CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Discussions are underway between the West Virginia Parkways Authority and the state Division of Tourism on ways to improve the travel plazas on the West Virginia Turnpike.
Greg Barr, general manager of the Parkways Authority, said officials with the Division of Tourism have talked about making sure the experience in the three locations is universal.
“From the decor, the messaging inside the facility, it makes a lot of sense,” he said. “Some color-coding so that all of them are painted similar type shades of people so people get the same feel when people go in theme.”
The travel plazas are located in Beckley, Bluestone and Morton off of the Turnpike.
“We can help promote Tourism’s image and help promote that standardized feel on the Turnpike to match what they are wanting to do throughout the whole state,” Barr added.
Among the ideas Barr mentioned includes placing the “West Virginia, Almost Heaven” logo on the doors of the travel plazas and creating an e-newsletter about events at state parks. He added the Division of Tourism is looking to promote Paint Creek as a fly-fishing destination.
“By doing they, they can add some more fishing docks and perhaps some more parking areas off of the Turnpike where people could pull in and fish for a while,” he said. “People traveling will see those people fishing as well as you drive up and down the road. It’ll just help self-promote itself.”
Barr did not mention a timetable for when possible changes could be made.