Tourism industry highlighted ahead of annual festival at New River Gorge
This week, Governor Patrick Morrisey announced that West Virginia plans to extend its donor agreement with the National Park Service so that New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is fully operational for Bridge Day. The agreement will also cover Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.
“Folks across West Virginia look forward to Bridge Day every year,” said Governor Morrisey. “It’s important for many of our small businesses in Southern West Virginia to have a successful Bridge Day. We’re working with our federal, state, and local partners to ensure that the festivities move forward without a hitch.
Governor Morrisey was joined by leaders of West Virginia’s tourism industry and business owners to talk about the economic impact of Bridge Day and the state’s national parks.
“Bridge Day has a huge economic impact on Fayette County and our surrounding region,” said Becky Sullivan, Director of New River Gorge Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The entire New River Gorge region benefits from Bridge Day. It is a huge event for our state. It is a huge event for our area, so I would just really like to extend my thank you to Chelsea Ruby, the Secretary [of Tourism], and Governor Morrisey for this opportunity to continue with our plans for Bridge Day and showcase our little corner of Almost Heaven West Virginia.”
“We get travelers from around the country that come just for Bridge Day to raft with us and to stay with us,” said Tom Wagner, Marketing Director for Adventures on the Gorge. “And also what we have is a combination of Gauley Season and the last week of the releases. So what you’ve got is two fabulous days here in West Virginia, which are like nowhere else in the country, and they bring visitors from all over. I can’t express enough our gratitude for the Governor to make sure that Bridge Day is happening this year and the parks are staying open, and it truly shows the future of West Virginia’s economy and what can be done when we all work together.”
“For Governor Morrisey to say, ‘no, our national parks will stay open, and we will have a Gauley Season and we will have a Bridge Day,’ has a positive impact in our state like none other,” said Haynes Mansfield, Marketing Director for ACE Adventure Resort. “And I thank you, sir, for putting West Virginia first.”
