Ecusta Trail Partners

The Ecusta Trail Partners Program

The Ecusta Trail Partners Program is a voluntary collaboration between Henderson County and entities located along the Ecusta Trail to volunteer amenities such as parking and restrooms in exchange for free marketing on trail materials. Although amenities are designed for Phase I of the trail, they will not be installed upon trail opening. So, the County will need the assistance of local businesses and property owners to provide amenities during this time.

The Trail Partners Program is broken into four categories, based on level of support:

Trail Partner - An entity volunteering amenities to share with trail users in exchange for marketing (only for properties directly adjacent to the trail).
Trail Sponsor - Any entity not adjacent to the trail that wishes to pay for a trail amenity or sponsor an adjacent business to provide an amenity.
Trail Supporter - Any entity not adjacent to the trail that wishes to volunteer time or resources to support the trail.
Trail Lease Program - For qualifying entities willing to lease amenities, in full, to the County for trail users.

Amenities offered to trail users could include:

Bicycle parking facilities
- Bike racks
- Bike fix-it station
Vehicle parking
Restrooms
Water refill and/or distribution

Ecusta Trail Business Stakeholders: Second Meeting

Monday, March 11, 2024

Henderson County Staff hosted the second Ecusta Trail Business Group meeting for the Ecusta Trail Partners Program on Monday, March 11th in the King Street Meeting Room at 100 N. King Street. The meeting kicked off at 9:30 AM with a brief presentation from County Staff regarding Ecusta Trail updates and a recap of the first meeting held in October 2023. The main event of the meeting was a panel of business and property owners located along the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Travelers Rest and Greenville, SC. Panelists included; The Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery, Sidewall Pizza Company, Topsoil Restaurant & The Swamp Rabbit Inn, and the Travelers Rest United Methodist Church. Panelists were asked questions related to their business and experiences being located adjacent to a trail. Meeting attendees were invited to ask the panelists questions following the panel discussion.

Future meeting topics will include how to make your business or entity more "trail-oriented". For more information on becoming a trail-oriented business, visit this page.

Click here to watch the March 11th meeting and panel discussion!

If you are interested in participating or have questions, please contact the Planning Department at 828.697.4819

Ecusta Trail Business Stakeholders: First Meeting
Tuesday October 3rd, 2023

The first Ecusta Trail Business Stakeholders meeting was held on Tuesday, October 3rd at the Blue Ridge Community College's Conference Hall. The County held a morning meeting at 10am and an afternoon version of the same meeting at 3pm. Property owners and businesses directly adjacent to the Ecusta Trail corridor were invited to attend to learn more about the trail, where we are in the process, and about the Trail Partners Program where businesses can share amenities with trail users for free marketing on trail maps and materials. The rest of the meeting was dedicated to a listening session where county staff and Friends of the Ecusta Trail members learned from attendees what their business needs were related to the upcoming trail.

Future meetings will be held on different topics related to businesses adjacent to trails. If you are a business owner or property owner directly adjacent to the Ecusta Trail corridor, please stay tuned for the next meeting date.

Click here to watch a recording of the Trail Partners presentation given at the meeting.