The West Virginia State Parks Foundation is pleased to announce new building construction at the Sled Run at Blackwater Falls State Park. Put in place by Milco Metals of Phillipi, the new building will provide indoor storage and repair space for the heavy equipment used to groom sledding trails. Park Superintendent Ben Leedom said, “construction of this building was long overdue and badly needed.” Notably the longest sled run on the East Coast, The Blackwater Falls sledding area provides a quarter mile of winter fun and serves an average of 12,000 guests annually.

Funding for the project was provided by the West Virginia State Parks Foundation. “The staff at Blackwater Falls would like to thank the foundation for making this project possible,” Leedom continued. Foundation Board Member Kim McCluskey related that “all of the funding for this project was provided by donation. Our funding comes from grants and donations, and we use all of it for projects on our state park areas, and for capacity building.” Donations to help with projects like the Sled Run building can be made to the WV State Parks Foundation at www.wvspf.org.

The West Virginia State Parks Foundation Inc. is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to “preserve, protect, and enhance West Virginia State Parks by providing leadership in communication, funding, and advocacy in partnership with individual Park Foundations.

Located in the Allegheny Mountains of Tucker County, Blackwater Falls State Park is named for the amber waters of Blackwater Falls, a 57-foot cascade tinted by the tannic acid of fallen hemlock and red spruce needles.