According to a news release from the National Park Service, nearly two million people visited the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and two other national recreation areas in the region in 2023 and spent close to $100 million. Officials said the spending has increased throughout the region in the years since the New River Gorge’s redesignation as a national park in 2020. The $96.5 million in visitor spending is an increase from about $91 million in the three areas in 2022, according to park service data. Officials said that spending supported 1,268 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $116.5 million. The area also saw a 10% increase in jobs.