WHEELING, W.Va. — As the Wheeling Park Commission’s Oglebay Park and Wheeling Park properties are seeing more and more guests visit following the downturn of the COVID-19 pandemic, the commission received another boost in recent days in the form of a grant.
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced a $6.6 million grant head to the commission for renovations to Oglebay’s Wilson Lodge. The funding was made possible by the American Rescue Plan.
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin announced the grant last week.
“The EDA continues to be a strong partner for West Virginia through their support for economic development projects across the state. Today’s announcement is great news for the Wheeling Park Commission and their continued efforts to develop sustainable tourism growth in the region,” Manchin said. “Investing in local tourism creates good-paying jobs and spurs economic opportunity, and this investment is a step in the right direction to boosting the growing tourism in Ohio County. I look forward to seeing the positive impacts of this funding for the Wheeling community and the entire Mountain State.”
Bob Peckenpaugh, the President and CEO of Wheeling Park Commission, told MetroNews the money will be used to upgrade the Ihlenfeld Dining Room and Glassworks Grill restaurants inside the lodge. He said the pair has not been renovated in 10-15 years.
Peckenpaugh added the work will include a modern finish, improved access for ADA and will celebrate the view of the park by opening up spaces outdoors. He also said the money will revive the greenhouses on the Hilltop section of Oglebay and the park will work with Grow Ohio Valley to set up an aquaponics farm, growing produce to use in the restaurants.
“We have an opportunity here to make these fresh and exciting for our guests and the local community to come back to,” he told MetroNews.
He added there will also be a local educational component to the farm and greenhouses. Peckenpaugh expects guests to see the changes to those two restaurants come January 2024.
Guests at Oglebay were able to visit a new restaurant last week with the opening of Lakeview Cantina. It’s an overall theme from Oglebay, as restaurant openings and improvements have picked up in recent years including the opening of the Garden Bistro and Route 88 BBQ & Brew.
“This is to create more excitement for the parks, give people more reasons to come back and visit whether from out of town to spend a night in the lodge, or for our local community to spend a day in the park,” Peckenpaugh said.
Separate from the scheduled upgrades with the EDA funding, other Wilson Lodge amenities have been worked on. In December, Oglebay announced the lodge would transform and incorporate the Kline Wing into an extension of the West Wing. Rooms are being upgraded on that wing.
Peckenpaugh said the lodge is in the middle of upgrading around 45 guest rooms and it will be completed this summer. Crews are also upgrading 10 cottages on park property as the park nears completion of a cottage overhaul.
At Wheeling Park, the sister park to Oglebay on National Road in Wheeling, Peckenpaugh said officials want to renovate the White Palace and include a cafe on the first floor.
He said with everything going on, it’s a nice change of pace from the 25% drop in business and being forced to lay workers off due to COVID-19.
According to the EDA, the $6.6 million grant is expected to create 45 jobs, retain 192 jobs and generate $20 million in private investment funds.
“There’s a real energy and vibe about the place right now and we’re very excited. Just recently we have been hitting record occupancies and revenues. We think the parks are poised for success right now,” Peckenpaugh said.