We are excited to be a part of the Tomblin Wildlife Management Area Elk Viewing Tower and Visitor Center. Excerpts from following story from the Logan Banner story includes information about the ribbon cutting of the area on October 1.

By Dylan Vidovich

HOLDEN — A new three-story platform and educational facility offers 360-degree views of the elk at the Tomblin Wildlife Management Area at Holden, and alongside it is a large education center.

A ribbon-cutting event was held late Wednesday morning, Oct. 1 for the new Elk Education Center and viewing tower at the WMA. Designed by ZMM Architects, the viewing tower is located at one of the highest elevations at the WMA, offering an overlook of the landscape where elk were first reintroduced in 2016.

The facility was built using a combination of funding from several sources, including the federal Abandoned Mine Lands program, state funds and hunting and fishing license revenues. The cost to build it was approximately $6.7 million and officials with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources hope it will be another added element to the tourism efforts in southern West Virginia.

“I would submit to you that we don’t realize the significance of this project today that it’s going to have, not only in Logan County but for the state of West Virginia over all the generations that it’s going to serve — that opportunity to come and possibly hear and see an elk is phenomenal,” said WVDNR Director Brett McMillion. “Our state park section started years ago giving tours and I can’t tell you the comments and the smiles and the happy faces that we see as a result of seeing those things back in West Virginia.”

Elk were first introduced at the Tomblin WMA in 2016. Sen. Rupie Phillips (R – Logan) was the lead sponsor of the 2014 legislation that led to the reintroduction of elk when he was a member of the House of Delegates.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I fought hard to get the elk back into West Virginia,” Phillips said. “…It only made sense to bring it down here to southern West Virginia to tie in to Virginia and Kentucky elk, and I think we’re doing pretty good. We need some more elk brought in here, but as being the lead sponsor, I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished. This is viewing site is just wow. This is nice.”

Alongside the viewing tower is a 3,300 square-foot education center, which will provide conference rooms, offices, staffing space, and more. The education center aims to support the elk management efforts and promote tourism and research.

The Tomblin WMA has approximately 130 elk in the nine years since their reintroduction. Guided elk management tours are available, though officials say October slots are nearly sold out. More information on booking and availability can be found online at www.wvdnr.gov/elk.