By Rick Steelhammer, Charleston Gazette-Mail
FAYETTEVILLE — A record 1.8 million people spent time in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in 2024, marking a nearly 50% increase in visitation in the four years since the Gorge became America’s 63rd and newest national park, the National Park Service announced in March.
That news came about one month after the newly created Department of Government Efficiency began sending termination notices to thousands of newly hired probationary National Park Service employees and offering deferred retirement buyouts to their senior colleagues.
Then, a hiring freeze that extends at least into October was put in effect, followed by the release of a Trump administration budget request for the 2026 fiscal year calling for a 31% cut in NPS funding for park operations across the nation.
