POINT PLEASANT — The Mason County Quilt Barn Trail is growing.

The trail began last year by putting eight quilt squares at various farms and locations around the county, and this year eight more squares will be added.

According to Denny Bellamy, Mason County Convention and Visitors Bureau chairman, squares are scheduled to go up once a month until October with the last square going to Bob’s Market in Mason. The most recent squares added to the trail include one in a belt buckle design at a mule farm located south of Hartford, and one at Simon’s Old Town Farm in Point Pleasant.

The quilt barn trail concept was started in Adams County, Ohio, by Donna Sue Groves, a former resident of West Virginia. After traveling throughout the Ohio River Valley, Groves noticed several empty barn walls and believed that painting quilt squares on them would be a chance to create public art that also would stimulate economic opportunities for local businesses and artists.

She then helped create the Adams County quilt barn project with the help of volunteers. The first quilt square was painted in October 2001, and shortly after that, other communities expressed interest in participating.

The National Quilt Trail is now in nine states, including Kentucky, Iowa and North Carolina, and Mason County has taken the first step to get West Virginia included.

In fact, Bellamy said that he is working with the state tourism center to bring the quilt trail across the rest of the state. As for Mason County’s trail, Bellamy hopes to have 25-30 quilt squares in the future. In addition, there will be a brochure detailing the county’s quilt trail in the fall.

Bellamy described the quilt trail as a way to bring people into the county from areas like Columbus and Cincinnati as the trail is connected to Gallia County, Ohio’s quilt trail.

According to Bellamy, making the quilt squares and placing them at various location is a lengthy process, which is why only one square is dedicated per month. However, just as the trail itself has grown so has the help involved in making the squares. Mason County Career Center students are now on board and have helped in the making of this year’s squares.

The next quilt square will be dedicated 10 a.m. today at the Meadow’s Farm on U.S. 35.

For more information, call the tourism center at 304-675-6788.