GRAFTON, W.Va. – West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice announced plans, Tuesday, for nearly $3 million in improvements at Tygart Lake State Park, in Taylor County.
The improvements will include upgrades to cabins, the lodge, the campgrounds, Justice said.
Improvements will also be made to the wastewater treatment system, paving will be done by the West Virginia Division of Highways and various recreational opportunities, including game courts and a trail to the lake, will be added, officials said.
These enhancements are the latest among several phases of improvements at Tygart Lake State Park totaling more than $6 million, DNR Director Steve McDaniel said.
“The first time I walked into the Governor’s office, the very first thing he said to me is that we’re going to bring tourism back to West Virginia and we’re going to use our state parks to do it,” McDaniel said.
“All we have to do is invest the dollars and tell our story,” Justice said. “We’ve done just that, and now tourism is exploding because people from the outside world are beginning to realize that we’re the diamond in the rough that they missed.”
The Governor, along with the State Tourism Office and the Division of Natural Resources announced $12 million in funding toward improvement projects at Blackwater Falls and Canaan Valley Resort State Parks last month.
The state offered a 30% discount to West Virginia residents at state parks, in June, July and August, which brought an influx of visitors.
“We are breaking attendance records every weekend. It’s amazing what we’ve been able to do,” McDaniel said.
