More Than A Year After Hurricane Helene, Repairs Set To Begin On Washed-Out Virginia Creeper Trail

By Shannon Heckt, Virginia Mercury

November 13, 2025

The small town of Damascus in Southwest Virginia has been eagerly rebuilding after Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic damage in September 2024. Despite their efforts, business was still significantly down for the town on the first anniversary of the storm, largely because the most popular part of the Virginia Creeper Trail — the town’s chief recreational attraction — was washed away. Now, the community is taking the first steps to bring it back.

The contract to rebuild the biking trail from Whitetop to Damascus has been awarded to Omaha-based Kiewit Corporation and is worth over $240 million. The company will use crews out of Peachtree, Georgia that are expected to arrive in town in the next week to start work.

“The Virginia Creeper Trail is the lifeline of our precious little Town,” said Mayor Katie Lamb. “Damascus, the heart of the Creeper Trail, is thrilled to welcome the Kiewit team. We are beyond excited for the rebuilding of the trail and the economic impact this will bring back to Southwest Virginia.”

The small town of Damascus, which boasts a population of 747 people, is a destination for outdoor enthusiasts who meet on the Appalachian trail and bike or hike the Creeper Trail, among dozens of other attractions.

The lion’s share of the economy for Damascus, dubbed “Trail Town USA,” is supported by the cyclists who take the Creeper Trail’s scenic route down from Whitetop and cruise into Damascus. It being mostly downhill makes it more accessible for all ages to ride and the mostly forested area provides shade and spectacular mountain views.

With that portion of the trail totally washed out for over a year, businesses said they were down as much as 75% during what was supposed to be their peak season in September. The U.S. Forest Service has removed 30,000 cubic yards of debris in order for the construction company to get in to replace miles of trail and 30 trestle bridges.

Local businesses have urged the public to come ride the less popular portion of the trail that stretches from Damascus to Abingdon. It is not fully downhill like the Whitetop portion, which can make it more difficult for some ability levels.

The town is hopeful that with the influx of contractors coming to town to work on the trail, the town will see some economic benefits. During the Hurricane Helene anniversary commemoration event, Town Manager Chris Bell said they hope to work out ways for the contractor to utilize local shuttles and other businesses.

“We have been proactively working with local businesses and property owners to prepare for this influx of contractors and temporary economic boost over the next year,” Bell said.

The construction is anticipated to be completed in the fall of 2026.

This story was originally published by the Virginia Mercury. For more stories from the Virginia Mercury, visit VirginiaMercury.com.