Watoga State Park Foundation Inc.
The Watoga State Park Foundation Inc. was formed in 2015. It is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) resource for the park and public. Most of all the Foundation promotes recreation, conservation, ecology, history and natural resources of the park.Since its inception, Watoga State Park Foundation volunteers have worked thousands of hours. Especially relevant is work with park personnel to maintain and restore Watoga’s beautiful and historic trail system. In addition, ongoing projects will provide even better recreation for the park’s guests. Furthermore, the Foundation’s mission includes attracting more visitors to Watoga. Of note are the Memorial Park Bench project, the Workman Cabin Restoration, and the Watoga Dark Sky Initiate. Therefore projects include updating signs, hosting races for trail runners, raising funds for swimming pool improvements, as well as the aforementioned park bench, cabin restoration and dark sky projects. The Watoga State Park Foundation also works in closely with community organizations on educational, artistic, and recreational events in the park.
Work on Watoga State Park began in 1934, during the Great Depression. Young men in the Civilian Conservation Corps earned a dollar a day. They built roads, cabins and other buildings. They also built trails, stone walls and the swimming pool. The park opened in 1937
WATOGA STATE PARK FOUNDATION MEMBERS
President: John Goodwin Athens, Ohio
Vice-President: Louanne Fatora Frankford, WV
Treasurer: Wayne Pollard Marlinton, WV
Secretary: Maureen Conley Charleston, WV
Board Members
Mary Dawson Buckeye, WV
David Elliott Frankford, WV
John Dean Oak Hill, WV
Frank Hammons Marlinton, WV
Cully McCurdy Marlinton, WV
Nancy McComb Smithson Marlinton, WV
William McNeel Marlinton , WV
Paul Speyser Marlinton, WV
Ann Workman Hillsboro, WV
Watoga State Park Superintendent, Jody Spencer, ex officio Marlinton, WV
Watoga State Park Assistant Superintendent, Josh Feather, honorary member ex officio Marlinton, WV