Connecting the Dots

Mon Forest Towns work together to bolster tourism and a growing sense of community

This story was originally published in the September 2022 issue of Wonderful West Virginia. To subscribe, visit wonderfulwv.com

Written  by Wendy Holdren

Header Image courtesy of Elkins-Randolph County Tourism CVB.

When asking “where” in West Virginia, answers are often given in terms of county. Rather than a town or hollow name, one of the state’s 55 counties is oftentimes a more familiar reference point.

But a new initiative—the Mon Forest Towns Partnership, or MFTP—aims to expand mindsets beyond county lines. Rather than working in silos, highlighting one destination or restaurant or activity at a time, this partnership is promoting an entire region’s worth of attractions. 

The MFTP seeks to better connect the communities in the region to one another as well as to resources that will improve the quality of life and vitality of the region. Relationship-building and community engagement will also bolster the partnership, which aims to support a sustainable recreation economy. The initiative is supported by the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture–Rural Development, and West Virginia University Extension.

The Mon Forest boasts eight wilderness areas and almost one million acres. Its multitude of recreation and tourism opportunities can be accessed from the partnership towns, which initially included Cowen, Davis, Elkins, Franklin, Marlinton, Parsons, Petersburg, Richwood, Thomas, and White Sulphur Springs. Partnership board members voted in April 2022 to include Durbin and Seneca Rocks as well.

The Concept 

When anyone discusses how the Mon Forest Towns Partnership began, Doug Arbogast is a name that quickly surfaces. 

Arbogast has been working since 2012 with WVU Extension as a rural tourism specialist, making connections between tourism-related businesses throughout the state and university resources that can move the needle. When he began working toward his Ph.D. related to rural tourism development, he keyed in on Tucker County. 

In his dissertation, he examined social and environmental impacts, as well as the creation of management structures in areas with limited resources and capacities. “Tucker County is a shining star with tourism development,” Arbogast says. “By leveraging regional partnerships, we found that areas with limited resources can find the support they need.”

Through his research, Arbogast began collaborating with the U.S. Forest Service. At the same time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture was issuing a guide on developing economies. Officials encouraged Extension to coordinate with the federal agencies to see how this conversation could expand beyond Tucker County. 

“The forest supervisor at the time was very passionate about community engagement,” Arbogast says. “It was really good timing, the series of events that brought all this together.” His position allowed him to be an outside facilitator to bring the towns and the Forest Service together, to begin the conversations around creating an economy around the series of Mon Forest gateway communities. 

Representatives from each of the 10 towns formed the board, and the organization is registering now for nonprofit status. While the group is not directly affiliated with West Virginia University, Mon Forest Towns has much support from the state’s land grant university. 

The Towns

While each of the 10 pilot towns in the partnership is unique, they are all connected by their relationship to the Monongahela National Forest, which spans 10 West Virginia counties and more than four hours of travel from north to south. 

Established in 1920, the Mon Forest is one of the most ecologically diverse regions in the United States. The forest attracts roughly 1.3 million visitors each year and offers both exciting outdoor adventures as well as opportunities to relax and recharge surrounded by nature. Here’s a little more about the partnership’s 10 founding communities:

The Vision 

Enhancing the economy through tourism, improving quality of life for residents, and sustaining the quality of the environment are the pillars of the Mon Forest Towns Partnership. A number of efforts are already underway to support the partnership, including customized town welcome signs and merchandise created by WVU graphic design partners. New wayfinding signage and interpretive materials, such as kiosks, maps,and  brochures, are in the works for folks on the ground, while a new online presence will help navigate future visitors. 

Additionally, public and green spaces crafted by the landscape architecture program at WVU will cater to locals and tourists alike. Plans are in the works for new trails through a partnership with IMBA Trail Solutions, Snowshoe Highlands Ride Center working group, and the town of Marlinton. Support for small business initiatives is also available through Woodlands Development Group, which can offer grants, loans, and technical assistance. 

In April, the MFTP board approved the addition of Durbin and the unincorporated town of Seneca Rocks to the partnership. Laura Brown, who has been peripherally involved with MFTP since its inception, now serves as a representative for Seneca Rocks. “It’s been wonderful seeing how we can utilize the forest to bring everything together,” she says. “The Mon Forest, in my opinion, is one of West Virginia’s biggest assets for tourists.” Brown grew up in Pendleton County and, after graduating from WVU, spent roughly 15 years living around the country and abroad, then moved back home around five years ago. Now she serves as executive director of the Pendleton County Economic & Community Development Authority. “I love being involved in this state, to help showcase what a special place it is.”

The Future 

Beyond the significance of tourism, Brown says she sees MFTP as an even greater community-building opportunity. “Community is the word that comes to the forefront when I think about Pendleton County. There’s such a sense of community pride and a sense of neighborhood. Despite being the fourth largest county in West Virginia, there’s a small town feel. I love that about being here.” 

What truly makes the partnership work, she says, is the love everyone shares for their town. “When visitors come to West Virginia, they’re not thinking in county lines. They think, ‘We want to see Seneca Rocks, then Blackwater Falls.’ That’s the importance of this regional approach to tourism, having that supportive network in place to facilitate those stops. Our ultimate goal is to bring visitors to West Virginia, then to our region.”

For Arbogast, the Mon Forest Towns Partnership is only the beginning. “I definitely think the structure and the process has the potential to be duplicated,” he says. “There’s a lot we can share.” 

Throughout much of West Virginia, economies in the past have been structured around extractive industries. In the Mon Forest region, the economy was built around timber. While the mission of the Forest Service is multipurpose, including harvesting, conservation, and tourism, Arbogast says the Mon Forest Towns Partnership has helped elevate the importance of recreation. 

“That’s really the key to this—diversification, not putting all our eggs in one basket. Recreation and tourism isn’t the only form of economic development, but its role is an important one. Some towns hadn’t thought of it before, but now see it as instrumental to their future. There’s a lot of enthusiasm now.” To stay up to date on the latest, visit www.monforesttowns.com.