We secured some initial funding commitments , completed a full market study and an initial design – and then set out to find a hotel developer to take the project on . While everyone agreed that it looked like a good project , it was too small and Elkins was just too rural for traditional hotel developers .
Deciding to develop the project ourselves , it took us until 2022 to put the financing together , and we started construction later that year .
What impact do you think the Lost Towns / Lost Communities art initiative will have on the hotel and its guests ?
The Lost Towns project highlights the old logging towns of the region , which were home to hundreds of people for decades but have largely faded from our collective memory . Just as the hotel could have been lost to the passing of time , the memory and stories of these towns , and their residents who are the foundation of today ’ s remaining communities was very nearly lost . Thanks to the hard work of local historians and the efforts of our artists , we hope to honor and call attention to these places and people with this project .
We hope more guests go search out the sites of the Lost Towns and develop a deeper understanding of the rich history of this often-overlooked region . It also gives us an opportunity to highlight special places in the region very much worth a visit – the Sinks of
Gandy , the old town of Spruce , the West Fork Rail Trail , Otter Creek Wilderness , and others .
What aspects of the renovation are you most proud of and why ?
From the very beginning , the Tygart redevelopment has felt very much like a locally-driven project . The City of Elkins has been a key partner from the very beginning ; Elkins ’ Main Street helped shape the vision and led local engagement in the project ; the Chamber , the Randolph County Development Authority , local business owners and others devoted a lot of time and energy to crafting the original plan for the building restoration . Key investments for the project came from local community banks , with Davis
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Trust Company , Freedom Bank , and Pendleton Community Bank leading the charge .
The Tygart has been an $ 18M redevelopment , and will create 57 good paying , decent jobs . I hope the project demonstrates how economic development can be driven from within and by the community .
Not unlike other towns in our region , I think the project demonstrates that Elkins has a lot of smart , creative people who can accomplish much when working together .
How has the local community responded to having such an iconic and historic hotel back in town ?
As a community-driven project , redevelopment of the Tygart has had strong support from the very beginning . We ’ ve been getting requests for months now from local residents and local groups looking to book the hotel for upcoming events and gatherings . I think everyone is excited to see the finished product , and I ’ m really hoping the Hotel becomes a central gathering space for our community .
What would you suggest a guest experience while visiting
Elkins and the surrounding area ?
I think the Lost Towns provide a great starting point for exploring the area , and following these get you to some of the most iconic destinations in our region – Spruce Knob & the Sinks of Gandy , Otter Creek Wilderness , Watoga State Park , and many , many more . For me , I look for any opportunity to get out and ski , bike or paddle – canoeing the Greenbrier or the upper Cheat , cross country skiing at Whitegrass , biking the West Fork trail or the Blackwater Canyon – all of these are relatively easily accessible for visitors to the area , and we have great outfitters and guides in our region that can help point the way .