Brett McMillian, director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, told the Senate Committee on Natural Resources that the state park system reported fiscal year 2024 revenue of about $39,100,000 and expenses of roughly $53,000,000, and that the system’s three main revenue streams include general revenue, lottery funds and the state park operating account (account 3265).

McMillian told senators the division’s three primary public-facing areas are state parks, wildlife and law enforcement and that the park system comprises 36 parks, nine state forests and three rail trails. He said the park system’s self-sufficiency for FY24 was about 76% with a three-year average near 75%, up from roughly 60% in 2015–2016.

The director described recent capital work funded over several years, saying the department had completed a major bond program and other targeted investments that together totaled about $94,000,000 in special projects over recent years. He said Cacapon (transcript: Kacapon) State Park’s bond work and other bond projects are complete or in final pay-app phases and that visitorship and revenue have increased at renovated sites.

McMillian discussed Summersville State Park, saying the concessionaire has been operating infrastructure where necessary and that campgrounds will open this year; he said a formal opening event is likely once remaining work finishes. He also addressed two tram replacement projects at Hawks Nest and Pipestem, saying initial estimates grew substantially in today’s market (an example cited: a pre-COVID estimate of $12 million rose to more than $20 million for tram work); however, he said the department managed contingencies and avoided additional appropriation requests for those overruns.

The director described work at Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park, saying DNR and the Blennerhassett Foundation committed about $750,000 for roof, painting and HVAC repairs funded from account 3265 and from real-estate/royalty-derived funds. He said some projects are constrained by floodplain conditions and require designs to mitigate long-term maintenance costs.

McMillian highlighted the State Park Endowment Fund, funded in part by Ohio River royalty distributions; he reported the endowment has grown to about $50,000,000 and that by code the agency spends interest only. He said the fund generated about $7,000,000 in distributable interest this year, which the department is targeting to address infrastructure needs including sewage plant work and pedestrian-bridge replacement at Cooper's Rock.

Senators asked for project lists, visitorship numbers and the agency’s future funding requests; McMillian said detailed project lists and attendance data are in the DNR annual report and that the department will continue to work with the governor on major-ticket investments. He said the department continues to balance operating needs with capital work and faces cost pressures from materials and labor.