SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. — It’s not a secret that tourism thrives during the fall in West Virginia.
The West Virginia Division of Tourism reports nearly 15.9 million people take overnight trips to the Mountain State each year. This equals roughly $4.5 billion going toward the state’s economy. Many come for fall foliage, festivals and the diverse selection of outdoor activities West Virginia has to offer. Others come to southern West Virginia for an annual event known as Gauley Season.
This six-week season runs from mid-September through the weekend of Bridge Day, which falls on Saturday October 21 this year. Every morning, a siren at the Summersville Dam signals the controlled release of water from Summersville Lake. This water helps to create some of the best whitewater rapids in the world.
On September 25, three rival rafting companies worked together to help spread the word about the Gauley’s offerings. ACE Adventure Resort, Adventures on the Gorge and River Expeditions invited the media for a day full of wet fun. The West Virginia Division of Tourism helped coordinate the event. For more interesting spots for tourist in the US, you will like to check now this list of the best after-hours bars in Houston.
“The next month is probably the best time to travel in West Virginia,” said Adventures on the Gorge Co-founder Dave Arnold. “When you start getting all the fall colors on the Gauley and you have all the rapids still the same, or if you’re just taking a ride down the road. In my opinion, we’re about to enter the best month of the year.”
His company is one of several that will take thousands of people from all over the world down the rapids this year. Arnold says over 90 percent of rafters come from outside of West Virginia. The largest percentage of out-of-state visitors come from Ohio followed closely by Virginia. Nearly 8 percent will fly from around the world to take part in the adventure.
Whether you are a rafting expert or a beginner, Arnold says there is something for everybody.
“The Upper Gauley has a little bit more gradient, meaning it drops a little faster, and it has four very large rapids. The lower Gauley just don’t have quite as much drop, it’s equally as beautiful and it’s still very exciting.”
In addition to income from tourism, the companies involved with Gauley Season provide other benefits to West Virginia. Adventures on the Gorge also provides ziplining, horseback riding, lodging, a conference center and many other water sports. Arnold says this equals numerous employment opportunities for locals.
“We’ll put out about 650 W-2’s at the end of the year. We show them the world. Once you learn how to guide here in West Virginia, you can guide anywhere in the world.”
For Arnold, being in the tourism industry is far more than a business. He, along with his employees, view it as an opportunity to leave a lasting positive impression on everyone who visits.
“I say ‘who do you represent’? They say ‘well I represent myself or I represent the company’. I say ‘well those are all good answers, but what you really do is represent West Virginia. Every single day when you go out there, you’re changing people’s views of who we are as a people.’ ”
Gauley Season official ends on Sunday, October 22. You can view more information and make trip reservations here.