AROUND TOWN TRAVEL PLAZA OPENS
Story by Josephine E . Moore , photos by Jenny Harnish
The new Beckley Travel Plaza has already welcomed thousands of travelers and locals .
In addition to the amenities people look for in a travel plaza – an abundance of available and clean restroom facilities , ample parking , quick and easy food options , and amenities for pets – the state ’ s overabundance of natural beauty and local talent also plays a role in the new travel plaza as part of the new Tamarack Artisan Shop .
A large video screen portraying local sites from the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine to the New River Gorge Bridge serves as a backdrop to the Tamarack Artisan Shop .
Beckley Travel Plazas offers something not found anywhere else in southern West Virginia – a Popeyes . The new option has already been well received , evident from its ever-present line of customers . The Beckley Travel Plaza also has a Wendy ’ s and a Starbucks .
Beth Morefield and sons Hunter and Luke Morefield eat at Popeyes at the Beckley Travel Plaza .
Shoppers and travelers stop at the Beckley Travel Plaza on Monday . The newly opened
Travelers Missy Cheatham with children Tierney Cheatham and Kenneth Cheatham eat Wendy ’ s during a stop at the Beckley Travel Plaza .
Shoppers , left , and travelers stop at the Beckley Travel Plaza on Monday .
“ We wanted a contemporary , modern throwback to a facility that was so popular among generations of people for many years .”
42 � SOUTH � WINTER ’ 25