Thor Meeks (left) explains how Meeks Mountain Trails came to be to Gov. Morrisey (right).

On Friday, July 11, Governor Patrick Morrisey visited Hurricane City Park to hear the story of the creation of the Meeks Mountain Trails from the very people who made the trail system emerge from a vision of 2 miles in 5 years followed by 5 more miles every 2 years for 6 years into a reality of more than thirty miles of trails for biking, hiking and running. The numbers 2, 5, 5, 2 and 6 are, by design, Hurricane’s zip code.

On hand to tell the story was Brandon Doerner who was asked in 2018 to explore the possibility of the City of Hurricane building a hiking trail on its acreage in the hills behind City Park. Doerner saw much more than the City’s acreage. He saw the hundreds of acreage surrounding it and possibility of a trail system that could serve as an engine to drive economic growth in Hurricane and Teays Valley and beyond. Doerner approached Thor Meeks, a real estate developer whose family owned the ridges and steep slopes which terrain lent its self to hand-built trails.

Meeks became part of the story and is now a member of the Board of Directors for Meeks Mountain Trail Alliance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Meeks told the Governor that good came from COVID in that it allowed the community to come together when indoor gatherings were forbidden or restricted. Volunteers turned out to chisel miles of trails from the challenging slopes.

“Because of the trails, I will be investing $10 million over the next three years to redevelop the frontage along Teays Valley Road between the road and City Park,” Meeks said. The area will be used for restaurants and shops to accommodate visitors using the Meeks Mountain Trail System.

Events hosted by the trail system bring visitors from neighboring states. Meeks Mountain Trails has hosted a 100K event in 2023 and 2024 that has attracted runners from distant Arizona and Oregon. This year’s 100K is slated for September.

Following a photo session at the entrance to the trail system, Governor Morrisey visited the food trucks at City Park’s Food Truck Friday event and Bear Woods Company and Belknap Dough Company on Main Street in Hurricane.

Kelli Steele (Director of Putnam Tourism), Ashley Alford Glance (President of Putnam Chamber of Commerce), Andy Skidmore (Hurricane City Manager), Matt Young (Treasurer of Meeks Mountain Alliance), and Putnam Delegate Kathi Hess Crouse were all present to greet the Governor and to provide details concerning the many good things which Putnam County has to offer.