Gov. Jim Justice announced the completion of $5.7 million in upgrades at North Bend State Park during a ribbon-cutting ceremony recently to celebrate the reopening of the park’s lodge ahead of the summer travel season.

 

“I congratulate everyone who has played a part in doing all of the incredible work that’s been done at this beautiful park,” Gov. Justice said. “All of the renovations that we’re doing at our parks, just like we have at North Bend, are a huge boost for everything that we do.” 

 

Gov. Justice was joined by West Virginia Department of Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Director Brett McMillion, West Virginia State Parks leaders, and other local officials, who showcased $4.5 million in renovations to North Bend’s 29-room lodge. 

 

Lodge upgrades include renovations to the lodge’s guest rooms, lobby, front desk, gift shop, and restaurant, as well as improvements to the lodge exterior, walkways, guest room corridors, and landscaping. 

 

In addition to the lodge renovations, the North Bend State Park also underwent $500,000 in cabin upgrades and $700,000 in construction for a pair of picnic shelters. 

 

“No one has done more for West Virginia’s state parks, for outdoor recreation, and for our tourism industry than Governor Justice has in these past five years,” said Tourism Secretary Ruby. “The completion of this renovation project is another way he has kept his promises to make our state parks the centerpiece of tourism in our state, and we are excited to see how it helps us attract even more visitors this year.” 

 

“Projects like these bring our state a multiplier effect like you can’t imagine,” Gov. Justice said. “There’s more interest in West Virginia than ever. People are coming into our state and dollars are being spent. It’s just more and more goodness everywhere you look.”

 

North Bend is just the latest state park to reopen after major renovations.

 

This year alone, Gov. Justice has hosted similar ribbon-cutting ceremonies at Hawks Nest, Blackwater Falls, and Canaan Valley state parks to celebrate nearly $18 million in improvements.

 

These upgrades represent just a small portion of the $151 million-worth of improvement projects that have been completed or started at every state park and forest in West Virginia since Gov. Justice took office. 

 

Named for the horseshoe curve of the North Fork of the Hughes River, North Bend State Park – located near Cairo and Harrisville – is known for hiking trails, outdoor adventures, and the 72-mile North Bend Rail Trail. Development of North Bend State Park began in 1951, when the state Legislature allotted funds to purchase land in Ritchie County. By 1954, the state had purchased 1,405 acres for the park.