Canaan Valley Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Thousands Of Acres In Canaan Valley Acquired By Conservation Organization

Known as “Big Cove,” The Nature Conservancy West Virginia State Director Thomas Minney said the land will improve the region’s recreation by opening up new land to the public, but also by protecting its natural beauty.

International conservation organization The Nature Conservancy has acquired close to 2,000 acres bordering the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge for protection.

“While The Nature Conservancy holds it, it’s going to be open to passive recreation. Hiking, hunting, those sorts of traditional uses that have been on the property are going to still be there and available to the public,” he said. “There’s a lot of work that’s going on in the Davis to Thomas area to look at how you create a recreational friendly and highly important place that people enjoy visiting. We hope that this comes in tandem with conserving really, really important biodiversity areas as a huge complement to those other plans.”

The Nature Conservancy is exploring how to work with the local stakeholders to improve trail access areas.

“Connecting areas such as going from A Frame Road, down Brown Mountain and into the northern ends of the current wildlife refuge,” Minney said. “We continue to think and invest.”

Big Cove sits in the northern end and is the crown of Canaan Valley, a biodiversity rich and climate resilient landscape. It expands habitat from the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge that features many rare species that occupy the forest, stream and wetland habitats in this area.

“What makes Canaan Valley and the highlands of West Virginia really interesting is what elevation does for us. When you’re looking from 3,000, to over 4,000 feet, it is creating an environment that’s more like Canada,” Minney said. “In the valley itself, something that’s really interesting is the circumneutral wetland, which means it’s on limestone. And where you have an occurrence of wetland on limestone like that it has a lot of rare plants that are associated with it. It’s one of the most vital areas for biodiversity here in the Appalachians.”

Minney said that as local climates continue to change, the Canaan Valley’s unique elevation and moisture forms a “landscape highway” where migration of unique species can occur and ensure the Appalachians remain connected north to south.

He also said the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge and the newly acquired Big Cove are central to the region’s drinking water supply.

The U.S. Forest Service’s Forests to Faucets analysis identifies the landscape as in the second highest of 10 categories for national surface drinking water importance.

Cold Snap Proves Hot For W.Va. Ski Industry

The holiday period for the state's five ski resorts runs for three weeks – the weeks before, during and after Christmas.

Right now, the Mountain State’s ski areas are in the thick of their most profitable season. Joe Stevens, executive director of the West Virginia Ski Areas Association, said the holiday period for the state’s five ski resorts runs for three weeks – the weeks before, during and after Christmas.

“For all five resorts open right now, Winterplace in Raleigh County, Snowshoe in Pocahontas County, Canaan Valley and Timberline in Tucker County and the Oglebay Resort in Ohio County, this is a critical time,” Stevens said. “About 35 percent of the yearly budget comes into the resorts and the surrounding areas during that three week period.”

Stevens said the bitter cold snap last week did not slow down the resort crowds. He said some slope operations at a couple of the resorts were suspended due to the high winds and the windchill factors. But he noted the frigid conditions were also a blessing in disguise.

“The cold temperatures allowed the snow makers at all the resorts in West Virginia to really make snow around the clock,” Stevens said. “That’s what West Virginia ski resorts are known for, snowmaking capabilities. Due to the cold snap, West Virginia is offering the most open terrain of any state in the southeast region.”

Stevens said snow and slope conditions are at their peak right now.

“Conditions right now are excellent for any skier, snowboarder or snow tuber. The bases are quite strong,” Stevens said. “All the resorts are opening up additional terrain each day. In fact, Timberline is 100 percent open now and all the resorts are at least 85 to 90 percent open.”

Stevens said for those who may not seek the thrills of skiing, snowboarding or tubing, there is a more grounded but still adventurous way to enjoy the winter mountain scenery.

“For folks that might want to try out snowshoeing, there’s a couple of areas,” Stevens said. “Blackwater Falls in Tucker County, Whitegrass Touring Center in Tucker County and Elk River Touring Center in Pocahontas County all offer snowshoeing. That would also be a fun way for the whole family to get out and see the beauty of West Virginia during this time of year.”

West Virginia ski season traditionally goes from the Thanksgiving holiday week until the end of March, sometimes into the first week of April. Stevens said upwards of 800,000 visitors come to West Virginia every year for skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing. He said those winter adventurers make an annual $250 million economic impact to the state’s coffers.

Canaan Valley Resort Turns 50, Charts Path To Tourism Expansion

The Canaan Valley Resort has been a mainstay for skiers and tourists across the region. Now, the Tucker County, West Virginia, resort is celebrating its 50-year anniversary with a number of important renovations.

Canaan Valley is notable for being the first commercial ski development south of the Mason-Dixon line. Resort general manager Sam England credits the resort’s development with helping to diversify the state’s economy as a tourism boon.

“It was during a time when unemployment was high. Coal mines had been impacted by mechanization,” said England. “At that point, leaders in the state and political leadership saw the need to find other ways of employing people.”

The resort, which employs around 250 workers, is investing $1.4 million into these improvements. They include the expansion of its tube park, rental facility, and ski lodge. The resort is also introducing a new lift pass system that will reduce time in line and replace paper tickets with plastic passes.

Traditionally, Canaan Valley has attracted tourists from Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, and Columbus, Ohio, though England says the number of overall visitors has decreased over the past few decades because of more opportunities and destinations in the region. However, ski patrol and snow sports director Rod Jones says parks like Canaan have seen an uptick in visitors since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“COVID drove people outside to outside activities. And the whole valley saw a resurgence in visitors, you know, from Red Creek, from the Red Creek hiking area, to Dolly Sods up to Blackwater Falls, and then, of course, Canaan Valley,” said Jones. “It’s really refreshing to see how many people are coming to the valley now – Canaan Valley has really been rediscovered, if you will.”

One-hundred percent of the resort’s profits are reinvested to maintain and improve Canaan Valley Resort State Park. England says state parks are an economic buffer for tourism, and create a built-in tourist base for other outdoor recreational facilities.

Renovations for this year’s ski season were completed Dec. 18.

Birding Festival Set for Next Month at Canaan Valley Resort

Birders and nature lovers can participate in nature walks, presentations and activities during the annual Canaan Valley Birding Festival next month in Davis.

The event is June 2 through 5 at Canaan Valley Resort. Nature walk leaders will provide instruction on birding by ear as well as eye.

Several keynote speakers will appear. Kevin Dodg of Garrett College in Maryland will present “Night Sounds of the Appalachians,” West Virginia University student Kyle Aldinger will talk about forest management and conservation efforts for private landowners and Pipestem Resort State Park retired naturalist Jim Phillips will talk about eagles and their life cycle in southern West Virginia.

A news release from Tucker County Convention and Visitors Bureau said species likely to be seen include bobolinks, scarlet tanagers and Baltimore and orchard orioles.

Canaan Valley Hosts Therapy Outing for Military Members

Canaan Valley Resort is hosting an adventure therapy outing for wounded or injured military members.

Friday’s outing is one of four offered annually by the nonprofit Gathering of Mountain Eagles.

Canaan Valley says in a news release that skiing, mountain biking, zip lining and other activities are encouraged to help the military members’ physical and psychological recovery.