Damascus, Virginia, is known near and far for being a great Appalachian destination for nature lovers, hikers and bikers. Similar to Paul the Apostle on the road to Damascus in the Bible, one visit to this charming little town can lead to a conversion experience into the towns fan club. The weather was a little raw when I hit town but I now like a little rain or snow as a backdrop for these visits from time to time to add reality to them. The only pictures you usually get to see of a town are on bright, sunny days so to see something else gives a different perspective. Damascus is said to have been along pioneer Daniel Boones path westward circa 1759. In the early 1800s, Henry Mock was among the first people to settle in the area when he built his home, created a dam along Laurel Creek and established a grist mill. The area then became known as Mocks Mill and was so known until the late 1800s. In 1886, General John D. Imboden purchased much of the Mock familys property with the intent to make it a steel city. Imboden was under the mistaken belief that there was a vast deposit of iron ore in the area. At the time, the Syrian city of Damascus was known for its iron ore so Imboden decided to change the towns name from Mocks Mill to Damascus in a bit of wishful thinking. Imboden was wrong about there being a large iron ore deposit but the name Damascus has stuck to this day. Damascus was soon discovered to have a wealth of desirable timber from chestnut, oak, pine and poplar leading to a rush of logging. The lumber boom lasted for approximately 25 years leading to a scalping of the area that eventually led to federal intervention. The newly created Forest Service intervened in the early part of the 20th century and successfully worked to establish conservation efforts. The forest around Damascus has been nursed back to health creating a beautiful landscape for all to enjoy. Damascus has earned the nickname of Trail Town USA for the convergence of so many trails in one place. Damascus touches the Appalachian Trail, the Virginia Creeper Trail, the Daniel Boone Heritage Trail, the Crooked Road Music Trail, the Iron Mountain Trail, the Trans-America National Bicycle Trail and Virginias Birding and Wildlife Trail. Damascus has also earned national accolades such as nomination by Budget Travel as one of Americas Coolest Small Towns. Damascus draws people from all over the world for events such as the annual Trail Days celebration. Damascus is just down the road from the must-visit Backbone Rock in Shady Valley, TN, and is a sister town to Abingdon, VA, which I also visited on this day and will be posting about shortly. The area has a good mix of friendly locals and laid-back visitors that is sure to make you feel welcome. I just came to town to visit and really had nothing in mind to accomplish but as Paul Newman famously said in his role as Luke, sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand...
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 03:04:35 +0000
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