FXBG Neighbors Podcast
Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast
FXBG Neighbors Podcast
EP #199 What Happens When A Backyard Trail Becomes A Public Treasure
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A forgotten railroad can become a community’s front porch, and the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail is a perfect example. I’m joined by Laurie Schlemm, president of the trail, to tell the story of a 16-mile corridor in King George County, Virginia that started in 1942 as a World War II rail line and is now drawing walkers, cyclists, families, and photographers from across the region. If you’ve heard locals talk about “the DHRT,” you’ll finally understand why it keeps showing up in trail photos and weekend plans.
We dig into how one especially striking mile runs through the area now connected to Caledon State Park, where wetlands, birds, and a canopy of trees make the trail feel like a shaded sanctuary. Laurie shares what visitors can expect on the most photographed stretch, what makes the wildlife viewing special, and why the nearby bald eagle nesting grounds make this part of Virginia such a standout for nature lovers.
Then we get practical about what it takes to protect outdoor spaces for the long term. Laurie explains the behind-the-scenes push to bring the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail into the Virginia State Park System, why permits and usage numbers matter, and how a trail can help create real weekend tourism that benefits local businesses. Subscribe, share this with your favorite trail buddy, and leave a review telling us: what would make you plan a weekend around a rail trail?
Laurie Schlemm
Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail
dahlgrenrrheritagetrail@gmail.com
P.O. Box 53, King George, VA
Welcome To FXBG Neighbors
SpeakerThis is the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Dori Stewart.
Speaker 2Welcome back to another episode of the FXBG Neighbors Podcast, where we share the stories of our favorite local brands. I have a special guest joining me today. We've got Laurie Schlemm with us. She is the president of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail. Laurie, welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 1Yeah, hello. Welcome to be here. Thank you.
Speaker 2I'm so excited for this. I'm excited to learn more about you, and I'm excited to learn about the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage
What The Dahlgren Trail Is
Speaker 2Trail. So let's start there. Share with us a little bit about the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail.
Speaker 1Well, it is in King George County, King George, Virginia. It is 16 miles long. It was originally built in 1942, World War II, and um for the naval weapons for the Fredericksburg to Dahlgren. And then it was slowly, it was abandoned, like so many railroads had been. And then it was privately purchased. Then that owner sold it to David Brickley, who currently owns it. And his goal, his dream is to have it become part of Caledon State Park, which is the Virginia State Park System.
Speaker 2Amazing. And so talk to me about your role. What do you do with the trail?
Saving Lake Caledon And The Trail
Speaker 1Well, it's a little bit of a long history. I'll make it as short as possible. Um, my husband's family, seven generations, had lived right where I live. Now I'm across from Caledon State Park. And uh unfortunately the 465 acres was sold, and it was sold to a developer and was going to build 97 homes. That developer sold it to another developer, which I'm so glad he did on Gerald Properties in Fredericksburg. And I said, if I ever won the lottery, the first check I would write is to buy this land back. I I started my goal that to save Lake Caledon, which that's what the developer had named it. And last year it did become part of Caledon State Park. And how that ties into the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail, uh, short, you call it the DHRT, D-R H T. Um, because one mile of the DHRT runs through Lake Caledon, and it is one of the most photographed trails in Virginia. It's exquisite, the wildlife, the wetlands, the birds galore, and um and it is just a very lovely trail that is pretty much covered in a canopy of trees. So even on this awful hot day, you still are in the shade with a little bit of a breeze.
Permits And Why They Matter
Speaker 2Amazing. And so that trail is open to the public to come and walk and photograph.
Speaker 1It is. Um, we do at this time we do ask that people, it's very easy on the website to get a permit. And because we want it to become part of the Park State system, um, we like to know how many people are using it. So the more people that use it, the more the General Assembly in Richmond, Virginia says, well, this is kind of important. A lot of people are using it, and that is kind of the main purpose behind the permit. So anybody please get on um the website, and it's very easy to get it. Sign up, takes you 30 seconds, and that way um we know how many people are using the trail.
Speaker 2Amazing.
The Push To Join The State Park
Speaker 2So that's a good tip. And so talk to me about that process of getting the trail to become part of the park and and what you're having to to kind of go through with all of that. It sounds, it sounds like a whole thing, and it really is.
Speaker 1Um, I've been told I kind of create a miracle when it came to Lake Caledon. And then I was asked, Laurie, if you did that, can you now do it for the DHRT? And I said, Well, give me a try. And I've been president since January, and it is already moving forward, and it's who you know, how it benefits the county, how it benefits the people that want to come and visit. And it's very important to make it a weekend trip, not just a day or a half a day. We really would like people to come visit into um King George County, and so our state representatives realize this, and so you do need to talk and sell this, how important it is for the community. And um I'm hoping, I'm keeping my fingers crossed, that by the end of this year there is a written, somewhat contract that we could assure that everything is moving into the right direction to have it become part of the state park and become part of Caledon State Park, and that will make Caledon one of the largest state parks in Virginia.
Speaker 2Oh wow, I didn't realize that.
Speaker 1It is, it's 3,500 acres now, and we've added 465, and we're about to add another 240. So it's yeah, so and right here in King George County, place, you know, right between the Potomac and the Rappahannock, it's just not a better location.
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah. And I love that you are working with uh, you know, the county and others to to make it part of a destination and bring people into King George. I imagine the business community is um very supportive.
Speaker 1It very much so. And um actually our state senator, uh Richard Stewart, lives right next door from Caledon State Park. And as everybody knows, he's very much into the environment, and so we certainly appreciate his support.
Speaker 2That's amazing.
Clearing Up Trail Misconceptions
Speaker 2Do you hear any myths or misconceptions that you want to clear up for us?
Speaker 1Well, I think in the past, a lot of people said nobody wanted this trail. I was one of those people because when we owned the 465 acres the family did, one mile of it ran through our backyard. Who would want that in their backyard? So as time went on, when the trail was sold to David Brooklyn, and if you can't beat them, join them. So I join it. So why not make it the best it possibly can be? So so many people are in favor of this trail, and I haven't really personally run across somebody that had said, Laurie, you've lost your mind. Um, everybody is very supportive.
Speaker 2That's good, that's good. So tell me, I want to learn more about
Laurie’s Background And Leadership
Speaker 2you. Tell me about your background, and I I imagine there's something that you have done in your past that has helped uh prepare you for these challenges that you are going up against right now.
Speaker 1Well, I guess we all look back, and um, my parents were fantastic, a military family. My father fought in three wars in the Air Force. They're both now buried at Arlington Cemetery. Um, I trained professionally horses. I think that put you kind of in a situation that you are in the front of the public, you built your self-confidence. Then I managed the dental practice for many, many years. I still am a Mary Kay um consultant. I had earned my car, and um so it just everything I've done just kind of I kind of have the gift of gab, you might say, and very enthusiastic. And when I have a mission, I just like to share it with everyone.
Speaker 2I love that, and all of those things that you have done in your past are all things that are in, you know, kind of a management and very much um, you know, people-facing type of thing. So it makes a lot of sense.
Speaker 1Yes, yes. Never say never, and don't be ever afraid of trying, because if I didn't try to do Lake Caledon, at least, you know, and if I failed, at least I tried. But you should always try, follow your heart, and um I just truly believe that.
Speaker 2That's really good advice in in life, in business, in family. Uh, I love that.
Speaker 1Well, my little saying when I was very heavy into Mary Kay is you never know until you say hello. And it was very true in all aspects of your life.
Speaker 2Absolutely. I love that. So, what is something maybe that we haven't talked about yet, that you
Dogs, Wildlife, And Best Spots
Speaker 2would like the listeners to know about the DHRT?
Speaker 1Oh, well, I'm on it at least twice, maybe three times a day. Um, my husband retired two years ago, and he wanted to a um uh rescue German shepherds, foster shepherds, and he has now fostered over 80 shepherds, have found forever homes for. So on the DHRT, you will find me and a lot and a lot of times my husband with German Shepherds, you'll find a lot of people with their dogs. Um and everybody is very polite. Uh, the bicyclists, a lot of families. And um, the section that is the most photographed is the parking lot on Indian Town Road, and then head east. Um, wetlands on both sides. You'll see the beaver huts. You kind of have to know where the eagle nests are. There are two eagle nests, and um, of course, Caledon State Park across the street is still one of the largest nesting grounds for bald eagles on the East Coast. And so Lake Caledon and the DHRT is just encompassing what nature is and for people to come and visit. And uh it's just a sanctuary, it really is.
Speaker 2Amazing.
How To Visit And Final Thanks
Speaker 2If the listeners want to plan a visit, give us the uh give us the website.
Speaker 1It is, and I'll give it to you. It's dahlgrentrail.org.
Speaker 2Amazing.
Speaker 1So D-A-H-L-G-R-E-N trail. Dahlgren is a funny word to spell. That's what it is. Yeah.
Speaker 2Amazing. Well, Laurie, thank you so much for joining me on the podcast today and sharing Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail with us.
Speaker 1Oh, you're so welcome. And thank you for asking me. And I can't wait to meet all new faces on the trail.
Speaker 2Amazing. Thank you.
SpeakerThank you for listening to the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to FXBG Neighbors Podcast.com.