U.S. Department of the New River Gorge Interior National River Fayette Station Road Tour Scenic Drives

Fayette Station Road circa 1920

may be seen through the trees. Exhibits at pull-offs along the road was a railroad center. Several community facilities were shared by After leaving Fayette Station, the road winds, first across Wolf Fayette Station Road Tour interpret the heritage of the area, which reflects the unique synergy both, including the post office, school, saloons, and the jail. Creek and then through a narrow section called the Squeeze. At To travel Fayette Station Road is to travel back in time before between the coal industry and the railroad in the New River Gorge. the next hairpin turn is the Wolf Creek Trailhead and the start of the modern New River Gorge was built in 1977. This one The establishment, growth, and the Kaymoor Trail, a two-mile hike that leads to the remains of hundred year-old road of hairpin turns winds down to the bottom In 1873 the C&O Railway opened this ultimate demise of the towns of Kaymoor Mine. of the gorge, across a narrow bridge, and up the other side. Visible rugged wilderness and carried coal out Fayette and South Fayette represent along the way are vistas of the river and , a hardwood forest, of the gorge to ports in Virginia and the general life cycle of a town in Unobstructed views of the and a few remnants of the New River Gorge communities that cities in the Midwest. By 1905, thirteen the gorge. A landowner or mining opposite side of the gorge once teemed with activity. towns had sprung up between Fayette company would open a coal mine are easily seen during the Station Road and Thurmond 15 miles and build company-owned houses ascent from the river. The More than forty coal mining towns lined the gorge between 1875 upstream, about one per mile. Between and a store, creating a company expanse of Endless Wall, a and 1950, when coal mining dominated the economy and social the 1870s and the 1950s, West Virginia town. Decades later, when the coal seam was exhausted or the mine rock climber's paradise, is structure of the state. Today, the New River Gorge is known for coal contributed significantly to the closed because of changes in the marketplace, people moved away clearly visible across the river. Overhead, the New River Gorge its outstanding natural and scenic beauty. The many remains of the industrialization of the as and the town ultimately became deserted. The foundations of the Bridge buttresses support 88,000 pounds of concrete and steel. once vibrant towns, mines, and homes that filled the gorge are now it fed the nation's trains, factories, fleets, Blume Company Store and the railroad tracks on the northeast side mostly hidden beneath layers of native vegetation. Along Fayette and power plants. of the river are remnants of the town of Fayette. From a distance, the gorge appears as a pristine, natural Station Road, however, some remnants of the area's coal mining environment. Like all environments, however, it is continually and railroad heritage prevail. At river level, Fayette Station Road Today vehicles cross the river on the reconstructed Fayette Station changing. The most drastic change occurred when the railroad, runs directly through remnants of Bridge, which reopened in 1998 as the Tunney Hunsaker Bridge. To mines, and people all converged in the gorge in the late nineteenth After leaving the parking lot of the the townsites of Fayette and South enjoy views from the bridge as well as the sights and sounds of the century. Then within one hundred years, the activities of industry Canyon Rim Visitor Center, the Fayette. The two towns on opposite river, drive to the parking area, located at the first right turn after had ceased, and nature slowly began to cover up most of the route makes a loop around the town sides of the river were connected in crossing the river, and walk back to the bridge. The river is widely evidence of human occupation. of Lansing. Near stop #2 (see map 1889 when Fayette Station Bridge was known for its whitewater rapids, swift currents, and excellent fishing below), as you descend into the completed. Over the years, the two opportunities. Kayakers and rafters paddle through these wild The National Park Service is dedicated to preserving the natural and gorge, several exposed coal seams communities grew together as one, waters and often end their trips at Fayette Station. Anglers use the historical resources of New River Gorge National River. You may can be seen in the cliff walls. In late although Fayette maintained its identity area around Fayette Station to access one of the best warm water wish to explore additional park resources by following some of the fall and winter, glimpses of the gorge as a mining town, while South Fayette fisheries in the state. other routes described in this brochure.

NewNew RRiveriver GoGorgrge Legend Fayette Station Roadside Pull-off ParkingParking NationalNational RRiveriver Road Tour Much of the land within Interpretive Exhibits RRestroomestrooms the Park remains private Canyon Rim 1 North Boardwalk 0 0.25 Kilometers property; please respect Arrows Indicate Hiking Trail the owners’ rights. Direction of Traffic 0 0.25 Miles Flow River Access

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ch in One-Way 1 New River Gorge Scenic Drive an Br For Fayette Station Road, New River Gorge Scenic Drive,

Land turn right here 2 New River Gorge Scenic Drive continue north and turn right

ys 12 a (south) on Hwy 60. 3 A Lesson in Geology Te 5 Other National Coal Heritage Sites (See Map on Reverse) 4 Growth of An Era - Railroad History 82 Lans 5 New River Gorge Bridge Coal Heritage Trail in PMS 138 CVC g 6 Rock Climbing Paradise N - E

e dm Traversing five Southern West Virginia counties w o Hat 82 NEW RIVER GORGE nd Road 7 A Tale of Two Towns Begin between Fayetteville and Bluefield, this 146-mile One-Way NATIONAL RIVER For Fayette Station Road, 8 Fayette turn right here route features many historic sites associated Spring Lansing 9 South Fayette 6 m i For Fayette Station Road, with coal mining. The Coal Heritage Trail is the take left fork 10 Working in a Coal Mine Clear story of resilient men and women who spent 3 m i Fo rk 82 generations mining coal through harsh times and 11 Enduring Beauty Creek 19 perilous conditions. Their communities helped 12 Natural Renewal 0 industrialize the United States during the early R mi i v 1900s. Coal mining remains an important West e r 6 Canyon Rim Visitor Center 1 mi Virginia resource industry. End Beginning of Fayette One-Way Station Road Tour Mount Hope ad 1 Ro 2 mi on 7 mi d New River ati Travel the loop road through the town of oa St R Gorge Bridge e n 5 tt io e t 4 3 y Mount Hope, which was once the home of the ta a S F e t t New River Coal Company. The large buildings e y a F 82 and stadium of Mount Hope stand as reminders

eek Begin Cr of the wealth that coal once brought to the One-Way town and region. A coal seam and mine portal Fayette 2 are visible at the outskirts of town. Turn left on 11 Station 9 10 Rapids Rt. 16 then right on Rt. 61 to continue on the Quinnimont Connector. 4 m i 7

8 rn Fe Tunney Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine Hunsaker Veteran miners lead electric tram tours through

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e r Station) C horizontal underground mine tunnels. This late 19 C SX To continue south Bridge R C a S il 1800s mine features low-seam coal mining from X ro on the Coal Heritage Trail a R d 82 and the New River Gorge a ( il N its earliest manual stages to modern mechanized ro o Scenic Drive , turn right a T f r l d e o operation. Several coal camp houses, the school, on U.S. Route 19. (N sp W o a s T si re n a church, and the mine are open April to s g p ) a ss in November; call 304-256-1747 for information. g ) New River Gorge National River Information Canyon Rim Visitor Center 304-574-2115 5 m i Sandstone Visitor Center 304-466-0417 FAYETTEVILLE Park Headquarters 304-465-0508 Kaymoor Trail P.O. Box 246 Glen Jean, WV 25846 www.nps.gov/neri