Beckley’s Exhibition Coal Mine is not just an ordinary tourist attraction. If the House of Delegates has its way, it will become “the official coal mine” of West Virginia. And if Delegate Linda Sumner, R-Raleigh, and her fellow lawmakers prevail, it will be known as America’s Mine — a national designation that she feels could enhance tourism.
“With the increase of tourism that I’m sure we’re going to see with the Boy Scouts coming in, we would like to get this,” Sumner said. So far, only one other state — Tennessee — has a mine as it’s official state one and is jockeying for the national distinction, she pointed out. “We’re trying to bring more visibility to what we have to offer in our area,” Sumner said. When an entity bears a national designation, she said, tourists are more inclined to stop and look at it.
Delegates in Wednesday’s floor session approved HCR68, pointing out the state lacks an entity known as an “official” state mine, so Beckley’s was picked out for the honor.