Travelers accustomed to stopping at Beckley Travel Plaza will have to make a short detour starting Wednesday to access the typical travel facilities.
The Beckley Travel Plaza will close on Wednesday, February 1, ahead of a planned demolition to make way for a multi-million dollar new Travel Plaza.
While construction takes place at the Beckley Travel Plaza, drivers are escorted to the Tamarack Marketplace, which has been upgraded to accommodate visitor needs.
AJ Dennison, Tamarack’s marketing director, said a new shop will be added within Tamarack called Country Roads Market.
“It’s kind of a small section that I set aside to sell what I find in the Travel Plaza… I try to offer some of those things so they don’t miss out,” says Dennison. said. He said.
The gas station next to the Travel Plaza is unaffected by ongoing construction and will remain operational until project completion, scheduled for late 2024.
Dennison said Tamarack typically sells only products made in West Virginia, but the Country Road Market also sells products such as energy drinks, sodas, candy bars, phone chargers, headphones and over-the-counter medications. are available.
Dennison said Tamarack will try to focus on local candy makers, breweries and vineyards.
Country Roads Market is located to the right of Tamarack’s main entrance, in the same direction as the bathrooms and directly opposite the restaurant area.
“We put it there so it was very convenient for the bathroom,” said Dennison. “We have the busy traveler in mind. Convenience is the goal. They can stop, use the restroom, get their essentials, walk out the door, and do it pretty quickly.”
Tamarack’s restrooms have also been renovated in anticipation of the square’s closure.
The Tamarack Marketplace is open from 10am to 6pm every day except Tuesdays.
However, starting April 1st, these hours will be extended and the facility will be open 7 days a week from 9 AM to 7 PM.
On average, about 500,000 people visit Tamarac each year, Dennison said. Dennison said that number could double or even triple in 2023 and 2024 due to the closure of Travel Plaza.
“In terms of numbers alone, I hope that the more new visitors we have, the more traditional Tamarack will become,” he said. “And more people here means more items are bought and more artists are known, recognized and discovered.”
The state will spend $152 million to completely redevelop Beckley Travel Plaza, Bluestone Travel Plaza and Morton Travel Plaza near Barnwell.
Bluestone Travel Plaza will also close on February 1st for a similar redevelopment.
