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Justice announces state park renovations

Justice

BLACKWATER FALLS — Gov. Jim Justice, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Director Steve McDaniel, and West Virginia Tourism Commissioner Chelsea Ruby all came to Tucker County Thursday afternoon to make an announcement regarding upgrades to Blackwater Falls State Park and Canaan Valley Resort State Park.

“We have the greatest people, we have the greatest resources,” Justice said at the Blackwater Falls State Park Lodge Thursday. “We’re within a rock’s throw of two-thirds of the population of the country. Absolutely we have the most unbelievable seasons and the most unbelievable beauty.”

Saying he was proud of his state and West Virginia’s state parks, Justice announced renovations will be made at both Blackwater Falls and Canaan Valley Resort State Park.

“We’re doing millions in renovations here, we’re doing stuff all across our state … as we make our parks better and show the world just how proud we are of what we have,” Justice said. “And then here (tourists) come. And they come in droves, don’t they?”

A total of $12 million in improvements at Blackwater Falls State Park and Canaan Valley Resort State Park were announced.

McDaniel noted “Blackwater Lodge and the cabins were built in the ’50s … so what we’ve done, we’ve remodeled all your cabins. We’ve put money into the sled run. We’re going to be remodeling all the lodge rooms and all the dining facilities.

“Down the road at Canaan Valley, we’ve remodeled all those cabins,” McDaniel said. “And we’re putting in sewage treatment plants and water lines, we’re replacing all that.

“But at the end of the day, what we’ve spent so far is a little over $12 million,” he added. “We have other projects in the hopper and if we can find the money we’re going to do that as well.”

The overall $12 million investment covers a variety of projects at both parks, ranging from lodge and cabin renovations, campground expansions, and improvements to popular activities such as bike trails, tennis courts, Blackwater Falls’ world-class sled run, and more.

McDaniel said of Justice, “When he interviewed me for the job four years ago, he said, ‘I want you to get with Chelsea Ruby and I want you all to tell West Virginia’s story.’ … With his backing, we’ve been able to invest nearly $100 million in West Virginia’s state parks in the last four years.”

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