Additional acreage added at West Virginia's New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

GLEN JEAN, W.Va. (WV News) — Additional acreage has been added to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, the U.S. National Park Service announced Tuesday. 

The 45 additional acres located on Beury Mountain just east of the Thurmond area in Fayette County will be designated as a preserve and provide easier access to lands already part of the national preserve, the release states.  

“This property is a great addition to the national preserve portion of the park where hunting is allowed,” said New River Gorge National Park and Preserve Superintendent Charles Sellars. “It connects two previously non-contiguous sections and assures that hunters and other users have easier access to an existing 85-acre section of the preserve."

The land purchase was possible due to the passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2021, which redesignated the New River Gorge as a national park and modified the authorized boundaries of the park. 

According to the news release, initial access to the newly-purchased property will be limited as park officials establish suitable areas for parking and mark the boundary. 

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito applauded the announcement, stating the land will not only improve access, but add to the national preserve area of the New River Gorge where hunting is already allowed.

Capito had pressed for the redesignation of the park and acquisition of the land, and specifically mentioned it in her New River Gorge National Park and Preserve Designation Act, according to a press release from her office.

“The New River Gorge is a trademark of our state, and as such, it must reflect the important components of our culture and traditions in the Mountain State,” Capito said. "Countless West Virginians take great pride in being outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen, which is why I worked diligently to protect public hunting land when we redesignated the New River Gorge as a National Park and Preserve.

"Today’s announcement strengthens public hunting access on Beury Mountain, better connects the preserve and contributes to the wonderful success we are seeing at the Gorge since its redesignation two years ago.”