"I couldn't be more excited about the upgraded experience that the new aerial tram will bring to our guests at Hawks Nest,” DNR Director Brett McMillion said. “This project is one of many that exemplifies what our state parks are all about, creating opportunities for people to make lifelong memories and enjoy new experiences in the mountains of West Virginia.”
History of Hawks Nest Aerial Tram
The original Hawks Nest aerial tram opened in 1970, nearly seven years after Hawk Nest State Park’s official lodge opening in 1963. The old tram system carried passengers down an 800-foot descent from the lodge to the mariana to the base of the New River Gorge on Hawks Nest Lake. The old tram served the park and tens of thousands of visitors for over 50 years.
For historical photos of the tram, conceptual renderings for the new tram and photos from today’s event, click here.