Cass Scenic Railroad State Park 3.2 (reviews)

Take a trip back to an era when steam-driven locomotives were an essential part of everyday life. Trips to Cass Scenic Railroad State Park are filled with rich history, unparalleled views and the sights and sounds of an original lumbering town. The park’s 11-mile long heritage railroad and authentic company town are some of the state’s most popular tourist attractions.

The Company Store, which houses a gift shop and The Last Run Restaurant and Soda Fountain, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The park also features an artisans co-op and the Cass Historical Theater and Historical Museum, one of America’s only authentic lumber railroading museums. For more information, stop by the visitors center, which is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Winter hours at Cass run Nov. 1 to May 31. During winter hours, the Company Store is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. During winter hours, The Last Run Restaurant is open Sunday and Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. During winter hours, the restaurant is closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

The town of Cass remains relatively unchanged since its founding in 1901 by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company. Cass was built as a company town for the loggers who worked in the nearby mountains. Construction of the railroad started in 1901. It was used to haul lumber to the mill at Cass. The railroad track was eventually extended to the top of Bald Knob, the third highest mountain peak in West Virginia. In June 1942, the Cass operation was sold to Mower Lumber Company, which operated the town until July 1960, when the mill and railroad were shut down due to rapid decline of the timber industry in the region. In 1961, Cass was brought into the state parks system. In 1977, the company town also was made part of the parks system. Over the years, the railroad was turned into a tourist line and the town was repaired and restored. Today, the railroad is still in full operation, and is managed by the Durbin Greenbrier Valley Railroad.

Catch a ride on Cass Scenic Railroad State Park’s main attraction, a train ride to the overlook at Bald Knob. Bald Knob is the third highest point in West Virginia, making for a breathtaking views and amazing photos. The Durbin Greenbrier Valley Railroad operates scenic trains from historic downtown, including a 4.5-hour round-trip ride to Bald Knob and a two-hour round-trip excursion to Whittaker Station.

Train excursions are available Tuesdays through Sundays, plus several special events throughout the year.

The Last Run Restaurant, operated by the Bodkin Sisters, features home cooking, (they’ll even pack lunches for trips up the mountain!). Sandwiches, daily specials and beverages are available at reasonable rates. Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

During the winter, hours are Thursday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. On Monday and Tuesday, the Soda Fountain is open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. with a hot menu.

The Last Run Restaurant was featured in the “101 Unique Places to Dine” (in West Virginia) in 2009. The Last Run Restaurant also received this honor in 2015! It’s a step back in time with good food and great people preparing it for you. If you’ve not taken time to eat at the Last Run Restaurant, you’re missing an item on your bucket list!