Lewis hopes to attract more people to Thrall Dam

LEWIS | As the calendar turned to October, Keene Valley trailheads overflowed with hikers wanting to take in the autumn leaves. Fifteen miles to the north on a recent resplendent fall morning, the parking lot at the Thrall Dam trail network was empty. Lewis wants to change that. Essex County's Thrall Dam once formed a lake that was a popular spot for fishing and picnicking back in the 1960s and '70s, said Supervisor Jim Monty, but as the dam disintegrated through the years the water drained away and so did the visitors. Left behind, however, was an attractive wetlands and network of old roads that are something of a blank slate for a new breed, or breeds, of vacationers keen on pursuits such as birding and mountain biking. At its Oct. 5 meeting, Essex County supervisors extended a free lease of the property to the Town of Lewis, which plans to develop multi-use trails with opportunities for hikers, bikers, horseback riders and ATVs in the summer, and snowshoeing, skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. "Lewis doesn't have a lot of tourism opportunities," Monty said. "We're hoping this evolves into a tourist destination." Monty said the late Charlie Martin and former supervisor Dave Blades had plans for revitalizing the property, and that he wanted to carry on the work "out of respect for Charlie." Work had begun with inmates from Moriah Shock, but the Covid-19 pandemic slowed the project. But a cadre of young volunteers, led by Ryan Hathaway, has volunteered its time. The town has also been consulting with the Barkeaters Trail Alliance, a mountain biking group, and Champlain Area Trails, which develops hiking routes. Grants are being acquired to pay for the project. Monty said the property, with more than 500 acres, will include a half-mile stone-dust trail for the eldery and handicapped. The mountain bike trails will be suitable to those who are learning the sport before graduating to challenging trails in the Boquet Valley at Blueberry Hill and Otis Mountain. Keene Supervisor Joe Pete Wilson said the Lewis model is a good one for towns that have some public land at their disposal. Traditionally, these lands have been logged periodically for one-time checks. But using the land for trails instead will bring in vacationers who will provide a more consistent stream of revenue for local businesses and treasuries, he said.

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Lewis hopes to attract more people to Thrall Dam

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