Hatfield McCoy Recreation Authority Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Legislators Hear About Increased ATV, UTV Infrastructure Needs During Interims

In a Sunday meeting, members of the state legislature’s Select Committee on Infrastructure heard about connecting more West Virginia towns with roads meant for outdoor vehicles like All Terrain Vehicles, or ATVs.

“In southern West Virginia, those ATVs have become a second mode of transportation,” executive director of the Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority Jeffery Lusk said. “Families that only had one car have oftentimes taken the onus to get their units licensed so that they can be on the road. And it’s given them a second mode of transportation.

Despite the increasing popularity in the region, some of the state’s ATV trails aren’t connected to local towns. Riders and tourists regularly use state highways instead, causing safety concerns.

Lusk said more of these roads would also help connect even more towns in southern West Virginia to the state’s outdoor tourism economy. More than 94,464 riders visited the Hatfield-McCoy trail system in 2021, with 80 percent of riders from out of state.

“These towns have built up restaurants, lodging, ATV rental companies around the fact that we connect to the towns,” Lusk said.

Also present at the meeting was James Ratino of the Maryland Off-Highway Vehicle Alliance. He said revitalizing local economies by rebranding them into “trail towns” is a regional effort, with many communities in western Maryland sharing much in common with those in West Virginia.

“Locally, this has helped this town of Kitzmiller with some serious revitalization. They’re replacing lost jobs,” Ratino said.

Del. John Hardy, R-Berkeley, expressed interest in a potential economic impact study on more outdoor vehicle infrastructure for the next legislative session. Seventeen towns in the state are currently connected to the Hatfield-McCoy trail system.

Hatfield-McCoy Trail Riders Can Win UTVs In State Giveaway

Trail riders who purchase permits for West Virginia’s Hatfield-McCoy trails can win one of two high-performance UTV’s, or side-by-side ultimate terrain vehicles

Trail riders who purchase permits for West Virginia’s Hatfield-McCoy trails can win one of two high-performance UTV’s, or side-by-side ultimate terrain vehicles.

The West Virginia Department of Tourism is offering the giveaway to encourage riders to explore West Virginia’s fall colors.

Anyone who purchases a 2022 riding permit for the Hatfield McCoy trails before Nov. 15 will be entered to win the prize and the two winners will be randomly selected on Dec. 15.

“The Hatfield-McCoy Trails have been an incredible draw for many visitors to our state, as well as our in-state residents,” Gov. Jim Justice said. “Last year alone, 29,500 new riders explored the expansive trail system.”

One UTV will be awarded to an in-state resident, while the second UTV will be given to an out-of-state resident. Anyone who currently holds a Hatfield-McCoy Trail permit for 2022 is automatically entered to win.

Permits cost $50 for non-residents and $26.50 for West Virginia residents.

Hatfield-McCoy Trail permits can be purchased at any Hatfield-McCoy Trailhead facility: Bearwallow, Buffalo Mountain, Cabwaylingo, Devil Anse, Ivy Branch, Pinnacle Creek, Pocahontas, Rockhouse and Warrior, along with the Hatfield-McCoy Trails Welcome Center and Country Roads Visitor Center; or at one of over 130 authorized HMTpermit vendor locations such as local ATV outfitters stores and a variety of lodging providers.

January 30, 1895: Mingo County Formed

West Virginia’s youngest county came into existence on January 30, 1895, when the legislature created Mingo County from Logan County. When West Virginia entered the Union in 1863, it had 50 counties. Grant, Mineral, Lincoln, and Summers counties were added during the first four years of statehood.

The count stood at 54 for nearly a quarter-century. But, by the 1890s, the southern part of Logan County was booming thanks to the Norfolk & Western Railway, which was expanding through the region. The N&W, as it was known, built a major rail yard at Williamson, which would become the Mingo County seat. The main beneficiaries of the railroad were the coal and timber industries.

New mines were opening daily, and crews could now load cut logs directly onto rail cars instead of floating them downstream on the Tug Fork River. And the region’s population grew quickly due to an influx of African Americans and immigrants, including Italians, Russians, and Poles as well as Jews, Greeks, and Lebanese. Today, Mingo County still relies largely on the coal industry; however, a growing tourism business is emerging through the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System.

State Lawmakers Meet in Fayette Co. to Discuss Revitalizing Southern Coalfields

The second meeting of the SCORE task force met in Fayette County Tuesday night. SCORE, Southern Coalfields Organizing and Revitalizing the Economy, is an initiative aimed to give southern West Virginia much-needed opportunities to diversify the economy and strengthen communities.

Nothing was off the table as each person that chose to speak had two minutes at the podium.

Other areas of concern brought up by the community included:

drug abuse
aging population
disaster preparedness
quality child care
clean water

Suggestions from other speakers included:

renewable energy tax credits
selling water as a natural resource
funding water protection plans
resisting attempts to weaken environmental law
Ensuring the DEP is enforcing the laws

Some folks brought up investing in tourism marketing- something brought up by Co Chair of the Committee Senator Art Kirkendoll of Logan County and Senator Bill Laird of Fayette County.

“One of the things that are particularly significant in this senatorial district the tourism the natural beauty of the area. The Greenbrier Valley certainly the New River Gorge ,” he said.

A recent article in the Charleston Gazette points to a sharp decline in the rafting business, over the past few years.

And as lawmakers talk about investing more into marketing the tourism industry the state audit is questioning the ethics of the Hatfield and McCoy Authority which oversees some of the ATV trails in the state. The state auditor said it was operating as if laws didn’t apply to it.

The SCORE Committee plans to meet two more times. While the last meeting will be held in Logan County, the next location has not been established yet.

State lawmakers give brief remarks after hearing from community members.

Legislative Audit Questions Ethics of Hatfield McCoy Recreation Authority

An audit says the Hatfield McCoy Recreation Authority isn’t following state purchasing, ethics and employee bonus laws.

Legislative Auditor Aaron Allred says the the authority is operating like some laws don’t apply to it, according to a letter written Tuesday.

The letter says the authority should be complying with the competitive bid process, contract reviews by the attorney general and other purchasing requirements.

The auditor wrote that authority board members are subject to the state Ethics Act, which prohibits self-dealing and personal gain from public office.

The letter references $1.3 million in leases, insurance policies, labor, catering and other contracts that benefited board members, the executive director or family.

It says the authority’s employees or contractors can’t receive bonuses.

The Post Audit Division is still reviewing the authority’s financials.