BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — The Beckley Travel Plaza, located next to Tamarack, is rapidly taking shape as it replaces the previous plaza that was destroyed by fire in 2022.
On November 27, 2024, Parkways Authority Director Jeff Miller announced that the exterior of the new $60 million plaza features a colorful light display currently set to the blue and gold colors of the West Virginia University Mountaineers.
The upgraded travel plaza will include expanded parking, a gas station, and electric vehicle charging stations. Food operations will be managed by the private company Arias.
The plaza will house a Starbucks that accepts mobile orders, a Wendy’s that will be open 24 hours a day, and a Popeye’s Chicken restaurant with a drive-thru. Additionally, there will be a convenience market and outdoor dining options. A food court will allow local restaurants to offer regional cuisine.
On Wednesday, Jim Kelley from Charlotte, North Carolina, visited the construction site and took photos. He has been stopping at the Travel Plaza and Tamarack nearly every year since 1978, only skipping visits during the pandemic. Kelley expressed his excitement about the new plaza: “It’s going to be a lot bigger and better than it was before, so I think it’s going to be worth the wait.”
Director Miller indicated that a soft opening is likely to occur soon, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony. He hopes local residents will attend the grand opening. “I anticipate we could have an opening and perhaps a ribbon-cutting ceremony before Christmas or by the end of the year,” he said.
The Beckley Travel Plaza is part of a larger $122 million project to revamp travel plazas along the West Virginia Turnpike.
Construction began in early 2023 and is expected to be completed by December 15, just in time for the holiday season.
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