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The West Virginia State Parks Foundation provides a platform for supporting park projects.
This story was originally published in the December 2024 issue of Wonderful West Virginia. To subscribe, visit wonderfulwv.com.
Written by Wendy Holdren
Since 1998, the nonprofit West Virginia State Parks Foundation (WVSPF) has been working to preserve, protect, and enhance the wild and wonderful parks throughout the state. Through its organization and efforts, thousands of dollars have been raised to support projects ranging from new benches and interpretive programming to major energy-saving equipment and lodge renovations.
“West Virginia has one of the only free-to-the-public state park systems in the United States,” says Greg Bray, president of the Foundation for the past five years. “There aren’t many of them left. Many states charge visitors to get into their state parks.” Individual donations and grants go a long way toward supporting and improving the recreational opportunities in the Mountain State, he says. “To keep everything operational, the Division of Natural Resources and the West Virginia State Parks system need all the help they can get—not only from the Legislature, but from individuals as well.”
Many parks and forests have local foundations created to support them but, especially for those that do not, the WVSPF plays an important role. Donations may be made directly to a local foundation if one exists, and the WVSPF can support and facilitate projects for entities that don’t have foundations of their own. Ultimately, the Foundation hopes to see a support organization established for each park and forest statewide.
Restoring Railway History
It’s easy to understand the appeal of Cass Scenic Railroad State Park for a lifelong locomotive enthusiast like Robert Hoke. While Hoke resides in Maryland, he has a deep fondness for the Mountain State and its rich railroad history. “I’m a big fan of logging railroads,” Hoke says. “I’ve always been interested in the history of logging.”
When the Mountain State Railroad and Logging Historical Association (MSR & LHA) formed in the early 1980s to support projects at Cass, Hoke wanted to get involved. He attended the first meeting and even helped write the organization’s bylaws. The Association is one of the 27 active member organizations of the WVSPF. Some of the groups are large and active, while others are quite small. Regardless of size and scope, all of the member organizations provide volunteer labor and financial support to their respective parks and forests. Now serving as treasurer of the MSR & LHA and secretary of the WVSPF, Hoke has been involved with multiple projects to support Cass and its patrons throughout the decades.
“Our biggest project by far was the restoration of the Climax steam locomotive,” Hoke says of a two-decade collaboration. The three types of geared steam locomotives used during West Virginia’s logging boom were the Shay, the Heisler, and the Climax. At the turn of the century, Cass had Shay and Heisler locomotives that were operational, but the Climax was in poor condition. The massive restoration project launched in 2001, and the Association took it to near completion by 2015 through more than $400,000 in federal grants, fundraisers, and sponsored trips at the park. “We took a rusting locomotive and restored it 80% of the way to operational status,” Hoke says. The park’s new operator, the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, took charge of the remaining 20% of the work. On September 7, 2019, the Climax had its inaugural run, pulling two loaded log cars on the recently rebuilt line along the Greenbrier River.
“My role was as a bureaucrat—my mechanical skills are minimal,” Hoke says with a laugh. “When I went to help, the mechanic would show me what to do, I would work on it, and then he would fix what I messed up.” Hoke says his major contribution was writing checks and offering support wherever necessary. He credits the Ohio machinist as the true mastermind of the project. “He would take what looked like a pile of rust and say, ‘Oh yeah, we can fix this.’ Two weeks later, he’d turned it into a mechanical part that looked brand new. It was very impressive to watch the evolution.”
Another significant project by the MSR & LHA was the reconstructed logging camp at Cass’s Whittaker Station. Halfway along the train ride, volunteers reconstructed camp shanties that loggers would have lived in alongside the mountains, as well as a camp car and other heavy logging equipment. The project was constructed between 1991 and 1996 and allows visitors to picture what life was like in the logging camps during the logging boom in the early 20th century and to see some of the specialized equipment that was used to harvest and transport the logs.
Close to Home, Close to the Heart
In addition to his role as president of the WVSPF, Bray serves as director of the Pricketts Fort Memorial Foundation (PFMF). Including his time as a volunteer, he has worked with the PFMF for nearly 40 years. A Fairmont native, he began volunteering there in his early 20s, but his interest in the park took root a decade earlier. “My uncle got me interested. I thought this place was the greatest place in the world. When I was a kid, I said, ‘One of these days, I’m going to work here.’”
He considers his work at PFMF an opportunity to educate and to enhance recreation. Through a contract with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, the organization handles the historic buildings and historical programming in the park. It recently established a concession stand and a rental facility for kayaks and bicycles.
“We started out with $0. We raised money through donations and a couple of grants, including a State Park Foundation grant,” Bray says. While the project was expected to cost $250,000, the team was able to get the job done for $175,000, thanks to volunteers offering in-house labor. “Through the development of the kitchen and rental areas, we’ve added to the economic development of the park. It helps bring people in and improve their quality of time while here.” The 18-month project wrapped up in June 2023.
While Prickett’s Fort State Park will always have a special place in his heart, the entire network of parks is important to Bray. Serving as president of the WVSPF has brought him the opportunity to serve on other boards as well, such as the Governor’s Endowment Board for Oil and Gas in the Ohio River Valley, which he is hopeful will yield benefits for the state park system.
Showing Your Support
West Virginia State Parks offer something for residents and visitors alike. Bray says the parks not only provide excellent recreational opportunities, but are also essential for mental health as a place to disconnect and unwind.
“Donations mean the world to any state park,” Bray says. “It helps allow the state parks to remain free to the public. That means a lot to people when economic times are hard, to be able to get into a park for free. Just like at Prickett’s Fort, where people come here and enjoy fishing for free.”
Hoke says many of the park foundations have been established because of familial ties to a particular park—maybe a park visitor’s grandparents took them there as a child and they want to ensure those memories can be recreated for future generations. But no matter the reason, Hoke encourages people to get involved if they love West Virginia state parks. If you’re interested in supporting a park for whatever reason—railroads, swimming, skiing, family ties, or something else entirely—supporting the West Virginia State Parks Foundation or a specific local foundation is a great way to give back to your local park.” To learn more or show your support, visit wvspf.org.
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