Morgan County, W.Va. — Governor Jim Justice, along with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) and Cacapon Resort State Park, is honored to announce that the Cacapon State Park Foundation (Foundation) has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) Award for Trail Construction and Design. 

The Foundation secured grants, including the prestigious International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) Trail Accelerator grant, leading to the professional development of the Rock & Roll and Thunderstruck trails. The Morgan County Commission, with $100,000 in financial support, played a crucial role in kick-starting these trail-building endeavors.

In 2022, the Foundation was awarded a Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant, leading to the creation of the Middle Fork trail. Subsequent grants, including an EDA grant of $3.5 million, are set to contribute to the construction of an additional 35 miles of trails over the next three years.

“We are proud to have played a part in the success of Cacapon Resort State Park’s trail development,” said Brett McMillion, Director of the WVDNR. “This award is a recognition of the collective effort that has made Cacapon a mountain biking destination for the eastern United States. This prestigious award is a testament to the Foundation’s commitment to trail development and its transformative impact on the community.”

A recent Economic Impact Study estimates an annual economic impact of $5.5 million on Morgan County, showcasing the positive effects of the trail system on the local economy. 

Key Numbers:

• $4,302,943: Total raised through donations and grants to-date
• 16.5 miles: Total miles of trail built by volunteers or with raised funds
• 35 miles: Miles of new trail to be built with the EDA grant over the next 3 years
• 6,000 hours: Volunteer work to build trails since 2017
• $5,500,000: Estimated economic impact of new trails on the local economy

“This award is a testament to the incredible teamwork, dedication and support we have received from members of the Cacapon State Park Foundation, volunteers, local officials and various organizations,” said Mark Hoyle, a member of the Cacapon State Park Foundation. “Our goal was not just to build trails but to create a mountain biking destination that would benefit the entire community and leave a lasting legacy.”

The awards ceremony took place on March 7, 2024. It honored outstanding projects in various categories, including Construction and Design, Maintenance and Rehabilitation, Public-Private Partnerships, Community Linkage, Education and Communication, Accessibility Enhancement, Multiple-Use Management and more. Special guests, including Members of Congress, attended the ceremony. For more information about CRT and the awards, visit https://www.americantrails.org/crt.