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West Virginia plans to use $9.725 million from its fiscal year 2027 budget surplus to add campsites, replace roofs and improve other state park facilities.
Governor Patrick Morrisey outlined the spending in a September 30 release from his office. Another $10 million in work is proposed through the West Virginia State Parks Endowment Fund Board.
“We’re going to keep investing in the places that bring people here, support our local businesses, and show the rest of the country what makes West Virginia so special,” Morrisey said in the release.
The surplus spending includes $4 million to pave and repair campsites, driveways, parking lots and walkways across the park system. At Little Beaver State Park, $3 million will pay for a 34-site campground and electrical upgrades at nearby existing sites.
Roof work at Pipestem Resort State Park and Cass Scenic Railroad State Park accounts for $150,000 of the total, covering cabins and historic company houses.
Twin Falls State Park is set to get $2.275 million for cabin renovations, new interiors and mattresses, along with heating and cooling upgrades at the lodge.
Blennerhassett Island State Park will use $300,000 to replace its service barge and the GiGi tugboat. The governor’s office described the vessels as the island’s only reliable means of receiving supplies, equipment and other goods.
The proposed endowment projects focus largely on wastewater systems. Chief Logan State Park’s share would be $3 million to replace a deteriorating 20,000-gallon-a-day wastewater plant serving the lodge, cabins, recreation center and future facilities.
Cacapon Resort State Park would get $3 million to repair wastewater collection and upgrade the plant serving its lodge, cabins, golf course and other recreation facilities. Another $2 million would cover wastewater work across the park system, including replacement of aging sand filtration components.
At Canaan Valley, a proposed $1 million would increase snowmaking capacity through equipment upgrades. The remaining $1 million would go to Hawks Nest State Park’s lower tram building, with work on its gift shop, restrooms and boat rental concession area.
My Buckhannon previously reported in December 2021 on more than $151 million in state park upgrades, including lodging, campsites and infrastructure.
A video of Morrisey’s announcement is available online.
