Overview

• Governor Patrick Morrisey signed a state-funded donation agreement, coordinated with the Trump administration, to restore services at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park during the shutdown.
• The plan covers reopening visitor centers and restarting Harpers Ferry public transit, with operations to begin once the National Park Service signs off.
• The agreement finances two weeks of service without federal support, with the option to reevaluate or extend.
• Both parks closed visitor centers at the start of the shutdown, and Harpers Ferry suspended its transit service.
• Tourism officials cited October’s heavy visitation and broader economic stakes, including nearly 1.8 million visitors to New River Gorge in 2024 and a statewide tourism impact above $9.1 billion.