Stories of Success
Southern West Virginia ’ s Tourism Boom
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JEAN HARDIMAN
Photo by David Smith / BrandJRNY .
Tourism has always been a critical piece of West Virginia ’ s economy . But amidst the COVID-19 pandemic , it ’ s been nothing less than a lifesaver , especially in Southern West Virginia , where fresh air and the wild , natural beauty of the mountains have come back in a big way .
The appeal of the terrain , rivers , locally owned eateries , parks , resorts and adventure attractions is not news to the people of Southern West Virginia . However , hardworking businesses and development teams are more than happy to see the many folks from within West Virginia and beyond discovering their worth and seeking a break from the pandemic blues here in the Mountain State . It has not only bolstered the region ’ s economy but has given it a boost when so many businesses are struggling like never before .
Hit the Trails
One significant success story is the Hatfield McCoy Trail System , which grew 15.1 % in 2020 , with 8,700 new riders and a total ridership of 65,000 for the year , according to Executive Director Jeffrey Lusk .
“ Many of these guests were actually first-time riders who had not visited the system before ,” he says . “ The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed individuals to look outdoors for their next vacation , and the Hatfield McCoy Trails was a huge beneficiary in this change .”
When the trail system finishes 100 miles of new terrain in Wayne and Lincoln counties , there will be a total of 900 miles of open all-terrain vehicle ( ATV ), utility terrain vehicle , offroad vehicle and dirt bike trails in the Hatfield McCoy Trail System , with future projects planned in Boone , Kanawha and Wayne counties .
Some people might not think of riding trails as an economic development catalyst , but they are wrong , says Lusk .
“ Most people don ’ t realize that the Hatfield McCoy Regional Recreation Authority is a multi-county economic development agency ,” he says . “ We utilize tourism around motorized ATV
recreation as our economic development tool . The sole purpose of this project is to create a tourism destination that provides opportunities for entrepreneurs to open businesses . That is the sole driving reason we do everything we do .”
With all the riders , new accommodations are desperately needed .
“ Multiple new resorts are in the works , expanding or have opened along the trail over the past 18 months ,” says Lusk . “ They have added new cabins and campsites to Logan , Mc- Dowell , Mingo , Mercer and Wyoming counties . The projects have been as small as the addition of three to six cabins to fully blown resorts with 30 cabins and on-site restaurants . This development has continued despite the pandemic , and entrepreneurs , utilizing resources funded by an Appalachian Regional Commission ( ARC ) POWER grant to the Hatfield McCoy Trails , developed business plans and received capital to move forward on their projects during this trying time for the trails and tourism in West Virginia .”
The ARC POWER grant provided technical assistance as well , and a partnership with the Natural Capital Investment Fund — another ARC POWER recipient — helped entrepreneurs secure the necessary risk capital to move their projects forward .
Plan a Staycation
When people visit West Virginia once , there is a good chance they ’ ll come back , according to Lisa Strader , director of Visit Southern West Virginia .
“ The beauty , the outdoors , the history and the hospitality will make a first-time visitor a return visitor ,” she says . “ I always tell people if they love the outdoors , they will love Southern West Virginia , from our parks and scenic overlooks to our outdoor adventures . You can hike , bike , off road , raft , climb , take a scenic drive or visit an overlook .”
As each piece of the tourism puzzle grows , vacationers are likely to find something else they love about West Virginia while here .
“ One thing I ’ ve always found extremely interesting is that
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