HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — After nearly two years of restoration, the Ecusta Trail is set to officially reopen Friday, July 18, marking a major milestone for Hendersonville and surrounding Western North Carolina communities.
The six-mile paved greenway — once a key Southern Railway corridor — connects downtown Hendersonville to Horse Shoe and will eventually extend 19.4 miles to Brevard. Local leaders and outdoor enthusiasts are calling it a “game-changer” for recreation, tourism and community connection.
Originally constructed in the early 1900s to transport Appalachian freight and passengers, the corridor was long abandoned before its conversion into a multi-use trail. But in August 2023, Hurricane Helene delivered a major blow, causing flash floods that wiped out bridges, trailheads and access points — rendering much of the trail unusable…