By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
A crowd of over 300 gathered throughout the day Saturday, October 11th the Celebrate the Grand Opening of the Canaan Valley Spa and Wellness Center. While some came to tour the facilities, others hoped to have a brush with fame.
Among the speakers were Spa Owners Angie Shockley and Steve White, Retired Senator Joe Manchin and State Treasurer Larry Pack. Most notable, perhaps, was Mark Bowe of the Reality Television Series Barnwood Builders who could be seen wandering the grounds taking selfies with fans throughout the day.
Spa Owner Angie Shockley said she was grateful to Owner and Property Developer Steve White for his vision of Tucker County.
“I’m so grateful that he had the vision and the foresight to invest in Tucker County not just here, but lots of places in Tucker County,” Shockley said.
White expressed confidence in Shockley and how she has not only handled the project to this point, but also how she will handle the Spa moving forward.
“Angie is the perfect person for this,” White said. “I’m really glad to get her on this project and she’s going to really do a wonderful job.”
White said the idea for the Spa and Wellness Center came about after a conversation with his wife. She said that the Valley needed activities and attractions to showcase the beauty of the area to people around the East Coast and beyond. They decided the area would be perfect for some kind of wellness activity.
“Canaan Valley, what they need here is some kind of activity. We need to showcase the Valley and show the people on the East Coast and everywhere else what a beautiful place we all know it is,” White said.
White said the crew for the project were all from West Virginia, including Mark Bowe’s work crew from the Reality Television Series Barnwood Builders that assisted with construction. Shockley said she avoided the building site for three to four months in the Spring because she she had nothing to add to the project at that point, but when she did start to come over to the site on a regular basis, she would often see someone she went to school with or she coached in basketball or the child of a classmate from school. She said it was one of her favorite things.
“Its a West Virginia project 100%,” White said.
Bowe said that he and his crew love the project. From the first conversation with White and his team, Bowe said he knew the Spa project would be something special.
“There’s a difference between an accommodation and a destination,” Bowe said. “This is a destination. From the start of this project its been all heart.”
Bowe said that his show dedicated two episodes to the Spa. Two episodes of Barnwood Builders was dedicated to the Canaan Valley Spa and Wellness Center in the hopes to make the Spa an investment in Tourism, according to Bowe, but also an investment in people because Bowe said Tucker County has become one of his favorite places in West Virginia because of the people.
“I’m trying to make this the worst kept secret in America,” Bowe said.
West Virginia Treasurer Larry Pack also gave remarks at the ceremony. Pack has been a business partner and “brother” to White for 40 years. Pack said that the Spa provides another amenity for Tourism to Tucker County for domestic and international tourism, as well as provides jobs for locals. He also spoke of White’s passion for Tucker County and his dedication to its development.
“This is what economic development looks like, this is what growth looks like,” Pack said. “Its families, its businesses taking risks to improve their communities.”
Retired Senator Joe Manchin spoke on his advice to those in Washington. He said he often told those in D.C. of Canaan Valley and how much he enjoyed his place there. Manchin said that West Virginia has “bragging rights” when it comes to the outdoors and what the State and especially, Tucker County, has to offer. Manchin also said that West Virginians have to keep “selling” the State to visitors because he said word of mouth is the best advertising.
“You don’t have to go clear out West to enjoy the outdoors,” Manchin said. “You don’t have to go clear out West to enjoy skiing, to have hiking and biking. You only have to go 3 hours west to West Virginia.”
As part of the day’s festivities, guests enjoyed food supplied by Gobs and Gobs of Kabobs and Berry Best Catering, toured the facility, as well as neighboring Valley View Cabin Resort. Timberline Mountain also offered fall foliage lift rides.
Canaan Valley Spa & Wellness Center offers massage, yoga, sauna, salt therapy, neurofeedback, reiki, holistic health classes, and personal retreats, as well as mineral soak tubs, manicure/pedicure, facials, halotherapy, infrared sauna, a fitness facility, styling suite, retreat space and memberships. For more information, visit http://www.canaanvalleyspawv.com or call 304-704-6776. The Canaan Valley Spa and Wellness Center is located at 30 Aster Lane, Davis.
