ELKINS, W.Va. — A new outdoor recreation expo planned for August in Elkins aims to showcase the businesses, destinations, and experiences that have helped make West Virginia one of the fastest-growing outdoor tourism destinations in the eastern United States.
The inaugural West Virginia Outdoor Expo is scheduled for Aug. 8-9 at The Railyard Event & Conference Center in downtown Elkins. Organizers say the event will bring together outfitters, guides, tourism organizations, campgrounds, equipment dealers, and outdoor recreation businesses from across the Mountain State.
Admission will be free, and the exposition couldn’t come at a more appropriate time, as the center is nearing completion, according to Holly Ferguson, the center’s director of sales.
Why outdoor recreation is growing in West Virginia
The event comes as outdoor recreation continues to play an increasingly important role in West Virginia’s economy. State leaders have invested heavily in trails, public lands, river access, and tourism infrastructure in recent years while promoting the state’s reputation for hiking, fishing, paddling, hunting, mountain biking, off-road recreation, and camping.
Ferguson said few communities are more closely tied to outdoor recreation than Elkins. Located near the heart of the Monongahela National Forest, it’s long served as a gateway to some of the largest public lands in the eastern United States.
Read more: Why West Virginia may be the wildest state east of the Mississippi
Visitors traveling through the region can access destinations such as Spruce Knob, Seneca Rocks, Dolly Sods Wilderness, the Allegheny Highlands trail system, and hundreds of miles of forest roads, hiking trails, trout streams, and backcountry campsites.
West Virginia outdoor businesses to gather in Elkins
The expo is intended to bring many of those opportunities together under one roof, she says.
“West Virginia is one of the most extraordinary outdoor destinations in the country, and Elkins sits right at the heart of it,” Ferguson said.
“We’re creating a space where vendors, adventurers, and families can come together to celebrate the people, places, and experiences that define our wild and wonderful state.”
The expo will occupy The Railyard’s 28,000-square-foot venue and feature exhibitors representing a broad range of outdoor pursuits, including hunting, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, camping, paddling, motorsports, and adventure travel.
Planned activities include gear demonstrations, destination presentations, giveaways, family-oriented activities, and opportunities for visitors to meet outfitters and guides from around the region.
A turkey-calling contest is also scheduled for Aug. 8.
Organizers are currently seeking vendors representing outdoor recreation and tourism businesses. Potential exhibitors include state parks, convention and visitors bureaus, campgrounds, RV dealers, rafting outfitters, guide services, lodging providers, gear retailers, and destination attractions.
New expo highlights state’s adventure tourism industry
The event reflects the growing economic importance of outdoor recreation across West Virginia.
Communities throughout the state have increasingly turned to outdoor tourism as a driver of economic development, particularly in regions adjacent to public lands and waterways.
The expansion of trail systems, the growth of adventure travel, and the continued popularity of destinations such as the New River Gorge have helped attract visitors from major metropolitan areas throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest.
Read more: Americans are increasingly choosing West Virginia for summer road trips
Industry leaders say those visitors are increasingly seeking authentic outdoor experiences, creating opportunities for businesses that provide lodging, equipment, transportation, guiding services, dining, and recreation.
The expo’s location in Elkins places it at the center of many of those trends, Ferguson said.
Often described as the basecamp of the Monongahela National Forest, the Randolph County community serves as a hub for travelers exploring the forest’s nearly one million acres of mountains, rivers, wilderness areas, and recreational opportunities.
Organizers hope to build an annual destination event
Organizers hope the new expo will strengthen connections between outdoor businesses and the visitors who fuel the state’s growing recreation economy.
While the inaugural event focuses on bringing together outdoor businesses and recreation enthusiasts, organizers hope the expo will eventually become an annual gathering that reflects the continued growth of West Virginia’s outdoor economy.
In recent years, communities across the Mountain State have increasingly invested in trail systems, river access sites, campgrounds, and tourism infrastructure designed to attract visitors seeking outdoor experiences.
As interest in hiking, paddling, mountain biking, hunting, fishing, and camping continues to grow, organizers believe events such as the West Virginia Outdoor Expo can help connect travelers with destinations they may not otherwise discover.
For Elkins, the event also reinforces the city’s long-standing role as a gateway to the Monongahela National Forest and the broader Allegheny Highlands region.
Organizers hope visitors who attend the expo will leave with a better understanding of the outdoor opportunities available throughout West Virginia and the businesses that help make those experiences possible.
The West Virginia Outdoor Expo will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Aug. 8 and Aug. 9 at The Railyard Event & Conference Center, 50 Roundhouse Way in Elkins. Vendor registration remains open through July 8.