View from Flag Rock Norton, Virginia.
by Lewis Loflin
In 2007, Washington County allocated significant public funds to construct a new library in Damascus, Virginia, under the guise of promoting tourism. The project, costing $1,222,500, was funded through multiple sources: $658,000 from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Transportation Enhancement program, $419,500 from Washington County, $100,000 from the Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission (intended for jobs and healthcare), $15,000 from the Washington County Library Foundation, and $30,000 plus land from the town of Damascus. Despite the nearly $1 million investment, Damascus continues to face economic challenges, with a 15% poverty rate and declining per capita income, raising questions about the effectiveness and appropriateness of using public funds for this purpose.
The library was promoted as a “tourism facility” to attract visitors to the Virginia Creeper Trail and Appalachian Trail (AT), with VDOT justifying its $658,000 grant by claiming the library would “improve non-motorized transportation” and “enhance the public’s traveling experience.” However, the library’s role in tourism appears overstated. It was designed to distribute Creeper Trail flyers, but there is no evidence that visitors use the library as a starting point for trail activities. Existing infrastructure, including trailhead signs, bike shops like Sundog Outfitter (established before 2007), and online resources such as vacreepertrail.org, already provide ample guidance for tourists. Staff at the larger Washington County library in Abingdon reported no significant tourist traffic, suggesting the Damascus library’s tourism impact is minimal. Additionally, tourists cannot check out books, limiting the library’s appeal as a destination.
The Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) estimates the Creeper Trail generates $2-3 million annually for Washington County, but this figure lacks substantiation. A 2007 study pegged the trail’s economic impact at $1.59 million ($1.2 million direct spending by ~106,000 non-local users, $30-$50 per trip), but it conflates spending with the AT, Damascus’s primary tourism driver, which contributes ~$1-2 million locally (2018 estimate). The study also counts affluent locals, such as Abingdon retirees (23% over 65), as “tourists,” inflating figures with their minimal spending ($10-$20 vs. tourists’ $30-$50). The AT’s established draw, including Trail Days (10,000-20,000 visitors, $40,000 tax revenue), and pre-existing tourism infrastructure further diminish the library’s necessity as a visitor center.
The art, entertainment, and recreation sector, which includes trails and cultural events, experienced a 20% decline from 2010 to 2020, driven by factors such as digital competition (e.g., streaming services), economic stagnation in Southwest Virginia (Washington County’s population fell ~5% over the decade), and the 2020 pandemic’s impact on events like Trail Days. This decline likely reduced Creeper Trail activity, with usage or spending potentially dropping from ~130,000 users (2007) to ~104,000 by 2020, or from $30-$50 to $24-$40 per visitor. The library, completed after 2010, did not reverse this trend. No new jobs or businesses have emerged in Damascus as a result, and the town’s 15% poverty rate persists, indicating the $658,000 VDOT grant failed to deliver measurable economic benefits.
A 2008 blue-ribbon panel reviewing the Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission criticized the misuse of public funds for projects like this, noting they often fail to deliver promised results. The Commission’s $100,000 contribution was intended for education, not tourism, per its annual report, and a 2011 JLARC report found the Commission’s $1.1 billion in grants produced only a 2% regional economic impact, often benefiting specific interests rather than the broader public. These findings highlight systemic issues with oversight and accountability in the use of public funds for such initiatives. (Ref. BHC July 25, 2008)
View from Flag Rock Norton, Virginia.
The library’s modern design, inspired by the area’s historic train station and located 100 feet from the AT (near Water Street and Beaver Dam Avenue), has contributed to Damascus’s improved appearance, as noted by a local realtor. However, this aesthetic enhancement has come at a significant cost to the community. Affluent retirees, attracted by the town’s charm and recreational amenities, have driven up property values, with home prices rising from approximately $100,000 in 2005 to $200,000 in 2025. This increase in living costs, including rent and taxes, has displaced low-income residents, exacerbating economic disparity in a town where 15% live in poverty. Public funds intended for transportation or economic development have instead subsidized infrastructure benefiting affluent retirees and tourists, leaving the broader public—particularly Washington County’s 12% poor and Wise County’s 17% (where my siblings reside)—without meaningful support. This dynamic aligns with the concept of “Social Apartheid” described on my website, where economic policies deepen inequality.
In contrast, a Washington County grant (likely $25,000-$250,000, pre-2007) for Food City at 736 N Beaver Dam Ave, the only grocery within 20 miles, provided a tangible public good by ensuring food access for locals, including SNAP/EBT support, despite its higher prices. The library project, however, prioritizes an affluent minority without addressing the community’s broader needs, highlighting a misallocation of public resources.
The library project, initially budgeted at $1,122,944, ultimately cost $1,222,500 upon completion (post-2010). Expenses included site preparation and parking ($208,108), building construction ($899,836), and a contingency fund ($15,000). Funding came from VDOT ($658,000), Washington County ($419,500), the Tobacco Commission ($100,000), the Washington County Library Foundation ($15,000), and the town of Damascus ($30,000 plus land). On October 26, 2010, the Washington County Board of Supervisors approved bidding for the Damascus Visitor’s Center & Branch Library Project, as presented by Library Director Charlotte Parsons and architect Jeff Johnson (McCarty Hostaple McCarty, Knoxville, TN). Plans were submitted to VDOT on October 21, 2010, for final approval, with construction beginning shortly after and the library completed in the following years.