Travel WV
written by kenzie dye
Reaching New Heights
exploring new river gorge national park
Photo by Visit Southern West Virginia .
New River Gorge received its designation as New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in December 2020 . In the last three years , the park and surrounding communities have seen an increase in visitation and benefited from nationwide exposure .
“ We ’ ve received a lot of positive attention from the visitors who have come to explore the new national park and experience our hospitality . Visitation has increased , which has a positive economic impact on our area and our state ,” says Becky Sullivan , executive director of New River Gorge Convention & Visitors Bureau ( CVB ). “ There ’ s an increased interest in the outdoor activities , scenic views and landmarks in our area . More people are coming to visit and staying longer to see the entire area of the national park , which covers multiple counties in Southern West Virginia .”
Fayetteville CVB has seen about a 30 % increase in traffic at its visitor center since New River Gorge National Park and
Preserve was designated , according to Executive Director Tabitha Stover . The increased number of visitors to the New River Gorge has also proved beneficial for communities where the national park does not have a presence .
“ We have found that when folks are looking to visit our region to see the park , they are also looking at other experiences they can have nearby ,” says Lisa Strader , executive director of Visit Southern West Virginia . “ As travelers who enjoy scenic beauty , the history and culture of an area and love the outdoors , expanding their itineraries to include other parks , trails , rivers and agricultural tourism opportunities is just a matter of showcasing Southern West Virginia in its entirety , which is the beauty of being a regional destination marketing organization .”
With a rise in the volume of visitors comes an increase in demand for overnight accommodations . Multiple new lodging properties are coming to the area as a result .
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