La Crosse: Railroad History and the Tobacco Heritage Trail

La Crosse can be explored through two distinct themes: the town’s history, closely tied to the railroad, and the Tobacco Heritage Trail, with its connections to nature. These themes offer different perspectives as you plan your trip: the town’s development as a railroad junction and the trail’s seasonal birdlife.

Railroad History and the La Crosse Hotel

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. This sequence gives the town’s railroad history a clear timeline: first the arrival of the Atlantic & Danville Railroad, then the construction of the additional tracks.

The La Crosse Hotel was built by John H. Coulter in 1917 and is an outstanding example of an early 20th-century small-town railroad hotel. The two-story brick building stands across from the former site of the Seaboard-Air-Line station and La Crosse’s main business street. For nearly half a century, the hotel drew travelers and local residents with its communal dining room and guest rooms. Its historic role as a place to eat and stay is as much a part of its story as its location in the transportation landscape of the time.

The Tobacco Heritage Trail

The section between the trailheads in La Crosse and Brodnax is approximately 3.3 miles long. In the center of La Crosse, the route recommends taking family photos at the antique caboose. In this way, the trail description connects a specific spot in town with the section toward Brodnax, which is also described as a place to observe nature.

In spring and fall, this section 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. Both the seasons for birdwatching and the different habitats are useful points of reference for understanding the trail experience.

Trailhead directions are also specific: the parking lot at the La Crosse trailhead is shared with Va. Quilting. Restrooms for the La Crosse-to-Brodnax section are at the La Crosse Hotel, 500 feet from the trail.

Another Historic House Nearby

Near La Crosse is the O.H.P. Tanner House, a Georgian-style residence. According to dendrochronology, it dates to 1769; locally, the house is also known as the Old Courthouse. Comparing the two dates helps put the buildings in chronological context: 1769 refers to the Tanner House, while 1917 refers to the La Crosse Hotel.

Road Location and Former Transportation Junctions

La Crosse is located at an important intersection where I-85 and Virginia Route 58 meet. When it was a railroad junction, up to eight passenger trains stopped in town each day. The comparison highlights two distinct transportation eras: today’s road intersection and the railroad’s historic role in La Crosse.

For an overview of the wider area: Mecklenburg County.