Saluda Grade Partners, a coalition of three nonprofits in North and South Carolina, has reached an agreement with Norfolk Southern to purchase the inactive 31-mile Saluda Grade railroad corridor rail line for an unclosed sum, the organization announced March 16.
Comprised of Conserving Carolina, PAL: Play, Advocate, Live Well and Upstate Forever, the coalition plans to use the rail line to create a recreational trail that will cover around 16 miles in South Carolina and 15 miles in North Carolina. The route will:
- Begin in Inman
- Run along the Blue Ridge Escarpment
- Pass through downtown Saluda (N.C.), Tryon (N.C.), Landrum and Inman
- End in Zirconia, North Carolina
“The Saluda Grade Rail Trail will be a transformative project for the region,” said Pal Executive Director Laura Ringo. “This rail-to-trail will be a destination and provide a boost to the Spartanburg County tourism economy, especially for the cities along the route like Landrum, Campobello and Inman. During the first year that the trail is open to the community, 125,000 visitors are expected. The majority of those visitors will buy lunch or a beverage, shop along main streets, and hopefully spend the night.”
In the summer months, the coalition plans to reach out to landowners and stakeholders along the trail to seek their input on aspects of the trail, including:
- Opportunities and challenges presented by the trail
- Approaches that will best meet the needs of the community
The coalition plans to launch a website for the Saluda Grade Trail in spring 2023.
For more information, visit conservingcarolina.org/saluda-grade, palspartanburg.org/saludagradetrail or upstateforever.org/saluda-grade.
