Railroad & Resort

Railroad and Resort. . , Before the railroad, it was the country roads and old turnpikes that brought people to Cedar Bluff. Thanks to hand labor and the strength of oxen, the Norfolk and Western Railway came to Cedar Bluff in 1889. Local residents made extra money by lodging the construction workers in their homes. , The railroad's arrival gave Cedar Bluff's economy a tremendous boost; the little town was now open to markets far beyond the immediate region. Trains brought in new supplies for the mills and carried local flour to cities in the east, all faster and at lower shipping rates than had ever been possible on the winding, dusty turnpikes. In 1901, completion of the Cedar Bluff-laegar branch line brought even more trains through the community., Not only did the trains haul goods, but they brought new people to the area. Cedar Bluff gained a reputation for its natural mineral springs, and the Scott family built tourist cabins to accommodate visitors who came to "take the waters" of the healthful springs. Later the cabins were replaced by the Blue Sulphur Inn, a three-story, forty room summer resort built on the site of the sulfur mineral springs. The trains brought numbers of tourists to Cedar Bluff to stay at the ornate hotel, which was conveniently located beside the train depot. For years the Blue Sulphur Inn was the center of Cedar Bluff's social life and activity as locals and visitors gathered almost nightly at the grand hotel to dance and enjoy music., ”The spring is what is known as blue sulphur water, located on the bank of the Clinch River in a lovely and romantic situation, and nearby is the Blue Sulphur Inn, with extensive and excellent accommodations.” , , A Handbook of Virginia, 1911