRECT ECONOMIC BENEFIT

18. CREATIVE CLASS
CONSTRUCTING EDUCATIONAL
KIOSKS ALONG THE CREEPER TRAIL

21. ABINGDON 2012 GREENWAY PLAN

22. PORTERFIELD
GATEWAY –
WOLF CREEK
NATURE WALK

23. TRAFFIC/PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS

24. TAX $ = HEALTH
• Cigarette Tax • Meals and Lodging tax
($.10/pack) goes brings in double the
toward health amount, per year, that
initiatives in the real estate taxes
community do…haven’t raised real
• Abingdon spends estate taxes in 40+
more per capita on years and still have a
parks & recreation great quality of life!
than ANY other
Virginia locality!

25. CREEPER TRAIL A “BEST PRACTICE” IN THIS PUBLICATION BY
HANNAH TWADDELL & DAN EMERINE

26. REVENUE FROM RELATED ACTIVITIES
Blue Blaze Bike & Shuttle – Damascus, Virginia

27. TOURISM BENEFITS
The Buchanan Inn Bed & Breakfast at Green Cove Station estimates
that 75% of its business comes from visitors using the Virginia Creeper
Trail pictured here in the foreground.

28. ESRI COMMUNITY TAPESTRY
15. Silver and Gold
Silver and Gold residents are the second oldest of the Tapestry
segments and the wealthiest seniors, with a median age of 58.5
years; most are retired from professional occupations. Their
affluence has allowed them to move to sunnier climates. More
than 60 percent of the households are in the South (mainly in
Florida); 25 percent reside in the West, primarily in California
and Arizona. Neighborhoods are exclusive, with a median home
value of $326,600 and a high proportion of seasonal housing.
Residents enjoy traveling, woodworking, playing cards,
birdwatching, target shooting, salt water fishing, and power
boating. Golf is more a way of life than a mere leisure pursuit;
they play golf, attend tournaments, watch golf on TV, and listen
to golf programs on the radio. They are avid readers, but allow
time to watch their favorite TV shows and a multitude of news
programs.

29. FOLKS WHO LIVE IN ABINGDON “CO-HOUSING”
SAGA

30. THE TRAIL MODEL WORKS WITH
HEALTHY SENIORS: KATY TRAIL

31. EFFECT ON PROPERTY VALUES
Multiple studies show
that well managed trails
and parks have a
positive effect on home
sales.
Properties closer to
trails are generally
easier to sell and have a
higher value than those
further away from the
amenity.

32. MARYVILLE - RUBY TUESDAY’S
“the specific site (for the
new headquarters) was
chosen in downtown
Maryville primarily due
to its location on the
beautiful Greenbelt and
trail system,” said Sandy
Beal, Chairman & CEO,
Ruby Tuesday, Inc.

33. “IMPORTANT 1ST ATTEMPT TO ORGANIZE AN INDUSTRIAL COMMUNITY AND
PROVIDE ADEQUATE HOUSING FOR WORKERS IN A SYLVAN SETTING”
KINGSPORT, TENNESSEE

34. JOHN NOLEN – THE DESIGNER OF GREAT
PLACES

35. BRIEF DESCRIPTION
• KINGSPORT
• CURRENT POPULATION ~50k
• HOME OF EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
• PART OF TRI-CITIES TN/VA 1999 ALL-AMERICAN
DESIGNATION
• PROGRESSIVE GOVERNMENT
• DESIGNED BY ARCHITECT JOHN NOLEN
(COMMISSIONED 1915) …ALSO SAN DIEGO,
MARIEMONT, OH, CHARLOTTE
• PART OF THE “GARDEN CITY” MOVEMENT

36. EXPANDING THE EVER-POPULAR
KINGSPORT GREENBELT

37. A DESCRIPTION OF THE KINGSPORT
GREENBELT FROM ITS WEBSITE
The Kingsport Greenbelt is a linear park that connects
residential neighborhoods, traditional parks, downtown,
commercial districts, schools and activity centers. A special
feature of this unique park is a pathway for pedestrian and
bicycle use. The pathway meanders through marshlands,
glides across open meadows, and passes by sites of historical
and aesthetic value. Development and operation of the
Greenbelt are guided by a citizen advisory committee and
the Kingsport Parks and Recreation Department
HTTP://WWW.KINGSPORTGREENBELT.COM/

38. USED IN “MOVE TO…” LITERATURE

40. ROLE OF STRONG COMMUNITY STEWARD

42. ENGAGE OUR LOCAL LEADERS:
TWO LOCAL MAYORS WHO “GET IT”

43. AWARD WINNING LOCAL PROGRAMS: JOHNSON
CITY “UP AND AT ‘EM”
TURKEY TROT AWARDS ON THANKSGIVING DAY

44. IF PEOPLE HERE THINK THIS IS ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT

45. ↓ petroleum
consumption
↓ CO2
↓ Air
emissions
pollution
↑ Physical activity
↓ Osteoporosis
↓ Injuries
And by the way…
↑ Social capital
↓ Infrastructure costs
Childhood Obesity Prevention
Summit / October 18-19, 45
2007 COURTESY, HOWIE FRUMKIN, MD

46. LOCAL FOOD AND LAND USE ECONOMICS

47. LOCAL SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS

48. “I CAN ALWAYS
GROW HOUSES”

49. A STATISTIC

51. A BETTER WAY THROUGH
LAND USE EDUCATION
ROY’S 2003 URBAN FORESTRY MEETING IN KINGSPORT

52. WE APPLIED FOR ATTENDANCE AT THIS!!!

53. ED McMAHON TALKING ABOUT ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMIC, AND COMMUNITY
GOALS…AS THE CONTAINER VESSELS AND DOLPHINS CRUISE BY

54. WORK OF THE WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA TEAM

55. “WORK” OF OUR TEAM!!!

56. WORKSHOPS WITH A BUILT ENVIRONMENT FOCUS – JAMIE
BUSSELL, ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION

58. MARK FENTON’S 1ST VISIT

60. SCHOOLS AN EARLY SUCCESS

62. ONE-HALF THE TEAM FOR WORKFORCE
HEALTH

63. A STRONG FUTURE WITH
OUR PARTNERS
GREENWAYS
ALLIANCE
“CONNECTING PEOPLE,
NATURE, AND COMMUNITIES
WITH GREENWAYS AND
NATURE”

65. CURRENT SAGA AREA
Virginia
Lee Scott Washington
Hancock Sullivan
Hawkins Johnson
Washington
Tennessee Carter
Greene
Unicoi

66. REGIONAL VISION 2025
• It is my vision that our Region will
encourage PLAY through TRAILS and
PARKS that link us With Natural, Cultural,
and Historical Treasures*
*This was the most popular response of all ideas generated
from the 1000+ citizens participating in the 38 regional public
meetings.

67. GOVERNOR BREDESEN
SAGA PLAN RELEASE EVENT
APRIL 20, 2007 KINGSPORT - GREENBELT

68. Historic Tweetsie
Trail
ELIZABETHTON TO JOHNSON CITY

69. HISTORY
The ET&WNC was chartered in
1866. The 5-foot gauge railroad
would run from the Cranberry Iron
Works, west through the Doe River
Gorge to Elizabethton and then to
“Johnson’s Depot” (Johnson City),
and a connection with the East
Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia
Railroad (later Southern Rail).

70. LOCATION
Where is
the
Historic
Tweetsie
line
located?

71. PIKE’S PLACE MARKET WAS TO BE
CONDEMNED
PLACEMAKING: PUBLIC
MARKETS BECOME
VIBRANT PUBLIC SPACES
WHILE ALSO ACHIEVING
BROADER SOCIAL IMPACTS
– FROM COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT, TO HEALTH
AND NUTRITION, TO
PRESERVING FAMILY FARMS
-- PROJECT FOR PUBLIC
SPACES WEBSITE:
WWW.PPS.ORG

72. SAGA MEMBERS RECEIVING THE “OZZIE
AWARD” FROM REGIONAL OZONE ACTION
PARTNERSHIP
Pictured: l-r
•Kitty Frazier, Director,
Kingsport Parks and Rec
•Roy Settle, Appalachian
Resource and Development
Council
•Liesa Jenkins, formerly
Executive Director of
ITS VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF LIKE THIS WHO
Kingsport Tomorrow
MAKE IT ALL WORTHWHILE
•Ambre Torbett, Director of
THANKS Planning Sullivan County, TN

73. POSTSCRIPT
THIS WAS WAITING FOR ME IN MY LOCAL NEWSPAPER WHEN I RETURNED HOME

74. WHEN YOU MAKE THOSE FALL COLOR
PLANS, DON’T FORGET CREEPER TRAIL
Johnny Molloy
Looking for a new way to enjoy fall’s beauty? Don’t forget the Creeper Trail. It is so easy to enjoy. Drive up to Damascus, bring or rent a bike, then
get a shuttle to the top at Whitetop Station. Coast your way 17 miles back to town, enjoying fall foliage as you drop 1,500 feet, passing
numerous streamside and forest vistas. Then top your adventure off with a little dinner in town, or bring a picnic.
The Virginia Creeper Trail was nearly a century in the making. Of course, the originators of the railroad through this slice of southwest Virginia had
no vision whatsoever of plastic clad pedalers, backpack-toting hikers and equestrians plying their railbed for pleasure and exercise. That would
come later. First, entrepreneurs vying for iron and timber resources raised capital, then came the sweat from many men building trestles and
blasting through hillsides.
Next came a period of economic prosperity borne of untold millions of timber feet cut from the Virginia Highlands, followed by a period of slow
decline in business for the Virginia-Carolina Railroad, or V-C, until it was nothing but fodder for railroad nostalgia buffs, until the train whistles
stopped in 1977. After that, the reality of a rail trail was still uncertain and a lot of effort by local groups led to the complete rail trail, which
now extends from Whitetop Station to Abingdon, a distance of more than 34 miles.
Along the way, the railroad was nicknamed the Virginia Creeper, maybe for the vine of the same name that thrives locally, or maybe because of
the slow nature of the railroad as it climbed through the mountains. Today, the Virginia Creeper is the most popular trail in the Old Dominion.
The popularity is well deserved. From Whitetop Station at 3,525 feet, the Creeper courses down through the mountains, passing vistas near
and far, deep woods, small farms and by clear, fast streams. It passes Green Cove, where an original train station still stands. And it crosses
numerous trestles that deliver treetop views. The trailside terrain finally opens up at Damascus.
The second section of the Creeper, from Damascus to Abingdon, heads through farmlands, meadow and woods. Fall foliage fans who want to get
some exercise as they enjoy autumn should head toward Abingdon, where the trail is level enough to require physical exertion, i.e. pedaling.
This 16-mile lower section is less popular than the upper section, but the lower section was built first, and was in operation by early 1900. This
section has a more pastoral feel than the upper section. From Damascus, the Creeper passes by many homes and farms, where there are
gates to open and close. Please do so and respect the landowners who are gracious enough to cooperate and make a path for all to enjoy.
And there is plenty of scenery to enjoy, as the trail descends alongside Laurel Creek and the South Fork of the Holston River.
A highlight of the trip is the long and high trestle that spans the confluence of the South Fork and Middle Fork Holston River. Trail’s end in
Abingdon offers parking and restrooms. No matter which section of the Creeper you bike, it will be a great way to experience fall.