HAWK’S NEST STATE PARK, WV (WOAY)- There was a groundbreaking ceremony for the Hawk’s Nest State Park tram. This $8 million project is part of the $250 million going into our state parks and the public is excited.
“Of all the 250 million investment projects we’ve done at our state parks. I’ll tell you, I’ve gotten more excitement, possibly about these trams than anything else,” said Chelsea Ruby, Department of Tourism Secretary. ” They’re just fixtures in the community. They’re places where people get engaged. Places where people get married. They go on first dates, prom, all these different things. People have great emotional attachments to these and to these parks. And it’s just it’s a wonderful way to share our state with locals and visitors alike. ”
The tram originally opened in the 70s and brought many tourists and locals alike. Though it had to closed down two years ago due to maintenance issues with no means of repair. Justice sought a need for the trams at Hawk’s Nest and Pipestem and gave the go ahead.
“Just makes more people want to come. The more people that come, the more people discover West Virginia, the better we are in the news, the better we are. Everywhere else grows, our population grows, and our economy grows on and on and on. It is absolutely just another step in what we’ve been doing for years. We want to continue to do that,” said Gov. Jim Justice. “I mean, the more we promote West Virginia, the better we’re going to be. And that’s what we want to do. We just want to continue to reach out and grab opportunity, dream big, and make more and more good stuff happen.”
This new tram system it takes the nostalgia that people love but also brings more to the table.
“It’s going to be much upgraded. The old ones we’re kind of an older model. This one, you’ll go up one side and down the other and it makes it easier to board it. We also have equipment cabins so you can take your kayaks and your bikes down. Then they’re fully ADA accessible. So they’re greatly improved over the old ones,” said Ruby. “So that same old tram that we all know and love, but they’re an upgraded version.”
This is one of 2 currently under renovation. They hope to have it open by late spring next year.
The Department of Tourism Secretary had announced to everyone in attendance at the event, including Governor Jim Justice and Baby Dog, that the state park’s annual revenue surpassed $50 million this past fiscal year, which is the largest in our state’s history.
