HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. – Senator Shelley Moore Capito visited Harpers Ferry Morning to highlight all the ways she believes the National Park Service makes West Virginia shine -- but she also has some ideas on how to improve it.
After a fire ripped through nine businesses last year in Harper's Ferry, the community is still recovering.
Capito said, "when I was here a year ago about three or four days after it happened, we weren't really sure what was going to happen."
Since the incident the park system has paired with officials to re-build the town. They are tackling challenges like making infrastructure improvements and expanding the area to allow more visitors.
Superintendent of Harpers Ferry National Park, Rebecca Harriett said, "The enhancement project, the accessibility walkway, for park visitors, it's just going to be a tremendous improvement to the services we provide our visitors."
It's the park system's 100th anniversary and Senator Capito hopes that her visit to Harpers Ferry today not only helps local businesses but all of West Virginia's economy.
“It's more meals, it's more nights, it's more bike rentals, [and] it’s all of those things. So I think we have a lot in West Virginia with historic tours, in particular the eastern panhandle that we can really maximize this to be an economic driver."
There has been a seven percent increase of visitors since last year and Senator Capito says that is great news for West Virginia, the National Parks and the vendors.
“What an exciting place harpers ferry is-how it makes West Virginia shine. It's an entry point to West Virginia, it's kind of the gateway into our state."
The park system and city officials are confident the small businesses will make a full recovery and increase the number of visitors in the upcoming year.
