Monongahela National Forest will soon expand by roughly 2,700 acres.
CEO of hardwood manufacturer Allegheny Wood Products John Crites and his family announced this week plans to sell property in Tucker County to the United States Forest Service to be added to protected lands.
The property includes roughly five miles of land in the Blackwater Canyon, a gorge carved by the Blackwater River bordered by a scenic trail. The acquisition will expand public access to this land.
The purchase is funded by a federal grant program known as the Land and Water Conservation Fund. In a Monday press release, Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., expressed his gratitude for the sale, and said estimates of the property’s cost are about $14 million.
“This is a huge win for the Mountain State and the nation as people are able to enjoy more of the true treasures of wild and wonderful West Virginia,” he said. ““When this deal is complete, it will provide wonderful outdoor recreation opportunities, which will strengthen opportunities for tourism, job creation and economic growth in the region.”
The property’s acquisition is expected to be finalized by the end of 2025.