Construction on West Virginia’s first Elk Visitor Center will begin this spring

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WBOY) — A new visitor center and viewing platform are being built in Logan County, West Virginia that will allow West Virginians and tourists to better see the state’s growing elk herd.

As of February 2024, West Virginia’s herd in the Tomblin Wildlife Management had 127 elk with the addition of 17 new elk in January , and the herd is continuing to grow. Another transport of 23 more elk is scheduled for later this month.

In previous years, the only way to see the state’s elk herd was to take a tour of Chief Logan State Park , which usually sold out.

Gov. Justice said in a press release on Friday that the planned state-of-the-art viewing facility will contribute “significantly to the local economy and supporting ongoing elk management efforts.”

The new facility will include an elevated platform for elk viewing alongside a 2,000-square-foot visitor center, which will have displays dedicated to the history of elk in West Virginia and the reclaimed mine area. The project also adds a 3,300-square-foot facility that is “designed to meet the unique needs of managing and supporting West Virginia’s growing elk herd,” including a lab and research facility.

“This facility will not only provide unparalleled opportunities for the public to connect with nature and witness our majestic elk herd but also plays a crucial role in our ongoing efforts to restore and manage elk populations in West Virginia,” WVDNR Director Brett McMillion said in the release.

Construction on the visitor center and viewing platform are scheduled to begin this spring, and Gov. Justice’s office said the anticipated opening will be in 2025.

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources awarded the $6.7 million contract for the project to March-Westin Company, Inc. of Morgantown.

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