New River Gorge National Park and Preserve Story Archives

Renovated Canyon Rim Visitor Center Shows Off New River Gorge

The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve Canyon Rim visitor center recently got a facelift and hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday.

The $1.7 million dollar renovation includes an upgraded theater, new exhibits, and info on what to do and where to go in the park and adjacent national scenic river ways.

The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve Canyon Rim visitor center recently got a facelift and hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday.

The $1.7 million renovation includes an upgraded theater, new exhibits, and info on what to do and where to go in the park and adjacent national scenic river ways.

New River Gorge Park Ranger Dave Bieri said the park service wanted to have an orientation center for visitors.

“We tried to just kind of hit some of the highlights of the things that make this place special,” Bieri said. “There’s these explore panels throughout the exhibit that direct you to different places in the park.”

Biere said the ribbon cutting marks the end of the five-year project, but that more improvement projects for the park are on the horizon.

New River Gorge Drew A Record 1.7 Million Visitors Last Year

With 325 million visitors last year, park attendance nationwide was higher than any year since 2020 but still not more than 2019’s 327 million.

The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve saw a record number of visitors in 2023.

The New River Gorge drew 1.7 million visitors last year, breaking the previous record set in 2021.

The park is one of the newest in the National Park System. It was added in 2020.

The peak months at the Gorge are June, July and August, with more than 200,000 visitors each month. Park attendance dips below 100,000 in the winter months.

With 325 million visitors last year, park attendance nationwide was higher than any year since 2020 but still not more than 2019’s 327 million.

The Harpers Ferry National Historical Park also set a record for recent years with 427,000 visitors, up from 300,000 in 2019.

The Gauley River National Recreation Area also saw a record 187,000 visitors last year, up from 119,000 in 2019.

Portions of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park are in West Virginia. The park drew nearly 4.5 million visitors last year. In 2021, nearly 5 million people visited the park.

New River Gorge National Park Plans Grassland Burn

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve Fire Managers plan to burn approximately five acres in the coming weeks.

This planned fire, also called a prescribed burn, is intended to maintain native grassland habitat that provides food and nesting space for birds and other wildlife. It also discourages the spread of invasive species.

The burn will take place sometime between Feb. 19 and March 31, based on weather conditions such as wind speed, direction and humidity. Before implementing the burn, the fire manager will evaluate current conditions and will only begin ignition if the prescribed conditions are within those parameters.

The prescribed burn area is located just north of I-64, and Route 20 interchange (Exit 139). The Sandstone Visitor Center and parking lot will be closed during the burn but will reopen after completion and safety clearance. Travelers on Summers County Rt. 7, Meadow Creek Road, may experience temporary delays during firing operations and smoke will be visible for a short duration. The burn is expected to take several hours to complete.

House Votes On Saving Thurmond, Diversifying Coalfield Communities

One resolution and two bills on third reading in the House of Delegates Tuesday dealt with helping preserve West Virginia History, increasing help for the coalfields economy and alcohol at community festivals.

One resolution and two bills on third reading in the House of Delegates Tuesday dealt with helping preserve West Virginia History, increasing help for the coalfield economy and alcohol at community festivals.

Officials with the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve have sparked legislative concerns over the possible demolition of some historic properties.

House Resolution 6 passed with a voice vote. It reaffirms support for the town of Thurmond, located in the heart of the park, along with the historic buildings within the community, and the strong coal mining history associated with it.

Del. Elliott Pritt, R-Fayette, spoke on the need for legislative support.

“Many of the structures from the original town of Thurmond still stand in very sharp contrast to the other coal mining communities in the area,” Pritt said. “They’re overrun, most of the structures are gone. When the National Park took control of this area we were under, we understood and believed that they were going to be preserving our history, our heritage, and the structures. And now they have a plan to demolish over half of the remaining structures in the town of Thurmond, which is now in the national park because of budget cuts.”

On third reading, Senate Bill 354 establishes the West Virginia Advanced Energy and Economic Corridor Authority. This King Coal Highway bill calls for yet another legislative effort to help diversify coalfield economies and enhance economic development.

Del. Stephen Green, R-McDowell, spoke on how desperately that help is still needed.

“We have to look at other avenues of prosperity for us currently, and for our children and grandchildren,” Green said. “Tourism, which we are trying to cultivate in the southern counties, by itself is not the answer. We have to look at many different industries and opportunities.”

SB 354 passed 80 to 20 and goes to the Senate.

Finally, House Bill 5295 allows a community’s private outdoor designated area (PODA), meant for strolling alcohol consumption, to simultaneously host qualified permit holders, such as concerts and festivals. After debate over insurance liability, the bill passed 70-28 and also now goes to the Senate.

Closure Order In Effect For Steep Valley Area Of New River Gorge

“It’s going to be closed for the foreseeable future,” Steep Valley Fire Public Information Officer Tom Engberg said Friday. “We know that it’s a popular hunting area in the zone where it is, but due to an abundance of caution for firefighter safety we’re going to keep it closed for now.”

The Steep Valley fire in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is now 81 percent contained.

Park officials said the fire, near Glen Jean in Fayette County, has not moved beyond Thursday’s 2,206 acres.

Steep Valley Fire Public Information Officer Tom Engberg said a closure order for the area will remain in effect until further notice for the War Ridge and Backus Mountain areas.

“It’s going to be closed for the foreseeable future,” Engberg said Friday. “We know that it’s a popular hunting area in the zone where it is, but due to an abundance of caution for firefighter safety we’re going to keep it closed for now.”

Engberg said at the peak of the fire 72 crews from around the country were on hand to help to fight the fire.

“We had a couple of crews from Michigan, there was a crew from Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, New Jersey and we even had a crew from Oregon and private contractors as well,” Engberg said. “We had a pretty good response.”

Engberg said the area will continue to be monitored for remaining hotspots and park officials will reevaluate with fire management before a decision is made on reopening the area.

All National Park Service lands bounded by the New River on the south and west to the town of Quinnimont, due east along State Highway 41 to the intersection of Backus-Red Spring road, and directly south to the CSX railroad right of way at the river are included in the closure area.

The rest of the park remains open for normal hours of operation.

As precipitation moves into the area, air quality levels are expected to improve in the coming days.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

National Park Climbing Stewards Educate Climbers About Conservation And Etiquette

With the rise in the popularity of climbing in the region, the national park hired some ambassadors to educate climbers about climbing etiquette, conservation and safety.

The National Park Service is hosting two climbing stewards at the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and at Summersville Lake.

With the rise in the popularity of climbing in the region, the agency hired some ambassadors to educate climbers about climbing etiquette, conservation and safety.

Chief Ranger Frank Sellers said these stewards have worked to educate more than 5,000 park visitors since this program started six months ago.

“These folks, you know, are climbers themselves, and they’re passionate about their sport,” Sellers said. “And you know, they’re passionate about the parks, and about where they climb and about protecting rock climbing areas for the future.”

The stewards will also be helping climbers bridge the gap between climbing indoors and climbing on natural rock.

“People bring dogs to the park, people have to use the restroom,” Sellers said. “You know, if you’re in a climbing gym, that’s easy. If you’re in a natural setting that’s maybe more difficult. You got to have a plan.”

The climbing stewards are hosting “climber coffees” at popular trailheads on Fridays and Saturdays in the national park and Sundays at Summersville Lake through the fall.

They will also be visiting popular climbing spots and continuing conversations with climbers about conservation. The program is an alliance between the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, the New River Alliance of Climbers and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.