Saluda Grade Trail

[westsider28]

Absolutely massive news today: A coalition of nonprofits (Conserving Carolina, PAL: Play, Advocate, Live Well and Upstate Forever) in North Carolina and South Carolina are working together to purchase the inactive Saluda Grade railroad corridor for a new approximately 31-mile rail trail.  The potential Saluda Grade rail trail would run from Inman, SC to Zirconia, NC. Approximately 16 miles of the line are in South Carolina, while about 15 miles are in North Carolina. The route includes dramatic scenery along the Blue Ridge Escarpment and passes through historic downtowns in Saluda, Tryon, Landrum, and Inman. 

This would be huge for recreation, tourism, and the economy in these small towns.

For more information or to donate to the trail: https://www.palspartanburg.org/saludagradetrail  https://www.upstateforever.org/saluda-grade  https://conservingcarolina.org/saluda-grade/ 

Edited July 20, 2022 by westsider28
Added website

[westsider28]

A $5 million earmark for the Saluda Grade Rail Trail has been included in the state budget (H-J article).  The article also mentions that the trail could be completed in as soon as 5 years (though, I'd take that with a grain of salt).

Edited July 21, 2022 by westsider28

[Spartan]

This is a huge project. Moving it to its own thread,

The timeline might seem aggressive, but there is a shit ton of new $$ for projects like this in IIJA. If they plan it well, this could actually do really well because it would involve multiple counties states and non-profits. The Federal Govt loves to fund partnership projects like that.

[westsider28]

Norfolk Southern has agreed to sell 31 miles of its abandoned rail line connecting South Carolina and North Carolina communities to the Saluda Grade Trail Conservancy for development of a new rail trail!

Price and terms are confidential.  The South Carolina Legislature earmarked $5 million for the trail project in 2022.  The next steps will be to continue raising funds for acquisition of the project and to complete an economic impact and feasibility study.  State and federal funding opportunities will be sought, including a request an additional $11 million from the state in 2023.  Fundraising for trail construction should take about 2 years, so construction is 3-5 years away.

[NotNotSanti]

Anyone have a sense of where this would plug into the DAN?

[NotNotSanti]

Anyone have a sense of where this would or could plug into the DAN?

Technically this trail is from Inman to Saluda only, yet I seem to remember the intent being to connect it to the DAN at some point. 

Image of planned trail attached. 

[BorninSparkleCity]

The Peach Country Passage of the Palmetto Trail passes through Inman thus connecting to the to the Saluda Grade Trail. And the Dan connects to the Palmetto Trail.  Since the Peach Country Passage uses roadways to connect Inman to Landrum this new trail may well provide an off-road alternative for  the Palmetto Trail.

This is an exciting development!

Edited March 16, 2023 by BorninSparkleCity
added info

[westsider28]

New website launched with news and info, and you can donate to help make the trail a reality: https://www.saludagradetrail.org/

[westsider28]

The State Legislature included $10 million in the 2023-2024 budget towards the purchase of the Saluda Grade Trail.

The Conservancy expects to close on the rail corridor within two years and is pursuing state and federal funding opportunities.

Starting this summer, the Conservancy will reach out to landowners and stakeholders along the trail to seek their input on the opportunities and challenges presented by the trail and approaches that will best meet the community's needs. As part of this outreach, the Conservancy will host three public meetings, solicit feedback through an online survey opportunity, and conduct stakeholder interviews.

[westsider28]

Public input meetings coming up on October 17 at the Inman Library and October 19 at Polk County High School in Columbus, NC.  Drop-in style meetings 5:30-7:30 PM.  More info and RSVP:

https://www.saludagradetrail.org/saluda-grade-news/public-meetings-october-17-and-19

[rancenc]

Article on the Saluda Grade Trail!

https://greenvillejournal.com/community/inman-sc-eyes-growth-as-saluda-grade-trail-project-nears-reality/

[jpridmore13]

Have they purchased and closed on the rail line yet..

any update on how much funding has been raised to get it started??

[jpridmore13]

On 3/16/2023 at 1:21 PM, NotNotSanti said:

Anyone have a sense of where this would or could plug into the DAN?

Technically this trail is from Inman to Saluda only, yet I seem to remember the intent being to connect it to the DAN at some point. 

Image of planned trail attached. 

I’d definitely say the best way would be follow Lawsons fork most of the way to usc upstate through Miliken.. they are a few options after from there..