CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Governor Patrick Morrisey announced Thursday that he has signed a donation agreement to keep West Virginia’s national parks operating during the ongoing federal government shutdown.
Because of the shutdown, both parks closed their visitor centers, and Harpers Ferry suspended public transportation.
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Morrisey authorized state resources to restore those services, and pending final approval from the National Park Service, both parks are expected to reopen in the coming days.
“Our national parks are some of West Virginia’s greatest treasures and I’m proud to ensure they remain open during this time,” said Governor Patrick Morrisey.
“I invite folks from near and far to take advantage of West Virginia’s natural beauty and plan a trip to visit one of our national parks or nearby state parks.”
Morrisey said he directed the West Virginia Department of Tourism to quickly develop a plan to keep parks accessible. The current agreement guarantees two weeks of funding and can be reevaluated if necessary.
“We are going to do everything we can to limit the impact of the Schumer Shutdown on our state,” Morrisey said.
“Tourism is essential to West Virginia’s economy, and we want to ensure that our national parks are able to continue welcoming folks to the Mountain State,” added Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby.
“October is one of our busiest months for visitation, and thanks to Governor Morrisey for allowing us to use state funds, travelers can still visit our parks for stunning fall foliage.”
Earlier this week, Morrisey joined other Republican governors in urging the Senate to pass a short-term funding extension to avoid the shutdown.
In 2024, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve recorded nearly 1.8 million visitors, with more than 200,000 arriving in October. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park drew more than 488,000 visitors last year, with nearly 78,000 in October alone.
Tourism continues to grow in West Virginia, with new economic data showing more than $9.1 billion in annual impact for the first time. Visitor volume has surpassed 77.2 million annually, with travelers spending an average of $18 million per day.
State parks remain unaffected by the federal shutdown and continue normal operations.
