Gilbert, West Virginia – The 26th‑year Trailfest turned the quiet mountain town into a bustling hub of off‑road excitement this weekend. Thousands of ATV and side‑by‑side riders arrived from across the East Coast, and even nearby McDowell County residents like local barbecue vendor Sheila Bailey set up shop to serve the crowd.
“A lot of new people. I love meeting new people,” Bailey said. “It’s our first year at Trailfest, we got invited this year and it’s a lot of fun.”
Beyond the roar of engines, the three‑day event offered obstacle courses, mud pits, dirt‑bike drag races and a kids zone, providing family‑friendly entertainment while delivering a rapid economic jolt to the community.
Economic impact felt across the county
Discover Mingo Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Tige Harless described the festival as the largest short‑term economic boost the area has seen. “It’s the largest economic boom we’ve had here in Gilbert, quite possibly the largest economic boom in a three‑day period for all of Mingo County,” Harless said. “By hosting this event we booked out probably 95 to 90 % of all the hotel rooms, lodges, cabins, campsites.”
Gilbert Mayor Michael Fox echoed that sentiment, noting how the influx of visitors transforms the town’s daily rhythm. “We go from a community, Monday through Wednesday of 275 people inside city limits to Friday, Saturday night, we might have 3,700 people inside city limits,” Fox explained.
Local merchants reported generous sales, with many customers specifically seeking out the small, family‑owned stores that give Gilbert its distinctive charm. “They’re very generous. People come in they know it’s a small community, mom‑and‑pop stores, so hey, give me two of those and one of them,” Fox added.
Looking ahead
While Trailfest occurs only once a year, the Hatfield‑McCoy Trails continue to draw weekend visitors throughout the season, reinforcing the town’s reputation as a premier destination for outdoor recreation. Community leaders hope the festival’s success will encourage further investment in infrastructure and promote additional events that showcase Gilbert’s natural beauty and hospitality.
As the dust settles on this year’s Trailfest, the town’s businesses and residents alike are already planning for the next edition, confident that the momentum generated this weekend will carry forward into a stronger, more vibrant local economy.
Original reporting: WCHS Eyewitness News Charleston (local) — read the source article.
