State unveils travel guides, Hawks Nest improvements

State unveils travel guides, Hawks Nest improvements

West Virginia officials unveiled collectible journey guides at the lodge at Hawks Nest . (Image courtesy W.Va. Dept. of Commerce)

West Virginia officers this 7 days unveiled the state’s new 2022 vacation manual and freeway map all through a ribbon-slicing at Hawks Nest Condition Park on the New River Gorge at Ansted, West Virginia.

Gov. Jim Justice was joined by Brett McMillion, director of the Department of Normal Sources, and Chelsea Ruby, secretary of the Division of Tourism Secretary in unveiling the guide.

Rather of the standard single-copy tutorial, the division is releasing a 4-portion guideline that need to establish collectible.

Justice, Ruby, and McMillion also celebrated with a ribbon-slicing to unveil the $5 million in advancements to the Hawks Nest lodge and additional than $2 million in improvements to its museum.

The updates include new landscaping, a new lobby, a new entrance desk region, new general public restrooms, and a new out of doors pool with a splash pad. Lodge rooms have been renovated with new furnishings and wheelchair accessibility has been expanded.

Ruby haled the information and map as a person of the most crucial tools in the state’s retinue for tourism. Ask for copies of the holiday guidebook.

“About 10 several years in the past, the trip guidebook just looked like a phonebook,” Ruby reported. “The condition was not producing an financial investment. And I’ll never fail to remember, one particular of the initially matters the governor said was, ‘We’ve received to do far better than this.’

“Two several years in the past we did a flipbook. Very last year, we did the 50th anniversary of “Country Roads” particular version. And this calendar year, we’re thrilled to come to be the to start with state in the nation to launch a assortment of guides as a substitute of just 1.”

The four guides each individual spotlight diverse factors of what helps make West Virginia 1 of the country’s leading holiday and travel locations.

  • The Organic Miracles information showcases gorgeous landscapes easily on show – from speeding waterfalls to mountain vistas, lush forests, caves, and starry skies.
  • The Out of doors Recreation tutorial focuses on the wide amount of money of outside things to do and general public lands located throughout the Mountain Point out.
  • The Mountain Society piece makes a feeling of spot and highlights the authentic flavors, artwork, and heritage observed in the Mountain State.
  • The collection also options a fourth manual to the New River Gorge National Park and Maintain, detailing the park’s heritage, leisure possibilities, and bordering mountain cities.

Each individual of the trip guides functions QR codes that grow on the printed content articles and give on-line access to distinctive written content and excursion inspiration from hundreds of tourism companies throughout the condition.

This unique vacation series was created in partnership with Dotdash Meredith, a major publisher of important models which include Individuals, Martha Stewart Residing, Shape, Much better Homes & Gardens, and extra.

As a part of this partnership, far more than 100,000 West Virginia holiday guides will be involved with subscriber copies of Southern Dwelling and Authentic Straightforward journals to inspire vacation to the Mountain Condition.

Justice and Ruby also gave travelers a sneak peek of the all-new 2022 Highway Map, which options all of West Virginia’s condition parks and forests, along with crucial traveler information and facts, have to-see stops, and scenic nation roadways to journey throughout West Virginia.

“This is also one thing the Governor pushed us on,” Ruby claimed. “He wished this to be a keepsake—a collector piece—and, together with our friends from the West Virginia Division of Highways, we came up with an absolutely amazing map.”

McMillion took to the podium in the course of the celebration to rejoice main updates at Hawks Nest Point out Park.

“This facility had sat idly by for a lot of, quite a few many years. It was quite deserving of focus, and our governor answered,” McMillion mentioned.

“What a showpiece we have below now. These restorations will serve West Virginians for many years and decades.”

The upgrades are part of $151 million of improvement projects done or began at each and every point out park and forest in West Virginia considering the fact that Justice took place of work, McMillion claimed.

“Governor Justice’s commitment to our total park method is supplying us the capability to develop terrific memories for individuals for generations to come, and that is not restricted to Hawks Nest. Proper up coming doorway at Babcock State Park, we have invested $1.8 million in the cabins and infrastructure,” McMillion said.

“I also cannot thank the Office of Tourism adequate for the function that they are carrying out in connection with us at the DNR. The matters that we’re all undertaking collectively are unbelievable.”

The governor thanked his crew and all involved with state tourism for their endeavours, which have boosted the state’s visibility as a vacation place.

“We’ve invested and, all of a unexpected, you flip close to and there is money upon revenue coming our way,” Justice claimed.

“All of a sudden, this state is now recognized considerably and extensive as the diamond in the tough that absolutely everyone missed.”


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