By late 1944, inmates from Mill Point Prison Camp finished WV 39 between Richwood and Mill Point. Sections of the road follow an old railroad grade of the Cherry River Boom and Lumber Company. A task force appointed by President John F. Kennedy advanced the idea of a scenic highway through the mountains of West Virginia. Initially designed as a longer route, WV 150 opened to the public in 1981. The Highland Scenic Highway spans 43 miles through the Allegheny Highlands and includes WV 150 and a portion of WV 39. The route is a designated National Scenic Byway and is managed by the Forest Service for scenic and recreation use and passenger car travel. Each year, thousands of visitors enjoy the scenery, panoramic vistas, and access to a high-altitude spruce and hardwood forest, with opportunities for hiking, backpacking, fishing, camping, and cross-country skiing.