Cass Scenic Railroad State Park is located in Pocahontas County, W.Va. Read on to see what makes this place special.

Cass Scenic Railroad State Park is made up of Cass Scenic Railroad, the former company town of Cass, and some of Bald Knob, the highest point on Back Allegheny Mountain.

Ron Cogswell/Flickr

Cass was founded in 1901 by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company. Men from the company cut spruce and hemlock trees in the mountains for the West Virginia Spruce Lumber Company. The town was built as a company town.

Louis B./yelp

At one point Cass’s sawmill was the largest double band sawmill in the world. It processed more than a billion feet of wood over its lifetime.

Mobilus In Mobili/Flickr

Work started on the railroad in 1901. The railroad climbs Back Allegheny Mountain to Whitaker Station, which was the site of a logging camp for immigrants building the railroad.

Ron Cogswell/Flickr

The railroad eventually extended all the way to Bald Knob, which is the third highest peak in West Virginia.

Lauren Luci/Flickr

The Cass operation was sold to Mower Lumber Company. The company operated it until 1960 when it shut it down because of the rapid decline of the timber industry in the region.

Ryan K./Yelp

The equipment was sold off and another company began to scrap Cass. But then some local businessmen led by Russell Baum convinced the state Legislature that it should be a state park. It’s been one since 1963. As a park, the railroad serves as an excursion train.

Ron Cogswell/Flickr

Much about the town of Cass is as it was during its heyday. You can even rent these restored company houses as cottages. You’ll also find the company store and train depot.

West Virginia State Parks/Facebook

If you go, plan to take your time and dress warm. The full trip to Bald Knob takes 4.5 hours. The overlook at Bald Knob has spectacular views from 4,700 feet. The climate at the summit is similar to that of Canada.

Lauren Luci/Flickr

There are three trips available: a 2-hour trip to Whittaker Station, a 5 hour trip to the ghost town of Spruce, and a 4.5-hour trip to Bald Knob.

Louis B./yelp

Have you ever been to Cass? What did you think?

Ron Cogswell/Flickr

Louis B./yelp

Mobilus In Mobili/Flickr

Ron Cogswell/Flickr

Lauren Luci/Flickr

Ryan K./Yelp

West Virginia State Parks/Facebook

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Address: 12363 Cass Rd, Cass, WV 24927, USA