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Updated: August 7, 2022 @ 3:40 am
The lodge at Cacapon Resort State Park.
The overall concept plan for improving mountain bike infrastructure at Cacapon Resort State Park is shown.
West Virginia International Yeager Airport is looking to add flights to two major air hubs in Texas.
The lodge at Cacapon Resort State Park.
The overall concept plan for improving mountain bike infrastructure at Cacapon Resort State Park is shown.
West Virginia International Yeager Airport is looking to add flights to two major air hubs in Texas.
BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. (WV News) — A year after the completion of $25 million in renovations at the Cacapon Resort State Park lodge, the park was awarded $2.8 million to improve its mountain biking infrastructure.
The American Rescue Plan Act money will go toward completion of the bike trail system at Cacapon State Park, including for trail design and construction, and development of bike facilities, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced. The $2.8 million grant will be matched by $700,000 in local funds.
It’s a big deal for the region, said Rachel Snavely, executive director of Region 9 Eastern Panhandle Regional Planning and Development Council.
The addition of 35 miles of trails will push the area into being qualified for gold status with the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA), Snavely said.
“Mountain biking is a huge, very passionate sport that draws people from literally all around the world for these world-class trails,” she said.
Cacapon was the perfect place for this grant, Snavely explained. The state park already has some trails and piecemeal grants for building. When the grant became available, it was the best bang for the buck for the park to apply for.
According to an economic development study, when the trail is built, it will contribute $5,532,097 annually to the local economy through visitor spending. Snavely pointed out the study also talks about the 68,000 bike enthusiasts within a 75-mile radius — a large population.
Snavely said the sales pitch was, “It’s going to put Morgan County on the map. The area struggles, unlike Berkeley County, to get manufacturing, because they’re not right on the interstate like Berkeley County is. So to have tourism be the main economic driver, it’s just a great fit for Morgan County.”
Tourism is a significant part of the local and regional economy already, said Lyn Goodwin, executive director of the Morgan County Economic Development authority.
Mountain biking is becoming more and more popular, Goodwin said. There’s a history of trail development bolstering economic activity, creating jobs, and strengthening tourism.
“With these additional bike trails, it will further establish the park as a premier mountain biking destination for the entire Mid-Atlantic region,” Goodwin said. “They’ll bring additional visitors to the state, increase lodging stays, as well as, you know, your food beverage and other retail purchases that come along with that.”
The grant is the latest in a series of developments at Cacapon. Last summer, a $25 million renovation of the lodge was completed. The additions include 78 guest rooms, a restaurant, lounge, spa, indoor heated pool and whirlpool, fitness center, and spaces for outdoor gatherings.
The new trails won’t automatically make the region marked as gold by IMBA; it’s something that it’ll need to apply for. However, even achieving just silver or bronze status will be a boon to the area and a huge attraction to mountain bikers, Snavely said.
This project is a huge focus for Region 9, which expects to put out a bid for an engineer soon. The end date for the project is 2026, and Snavely hopes to start construction in 2024.
“The next 18 months or so is going to be getting an engineer, getting it all designed, and then going out to bid for construction,” Snavely said.
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