care and transportation for people who need to get to and from hospice.
Tourism
Tourism in the Eastern Panhandle is booming, driven by its vibrant mix of history, culture and outdoor adventure.
Photo by Martinsburg-Berkeley County CVB.
Berkeley Springs has long utilized its state parks to host nationwide and international events. Cacapon State Park has hosted the International Bow Hunting Organization’ s international championships for the past two years and is also one host of the Enduro Series Race.
Cacapon State Park hosts 30 miles of single-track trails and will add another 30 miles of track over the next three years.
“ We say it’ s the best mountain biking from Arkansas to Vermont,” says Dusty Martin, executive director of Travel Berkeley Springs.
Goodwin touches on Cacapon State Park’ s new bike trail development as well, saying that once completed, it will be one of the Mid-Atlantic region’ s premier mountain biking destinations.
“ The park has already attracted numerous riders with its current trails. They’ ve hosted some high school mountain bike competitions and other events that have brought hundreds of riders from across the state and tristate region to the park, so it’ s already
becoming an attraction,” she says.
Gavin Bates says tourism is the key component of growth in Jefferson County, which has the highest number of visitor spending in the state at $ 864 million.
“ Tourism, I will say repeatedly, is nonpartisan,” Gavin Bates says.
“ I think it speaks to all parties and people, and I think it’ s the positive driver across the state.”
Jordan says Martinsburg and Berkeley county’ s occupancy was up in July and emphasizes the CVB’ s partnership with neighboring states like Maryland and Virginia to drive visitation.
“ We have visitors who don’ t really see county lines, and where we’ re located, they don’ t really see state lines,” Jordan says.“ They just want to have a great experience and see what we offer as far as fine dining, great distilleries, fun bars, nice shopping and eclectic buildings.”
Health Care
Health care in the Eastern Panhandle is evolving, strengthening the wellness of the entire community.
WVU Medicine is helping advance the region’ s health care with a $ 260 million investment in Berkeley and Jefferson counties that will provide greater access to care.
“ Access might be considered,‘ Is the service available, can I afford it or can
I get to it? Are there appointments? Are there enough physicians?’ We’ re trying to touch on all those components of access,” says Jeannie Constable, vice president of marketing and communications at WVU Hospitals East.
Part of the investment will go toward The Tower, a massive expansion to Berkeley Medical Center. This will provide more private rooms, update technology and reflow the emergency department. There will also be a $ 60 million construction project at the Jefferson Medical Center, adding a three-story building with new medical office space, updated infrastructure and specialty services.
Valley Health is expanding its presence in the Eastern Panhandle with a new state-of-the-art facility in Ranson that will replace its current internal medicine practice and provide services such as primary care and laboratory testing.
The system is also advancing care through a $ 100 million investment funding two major projects: the Behavioral Health Pavilion at Winchester Medical Center, which will double capacity for mental health services, and the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Tower, which will enhance recovery programs for patients with serious injuries or illnesses.
“ With plans for continued growth, Valley Health remains committed to providing high-quality care close to home for West Virginia residents, specifically in Jefferson County, as one of the fastest growing areas in the state,” says Mark Nantz, president and CEO of Valley Health.
From expanding infrastructure and improving education to strengthening health care and promoting tourism, new initiatives in the Eastern Panhandle are promising the region’ s long-lasting growth. •
Photo by WVU Medicine.
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