West Virginia Governor Jim Justice broke ground on the state’s newest RV campground and resort at Mylan Park in Morgantown. The RV park is an $11 million state-of-the-art campground that will feature 169 RV sites, cabins, a clubhouse and other camping amenities, the governor’s office said in a release.
This project sits on a former mining site and received $3.75 million through the DEP’s Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program.
“I’m so excited for everything happening here in Morgantown at Mylan Park,” Justice said. “Everyone here is committed to bettering their community and our great state by providing world-class recreational opportunities. This campground project is a shining example of a public-private partnership that has excelled beyond belief. I couldn’t be more proud.”
Through public-private partnerships, Mylan Park has grown into a nationally acclaimed facility. Once a small athletic conference, Mylan Park now offers 14 different indoor and outdoor facilities comprising over 60 acres of athletic field space and more than 180,000 sq. ft. of indoor sport, recreation and event venues. The park’s facilities attract groups nationwide to the greater Morgantown area. Total investment at Mylan Park will exceed $150 million after all current projects are completed.
“Mylan Park is excited about the new KOA Campground, which is our newest opportunity to serve our local community and the tourism community,” Justice said.
The Mountaineer Country region has seen tremendous growth in recent years, the governor’s office said, and is well positioned to continue seeing future growth, thanks to investments like the one celebrated Wednesday. Regional data alone recorded $373.75 million in traveler spending last year, seeing a growth rate of 24% and supporting over 5,000 jobs, which translates to an 11% share of the region’s total employment.
“I am so appreciative of the Governor’s unwavering support for West Virginia’s tourism industry,” West Virginia Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby said. “Under his leadership, businesses and community organizations like Mylan Park have been able to grow and develop new amenities for residents and visitors. With the unbelievable investments we’ve made in West Virginia’s tourism infrastructure in recent years, we’re well poised for continued growth for many years to come.”
“Through our AMLER program, and with guidance and support from Governor Justice and his Administration, we’ve been able to transform abandoned mine lands into valuable community assets like Mylan Park, all across our state,” WVDEP Secretary Harold Ward said. “This investment not only revitalizes our land, but fulfills the overall vision of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act by providing sustainable future use of our mined lands, while bolstering economic growth and recreational opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for all West Virginians.”
Read the full release from the West Virginia’s Office of the Governor here.
