daily304 - Episode 03.01.24

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Friday, March 1  

Start your engines! The Hatfield McCoy trails are roaring into Kanawha and Boone counties. The little-known Paint Creek is one of the state’s most beautiful trout streams. And a new boutique hotel opens in Elkins--#YesWV…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From GAZETTE-MAIL – Boone County hopes to benefit from a reboot of their link to the Hatfield- McCoy Trails system with a trailhead opening.

The Hatfield-McCoy Trails system is under development in 14 counties from McDowell to Clay counties. The next two counties to open will be Kanawha and Boone, according to Jeffrey Lusk, executive director of the Hatfield McCoy Regional Recreation Authority. “

Kanawha will receive an e-bike and off-road motorcycle park in Tornado, at Meadowood Park.

In Boone County, the “Big Coal River Trail System” will open in May and include a trailhead in Peytona, where riders of ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes and more will be welcomed.

Read more:

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/southern_west_virginia/hatfield-mccoy-trail-head-in-peytona-set-for-launch-in-may-kanawha-link-coming-soon/article_05aa976b-730d-5619-a475-15b91bf47be1.html

 

#2 – From WV EXPLORER –  Few motorists traveling the West Virginia Turnpike between Beckley and Charleston may know that one of the state’s most beautiful trout streams lies hidden in the mountain forests along the way.

But now scenic Paint Creek, named for ancient trees once painted blood-red by Native American warriors, is gaining ground as a destination for fishing, paddling, and back-road travel.

William Hughes, the mayor of the Town of Pax, through which the Paint Creek wanders, is a chief proponent of careful development along the stream.

“If there’s one thing that Pax has been known for, it's that it has a trout stream, and that’s something not every town can claim,” Hughes says. “People have always come to Pax to fish.”

A longtime fan of the stream, photographer Molly Wolff has begun kayaking it and has found it even more attractive since.

“It’s wonderful to have a road that continues along such a beautiful stretch of water with fantastic spots to get out and enjoy, though now, after getting into whitewater kayaking, I love and appreciate Paint Creek even more,” she said.

Read more:

https://wvexplorer.com/2024/02/22/paint-creek-trout-pax-west-virginia-turnpike/

 

#3 – From LOOTPRESS – Visitors to Elkins have new lodging options with the opening of The Tygart Hotel in February. 

Located inside the newly remodeled 1906 building that anchors the Downtown Elkins Historic District, the boutique hotel features 56 unique rooms and a lobby cocktail bar and restaurant.

“We hope the new Tygart Hotel reflects the community that built and maintained the building for the past 115 years, and that it continues to act as a community hub as well as a place where visitors can feel and see what we love about this area,” said Dave Clark, Executive Director of Woodlands Development Group, owner of the Tygart Hotel.

The hotel includes a small conference room that can accommodate up to 60 people.The ground floor and lobby will feature Oxley House, a full service cocktail bar and restaurant. Executive Chef Anthony Eads is developing an exciting menu that will feature seasonal and locally sourced foods and blend of innovation with traditional items.

Lobby and guest room are decorated with work from West Virginia artists that celebrates past eras and towns that were once located in the nearby mountains and natural features. The Woodlands Group hopes that the artwork encourages visitors to use the Tygart Hotel as a hub for exploring the area more extensively.

Read more:

https://www.lootpress.com/woodlands-development-group-and-taylor-hospitality-announce-the-opening-of-the-historic-tygart-hotel/

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.