High Bridge Trail State Park recently completed a project that included a new parking lot (at 1797 Pamplin Road, Pamplin, Virginia) along with a trail addition. This project has been several years in the making and a ribbon cutting ceremony took place on Earth Day, April 22, 2024, to celebrate the trail opening and connecting to the Town of Pamplin.

The park and town have a lot of history together and this project is truly a work of many partnerships working towards the same goal of connecting the community to the trail.

I want to share the fascinating story of how the land was acquired and transformed into what you see today when you visit the park.

Pamplin History

The Southside Railroad, originally chartered in 1846, was the fourth railroad to serve the city of Petersburg, Virginia, and upon its completion in 1854, was the only direct rail link the city had through the Virginia Piedmont to Lynchburg and points west. The railroad was a major conveyor of trade through the Southside region of Virginia and served as an engine of economic development for the area.

Land would be needed for a railroad stop along the way from Norfolk to Roanoke and so Nicholas Pamplin donated a generous tract of land as he realized the potential benefit to the area that was then referred to as Merriman's Shop. His generous donation facilitated the construction of a railroad line, a development that promised to propel the area into a new era of prosperity. In honor of his contributions, the town was formally renamed Pamplin City in 1874.

The area was also referred to as Pamplin Depot for a while due to its recent status as a promising railroad hub. The old train depot on Main Street, which has now been renovated into a library, stands as a testament to Nicholas Pamplin’s permanent legacy in the town’s history​.

By the 1920s and 1930s, Pamplin City was a flourishing village surrounding the railroad stop. Things took a turn years later as Pamplin City became a ghost town and was unable to sustain itself due to the construction US 460 bypass in the 1960s and the suspension of passenger rail service in the early 1970s.

Connecting the trail to Pamplin

In 2006, Norfolk Southern donated 31.2 miles of track to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, which the agency converted into High Bridge Trail State Park.

Norfolk Southern kept a mile of track on both sides of its original donation for logistical and storage purposes. Pamplin residents and business owners have been anticipating the trail’s arrival ever since. Their revitalization efforts are evident in the small business district as several buildings have new facades along with many other visible improvements. The train depot, owned by the town, was recently renovated and is now home to regularly scheduled community events like live music, yoga classes and movie screenings. The town went as far to lease an additional plot of land from Norfolk Southern to ensure future patrons of local businesses will have a place to park.

When the state park opened in 2008, the trail ended at Heights School Road, approximately 1.1 miles east of downtown Pamplin City.  For the past 15 years, the residents of town have patiently waited for the trail to come, along with the dreams of town revitalization through outdoor recreation and local arts.

Revitalization efforts in Pamplin were evident in the small business district as several buildings had new facades and there were visible improvements throughout the area. The train depot, owned by the town, was recently renovated and is now home to regularly scheduled community events like live music, yoga classes and movie screenings. The town went as far to lease an additional plot of land from Norfolk Southern to ensure future patrons of local businesses will have a place to park.

In the summer of 2020, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation purchased almost 30 acres in Pamplin from Norfolk Southern to be added to High Bridge Trail State Park.

During the negotiations of that transaction, N-S notified DCR of their intent to eventually close the at-grade railroad crossing that served the land recently purchased. Faced with DCR's need to make a connection to a public road at some point in the future, the leaders of Pamplin City once again had the foresight and generosity to offer the agency their Town-owned parcel along Business 460 (Pamplin Road).  While barely a half-acre in size, this lot now serves as the parking lot for the western terminus in Pamplin.

The final fulfillment of the actual trail extension received a huge boost with the award of a Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant. DCR finalized and recorded a half-acre donation for High Bridge Trail State Park on August 23, 2023, and work soon began to make the last little piece of the trail connected to Pamplin. Construction soon began to grade and improve the final 1.1 miles to the new parking lot. 

What's next for Pamplin?

170 years ago, Pamplin City anxiously awaited the wheels of progress on a train. Hopefully, Pamplin City will once again be greeting the wheels of progress on bikes and strollers. Only time will tell if Pamplin City will rebound as a trail destination, and it's exciting that DCR can be a part of that story.

With the new section is complete, High Bridge Trail State Park now spans 32.2 miles from just outside Burkeville in the east to Pamplin in the west. The trail passes right through downtown Farmville and has provided recreational and economic opportunities for the community since its grand opening.

How do I get to this section?

This new parking lot is located at 1797 Pamplin Road, Pamplin, Virginia, and this new extension is the perfect place to start your trek on the historic High Bridge Trail. After your adventure, be sure to reward yourself with a cool treat from Mr. Bubbles Ice Cream Stand on Main Street in Pamplin.