Backroads of Appalachia is a 501(c)3 with a passion and empathy for the Appalachian region driving economic development, job training and opportunity to the poverty stricken areas of Appalachia through tourism and motorsports.
We’ve trademarked three motorsports trails using pre-existing backroads throughout Appalachia traveling through Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio. We choose beautiful Appalachian highways traveling through distressed former coal towns to promote tourism. Our headquarters is based in Lynch, KY in Harlan County— one of the poorest counties in Kentucky. As of December 2019, Harlan County had an unemployment rate triple the national average. This town that once boomed with 10,000 residents now has less than 500. Like Lynch, we find distressed towns along beautiful Appalachian backroads and infuse new tourism dollars supporting local businesses, providing jobs, relieving poverty, and improving quality of life for low-income residents.
Our Welcome Center is staffed by individuals participating in FAHE’s Transformational Employment program which supports people on their road to recovery, the welcome center will attract many of the projected 5,000+ annual trail visitors and support local businesses by sharing their location information and selling local products and souvenirs.
Featured In
Sponsorships
Michelin Motorcycle is a major sponsor with a vision to help us grow and offers the ultimate on and off road riding opportunities.
Mountain View Lodge in St. Paul Virginia. A great place to book your stay while your check out our many destinations in the area.
Haltech is a world leader in automotive engine management systems. It’s a Huge deal for their sponsorship with us and our non profit organization. We can not wait to see what the future brings in!
doughandjoebsg@gmail.com
559 N Mayo Trial Pikeville, Kentucky 41501
(606)432-1556
100 Central Avenue Benham, Ky 40807
(606)848-3000
469 State Hwy 3073 Partridge, Ky 40862
(606)589-4414
4609 Aerial Way, Big Stone Gap Virginia
(276)523-5911
8331 US Hwy 119
(606)573-9009
stephenm_foster@msn.com
1615 East Main St. Cumberland, Ky 40823
(606)894-0330
We recently opened our non-profit headquarters at the Lynch, KY train depot with a Welcome Center for the Dragon Slayer Hwy 160 trail at a former satellite bank location nearby with a large parking lot for motorsports tourists. We are seeking funds to support the following projects:
General Support
Help us expand our operations and create more jobs for people in addiction recovery programs
Tradeshow Kit
Create a tourism tradeshow kit to travel across the nation encouraging tourism in Appalachia
Welcome Center
improve our Welcome Center and add outdoor seating for optimal social distancing
Outdoor Photo Venue
Develop an outdoor photo venue for motorists along Hwy 160
Wayfinding System
Develop a physical and digital wayfinding system along trails for visitors
Announcements
December 2021
Backroads of Appalachia is advertising for Engineering Services to provide drafting and design work for upgrades to the Welcome Center in Lynch . Please see the attached document by selecting “Request for Proposal” to the right.