CASS, W.Va. — A new 100-site campground has opened at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, adding a major new place to stay near the Greenbrier River and one of West Virginia’s best-known recreational trails.
Slabtown Campground offers tent and RV sites, heated bathhouses, laundry facilities, and a camp store. Six campsites have electric, water, and sewer hookups, while 94 have electric and water service, according to West Virginia State Parks. Select sites also accommodate equestrian campers and include corrals.
State parks officials will celebrate the opening with a public open house on Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Refreshments will be provided, and the camp store will offer specials with purchases.
The campground represents an investment of more than $8 million and significantly expands overnight accommodations at Cass, a historic lumber town and mountain recreation destination in Pocahontas County.
Dillard Price, acting chief of parks, said the campground project checked many boxes, including beautification, accessibility, and hospitality.
“The opening of Slabtown Campground at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park marks a major milestone in our mission to enhance the visitor experience while honoring West Virginia’s rich industrial heritage,” Price said.
“By providing additional lodging opportunities and essential amenities, we are making it easier than ever for hikers, bikers, and rail enthusiasts to explore the beauty and history of the region,” Price said.
Campground connects visitors with Cass and Greenbrier River Trail
The location puts campers close to several attractions that have made Cass a destination for visitors from West Virginia and neighboring states.
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park preserves a former lumber company town where visitors can ride steam-powered trains into the surrounding Allegheny Mountains. Historic company houses that once accommodated workers and their families have also been restored for overnight lodging.
Slabtown lies near the Greenbrier River and at the northern end of the Greenbrier River Trail, giving campers convenient access to one of the state’s longest recreational trails. The former railroad corridor extends roughly 78 miles through the Greenbrier Valley and is used by bicyclists, hikers, and horseback riders.
The campground’s equestrian sites include corrals and additional space for visitors traveling with horses.
The new campground also provides another base for exploring the high Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia. Cass lies in a heavily forested part of Pocahontas County near several of the state’s best-known outdoor destinations, including Snowshoe Mountain and Seneca State Forest.
Visitors can combine camping with trail trips, fishing and paddling along the Greenbrier River, excursions aboard the historic railroad, and exploration of the preserved company town.
That concentration of attractions means visitors can stay at Cass while experiencing several parts of the region’s outdoor and industrial heritage without relocating between destinations.
The campground is open year-round, weather permitting. Primitive and fully contained camping is available from March through November, while hookups are offered seasonally and depend on weather conditions.
New campground occupies historic industrial site
The campground also brings a former industrial property back into use more than a century after the site played a role in the lumber industry that created Cass.
The approximately $8 million campground project was developed on the former Deer Creek Extract Plant property. The plant was part of the industrial complex that grew around Cass during the community’s years as a major lumber center.
When the campground project was announced, state officials said they would preserve and interpret remnants of industrial foundations at the site, allowing visitors to learn about the property’s earlier use.
Ghosh Engineers designed the campground, and High Point Construction built it, according to a press release from West Virginia State Parks.
The addition continues Cass’s transformation from a company town built around timber extraction into a tourism destination focused on preserving the railroad, historic community, and surrounding mountain landscape.