National Parks Bring Money to Local Economy

The National Park Service said southern West Virginia’s three national parks contributed more than $64 million in benefits to the local economy in 2015. Economists analyzed visitor spending at parks across the nation, including the New River Gorge National River, Bluestone National Scenic River and Gauley River National Recreation Area. The report said people visiting the three West Virginia parks spent more than $56 million in nearby communities in 2015. That spending supported 846 jobs. Together, the parks drew more than 1.3 million visitors in 2015.