West Virginia Executive Spring/Summer 2020 | Page 60

Meeting
Modern Demands
Development Projects in West Virginia
Whether it is a new company coming to West Virginia or an existing business
park or modern community expanding to accommodate new tenants, development
is key to moving the Mountain State forward. Not only do development projects
create jobs, invigorate the construction industry, impact the economy, aid growing
industries, encourage entrepreneurship and spur community growth, but they also
serve as a reminder of the vibrant landscape and wealth of natural resources available
throughout West Virginia. The following projects are a showcase of Mountain State
developers meeting commercial, residential and recreational demands that prove
West Virginia as an exciting place to live, work and play.
ATV TrailCamp at Coaldale
By Amanda Larch
While West Virginia provides numerous
outdoor recreational activities, the popularity
of ATV trail riding has been at the
forefront for the past few years with developments
along the Hatfield-McCoy Trail
System in Southern West Virginia.
Todd Boggess, president and CEO of
E.T. Boggess Architect, Inc., dreamed
of improving some of these ATV trails
and providing lodging for out-of-state
visitors. He purchased an 8-acre property
in Coaldale, WV, in 2017 that is now the
site of the ATV TrailCamp at Coaldale.
While searching for financial assistance
to aid in the development, he came across
the Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Pilot
Program, which supports development
on land mined prior to the passage of the
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation
Act of 1977 and is funded by the U.S.
Office of Surface Mining and Enforcement.
“The fact that our project is all about
economic development, creating jobs and
supporting local industry needs meant we
were checking all the right boxes for the
AML Pilot Program,” he says.
The Mercer County Development Office
is sponsoring the project and overseeing
the administration of the $1.8 million
AML grant.
“This project puts abandoned property
back into productive purposes,” says
Executive Director John O’Neal. “It creates
investment and jobs in our state and contributes
to the ongoing growth of the ATV
industry in Southern West Virginia.”
In 1906, 22 coal miners died in a mine
explosion in Coaldale. Remembering
them and showing appreciation for coal
miners past and present is an important
aspect of the project. As such, the lodging
accommodations at the camp will be named
after various coal miners, and the property
will also include West by God Coal-Fired
Pizza, a restaurant that pays homage to
the area’s coal mining history.
The ATV TrailCamp at Coaldale will
also utilize an efficient wastewater treatment
system on-site—the first system of
its kind to gain approval in West Virginia.
“Many wastewater treatment systems
that counties and cities have to implement
cost millions of dollars,” says Boggess.
“This system alleviates high initial costs
by being modular, expandable and able
to work into existing conditions easily.”
Located between Route 52 and the
Pocahontas Trailhead for the Hatfield-
McCoy Trail in Mercer County, the first
development phase of the project is scheduled
to be completed this fall.
“Our team will be able to provide a
true destination-type resort to accompany
the already popular Hatfield-McCoy
Trails,” says Boggess. “We are looking to
revolutionize this industry and redefine
what an ATV resort is by building upon
positive developments in our area and
taking our experience to another level.”
Photo by E.T. Boggess Architect, Inc.
58
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE