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Hatfield-McCoy is a big success

October 31, 2007

Charleston, WV - The economy of Southern W.Va. can be diversified, it turns out

For generations, West Virginians have both fretted about the need to diversify the economy of Southern West Virginia and lamented the difficulty of doing so.

"Tourism? In Southern West Virginia?" thought the skeptics. "Not likely."

Well, think again. The Hatfield-McCoy ATV Trail, offers recreation perfectly suited to what Southern West Virginia has to offer, and it's a runaway success.

In some places, as the Daily Mail's Cheryl Caswell reported this week, local residents are diversifying their economies at breakneck speed.

Executive director Jeffrey Lusk said that since the trail opened seven years ago, about 100 new businesses have opened to cater to visitors from just about everywhere.

The trail's slick and professional Web site ( http://www.trailsheaven.com ) gives some insight into the pulling power of rough roads through tough terrain. It turns out that is exactly what many Americans are looking for.

The site includes a note from riders who have done trails in Massachusetts and Michigan and are headed for West Virginia; a note from a grateful visitor thanking "Noah the Ranger" for pulling him out, "the woman who was working at the Bear Wallow Post Office who was so helpful, and "the dirt bike riders from the St. Louis area" who warned him of a safety problem.

"Just a heads up to all the fine people that make H&M the #1 destination on the East Coast for ATV enthusiasts," writes a visitor from Florida. "A number of Michigan clubs would like to know . . ." begins another inquiry. "Coming from Pittsburgh, Pa.," begins a third.

Gilbert, Mingo County? A boom town? Yes, said Kendall Simpson, who owns a convenience store and campground near the Bearwallow Trailhead and owns or is a partner in an ambulance service, an automotive center, a motel and the Crooked Trail Steak and Ribs restaurant.

"You can stand in Logan and not see the results" of the trail system, he told Caswell. "You can stand in Man and not see the results. "You can stand in Gilbert and feel the results."

Eighty-one percent of the people who ride the trails 25,000 last year come from out of state, and the impact they have is going to increase.

The system has added trails in Wyoming County and in McDowell County, where a KOA campground has since opened. Trails in Wayne, Lincoln, Mercer and Kanawha County are on the drawing board.

It is an achievement. Much credit is due to all the people who shared the vision and are making it happen.

The Hatfield & McCoy Trails is a customer of Terradon Communications Group

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