Morrisey: ‘Bridge Day Will Go On’

West Virginia’s two national parks will be open this weekend, even if the federal government remains shut down. That announcement from Gov. Patrick Morrisey Tuesday came as a tremendous relief to tourism businesses built around the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

“We were up at least 10% as we rolled into Gauley season… and then we found out there’s a shutdown and there’s a lump in your throat. What do we do now?” said Haynes Mansfield with ACE Adventure Resort. 

“Because this is when we ice that cake and we find out if we have turned a profit. Are we going to be able to add activities to our company next year? Are we going to be able to take a part time job and transition it into a full time job with benefits? Are we going to be able to pay out bonuses to our valuable employees?” Mansfield said.

An estimated 200,000 visitors came to the New River Gorge last October for vibrant leaf peeping and world class white water rafting – but especially for Bridge Day, scheduled for Saturday. 

“There’s nothing better than being underneath the bridge when the parachutes are opening and full colors are coming down with the fall colors, the combination is spectacular,” said Tom Wagner with Adventures On The Gorge. “We get travelers from around the country that come just for that day to raft with us and to stay with us.” 

Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to flock to West Virginia for Bridge Day, the state’s single largest one day festival. But a two-week, $98,000 deal the state cut to keep our two national parks open during the government shutdown was scheduled to end on Friday – one day before the festival.

On Tuesday, Morrisey announced the deal would be extended.

“I want to be clear today that it’s my intent that if the federal government fails to reopen by then, I fully intend to extend that agreement. Bridge Day will go on as planned,” Morrisey said. 

“Right now, we’re working on the paperwork with the national parks to make sure that we can extend that agreement until the end of the month if it’s needed,” he added.

At a cost of roughly $7,000 per day, Morrisey said the tourism dollars that come in for the festival, the leaves and the rafting make the extension a no-brainer.