La Crosse brings together the development of a railroad town and nature watching along the Tobacco Heritage Trail. For planning, these offer two distinct perspectives: traces of earlier rail connections in the townscape and a trail section between La Crosse and Brodnax. You can shape your stay around whether local history or time outdoors is more important to you.
Railroad History in the Townscape
La Crosse came into being directly as a result of the Atlantic & Danville Railroad’s arrival in 1889 in the small village then known as Piney Pond. When the Seaboard Air Line tracks were built through La Crosse in 1900, the town became an important junction for two major transportation routes. At its height as a railroad junction, as many as eight passenger trains stopped in La Crosse each day.
The La Crosse Hotel was built by John H. Coulter in 1917. The two-story brick building stands across from the former site of the Seaboard Air Line station and the main business street of the town of La Crosse in Mecklenburg County. For nearly half a century, the hotel drew travelers and local residents with its shared dining room and guest rooms. The train numbers describe the transportation hub; the hotel’s history turns the focus to dining and overnight stays in town during that era.
Another local landmark is La Crosse’s location at a major intersection where I-85 and Virginia Route 58 meet.
Tobacco Heritage Trail: Nature and Orientation
The section of the Tobacco Heritage Trail from the La Crosse trailhead to the Brodnax trailhead is approximately 3.3 miles long. In spring and fall, it offers opportunities to observe warblers, vireos, nuthatches, and other resident and migratory birds. The section also includes riparian and wetland areas connected to Little Genito Creek. This part of the trail therefore combines a specific trail length with seasonal wildlife-watching opportunities and a variety of habitats.
The route also recommends that visitors take family photos at the antique caboose in downtown La Crosse. At the trailhead, parking is shared with Va. Quilting. Restrooms for this section are at the La Crosse Hotel, 500 feet from the trail.
An Older Cultural Landmark Nearby
Near La Crosse is the O.H.P. Tanner House, a Georgian-style residence. According to dendrochronological dating, it dates to 1769; it is also known locally as the Old Courthouse. Its construction date therefore predates the later railroad history: the house’s date precedes the Atlantic & Danville Railroad’s arrival in 1889 and the construction of the La Crosse Hotel in 1917. When choosing the focus of your stay, this creates a contrast in time between an early residence, a railroad town, and a trail section with natural features.
For the broader travel overview: Mecklenburg County.
