The Shadow
Tom Dixon, founder of the C&O Historical Society, speaks during a dinner meeting of the society last Saturday in Clifton Forge. (P.E. Marshall Photo)
Tom Dixon, founder of the C&O Historical Society, speaks during a dinner meeting of the society last Saturday in Clifton Forge. (P.E. Marshall Photo)
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BY P.E. MARSHALL
Staff Writer
CLIFTON FORGE — The Chesapeake & Ohio Histor-ical Society, Inc. recently hosted local and state officials for dinner, followed by a presentation, and discussion to share their vision on “where we think we need to focus to be successful” in Clifton Forge, according to Rob Catlin II, member of the board of directors and CSX liaison and project manager for making Clifton Forge “a destination of choice.”
After a dinner, catered by Roger Patterson of Court Street Catering, Catlin opened the meeting last Saturday evening by introducing the C&O Historical Society’s founder, Tom Dixon. Dixon talked about “who we are, where we have been, and where we are going.”
“Railroad technology changed the world,” said Dixon. “A steel wheel running on a thin rail with the ability to cross the country in a week’s time, where before it took six months, changed our lives and we need to preserve this history,” said Dixon.
The C&O Historical Society was organized in 1969 to collect, conserve, restore, index, archive, and make available materials on the history of the C&O Railway to as wide an audience as possible.
Clifton Forge’s proximity to I-64, Roanoke and West Virginia “made it a good location to open a shop in 1986. Now, we need to get people involved and get them here by the hundreds,” Dixon concluded.
Society President Lars Lemberg believes “Clifton Forge could be a great tourist destination because of the proximity to I-64.”
He mentioned other small towns, surrounded by mountains, like Helen, Ga., that became great tourist destinations. Helen came up with an amusement park idea and hosts other year-round events “that have totally changed the synergy in their town,” Lemberg concluded.
Catlin suggested an amusement park, maybe with a railroad theme, to make “Clifton Forge a destination of choice.”
During the discussion portion of the meeting, Clifton Forge Mayor Carl Brinkley and Darlene Burcham, town manager, asked about the status of a grant for track improvement from the shop to the A Street Bridge.
“VDOT has approved the grant for the track improvement as well as display signage,” answered Lemberg.
“I’m pleased to be here and pleased about the society’s willingness to work with Clifton Forge on making this a destination place,” said Del. Terry L. Austin, 19th District, from Buch-anan. “I will work hard to support whatever requests you have of me. I believe we are on the right course.”
Later, Austin suggested creating a bike route from Douthat State Park to the C&O shop, traveling on a scenic route as a way to get those visiting Douthat to the shop.
“We have looked at a trail for both bikers and walkers,” said Burcham.
“What tourism plans are in place right now?” asked Vice Mayor Gayle Hillert.
Mac Beard, the society’s managing editor and art director, answered, “There are school tours now but we are looking at more aggressive bus tours that will bring people in by the two to three hundreds.”
“Clifton Forge will keep an open mind but would like to see as much of the strategic plan as possible,” said Burcham.
Brinkley and Hillert agreed.
Going forward, Brinkley asked of the current needs of the society members as they travel to town by train.
Catlin suggested the use of a taxi service when no rooms are available at the Red Lantern Inn and he has to go to the Oak Tree Inn. Austin recommended something from an app like Uber.
Uber is a taxi, private car or rideshare that enables connection from a mobile phone. Uber connects with a driver in minutes in cities around the world.
Currently, Catlin is meeting with CSX officials and Amtrak representatives every six months. As they come up with a more defined strategic plan, he said he will keep the town apprised as the meetings and plans progress.
