Office of the Governor > News > Press Releases > 2021 Press Releases > Gov. Justice announces Turnpike toll booths to be wrapped in “Almost Heaven West Virginia” art to promote West Virginia tourism

Gov. Justice announces Turnpike toll booths to be wrapped in “Almost Heaven West Virginia” art to promote West Virginia tourism

5/20/2021

 

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BECKLEY, WV – Gov. Jim Justice joined West Virginia Parkways Authority Director Jeff Miller today to unveil a new marketing initiative for the West Virginia Turnpike. Starting tomorrow, Friday, May 21, turnpike travelers will notice Almost Heaven wraps being installed on Turnpike toll booths. “We’re going to wrap our toll booths and we’re going to show ourselves off,” Gov. Justice said. “To all the great people who are out here that have worked on this project, I thank you so much in every way for all that you’re doing.” VIEW PHOTO ALBUM The toll booth wraps are meant to encourage those passing through West Virginia on the Turnpike to consider stopping or to come back to the state for an adventure in the near future. “At the end of the day, this is one more step to saying we are proud of our own pond in West Virginia, and getting more and more people to want to come,” Gov. Justice said. Six different wraps will be used that highlight skiing, fishing, ATV riding, hiking, rafting, and the Tamarack – the site of Thursday’s announcement. This project is a partnership between the West Virginia Department of Tourism and the West Virginia Parkways Authority. The wraps will be printed by the Parkways Authority and not cost the state additional dollars, while taking advantage of a prime advertising location. “We came up with something that we think aligns with the vision that Governor Justice has for our state, in particular as it relates to tourism and the promotion of the state; not only its natural beauty, but the outdoor activities that we have to offer,” Director Miller said. “We thought about all the people that travel through the Turnpike on a yearly basis and, if we could just capture some of those impressions, those individuals could see exactly what we have to offer.” Miller added that, with an average of 36 million transactions completed at West Virginia Turnpike toll booths each year, and with the increased traffic seen during the upcoming summer months, Parkways officials will work swiftly to get the new wraps in place as soon as possible. “We’re going to try to get everything done before the heavy traffic starts next week before Memorial Day,” Director Miller said. This isn’t the first time that Gov. Justice and his administration have used the roadways to market the beauty of West Virginia. In June 2019, Gov. Justice announced a partnership between the Tourism Office and the West Virginia Trucking Association to wrap Almost Heaven ads on large box trucks and semi-trucks across the state. “We have captured the attention of the world; they are looking at us,” Gov. Justice said. “All the stars are lining up just begging for West Virginia to move and to go.” Share Tweet Forward

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