WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS W.Va. (WVDN) – For the last five weeks with one to go, an incredible group of people has been working tirelessly to repair a roof and flood-damaged logs at the Blue Bend recreational area in White Sulphur Springs. Within the Monongahela National Forest, there are several recreation areas that the public can enjoy for swimming, gatherings, fishing, camping, hiking and more. The National Forestry Department does a lot to keep National Parks open, working and safe for its residents and thousands of visitors each year.
West Virginia tourism is a leader in the U.S., and the tourism industry has grown dramatically in recent years. Visitor spending has grown more than 40%, or nearly $2 billion in annual expenditures, since 2017, despite a global pandemic. Visitor spending in the state has grown 23% above 2019 levels, compared with only 9% nationally. Gov. Jim Justice announced West Virginia’s tourism performance for 2023, with the industry’s total economic impact approaching $9 billion last year. Visitor volume to the state reached 75 million visitors last year. These visitors spent $6.3 billion in the state, 5.6% more than in 2022. Known as the Mountain State and nestled in the heart of the Appalachians, West Virginia offers superb riding, great scenery, and a rich history. West Virginia’s New River Gorge, encompassing more than 70,000 acres, became the country’s newest national park and preserve in December.
Keeping the recreation areas up and working safely and reliably has been largely tasked to a group of young volunteers within many organizations. They do it with pleasure as seen when visiting a recent endeavor at Blue Bend. The primary pavilion had seen damages to its flagstone flooring, the logwork and roofs by rising waters and flooding in that particular area. The area lies at about 2,200 feet of sea level.
The Blue Bend Pavilion was built between 1936 and 1938 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The area includes camping sites, picnic tables, parking areas and a water retention reservoir. The structure was mainly built using American chestnut (Castanea dentata) which was once a prominent tree in West Virginia’s forests, but the chestnut blight fungus imported from Asia nearly wiped out the species, as well as deforestation. Its strength and resistance to insects and bacteria made it a sought-after building material in early America. Today, the groups are using felled Hemlock to repair the damaged logs.
The pavilion also got a new cedar shake roof and work is near completion. Not many knew that all this effort was quietly happening tucked away in the mountainous region.
Reid Saunders is the project manager of the group this go around. She is from Richmond, Virginia and Elkins, West Virginia, and has been a student volunteer since 2013. Many of the volunteers have been coming to work within the national forest for years. The Historicorps group has been here for four weeks with a team up from ACC volunteers for the last two weeks.
Upon arrival, scaffolding, lumber, sawdust and happy workers could be seen accompanied by the unmistakable fragrance of cedar. Reid and her group were hammering away at the shake roofing while bluegrass wafted through the trees. The main support beams were fitted with sturdy new logs by raising the trusses to allow a tight fit. A few outside and corner logs needed repairs and the group lovingly followed the original designs of bevelled edging. The roof got an entire makeover with bright-hued cedar shake that in time, will oxidize into green; then a final grey stage. All-in-all the building is sound once again for families to gather and birthdays to celebrate.
The White Sulphur Springs Rotary Club provided a thank-you breakfast for the workers, where they were heralded for their efforts and got a warm place to be for a while. It’s damp and has been chilly for them but smiles were everywhere. It’s perfect weather on a warm autumn day with few insects, a breeze, warm sunshine, and chilly, fire-lit nights to camp out. These folks immerse themselves in the work and seem very happy to do so.
Thank you to Rotary members Russ Conquist and Cathy Collins for making this tucked-away endeavor known. Partnered with the forestry services led by Paden Vargo and Gavin Hale, you can become part of the project by donating or volunteering. Visit historicorps.org, Preservation Alliance of Greenbrier County on Facebook, or with Ameri-corps and Appalachian Conservation Corp.
Volunteers leave on Nov. 5, so stop by Blue Bend to say hi and bring some hot chocolate!
