FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Thousands of Scouts, volunteers and visitors are expected to arrive in Southern West Virginia next week as the 2026 National Scout Jamboree returns to the Summit Bechtel Family Scout Reserve in Fayette County.
The 10-day event will be be held July 22-31 at the Summit Bechtel Family Scout Reserve near Beckley. The National Scout Jamboree will bring together thousands of Scouts, adult leaders and staff members from across the United States and around the world.
Located on more than 14,000 acres adjacent to the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, the Summit Bechtel Family Scout Reserve serves as the permanent home of Scouting America’s National Scout Jamboree.
The site offers a variety of high-adventure activities, including zip-line canopy tours, rock climbing, mountain biking and whitewater rafting.
Local tourism and economic development officials expect the event to provide an economic boost to Southern West Virginia, with increased business for hotels, restaurants, gas stations and other local businesses as families travel to the region.
This year’s Jamboree will also commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. Planned activities include arena shows, STEM programs, leadership development courses and a “pioneer village” featuring demonstrations of historical skilled trades.
The Summit Bechtel Family Scout Reserve is one of the largest reclamation and outdoor recreation development projects in West Virginia history. Before its transformation into an outdoor adventure destination, the property was a heavily mined industrial site.
Scouting leadership selected the location in 2009 following an 18-month nationwide search that considered more than 80 sites across 28 states. One of the key factors in the selection was the property’s 13-mile border with the New River Gorge.
The initial purchase of 10,600 acres was made possible through a $50 million donation from the Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, the largest single gift in the history of the Scouting organization.
Additional donations from organizations including Consol Energy and AT&T helped fund construction of the reserve’s suspension bridge, lakes and high-adventure facilities.
The Summit officially opened in 2013, replacing Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia as the permanent home of the National Scout Jamboree. It has since become one of Scouting America’s four national high-adventure bases, alongside Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, Northern Tier in Minnesota and Florida Sea Base.
In 2019, the reserve hosted the 24th World Scout Jamboree, welcoming tens of thousands of Scouts representing more than 150 countries.
