THE INTERMOUNTAIN, ELKINS, WV — Randolph County Development Authority Executive Director Robbie Morris visited with the Rotary Club of Elkins and gave the group an update on the Railyard Event Center project.
This project has been in the planning phase for a couple of years and is now moving to the bidding process. In fall of 2019, the Randolph County Development Authority (RCDA) held a strategic planning session to discuss long-term projects. Out of that came ideas for industrial park growth and a continued focus on railyard development. The loss of the American Mountain Theater in the railyard created an opportunity to promote tourism. “Any tourism operator will tell you that it’s better to have multiple things for bus groups and tourists to have several days to spend in Elkins rather than one,” said Morris.
There are already multiple tourism opportunities in the Elkins area including the Gandy Dancer Theater, the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, museums, local festivals and outdoor recreation offerings. “When we looked at this project, we were looking to fill a gap. We didn’t want to duplicate anything. Then, COVID hit. One of the good things that came out of COVID was a funding mechanism. Prior to COVID, tourism projects were not eligible for federal funding and grant opportunities. During COVID, because tourism took such a big hit, many federal programs became available for tourism funding,” stated Morris. There were a number of projects on the RCDA table at that time and the decision was made to move forward with this major project while funding was available.
The event center will be located behind the current town square with its main entrance facing the town square. The south end of the center will extend to the location of the old turn-table pit from the B&O railroad roundhouse that was located in the railyard, incorporating that area into the overall design of the center. The current street around the town square will also be modified to work within the design. There will be multiple parking areas to accommodate employees, visitors and buses; extended parking may be added at a later date. The center will incorporate some design elements that mimic the depot and the Rotary amphitheater to make a cohesive overall design for the area. Artwork based on the railyard and local history will be displayed throughout the space.
The building will be comprised of three main sections. The Ascend West Virginia section will contain offices for Ascend Executive Director Emily Huguenin and Greater Elkins Area Experience Coordinator Jessica Sutton. There will be office and working spaces as well as a dedicated outdoor space for the Ascenders who live in the area. Additionally, there is a garage area that will house bicycles and kayaks for the exclusive use of the Ascenders.
The theater section, which will occupy the middle section of the center, will have a capacity of 425 with a flexible stage area that will provide maximum stage area for performances as well as enable access from the audience. There is a backstage area that includes offices, dressing rooms, green rooms and storage. The reception area outside the theater will serve double duty for both the theater and the convention center. There will be a ticketing and registration area, restrooms, concessions and a general gathering space.
The convention center will contain 9,000 square feet with the capacity for a 500-seat banquet. The room can be partitioned into as many as four areas. The main room can be split into three rooms with one of those areas having the ability to be divided into two more sections. There will also be a fold-down stage available for use in the area. The commercial kitchen will have the capacity to handle multiple events with varying service requirements. There will also be outdoor areas to accommodate events such as receptions and concerts.
It is anticipated that the project will be put out for bids in June/July with the bid being awarded in August and a ground-breaking in fall 2024. Completion is targeted for spring of 2026. Once fully operational, it is projected that the center will support 50 to 65 employees. Taylor Hospitality, which currently operates the Tygart Hotel, will be engaged to operate the event center. More information about the Randolph County Development Authority and its various projects can be found at its website, www.randolphwv.com; Morris and the RCDA staff can be reached 304.637.0803.
Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in their communities, and in themselves. Visit www.Rotary.org to learn more about Rotary International, visit the club’s Facebook page — Rotary Club of Elkins — or contact club president Kenny George at kenneth.george@blueridgeriskpartners.com for more information about the Rotary Club of Elkins.