Saluda Grade Trail Project Moves Forward After $28.5M Railroad Purchase
SALUDA COUNTY, SC — Plans for the long-awaited Saluda Grade Trail are gaining momentum after a nonprofit finalized the $28.5 million purchase of 31.5 miles of freight rail line connecting Inman, SC to Zirconia, NC.
The corridor was acquired by the newly formed Saluda Grade Trail Conservancy, a collaboration between South Carolina organizations PAL: Play. Advocate. Live Well., Upstate Forever, and North Carolina-based Conserving Carolina.
Trail Will Link Multiple Towns Across State Lines
The trail will cut through Inman, Campobello, and Landrum in South Carolina, before reaching Tryon, Saluda, and Zirconia in North Carolina. While there’s no set construction timeline yet, officials say the project will form a critical part of a regional greenway system.
“It’s wonderful news for Western North Carolina and the state trails system,” said Jeff Michael, Deputy Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Funding Comes From Both States and Federal Grants
The purchase was heavily supported by public funding. The South Carolina legislature allocated $15 million, and the North Carolina General Assembly provided $12 million, as outlined in local coverage of the deal.
In addition, the project received a $450,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies, along with private donations to reach the total needed for the purchase.
Design and Construction Funding Still Needed
Kieran Roe, executive director of Conserving Carolina, noted that raising construction and design funds remains the biggest hurdle. A similar greenway, the Ecusta Trail, is expected to be completed next year after receiving over $45 million in support.
“We’ll likely follow a similar funding model for Saluda Grade,” Roe said.
Long-Term Vision: A Unified Trail Network
A celebration event is scheduled for July 31 in downtown Tryon, featuring music, refreshments, and speakers. The long-term vision involves connecting the Saluda Grade and Ecusta trails — if the Trails Conservancy can purchase an additional 8-mile section of track from Zirconia to Hendersonville.
That could lay the foundation for a regional Hellbender Trail Network, linking communities through a continuous greenway system.
Not Everyone Is on Board With Rail Removal
Some local residents, including Henderson County’s Clifford Meek, have voiced concerns over the permanent removal of train tracks. He’s advocated for a “Rails-with-Trails” model, allowing future trains to share the corridor with pedestrians and cyclists.
However, Roe clarified that both the Ecusta and Saluda corridors are federally railbanked, a legal designation that allows rail service to be restored in the future if necessary.
Do you support converting old rail lines into trails, or should we preserve them for future trains? Share your thoughts in the comments below on SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
