Reaching New Heights

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.

“One of the first things we started to see was an increase in third-party platform rental properties near the park,” Strader shares. “Now that we are three years in, we are excited to welcome new lodging, both short- and long-term, in Fayetteville and a new hotel in Beckley. Both should open in 2024. Our region has also seen new camping areas and expansions in businesses that have camping, RV sites and cabins.”

Whether you are new to West Virginia’s never-ending outdoor recreation opportunities or a seasoned professional, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is sure to impress.

“We try to tell folks this park is unique compared to other national parks because we have a footprint that spans multiple counties. We want folks to come to Fayetteville and experience all the local eateries and shops and stay with us, but we also want folks to travel off the beaten path—spend a day in Hinton, see Sandstone Falls from the boardwalk, venture to Mount Hope, Grandview and Hawks Nest,” Stover says. “Plan to stay for multiple days to take in all the attractions. We are known for our world-class outdoor recreation and the beauty of the national park, but there are so many more experiences you can take advantage of here.”

Community leaders want visitors to know there is more fun to be had in and around Fayetteville in addition to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

“We want people to know they are welcome and to enjoy the beauty and adventure of the gorge as much as we do,” Strader says. “Keep it beautiful for the next visitor, and always remember to take out anything you bring into the park with you. We would also highly recommend advanced planning—the park is large, and it has multiple entry points where you can get different experiences. It’s always good to stop at one of the park’s visitor centers upon arrival to learn more about the history of the gorge. Lastly, be sure to visit the gateway towns that support the park with lodging, dining, shopping and entertainment.”

The designation as a national park has allowed the New River Gorge to receive the recognition it deserves for its natural beauty.

“We had this amazing park in our backyard before the designation,” Stover shares. “Now the secret is out, allowing us the opportunity to share this amazing place with more people. The experiences are growing within and around the park. More people are taking advantage of the opportunities we have with a national park in our backyard, and more businesses are opening to offer more services and more recreational opportunities. You can come to visit the national park and stay a week and just skim the surface of the recreational activities that are offered here. With the influx of growth, we are seeing community groups step up and take on projects to help preserve the park.”

An interesting component of the New River Gorge’s designation as a national park is the ripple effect of new businesses opening in the area.

“My favorite trend has been seeing community members take advantage of the new opportunities that come with the designation,” Stover says. “You have businesses like Hills to Hills Shuttle service that sees a need for a service and launches a new business to meet demand. You have businesses like Southern Pillar Jewelry and Ringing Rocks Mint that have opened in the last year. Lost Appalachia Trading Company decided to make Fayetteville its home base along with Thread and Out of the Ashes. The Stache Ice Cream shop started in a small space by the theater and has expanded to its own building. You have families launching new businesses like The Take Out restaurant. You get to see the explosion of growth to existing businesses like Secret Sandwich Society, Pies and Pints and Water Stone Outdoors.”

This is just a glimpse into all of the wonderful things happening in Fayetteville and the surrounding communities. The next time you are planning a trip to the Mountain State, be sure to add the New River Gorge to your itinerary.