ELKINS – The newly constructed Railyard Event & Conference Center will serve as a destination point for both locals and visitors when the facility officially opens its doors next month, officials said. 

“What’s opening this summer is more than a building — it’s an economic engine for Randolph County, a draw for visitors who haven’t had a reason to stop in Elkins before, and a stage for the businesses and events that will define our downtown for the next generation,” said Robbie Morris, director of the Randolph County Development Authority. “Bookings are already on the calendar across both the conference and theater sides, and once we’re fully open, the momentum is going to build quickly.”   

The building is slated to open in mid-July, according to a Taylor Hospitality press release, the hotel management company that was selected to manage the center.   

Once the center is open to guests, the 28,000 square-foot, $11.6 million facility will serve as a destination for conventions, weddings, signature entertainment, and community gatherings. The center will have a banquet capacity for 588 guests and the professional-grade performance theater will seat 416 guests.   

“This venue was built to do something West Virginia hasn’t had in this part of the state — host major events at a level that competes with anywhere in the region, without losing what makes Elkins feel like home,” said Shane Jones, general manager of The Railyard Event & Conference Center. “Every decision we’ve made has been about giving guests a hospitality experience they’ll talk about long after they leave. We’re excited to welcome our first events and our first audiences.”     

The Railyard Event & Conference Center will open in staged phases, with the conference center, food and beverage service, and pre-function spaces being the first to be operational in July. The final installation of theater fixtures and equipment will follow, and a grand-opening celebration is expected to be announced in the near future.   

“What sets this building apart isn’t just the size, it’s the flexibility behind it,” said Gregg Krepps, Vice President of Hospitality for Taylor Hospitality. “We can turn the same footprint that hosts a 40-person executive meeting on Tuesday into a 500-guest reception on Saturday and a sold-out theater performance on Sunday. Advanced AV, configurable layouts, on-site culinary, and a team trained to anticipate every detail — that’s what allows us to deliver events at this scale and still make them feel personal.”    

The Railyard Event & Conference Center, which also serves as the new home of Ascend West Virginia, is currently hiring and looking to fill positions in hospitality, food and beverage, event services, and operations. Ascend is the state’s remote-worker initiative that helps newcomers make West Virginia their permanent home.     

The facility is located behind the Elkins Railroad Depot and Welcome Center on the site of the historic railroad roundhouse. The center is within walking distance of many downtown businesses.       

The Railyard Event & Conference Center will host two in-house productions this summer, “The Mainline Show” and “Echoes of Icons,” in the performance theater. Additional event announcements will be released in the coming weeks. For more information, visit therailyardwv.com.