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Mission Statement

The Elkins-Randolph County Tourism, Convention and Visitors Bureau promotes Elkins, Randolph County, and the surrounding area with the purpose of increasing economic vitality for local retail establishments, restaurants, services, lodging and entities related to tourism recreation while offering excellent service to our visitors through the Elkins Depot Welcome Center’s well-trained staff and volunteers.

Company Overview

Elkins-Randolph County Tourism CVB exists to provide assistance in planning trips and tourism opportunities for groups as well as individuals traveling to the Elkins-Randolph County area.

Our goal is to help you plan the adventure specifically for you, your family, or group that will offer the best opportunities for your exploration of the area.

History

The Elkins Depot Welcome Center, the central location for tourist information, started serving the Elkins area in 2006. In 2018, the Elkins-Randolph County Tourism Convention and Visitors Bureau, which falls under the Elkins Depot Welcome Center, became established. Both the Elkins-Randolph County Tourism CVB and the Elkins Depot Welcome Center strive to provide visitors with a welcoming experience to our city, county, and region. In 2019, as a recognition of our excellence in the tourism industry, we became an accredited CVB through the West Virginia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureau. The primary purpose of WVACVB is to enhance the professionalism, effectiveness, and image of CVBs throughout West Virginia thereby increasing each CVB’s ability to more successfully market their destination. WVACVB and its members, working with the West Virginia Division of Tourism and thousands of tourism businesses, have a significant positive impact on tourism in the State of West Virginia.

Fun Facts about Randolph County

  • Randolph County is the largest county in the state of West Virginia.
  • The size of Randolph County is 1,040 square miles.
  • It is home to seven municipalities including Beverly, Harman, Huttonsville, Mill Creek, Montrose, Coalton and the county seat of Elkins.
  • Randolph County was formed from Harrison County in 1787.
  • In the late 1800s, early 1900s, the town of Beverly held the county seat, but the town of Elkins felt that they should be the county seat. Feuds happened between the towns, the county courthouse in Beverly burned not once, but twice, and eventually the Supreme Court of West Virginia settled the feud and annouced Elkins as the county seat.
  • Railroads played a vital role in the economic growth of Randolph County after industrialists Henry Gassaway Davis and his son-in-law, Stephen B. Elkins, extended the West Virginia Central & Pittsburg Railroad to Leadsville in 1889.
  • Randolph County is located in the heart of West Virginia in the Potomac Highlands region.
  • Many of its high, forested mountains exceed 4,000 feet, lying at the headwaters of the Cheat, Tygart Valley, Elk, and Potomac rivers.
  • The highest point in the county is in its extreme northeast corner in the Roaring Plains Wilderness called Mount Porte Crayon, a level area of land next to Dolly Sods, with an elevation of 4,782 feet.
  • Since the turn of the 20th century, the county has been a major producer of hardwood lumber.
  • Davis & Elkins College, founded in Elkins in 1904, was named in honor of its two patrons, Henry Gassaway Davis and Stephen B. Elkins. The college is a four-year liberal arts institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.
  • Randolph County has 18 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places and 7 National Historic Districts.
  • The Monongahela National Forest, with almost 909,000 acres in ten West Virginia counties, is headquartered in Elkins.
  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources administer and provide research in managing game and wildlife in the region.
  • Randolph County has approximately 28,000 residents.
  • Elkins is considered the hub of outdoor recreation.
  • Elkins was listed as one of the 100 best small arts communities in the U.S and is a West Virginia Certified Arts Community.
  • Elkins proudly received Tree City, USA designation in 2009 thanks to the hard work of the Elkins Tree Board and Friends of Trees organization.
  • Elkins is considered a ”Small Town Gem” by the West Virginia Department of Commerce.

Weather

  • Randolph County, West Virginia gets 52 inches of rain, on average, per year.
  • Randolph County averages 78 inches of snow per year.
  • On average, there are 151 sunny days per year in Randolph County.
  • Summer High: the July high is around 79 degrees
  • Winter Low: the January low is 17
  • Randolph County gets some kind of precipitation, on average, 167 days per year.

West Virginia State Facts

  1. Animal- Black Bear
  2. Bird- Cardinal
  3. Butterfly- Monarch Butterfly
  4. Colors- Blue and Gold
  5. Day- West Virginia Day, June 20
  6. Fish- Native Brook Trout
  7. Flower- Rhododendron
  8. Fruit- Apple
  9. Insect- Honey Bee
  10. Reptile- Timber Rattler
  11. Rock- Coal
  12. Soil- Monongahela Silt Loam
  13. Song- Country Roads “Take Me Home” by John Denver
  14. Tree- Sugar Maple

Major Industries

  • Healthcare
  • Hardwood
  • Tourism
  • Education
  • Government