Charleston – The office of Governor Patrick Morrisey announced on Sept. 30 that Canaan Valley State Park would be receiving $1 million for snowmaking equipment enhancements.
The goal of the enhancements is to allow for higher volume of snowmaking throughout the skiable area of the park.
The announcement came as part of a larger $19.725 million statewide announcement of upgrades to State Parks and Forests.
“These investments are about building on our momentum,” said Governor Morrisey. “When people visit West Virginia, they spend money in our communities, support our small businesses, and experience firsthand why this is such a great place to live, work, raise a family, and visit. We want to give them even more reasons to come back.”
The West Virginia tourism economy reached record heights last year, the Governor’s Office announced, with the State generating $9.4 billion in economic impact in 2025. Last year, West Virginia welcomed 78.4 million visitors who generated $6.8 billion in visitor spending to support 61,728 jobs across the State, it was reported.
The new investments include $9.725 million from the FY26 budget surplus and a proposed $10 million in projects through the WV State Parks Endowment Fund Board. There have also been more than $96 billion in private sector investment and more than 19,000 projected jobs announced across the State in less than a year, according to the Governor’s Office.
Other nearby Parks and Forests included in the larger announcement include:
● Pipestem Resort State Park and Cass Scenic Railroad State Park will receive $150,000 for roof replacements on aging cabins and historic company houses.
● Statewide paving and repairs will receive $4 million for campsites, driveways, parking lots, and walkways throughout the State Park system.
● Statewide wastewater repairs will receive $2 million to replace aging sand filtration components and enhance wastewater treatment plants throughout the State Park system.
“West Virginia’s tourism industry is reaching new heights, and our state parks and forests are a big part of that success,” said Governor Morrisey. “We’re going to keep investing in the places that bring people here, support our local businesses, and show the rest of the country what makes West Virginia so special.”