Dawkins Rail Trail to feature new cabins, camping, restaurant and more

The Dawkins Rail Trail takes riders, walkers and runners along the route where trains roared through the hills of Magoffin and Johnson Counties.

The trail is 18 miles that even take visitors inside an old tunnel and across bridges. The trail is now set to add camping sites, cabins, a restaurant, laundry mat, showers, and stalls.

"This is a 15- acre bottom development, and on the far end down there, it's going to be primitive camping. We're going to have six one bedroom cabins, and we're going to have both traditional camping on both sides of the bottom there, some will be for large RVs, some for smaller," said Victoria Doucette.

Doucette is excited about a stage for concerts and events in Royalton.

"We will be doing live performances for people who are using our facilities or staying overnight or people who want to come from other areas, yeah just for the concerts, okay, we really feel like that's going to be a big promotion for local talent," said Doucette.

Eventually, the rail trail will travel a total of 36 miles into Breathitt County.

"It's going to encourage people to build along the trail, and open small businesses, if they can start a small business, it can grow because this is going to give a place for people to come and stay overnight extend their stay," said Doucette.

A public meeting will be held on March 25 to discuss the project at 6 p.m.

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