The railroad corridor for the Saluda Grade Trail was officially acquired on Tuesday, June 17. (Photo by Rose Lane)

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Public celebration planned for July 31 in downtown Tryon

TRYON—A coalition working to create a rail trail along the historic Saluda Grade Railroad has officially acquired the 31.5-mile corridor, marking a major milestone in the long-anticipated project.

On Tuesday, June 17, the Saluda Grade Trails Conservancy purchased the former rail line from Norfolk Southern. The trail is planned to span from Inman, S.C., to Zirconia, N.C., passing through Campobello, Landrum, Tryon, and Saluda. A public celebration is planned for July 31 at 5:30 p.m. at the Tryon Depot, 22 Depot St., in downtown Tryon.

“This is a wonderful achievement,” said Glenn Hilliard, founder and chair of the Saluda Grade Trails Conservancy. “We are grateful to the many partners and contributors who made this possible.”

The conservancy, formed by nonprofits Conserving Carolina, PAL: Play, Advocate, Live Well, and Upstate Forever, had been under contract to buy the rail line since last summer. With the sale now complete, PAL and Conserving Carolina will lead the next phase of the project, which includes trail planning, community engagement and fundraising for construction.

The $28.5 million purchase was funded largely by state appropriations from North and South Carolina, along with a grant from the South Carolina Conservation Bank. Federal and private contributions also supported the effort.

“This is wonderful news for Western North Carolina and our state trails system,” said Jeff Michael, deputy secretary of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. “We’re proud to support this unique partnership.”

Project leaders say the trail will bring both economic and recreational benefits to the region. The route could eventually link to existing trail systems like the Daniel Morgan Trail in Spartanburg and the Ecusta Trail in Western North Carolina. Both are part of the broader Hellbender Trail network envisioned to connect communities across the region.

“The Saluda Grade Trail will promote a healthy, thriving region,” said Laura Ringo, executive director of PAL. “Even before the land was purchased, we saw economic momentum, with businesses like Time Bicycles and Boyd Cycling choosing to locate along the corridor.”

Conserving Carolina Executive Director Kieran Roe emphasized the accessibility of the trail, noting it will serve residents of all ages and abilities.

“The Saluda Grade Trail will be a valuable addition to outdoor recreation opportunities in our region, said Roe. “Unlike our trails way out in the mountains, this trail will go through the heart of our communities.

State leaders also celebrated the acquisition. N.C. Rep. Jake Johnson, who represents the area and played a key role in securing funding, called it a meaningful investment in the region’s future.

“We still have a long way to go,” Johnson said, “but I am optimistic that working together we can create something we’ll all be proud of for generations.”

Norfolk Southern, the former owner, praised the project as a community-focused reuse of a historic corridor.

For more information, visit saludagradetrail.org.