Editor’s Notes: Our priceless state parks
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Last week, Gov. Jim Justice announced West Virginia tourism had its best year ever, with an economic impact exceeding $7 billion last year. According to the governor's office, the state had more visitors and those visitors brought more money. Of that $7 billion, $5.3 billion was "direct spending," also an all-time high.
Speaking to his tourism industry colleagues and state officials, Justice said, "You've done an unbelievable job taking our state's tourism industry to the next level, and I could not be more proud. All we needed to do was show the world what we already knew we had in West Virginia, and now with these numbers today, it's truly amazing to see what we have achieved."
Well, some of us already knew what we had, anyway.
I was talking with a friend of mine a few weeks back and discovered that though she had been born and raised in West Virginia, she had been to only one state park -- North Bend. In recounting that fact with astonishment to another friend, I learned that she, too, had never seen our state's beautiful parks.
I happened to have two (yes, precisely two, in the span of a month and a half) free days on the calendar, and the first friend was available on both those days. So I told her we were going to start working on her lack of in-state travel. I was able to confidently say "You're going to see so much that blows your mind." And she did.
First, I combined Blackwater Falls and Canaan Valley state parks, via the scenic route.
"Hey, how are you with car sickness?" I asked.
"Fine, I think, why?" she said.
"No reason …"
It was on the way to Blackwater Falls that she confessed she had never seen a waterfall in person, either. My jaw dropped. But I was able to make sure she saw more than one.
Every step she took on the trails she said things like "I could live in a place like this," as though we were visiting some faraway other state. I said "You do!"
On the second road trip we saw Audra and Babcock state parks and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. On that one I checked whether she was afraid of heights and she said she was not. Then after every new sight she would say "Is this why you asked me about heights?"
Nope, not yet.
Eventually we made it to the Endless Wall Trail above the gorge and I said "THIS is why."
She said a few words I can't repeat and then exclaimed it was the coolest thing she had ever seen. We were above clouds, but glimpses of the river were visible far below. On the other hand those same clouds meant that when we took the short walk to a view of the New River Gorge Bridge we saw nothing but white fog. Oh well.
It took only two well-planned days, and we saw and hiked in four state parks and one national park for the cost of food and gas. Of course, camping in these gorgeous spots isn't particularly expensive, either. And if you're not worried about traveling on a budget, there are lodges and other nearby options.
And, by the way, if you can, take your kids. When my friend asked why I knew all these places (and more), my throat caught for a moment while I tried to say "My dad." He didn't just love it here, he made sure his kids knew why they should love it, too; and he made it important enough to us that we share it whenever we can.
However you get there, get there. Having visitors who spend their money is great. Having a state full of people who know and love all that makes us so wild and wonderful will bring a deeper appreciation for the things of which we can truly be proud here, but also what we must work to preserve. It may mean a few more dollars into the state's economy, but in so many more important ways, it is priceless.
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Christina Myer is executive editor of The Parkersburg News and Sentinel. She can be reached via e-mail at cmyer@newsandsentinel.com