Rafters hit a rapid on the Gauley River near the Summersville Dam during the opening day of the Gauley season.
GLEN JEAN, W.Va. — The three National Parks of southern West Virginia had a $60.5 million cumulative impact on the area’s economy in 2014, according to a National Park Service report released Thursday.
The 2014 National Park Visitor Spending Effects Report shows that 1,280,604 visitors experienced the New River Gorge National River, Bluestone National Scenic River, and Gauley River National Recreation Area in 2014 and spent $53,448,900 in communities near the park. That spending supported 808 jobs and generated additional economic impact.
There were a total of 1,124,799 recreation visits to the New River Gorge National River with $47 million spend. Bluestone National Scenic River was 38,450 visits and $1.58 million spend and the Gauley River National Recreation Area saw 117,355 visits and $4.85 million spend.
Harpers Ferry National History Park saw 261,203 visitors and $12.3 million dollars spent in 2014, bringing the total visitors to West Virginia’s national parks in 2014 to 1.541,807…