By Jamie Null
With more than 1 million visitors in 2017, tourism in the New River Gorge region has certainly changed over the years. The growing industry unofficially began when the Dragan brothers took friends down the river in rubber rafts in 1968. Those trips, based on friendship and a love for the outdoors, formed the first company to raft the New River, Wildwater Unlimited.
During that first year, 80 people traveled down the river, thanks to the expertise and knowledge of college students and West Virginia natives Jon, Tom and Chris Dragan and Jon’s girlfriend, Melanie. By the 1970s, other rafting companies arrived on the scene, completely changing the area’s future in more ways than one. For a state built on coal and timber, the rich, lush green of the New River Gorge National River and the surrounding state parks was an eye-opening look at how tourism could create economic diversity.
“Tourism here, along with Hawks Nest State Park and Babcock State Park, has grown to include rafting, climbing, biking, zip lines and cabin rentals, all in close proximity to the New River Gorge, a national river,” says Sharon Cruikshank, director of the New River Gorge Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It was a total evolution that started with rafting and developed into climbing, and our restaurants are now franchising to other areas and states too.”
According to Cruikshank, visitation in the New River Gorge was up by 10 percent in 2017. National and state parks play an important role in attracting visitors to the area.
“It is a multigenerational attraction, so they will continue to be popular,” she says. “People have always enjoyed state and national parks. You know what you are getting when you visit.”
When combining the three Southern West Virginia national parks, the impact of tourism boasted strong numbers for 2017. According to the National Park Services, 1.3 million visitors came to the New River Gorge National River, the Bluestone National Scenic River and the Gauley River National Recreation Area and spent $56.2 million in the communities near the parks.
The report breaks down spending by lodging, dining, fuel, admission fees, transportation and souvenirs. Visitors spent the most dollars on lodging, followed by food and/or dining. Tourism spending supported 823 jobs in the local areas and had an economic impact of $64.2 million. The national parks in Southern West Virginia span four counties: Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh and Summers.
“The three national parks of Southern West Virginia once again welcomed over 1.3 million visitors from across the country and around the world last year,” says National Park Service Superintendent Lizzie Watts. “We are delighted to share the stories of these special places with so many people. National park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy, returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service, and it’s a big factor in our local economies as well. We appreciate the partnership and support of our many neighbors and are glad to be a part of helping to sustain local economies.”
About the Author
Jamie Null is the executive director for the Mercer County Convention & Visitors Bureau in Mercer County. An award-winning journalist with the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, she spent seven years in the business before becoming part of the tourism industry in 2014. A graduate of Bluefield College and Concord University, Null graduated with a bacehlor’s degree in print journalism and English literature. A native of Mercer County, she enjoys running, traveling and promoting wild, wonderful West Virginia.
