VA Gov. Youngkin breaks ground in Damascus for Creeper Trail rebuild

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin was in Damascus on Thursday to break ground on the rebuild project for the Virginia Creeper Trail. The event marked more than a year of hard work and planning to finalize the project that will restore the 17-mile section of the trail that was destroyed by Hurricane Helene last fall. Youngkin acknowledged the role the trail plays in the community, not only as a major economic driver in the area, but a way of life in Southwest Virginia. The 17 miles of the Creeper Trail from Abingdon to Damascus is opened but the upper half of the trail will remain closed during the construction period with the project expected to be completed in the fall of 2026.