Governor Tomblin visits Cacapon State Park
Over a hundred Morgan County citizens turned out to see Governor Earl Ray Tomblin sign the ceremonial bill to fund the expansion project at Cacapon State Park.
The Governor arrived at the park a little after 3 p.m. on Monday, April 9. He greeted people in the lobby of the lodge before moving to the back patio for the ceremony.
Other state legislators joining the Governor were Speaker of the House Richard Thompson, State Senators Herb Snyder of Jefferson County and John Unger of Berkeley County, Delegate Daryl Cowles and Morgan County Commissioners Stacy Dugan, Brenda Hutchinson and Brad Close.
The dais set up for the ceremony on the patio overlooked the green golf course and greening ridge to the east.
Speaking for the park
“It’s a great day in Morgan County,” Dugan said to begin the ceremony. She called Cacapon State Park “the crown jewel” of the West Virginia park system.
Dugan thanked Jim and Joe Michael, fellow commissioners Hutchinson and Close, the Berkeley and Jefferson County commissions, Senator Unger, Delegate Cowles and Speaker Thompson for their support of the project.
Dugan saved her most lavish praise for Senator Snyder who she called “her champion” for drafting the bill and pushing it through the legislature.
Snyder spoke of the beautiful day with all the dogwoods and redbuds in bloom at the park.
“It is a thoroughly needed economic boost for Morgan County and the Eastern Panhandle,” Snyder said of the park expansion project.
Speaking of the bill that also funded expansion at Beech Fork State Park in Wayne County, Snyder said, “These are both very worthy projects for the parks system.”
He then thanked Governor Tomblin for his commitment to the Eastern Panhandle.
“Herb’s heart is always in the right place as well as Senator Unger’s,” Tomblin said. “We have a beautiful state park here and we are all proud of it.
“We are going to have a park that people will come a long way to visit,” he said.
Governor Tomblin and Speaker Thompson sat down at a table set out for the occasion and signed the ceremonial bill. The actual bill was signed by the Governor Monday, April 2 in Charleston as reported last week in The Morgan Messenger.
Refreshments followed, served by the park’s restaurant staff.
