Hatfield-McCoy trail traffic fuels Welch lodging and dining boom

McDowell County reported a surge in traffic tied to the Hatfield-McCoy Trail system, a shift that is already reshaping Welch's downtown commerce. County officials said much of the growth stems from riders headed to the Warrior Trail near War and the Indian Ridge Trail near Northfork (Ashland), with substantial volumes passing through Welch on the way to trailheads.

Local business activity has responded quickly. Several older commercial buildings were converted into ATV lodging, including the former Pizza Hut and the Long John Silver locations, as entrepreneurs retooled vacant storefronts to serve trail visitors. Welch Mayor Harold McBride noted that increased trail traffic is boosting hotel and short-term lodging occupancy, restaurant receipts and fuel sales at local stations.

Regional permit figures illustrate the broader trend. In 2025, neighboring Mercer County sold 22,641 trail permits, including 16,460 non-resident permits and 6,181 West Virginia permits. Non-resident permits accounted for roughly 73 percent of that total, signaling that a large share of riders travel into the region from outside the state. That mix increases the potential for net new spending in McDowell County rather than merely shifting purchases within West Virginia.

The market implications for Welch are twofold. First, rising visitor numbers are raising demand for basic services such as lodging, meals and gas, creating short-term revenue gains for existing businesses and incentives for repurposing vacant properties. Second, the demographic profile of visitors suggests opportunities for higher-value offerings and longer stays if the county can expand amenities beyond trail access.

Local leaders are already discussing specific investments to capture more of that spending. Proposals include attractions such as zip lines, additional recreational courts, specialty food shops and ice-cream vendors aimed at turning pass-through traffic into destination stays. Those additions would aim to lengthen visitor stays and diversify spending beyond fuel and quick meals.

There are planning and policy choices ahead. Public infrastructure—parking, signage, bathroom facilities—and zoning that supports adaptive reuse of commercial buildings will influence how much local businesses benefit. Strategically targeted investments could raise lodging occupancy and sales tax receipts without large increases in public operating costs.

For Welch residents, the trail-driven uptick presents a tangible economic opportunity: more customers for local businesses and a use for long-idle properties. If county leaders and entrepreneurs pursue measured investments in visitor amenities and basic infrastructure, the Hatfield-McCoy trails could deliver more steady tourism dollars to McDowell County in the years ahead.