FAYETTE COUNTY, W.Va. (WCHS) — Nearly two million people visited New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and two other national recreation areas in the region in 2023, spending nearly $100 million, officials said.

In New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Gauley River National Recreation Area and Bluestone National Scenic River, 1.9 million visitors spent about $96.5 million in the communities surrounding the parks last year, according to a National Park Service press release.

Officials say spending across the region has increased since the New River Gorge was renamed a national park in 2020.

“Tourism spending has increased throughout West Virginia,” Park Superintendent Charles Sellars said in the release. “We are pleased and proud that our three national parks are part of a larger trend by generating additional revenue for our local counties and, now that we are a national destination, most likely for the counties of West Virginia and other states that are on the way to joining us.”

Visitor spending of $96.5 million is up from about $91 million spent in the three areas in 2022, according to the park service.

According to official figures, the spending secured 1,268 jobs in the region and generated a total of $116.5 million in benefits to the local economy. The number of jobs in the region also increased by 10%.

The top four spending categories at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve were lodging (27%), restaurants (22%), gasoline (17%) and groceries (14%), the release said.

For more information from the National Park Service on the economic impact of tourism in the New River Gorge in 2022, click here.