Mode of Program Participation
Academic Scholarship
Participation Type
Paper
Presentation #1 Title
The Tweetsie Trail: Bringing Communities Together through a Rails-to-Trails Project
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Railroads have had a significant historic, economic, ecological, and cultural impact on Appalachia. As changes in the economy cause more railroad lines to be abandoned in the region, how can communities repurpose these assets to contribute to economic and cultural sustainability? Converting abandoned rail lines to trails is one solution, and the Tweetsie Trail is one of the most successful recent rails-to-trails projects. The Tweetsie Trail is an approximately eight-mile-long walking, hiking, and biking trail between Johnson City and Elizabethton, Tennessee constructed on the bed of the former East Tennessee and Western NC Railroad (nicknamed the “Tweetsie”). When completed to its full ten miles, the trail will be the longest rails-to-trails project in Tennessee. The trail, which opened in August 2014, has enjoyed heavy usage and has not only encouraged people to engage in outdoor physical activity but also has helped to bring communities together. The author worked with the task force that developed the project, researching and designing a series of informational markers to provide historical context along the trail. This paper examines the development of the trail, exploring issues of sustainability, community engagement, historical interpretation, heritage tourism, lessons learned, and future challenges. It is hoped that other communities can apply some of the lessons of the Tweetsie Trail to contribute to the success of similar projects in the region.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Ron Roach is Chair and Professor of Appalachian Studies and Director of the Center for Appalachian Studies and Services at East Tennessee State University.
The Tweetsie Trail: Bringing Communities Together through a Rails-to-Trails Project
Railroads have had a significant historic, economic, ecological, and cultural impact on Appalachia. As changes in the economy cause more railroad lines to be abandoned in the region, how can communities repurpose these assets to contribute to economic and cultural sustainability? Converting abandoned rail lines to trails is one solution, and the Tweetsie Trail is one of the most successful recent rails-to-trails projects. The Tweetsie Trail is an approximately eight-mile-long walking, hiking, and biking trail between Johnson City and Elizabethton, Tennessee constructed on the bed of the former East Tennessee and Western NC Railroad (nicknamed the “Tweetsie”). When completed to its full ten miles, the trail will be the longest rails-to-trails project in Tennessee. The trail, which opened in August 2014, has enjoyed heavy usage and has not only encouraged people to engage in outdoor physical activity but also has helped to bring communities together. The author worked with the task force that developed the project, researching and designing a series of informational markers to provide historical context along the trail. This paper examines the development of the trail, exploring issues of sustainability, community engagement, historical interpretation, heritage tourism, lessons learned, and future challenges. It is hoped that other communities can apply some of the lessons of the Tweetsie Trail to contribute to the success of similar projects in the region.
