Nine Ways to Explore the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park in West Virginia

Home to the world’s largest fleet of Shay steam powered locomotives (six of which are still in operation today!), the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park is a West Virginia State Park that welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to learn about the area’s important history. 

The Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, located in Pocahontas County, was originally the property of the Luke family, who purchased the 67,000 acres for its vast (over 300 feet tall!) red spruce trees. The pulp from the trees were used to make paper for the Luke family’s Pulp and Paper Company. The company expanded to include a sawmill for lumber and floor manufacturing in the early 20th century. Over its 60 years in business, the company produced over 44 million feet of lumber. 

The company built the town, now named Cass, between 1901 and 1908 with facilities including government buildings, churches, medical offices and housing for its workers. The company eventually needed a rail system to transport the wood and to bring in lodging supplies and food for the loggers and their families. 

The company thrived until 1960, when the logging industry declined and the company closed operations. The following year, the property became a state park, and opened to tourists who took the popular scenic rail rides starting in 1963. The state of West Virginia owns all 50 buildings in the village and rents some of them seasonally to visitors. The rail system added lines in the late 1960s and again in 2000 for visitors to gain access to other areas of West Virginia, and within the state park. 

Because the entire town is inside a designated state park, there are no technical “permanent residents”. There are eight people (the superintendent of the park and his family) who live in Cass year round and the rest of the housing options are rented by seasonal guests.  There are also 100 modern campsites for weekly rentals. Cass is a great spot to stop for part of the day to learn about the area’s important history and take a literal 9and figurative) ride back in time. 

General Travel Tips:

Nine Ways to Explore Cass:

1. Start at the Information Center (once the Meat Market and Ice House) to gather information about the area and history. There are lots of brochures about the wildlife and birds that live in the park, an area for kids to dig for “fossils”, and the history of west Virginnia state symbols and the Luke family, the founders of Cass. 
2. Shop in the Company Store for everything from souvenirs and clothing to penny candy (so many classics) and freshly made popcorn. There is also a massive display of WV made items and sundries. Adults will love hopping up to sit on a barstool at the original soda fountain counter from 1922 and kids will be enamored watching the trains go around the massive candy display. Watch the trains go around the penny candy display.
3. Have a bite to eat at Shay’s Restaurant. The restaurant serves breakfast through dinner with varying seasonal hours (closed on Mondays. There is both indoor seating and areas to picnic outside. Get up to date information here. 
4. Explore the Catty Neighbors Logging Museum, attached to the restaurant, which celebrates the logging and railroad industry. There are photos documenting the building of the railroad, several saws on display (compare the various sizes and uses), other tools like cigar molds and bottle caps, and apparel such as baby boots and hats. 
5. Watch a 20 minute video of the history of Cass in the Historic Barn which focuses on the evolution of the company and the daily life of a logger. There is stadium seating (so keep a close eye on the toddler crew!) and a large diorama of Cass Village under the projection screen. Note that show times are usually 10:30am, 11:30am, 1pm, and 5pm Tuesday through Saturday. 

6. Walk the neighborhood to check out the former homes of loggers, churches, schools, governmental offices, and doctor’s offices; note the raised wooden platforms. Be careful not to walk on the properties or front doors- people are renting the homes and living in them. Walk down to the river 
7. Take a train ride aboard a steam powered locomotive to the overlook at Bald Knob, one of the highest points in West Virginia. The Durbin Greenbrier Valley Railroad offers a variety of trains (two to six hour rail trips). See the full schedule and rates here. 
8. If you don’t have time for a full train ride, at least watch a train come on the platform and check out the Train Depot. Learn about the various steam locomotives and their construction. The Depot (and the Information Center) has print materials (and knowledgeable conductors) sharing the specifications of each locomotive, including five Shays and a Heisler. 
9. Rent a bike and explore some of the Greenbrier River Trail or rent a kayak and explore the Greenbrier River. Rentals are available through the Company Store. Note that the water levels in the river must be at least four feet for kayaking, which is best explored in the fall and spring. 

Looking for other nearby adventures? See our feature of the Green Bank Observatory and Science Center, less than 10 minutes away.