Big Stoney Creek – July 11, 2025 Update:
10 News is learning more about a series of sinkholes that have opened in Giles County, particularly one that has swallowed a portion of Norcross Road next to Big Stoney Creek.
Here’s a look at what the largest sinkhole looks like as of Wednesday, July 10, as it continues to grow.
Richard Chidester, who sent in the first photo, said the collapse seems to have stopped the water from going underground, which is good news as the creek is now flowing once again.
The Giles County Sheriff’s Department said that as it’s expanded, VDOT has installed additional barriers around the site.
The county estimates these sinkholes will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to fix.
July 7, 2025 Update:
10 News was back on scene Monday of a massive sinkhole on Norcross Road in Giles County. In almost a week’s time, the sinkhole has increased in size, swallowing more roadway and surrounding trees.
Side-by-side drone footage shown here shows the difference in size between 10 News’ visits on site.
County leaders are still working on a solution. 10 News will keep you updated on this developing story.
July 2, 2025 Update:
Multiple massive sinkholes along Big Stoney Creek in Giles County, continue to expand, threatening local infrastructure and disrupting residential water supplies.
The largest sinkhole, which has swallowed portions of Norcross Road, actively grew during a 10 News site visit, with chunks of roadway collapsing into the void.
“It’s a very dangerous situation, very fluid because sinkholes open up all the time. We live in karst terrain,” said Giles County Administrator Chris McKlarney. “It is not uncommon for them to open up. We’ve got one right now in 460. We’ve a lane of 460 right next to our high school that’s closed and VDOT is working on that. So this is a common thing in our community. You live in the mountains, you live in Karst terrain and it has lots of benefits. It also comes with some peril and that’s one of them.”
In the two hours 10 News was on site, cracks along a depression of land surrounding the sinkhole widened.
“This area is likely to settle and it could happen at any point.”
Safety Concerns Mount as Sinkholes Multiply
The expanding cavity near Norcross Road represents the largest of seven sinkholes that have appeared in the Big Stoney Creek area. County officials warn the hazards are particularly dangerous because the sinkholes can be difficult to spot at ground level until observers are dangerously close to the edge.
Aerial views reveal the extensive damage, showing multiple areas where the ground has given way.
“You’re going to have sink holes in a karst terrain, so in Giles County we have a lot of karst and it’s a natural process with limestone,” McKlarney said.
In fact, Lhoist North America of Virginia’s #1 mine is located right beside the largest sinkhole by Big Stoney Creek. The mine produces limestone at it’s Kimballton plant. According to a historic American landscapes Survey report submitted to Mountain Valley Pipeline in 2019, the Standard Lime and Stone Company opened the plant in Kimballton after World War II. The plant and mine opened near the older National Gypsum mine. The Standard Lime and Stone mine had an output of 1,725 tons of limestone per day in the 1960s.
While the sinkholes have gained attention from onlookers, McKlarney warns the area is dangerous and not to cross the taped off areas.
“And so if they see a sinkhole, the best thing to do is try to stay away from it, obviously, because they can, as you just heard while we’re standing here, this one’s falling in, so you never know when that’s going to happen. Most sinkholes are relatively stable. When you find a new opening though, you need to stay a way from it for a while. It will eventually likely stabilize, but you don’t know how much larger it’s going to grow. These sinkholes started out as the size of a basketball, and now you see what they’ve grown into. So you’ve got to be really careful,“ McKlarney said.
The situation has deteriorated since 2020, with previous sinkholes threatening a local bridge just upstream from the current sinkhole. McKlarney said the sinkhole years ago that opened just downstream of the bridge became “enormous and literally swallowed the creek.”
Luckily VDOT and the county were able to repair and stabilize the area around the bridge, filling it with donated rock and materials from Lhoist.
Water Supply Disruptions Impact Residents
The sinkholes are creating more than structural concerns. Local resident Terry Speckmeier has lost access to clean water as the ground shifts affect local wells.
“When you can’t bathe at your own house, when you can’t wash clothes, when can’t wash dishes, you can’t drink your water, you can run your water because it’s just all mud, it’s frustrating,” Speckmeier said.
Complex Solutions Required
Addressing these geological hazards will require coordination between multiple local and state agencies. Officials estimate repair costs could reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. McKlarney met with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Wednesday to talk about possible permits needed to repair the holes, as well as the loss of habitat to the endangered Candy darter.
Candy darters are a small freshwater fish native to the Gauley, Greenbrier and New River watersheds in Virginia and West Virginia. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, the darter has disappeared from at least half its range because of pollution, competition and hybridization with other fish. It was first deemed in need of protection in 1982. Nearly half of the 35 known candy darter populations have disappeared since the species was first described in 1932, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
While sinkholes are common in the karst terrain of the New River Valley, the scale and rapid development of these particular formations have created unprecedented challenges for the community.
McKlarney said partnerships with local, state and even federal entities will be necessary to find a solution to the problem.
“Those partnerships are going to be crucial. Obviously VDOT is now a partner in this as they have lost a road here, but Fish and Wildlife and the Corps of Engineers have been great to this point. They’ve been very accessible and worked with us and they want to see something happen here I think. And they understand the need to maintain access to roads and importance of the bridge here in this area.
McKlarney said VDOT has been proactive in the area, shutting down the road before the sinkhole opened up.
“They’re doing a lot of work on the bridge now to determine if there’s any settlement. They’ve set control points all over it and so we’re appreciative of all those partnerships."
10 News was there on site as VDOT employees were inspecting the bridge.
While a long term solution is still in the works, McKlarney said the county is working to make sure Speckmeier has water.
“Clearly this is having a greater impact on him than anyone else. So we want to try to help him as much as possible. Again, there are landowners downstream, too. But, I think it’s important for people to understand this is not something you just jump in and solve overnight. So it’s going to take a little time and Mr. Speckmeier has been great to work with. He’s been very patient. I know he’s frustrated with the situation as we all would be."
July 1, 2025:
A massive sinkhole has opened up at Big Stoney Creek in Giles County, swallowing a section of Norcross Road and forcing its closure.
Virginia Department of Transportation officials shut down the road this week to prevent accidents as the sinkhole continues to grow.
Sinkholes are not uncommon in Giles County, but a recent series of them have caused significant issues, including the disappearance of parts of Big Stoney Creek. Video footage shows the creek’s water diverting underground through newly formed sinkholes.
At least one home belonging to Terry Speckmeier and his family, lost water supply after the sinkholes caused their well to dry up. Several farms could also potentially be affected by the changes to the water flow.
County Administrator Chris McKlarney said officials are actively working to address the problem, but it’s not an easy fix.
“We are aware of the situation and are coordinating efforts to find a solution,” the administrator said. McKlarney said they are actively working with VDOT and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources to address the issue. He also said the county is making sure the Speckmeier family has water.
The repair is expected to be costly and complex. McKlarney said the county has dealt with this issue since 2020, though sinkholes opening in Giles County has long been an issue due in part to the karst topography.
10 News will have more details on the potential causes of the sinkholes and the expense involved to fix the issue Wednesday on WSLS 10.