September 2, 2025 • 38 mins
Ron Justice from the Mylan Park Foundation on the opening of the Mylan Park Ic Pavillion
Frank Witt, General Manager of the Mylan Park KOA Holiday Campground- on the opening of that facility.
Frank Witt, General Manager of the Mylan Park KOA Holiday Campground- on the opening of that facility.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
This is the Talk of the Town from Morgantown to Klerksburg.
If it's happening, we're talking about it. Call the show
toll free at one eight hundred seven sixty five eight
two fivey five. Now Here is your host for the
Talk of the Town, Mike notlting.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
O.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Good Tuesday morning. It is nine oh six partly cloudy,
sixty three degrees in the University City Metro Newsaki Weather
says today mostly Sonny, I have seventy four degrees run
of absolutely exquisite weather continues. Good morning, and welcome to
Talk of the Town, the program where we highlight things
(00:45):
important to you and your family. Producing the program today
we have Ethan Collins. You can get Ethan at eight
hundred seven six five eight two five five. The text
line three oh four talk three oh four. Certain I
love to hear from you this morning. Maybe what you
did over the Labor Day holiday, Maybe something specially you
(01:06):
threw on the grill, something like that. Give me a
text there at three oh four talk three oh four
On the program today it'll be all Miland Park. Didn't
know if you knew this or not, but today the
doors opened at the Miland Park Ice pavilion. The brand
(01:27):
new Miland Park Ice Pavilion officially opens today and we'll
speak with Ron Justice coming up at nine fifteen to
get the very latest on that facility. Looks like it
looks like seating for about twelve hundred fans and they'll
be playing the WVU pit ice hockey game. They're coming
(01:49):
up on the twelfth of this month, so we'll talk
with Ron Justice about that. At nine p thirty, we're
going to welcome Frank Witt to the program. Now. Frank
Man manages the Koa Campground out at Myland Park that
is also opened. I believe it opened sometime last week.
But we're going to talk with Frank and find out
(02:10):
exactly what they're offering at that facility, what's available, and
what the future because I still think there's a little
bit of construction remaining yet to do out at the
Koa Campground at Myland Park. Let's take a look at
a couple of headlines and we'll get things going. Interim
(02:31):
Committee meetings are set for next week as the Peia
issue continues to loom over lawmakers. Now the calls yet
to be made by the governor for the session. Some
believe it could include Peia. Three days of legislative Interim
Committee meetings begins Sunday. We've got more information about those
(02:52):
meetings at wvmetronews dot com. Mountaineers Indivisible organized a Workers
over a Billionaire protest at the Coliseum on Labor Day.
Several attended the Morgantown event, protesting projected cuts to SNAP
and medicaid. Of The State Public Service Commission will have
(03:12):
discussions in the months ahead about proposals for high voltage
power lines in northern and eastern counties of the state.
Potomac Edison has notified the PSC that it'll seek approval
of a fifteen mile line in Jefferson County that would
be separate from, but will eventually connect to, the mid
(03:33):
Atlantic Resiliency Link. Company spokesman Will boy says a plan
to use the path of the company's current transmission line
through the area and build up or at a higher
elevation above the existing lines. Now. These lines will be
in West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia. Firefighters from Harrison and
(03:57):
Marion Counties battle to fire Monday afternoon on Coon's Run Road.
One male victim was treated for third degree burns and
the cause remains under investigation. A police in Harrison County
say a driver was able to escape a rollover accident
without any major injuries. That crash occurred on I seventy
nine near the Jerry Dove exit on Monday evening just
(04:22):
about six o'clock. The accident slowed traffic in the area
for several hours. In the aftermath, results from the recent
Metro News West Virginia poll will be that'll be the
focus of the teno six guest on Metro News talk Line.
(04:42):
There are some concern being expressed by residents about the economy.
Pollster Rex Repass will join Metro News talk Line at
ten o six to talk about the latest West Virginia pole.
The powerball jackpot rolls over again. He hit the numbers
Monday evening. The estimated prize for Wednesday will be a
(05:05):
one point three billion dollars. A fifty thousand dollars Winter
was purchased at the Cheat Lake price Cutter ahead of
the Saturday drawing of the Bill Belichick College football coaching
Area starts with an el. North Carolina gets worked over
by TCU forty eight to fourteen and the weather today
(05:26):
looks beautiful. Just to put it into one word sun,
maybe a cloud or two. And I've seventy seven tonight
clearing a low of fifty three and tomorrow more clouds
than today and maybe even a shower in the afternoon
and a high temperature of eighty degrees. It is nine
eleven in the University City, partly cloudy sixty three at
(05:49):
the moment. When we come back, spend a few minutes
with the Ron Justice with the Mylond Park Foundation. We'll
be talking about the brand new Miland Park Ice Pavilion
opens today. It's coming up next on AM fourteen forty
f m one oh four point five w A j r.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Of your town.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
Now back to the talk of the town.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Good Tuesday morning. Eighty is nine sixteen now West Virginia.
Five one one is reporting your crash on I seventy
nine northbound at the one forty four mile marker. And yes,
another crash on I seventy nine northbound, this one at
mile marker one thirty two. So if you're in that
area you can expect some delays, that's for sure. On
(06:35):
the phone, we've got Ron Justice from the Miland Park Foundation.
Good morning, Ron, how are you today? Good morning Mike,
how are you hey, I'm doing good. Thank you very much.
You have a good weekend.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
I did, how about you?
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Absolutely? Absolutely? Okay, Well, let's see, today is opening day
over at the Miland Park Ice Pavilion. Okay, now let's
see let's start here. Construction or I guess the idea
for this we started at about maybe eighteen months ago
(07:10):
or so, so this project came together pretty quickly. How
was it financed and how much did it end up costing?
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Well, we did start about eighteen months ago with the concept.
We were very fortunate to have support from the Hazel
Ruby mcquain Charitable Trust that helped us move the project
forward and really put it over the top. So we
started construction about nine months ago and the March Western
(07:41):
has done a wonderful job keeping us on budget and
on time, and so originally we had scheduled to open
on October first, but with hockey season, we're able to
get in a little bit early. So here in the
first two weeks we're still under some outside construction, but
(08:03):
the buildings open and we will start in fact, Morgantown
Hockey Association has practices this evening, so we will be
open this evening for that and then public skate and
birthday parties and those kind of things will open on
the weekend of the thirteenth and fourteenth.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Okay, now, can you describe the layout of the building
for us? So what does it have.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
We have an Olympic sized ice there. We have eight
dressing rooms in the facility. We have two large meeting
rooms in the facility of warming room, concessions, skate rental area,
and seating permanent seating for nine hundred and six and
(08:52):
then we have temporary seating for three hundred, so we
could we could seed up to about twelve hundred in
the new facility.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
And I guess you're probably planning for that kind of
crowd coming up on the twelfth when WVU Club Hockey
plays Pitt.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Yes, we are planning that that will be a packed house.
They've rearranged their schedule to coincide we have a big
football game that weekend I think here in Morgantown, so
they moved some things around and that will occur on
the twelfth, So WU Hockey will be playing Pitt and
we also have the County Fair going on at that time,
(09:29):
so a lot going on at Mylham Park on that weekend,
but you know, we're very excited about it, and the
facility's a great facility. We had so many people contribute
to us, and you know, we just can't thank people
enough for all the hard work and the efforts to
get this open.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Now, which organizations will call this facility.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Home, Morgantown Hockey Association, the w View Club Hockey as
well as we will have the PUEL and I'm not
all in tune with what basically the high school teams
will be playing in here on Thursday evenings as well,
(10:16):
So we'll have those three groups and we're working on
some others right now, but out of the shot, we'll
have those three groups, all right.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Ll Ron Justice is with us from the Mylon Park Foundation. Now,
is the facility constructed such that maybe in the future
sometime if you wanted to add another sheet of ice,
can you do that.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
We did construct the facility that way and planned it
that way that you know, the demand and obviously the
financing was available to do that in the future. We
could add another slab of ice in the future, and
it's set up very nice that, you know, should that
ever occur, that we would have one common area and
then two sheets of ice, one on each side of
(10:58):
the common area. But for right now now we're just
excited to get this sheet open. Beautiful facility. They did
a great job on it and kind of coincides with
our KOA opening. You know, we did get fully open
with KOA. We're still under construction there. I know you're
going to have Frank witt on in a few minutes,
but it all kind of opened up, if you will.
(11:20):
On this past weekend, we did have a w hockey
in doing their tryouts on Saturday and Sunday. So it
was a busy time here with the KOA being open
and the cabins being open. So very exciting for us
at montl Park.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
Ron Justice with Mylon Park Foundation is with us in
to Ron back in Indiana. My grandson plays club hockey.
They travel to Michigan, they traveled to Ohio, Pennsylvania. Two
years ago. They even had a tournament down in Charleston,
West Virginia. And to just make the point, they are
(11:56):
a very mobile group. They traveled, they carry a lot
of equipment, they bring a lot of people with them,
and they seem to spend a lot of money. So
what's the future of this facility. At Myland Park.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Well, you're correct on all of those things. And again
we're very fortunate in this community to have a strong
club program through WU which also brings some additional travel
opportunities into town. But our plan is to have this
facility open twelve months out of the year, and certainly
(12:30):
we've already been in discussion with some of those travel
groups that would be looking to come to Morgantown, and
that season for the most starts part starts around March,
goes March, April and May, although they do travel year round,
but those are the high points for them, So we're
working on that right now. But the facility will be
(12:51):
a twelve month facility.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
Now, Ron, do you think or maybe forecasts that the
addition of this facility and the focus on hockey will
maybe encourage hockey at a higher level and draw more
young people into the sport.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
That would certainly be the hope. And and you know,
my good friend Don Spencer years ago had the vision
and others to bring hockey to Morgantown and it's continued
to grow and a few years back a study was
done and certainly it shows that it can our community
can support two sheets of ice and we're very supportive
(13:29):
of what Bopark is doing with their facility as well.
So I think overall just bringing hockey even at a
higher level into the Morgantown and West Virginia area. I
think we're one of only two facilities in the entire state.
I think there's one in Charleston and one here. But
you know that that's uh that that really our community facilities.
(13:51):
And I know folks at West Banco Arena have been
very helpful in helping guide us and giving us pointers
and TI so the hockey community is very well connected.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Now you mentioned public skating opportunities at the Miland Park
Ice Pavilion. When will those be right now?
Speaker 2 (14:11):
We have them targeted on. There will be additional hours too,
but things like birthday parties, public skate we'll be looking
at Sunday afternoon and Saturday evenings right now, WU is
their schedule. We will have hockey games on Friday evenings,
(14:32):
so weekend schedule we'd kind of look like that where
you would have WV on Friday evenings, Morgantown hockey on
Saturday morning and Sunday mornings, and then public skate in
the evening on Saturday evening and afternoons on Sunday, so
we'll have probably quite a few hours a weekend available
(14:52):
for public skate.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
Now, let's see, we've got the Miland Park ice pavilion.
It opens today. There town ice arena is still under renovations.
How do those facilities work together if they are supposed to.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Well, I think there's just you know, one of the
big issues was the compression of ice time just to
get in to have practices in public skates. So I
think working together, having two sheets really provides more opportunity
for more people to get in facilities. And like I
said before, you know, we've worked very well with Boat
(15:31):
Park and certainly there's enough room in the community for
both groups. And certainly we hope adding another facility just
helps to what they do at Boupark as well.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
And then just a little bit about Mylond Park. You know,
you mentioned that you'll have the fair next week, You've
got the ice arena pit coming to town, You've got
the Koa campground. There's always seemingly something going on there
at the community center. Myland Park just can continues to grow.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
We do continue to grow, and we've been very fortunate
and blessed to have so many great supporters, and we've
had a very robust baseball softball season that continues with
the new turf fields here, and you know, we kind
of forget we're coming all summer, but swimming season is
now opening for WU and it'll soon open for our
(16:27):
high school team. So the aquatic Center, which is a
state of the art, just added to that. So, you know,
we're very fortunate to have facilities like this in Morgantown,
and we continue to plan for the future. And one
of the things that we're continuing to look at and
plan and hopefully start to move forward very quickly is
a new facility that would bring biking to Morgantown more
(16:49):
robust biking community.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
You know, I'm glad that you brought that up because
where I was headed with this growth situation. Don't mean
to you. Don't come at you out of left field
with this, but you know, the exit one point fifty
five renovations do include some multi modal transportation opportunities, and
that could spell even higher traffic for myland park.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
That's correct, and we're very fortunate that our County Commission
worked very hard on the grant and they work very
well with the MPO and the State of West Virginia
to put all this together, and frankly, you know, Sean
Sikor has been a great leader on that and now
that it's moving forward, I think it's just going to
(17:34):
open up more opportunities for us in this community. So
kudos to them for you know, it's been a long
time coming, but you know, keeping the focus and now
having you know, con see into the future and see
that that's going to happen.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Now. Coming up on September the twelfth, WV you will
play Pitt in the brand new Miland Park Ice Pavilion.
I was looking online and those tickets are currently available,
so you can go out and get yourself a ticket
today for that contest against Pitt. Coming up on the
twelfth of September. Any special grand opening plans for that
(18:13):
pit game run.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
Not for the pit game, but obviously I think that's
going to be an attraction in itself. But we will
have a public opening on the eighth of September, which
is a week from yesterday, and it will be at
the new facility and that will start at four o'clock
and that's kind of our I guess grand opening for
(18:40):
the facility, but we're on a soft opening now, and
then having the pit game that week and having opened
Skate that week just kind of opens it up a
great way. So we're just looking forward to people coming
and seeing the facility and getting out and skating.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
And now, forgive me, I'm pulling this off the top
of my head, but five years right, that's what we
just recently celebrated.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
That's correct, We've been you know, the concept of Mylond
Park occurred twenty five years ago by great leaders in
our community like Mark messel Road and Craig Walker and others,
and the county schools and you know visionaries that helped
kind of plant that seed twenty five years ago. And
here we are today with well not probably the most
(19:27):
comprehensive recreation facility in the whole state of West Virginia.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
Absolutely, Ron Justice with Myland Park Foundation. Ron, thank you
very much, sir.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Join the conversation at one eight hundred and seven sixty
five eight two five.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
This is the talk of the town.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
A good Tuesday morning, partly Claudie's three degrees in the
University City and just a reminder I seventy nine northbound.
Some problems northern part of Marion County, southern part of
mont County. One crash mayle marker on the northbound side.
The second crash reported at mile marker one thirty two,
(20:20):
so expect delays in that area. In studio, we've got
the general manager of the Morgantown Myland Park KOA Holiday Campground,
Frank Witt. Good morning, Frank, how are you?
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (20:33):
Good, good morning, Mike. Good to be here.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
It's a pleasure to have you in the studio. Frank. Now,
I guess tell us what the Myland Park KOA Holiday
Campground is.
Speaker 4 (20:44):
Well, it's really an RV campground park, but also we
have cabins and tent sites and the KOA Campgrounds of America.
It's a franchise which Milond Park got into here and
the people traveling near and far know about it. And
it's a campground really comprised of our V sites full
(21:05):
look up and then we've got cabins and ten sites,
so that's a big part of it. Really, it's just
a campground for RV's tents and campers.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
Sure. Now, I think to be able to understand what
we have here, we need to understand the franchise a
little bit, so if you could explain the term holiday sure.
Speaker 4 (21:25):
KOA Campgrounds of America, which is throughout not only the
United States but also into Canada. They have five hundred
and twenty five campgrounds and they have different levels of
service journey holiday campgrounds and also resort campgrounds. And that's
kind of like levels of service of a hotel. You know,
some hotels are you know this are the bells and
whistles they offer, Like that's a journey for us, it's
(21:45):
kind of not many bells and whistles. The holiday campground,
which we're currently noted as has a destination, there's activities,
there's amenities, you know, much more to do, and then
there's a resort, which we're not far from. We're actually
pushing to be a resort camp ground. Yeah, it's really
for people to come and enjoy it all in the
area and be there, but the services that are offered,
(22:05):
So we are really pushing with KOA to be a
resort campground, which they've only got about eighteen to twenty
of those right now. So we're, like I said, pushing
hard for that resort status. But the holiday campground is
kind of the status.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Level where we're at what are the roadblocks currently to
getting resort status.
Speaker 4 (22:24):
It's really not much roadblocks. It's really just meeting their
quality Assurance guidelines. KOA set certain guidelines you have to meet,
which we feel we've checked those boxes. But also working
with KOA to say, hey, well they give us that designation,
so we're close. We've been back and forth and discussions
with KOA, so we're hoping to have that designation somewhere
in the near term or you know, within the future.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Here okay, So it would sound to me like they
want to see you sustain that good customer service and
set a trend.
Speaker 4 (22:53):
That's correct, and I think where we've started here, we've
started that already when we open up the campground in May,
so we're on the right track now.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
This past weekend, Labor Day weekend, last weekend the summer,
how busy were you? What did you have?
Speaker 4 (23:07):
Well, I'll tell you what. Since we opened in May,
we had forty one sites opened in May, and then
just this past week we opened up the remaining campground
sites and with those people coming in for the Labor
Day and not only after the course the Great Mountaineer Game,
we had over thirty three people check in on Friday,
thirty three campers RVs for the weekend, so we had
about seventy close to half over half the camp sites
(23:29):
full for this just soon if we just opened.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
So it was exciting to see them while coming in
and enjoy not only the wonderful weekend but the weather
of at the campground.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
Okay, now, help me understand if you would, what all
that you do have out there, because there's tent camping,
there's there's also some cabins, and then each one of
the RV areas or not each one, but there are
different levels of r V camping.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
Correct, correct, Yeah, like styles in a hotel, you can
get different upgrades or what's inclusive or included the RVs.
For instance, we have back in sites. We have one
hundred and thirty seven first of all RV sites, twenty
seven of our back in sites, and then we have
what's known as pull through sites, which a lot of
people like the pull through sites because they're easy and
easy out. But within that you'll see we have a
(24:21):
very colorful map that we give out to people. But
there are certain sites that we call Premiere koa patio sites.
There's a concrete patio with a fire ring at Airn
deck chairs and there's ten of those out of one
hundred and thirty seven. All of those sold out this weekend.
That's an up charge, it's about twenty dollars more for
those versus the regular but all of those sold out
(24:42):
and people enjoying those type patios, so.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
I'd say it'd be worth twenty dollars to have a
concrete patio and a fire ring.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
Yeah then just me. Yeah, And the other sites are
wonderful as well. They have the picnic table, fire ring,
you know, so they're just as nice as just the patios,
just more of a little it's upscale on.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
That sure, sure. And tent camping, well, yeah, go ahead.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
Yeah, the tent camping, we have water electric tent sites
there that which will be near our lodge and they're
near our current playground structure. We have four tent sites
there which we have a little kid's playground in Kangaroo
Jumper we call it a jump pillow. And then we
have six tent sits at the end of the campground
at the very last row there that also have water
(25:24):
and electric. Clock up tent.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
Enthusiasts and tell us about the cabins.
Speaker 4 (25:29):
The cabins, which Lancaster cabins the Lancaster Pennsylvania. These cabins
are come fully equipped with only the bedding, TV, refrigerator, stove,
and we add the other amenities sheets and towels and
so forth. But they're made by the Amish. And we've
got twenty two of those different different styles from one rumors,
(25:51):
which is kind of like an efficiency three to four folks.
And then we have Ozarks. The Thozarks are my favorite.
They accommodate six to eight easy, they have a loft,
they have a nice front porch. Then we have a
couple of eighty A ranchers for those to use. And
then we've got a couple of a frames right now
that we've also incorporated. We're kind of using those. One
(26:12):
is a registration office where our lodge is getting built
right now that they're gonna be fully equiplix that sheets, towels, linens,
uh and you know, some toiletry items and so forth.
So and they also have a concrete patio with two
adiron deck chairs, and so it's would you rather stay
in one rumor or that for a weekend or maybe
(26:33):
a hotel room. My bets would hopefully be h within
our cabins are really pushing.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
I would agree with you. Now, help us understand where
this is in Myland Park. And and then as you
describe where it is, I'd like for you to describe
some of the views that the campers get, because you know,
out of Myland Park, if you're in the right spot,
there are some beautiful views.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
Yet where this was designated and placed, it's right not
far from the lower event center and sports complex as
you're going past the Man County building and before you
go up the hill to the pro performance area up
there in the upper ball fields. It's in that it's
in the bend there you make a left in the campgrounds.
Right up that way, you'll see a big, huge eight
foot by ten foot sign. It says koa holiday lit
(27:21):
up at night. And that's where it's thirty seven acres
out of the island Park four hundred acres overall, but
thirty seven acres is the campground. So it's pretty expansive.
And and you know, you don't realize how quiet it
is there at night. You know, you think, oh, I'm
near Morgantown. Have the city lights and everything else out
there in the evening and when things and activities are
(27:43):
slowed down. It's very peaceful and serene where the sun
sets over there. And actually when the baseball and softball
girls softball is going on at night, when all the
lights are lit up kind of in towards the field,
and then you're hearing the ting of the bat. And
then when the lights go out at night, it's kind
of like field of dreams, you know, one by one
is like the whole thing quiets down. So it's a
(28:05):
pretty neat experience out there. And in the mornings out
there on a Saturday morning when I'm helping out, I mean,
there's nothing. You see a flock of geese flying overhead,
you know, but it's really in the farm land that's
out there. It's much more serene than I envisioned a
couple of years ago, you know. So, and I think
people who have been there, they've commented on the peacefulness
(28:28):
and everything else. So that's great.
Speaker 3 (28:30):
And then I'm looking at the fact sheet that you've
given me here, and I think that you did mention it,
but it bears mentioning again that you've got laundry services available,
they'll pick up your trash, you allow golf carts on
the grounds as well.
Speaker 4 (28:47):
That's correct. We're gonna have golf carts that you can rent.
People have their own bikes and e bikes and so forth,
but that those are men things there and we have
right now we have a laundry facility on the grounds
and we also have one that's at the sports center
for people to use until our our lodge is completed,
which our lodge will have a nice full laundry room,
an activities area, six showerhouse and so forth. But all
(29:10):
that's part of the grounds.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
Okay. Now, you know there might be some people. One
thing that we haven't really talked about our community standards,
and you know a lot of people might be asking themselves,
well you've just said it's peaceful at night? How peaceful
at night?
Speaker 4 (29:26):
Well we have, like I said, we have quiet hours.
We ask people at ten o'clock, you know, anything's kind
of a quiet time, you know, and tone it down
and we try and set that standard and people have
been respectful of that. You know. What we do in supply,
A big part of it is how we maintain I
think the property in the grounds. I think when you
maintain a high standard, I think people typically will abide
(29:49):
by that. And they see that, and we go over
the rules and rakes we have. You know, we're pet friendly,
so we have dogs, but dogs have to be on
a leash. We go over that, we have two camp canines.
Camp Canine is regually a dog park with turff and
dogs can run in and out off a leash. So
very pet friendly, but yet we have certain kind of
rules to bude by, you know, camping rules, you know,
(30:09):
so and not to say that on any given home
game that's a big win that it may be a
little bit maybe a little bit louder an, you know.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
I could understand that. Last thing I've got for you,
Frank is talk a little bit about the camping culture.
Talk about the people that you'll run into up there,
because I think the camping community is there are a
friendly bunch of folks.
Speaker 4 (30:33):
Yeah, that's correct, Mike. The big thing is since COVID
camping exploded, when everyone you had to be in seclusion
and everything else but being outdoors, so the RVs and
the sales and everything, it's just in twenty twenty just
took off. So that culture has kind of changed the landscape,
you know, with the not only KOA but campgrounds overall
(30:57):
which we've been fortunate to be a part of. But
with that said, is we've got those folks, and then
we've got people that have been camping for twenty or
thirty years and had their RVs and where we're located. Uh,
it's kind of the power of koa dot com. But
there are people that just online, they automatically see our
campground and they just sign up for it. Getting off
the interstate, we're traveling north to south, you know, and
(31:20):
they just jump off to get a campsite for the night.
So it's a it's a nice diversity. I mean, it's
from from demographics, from young to old to you know.
It's it's a neat culture. And everyone at a campground
you separate all your different demographics. They all seem to say, hey,
we're all neighbors. So it's kind of a neat thing.
Speaker 3 (31:40):
Yeah, you know, I agree. I agree with you. Now
let's see if you like more information, you can call
three zero four three two two eight five six two
go ahead, yep.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
And the only thing I didn't mention is called our
one park pass, which is very exciting. So when you
stay at the campground, you get to use the aquatic Center,
the fitness center, all the facilities at Milond Park with
a one park pass. So you know, people say you
have a swimm pool, said, yeah, we have one of
the best swimming pools next the state or eastern coast,
with the aquatic center, each flash pad and everything else.
You want to shoot basketball, you want to play pickle ball,
(32:12):
you want to go work out. It's and we're adding more,
I know with his ice hockey arena. It was talked
about earlier on. We're going to be available to get skates,
you know, people can rent skates and so forth. Working
on that dynamic. But the one park pass is a
big thing. They didn't realize part of their registration fees
their family. They get to use all different parts of
the park.
Speaker 3 (32:28):
So when will the lodge be done?
Speaker 4 (32:30):
The lodge we're pushing, of course, I want to say yesterday,
But the lodge we're pushing here by the end of October,
early November. It would be a great trick or treat, you know,
So I hopefully we're pushing for that. And once we
get the lodge and everything, that's kind of our signature piece.
I think then we'll be uh, you know, it's going
to be more exciting, beautiful we offer there.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
Well, it sounds great, Frank, that's for sure. Frank Witt,
he is the general manager at the Miland Park koa
holiday campground. If you'd like more information, you can call
three zero four three two two eight five six two. Well, Frank,
appreciate you coming in.
Speaker 4 (33:07):
Mike, it's been a pleasure. Thank you.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
Absolutely take care of yourself. It is nine forty seven.
We'll be back to wrap things up coming up after
this on AM fourteen forty FM one oh four point
five w A j R.
Speaker 1 (33:21):
West. Now back to the talk of the town.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
Good Tuesday morning. It is nine p fifty three in
the University City, partly cloudy and sixty three degrees Metro
Newsaki Weather says mostly sunny today and I have seventy
four degrees definitely a great weather day. And today is
the opening day of the Myland Park Ice Pavilion. That
(34:05):
facility will see twelve hundred and coming up on September
the twelfth. It'll get a worthy break in, as you
might call it, with the matchup between WVU Club Hockey
and pitt that's coming up on the twelfth of September.
And those tickets they are on sale. Now you can
go out to the WVU Club Hockey website and you
(34:28):
can purchase those tickets. Now. That facility is just about
forty thousand square feet, eight locker rooms and one Olympic
sized sheet of ice, and it'll be home to the
Morgantown Hockey Association and very very soon, I'm sure if
you don't know anyone or have anybody in your family
(34:49):
that plays club hockey, you're about to find out just
how popular this traveling sport is. It's ever bit as
popular as say, maybe saw ball, especially when you get
into the Midwest and some northern areas of the country.
But that will be yet another huge draw for Miland
(35:13):
Park once the once the word gets out that the
Miland Park Ice Pavilion is open, it will certainly draw
a lot of events, a lot of people. And just
like Susan Reddel would tell you, got to put the
heads in beds, and what does she say, one more night,
(35:33):
one more dollar, something to that effect, say nine fifty four,
partly cloudy in sixty three. We'll be back to wrap
things up after this On AM fourteen forty FM one
four point five w A j R.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
We are talking about your town now back to the
talk of the town.
Speaker 3 (36:07):
Good Tuesday morning coming up, but later today, as a
matter of fact, beginning at three o'clock, a visitation service
will begin at the House in the House of Delegates
Chamber for State Supreme Court Justice Tim Armstead. That gets
started at three o'clock this afternoon. Armstead passed away on Tuesday,
(36:28):
August twenty sixth, following a battle with cancer at the
age of sixty the let's see Armstead. He served in
the House of Delegates for twenty years, and he served
as speaker from twenty fifteen through twenty eighteen. Was appointed
to the Supreme Court, then re elected to a twelve
year term to the state's highest court in twenty twenty.
(36:52):
That visitation service begins in the House of Delegates Chamber
at three o'clock and the funeral service will follow at
six pm. That is at the State Capitol. Coming up
later today. Weatherwise, it looks like this could be about
the last perfect day that we have because it looks
(37:14):
like for the remainder of the week outside of Friday,
we'll begin to work a chance of showers in with
each afternoon. It's time now for Metro News Talk Line
on the voice of Morgantown,
This is the Talk of the Town from Morgantown to Klerksburg.
If it's happening, we're talking about it. Call the show
toll free at one eight hundred seven sixty five eight
two fivey five. Now Here is your host for the
Talk of the Town, Mike notlting.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
O.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Good Tuesday morning. It is nine oh six partly cloudy,
sixty three degrees in the University City Metro Newsaki Weather
says today mostly Sonny, I have seventy four degrees run
of absolutely exquisite weather continues. Good morning, and welcome to
Talk of the Town, the program where we highlight things
(00:45):
important to you and your family. Producing the program today
we have Ethan Collins. You can get Ethan at eight
hundred seven six five eight two five five. The text
line three oh four talk three oh four. Certain I
love to hear from you this morning. Maybe what you
did over the Labor Day holiday, Maybe something specially you
(01:06):
threw on the grill, something like that. Give me a
text there at three oh four talk three oh four
On the program today it'll be all Miland Park. Didn't
know if you knew this or not, but today the
doors opened at the Miland Park Ice pavilion. The brand
(01:27):
new Miland Park Ice Pavilion officially opens today and we'll
speak with Ron Justice coming up at nine fifteen to
get the very latest on that facility. Looks like it
looks like seating for about twelve hundred fans and they'll
be playing the WVU pit ice hockey game. They're coming
(01:49):
up on the twelfth of this month, so we'll talk
with Ron Justice about that. At nine p thirty, we're
going to welcome Frank Witt to the program. Now. Frank
Man manages the Koa Campground out at Myland Park that
is also opened. I believe it opened sometime last week.
But we're going to talk with Frank and find out
(02:10):
exactly what they're offering at that facility, what's available, and
what the future because I still think there's a little
bit of construction remaining yet to do out at the
Koa Campground at Myland Park. Let's take a look at
a couple of headlines and we'll get things going. Interim
(02:31):
Committee meetings are set for next week as the Peia
issue continues to loom over lawmakers. Now the calls yet
to be made by the governor for the session. Some
believe it could include Peia. Three days of legislative Interim
Committee meetings begins Sunday. We've got more information about those
(02:52):
meetings at wvmetronews dot com. Mountaineers Indivisible organized a Workers
over a Billionaire protest at the Coliseum on Labor Day.
Several attended the Morgantown event, protesting projected cuts to SNAP
and medicaid. Of The State Public Service Commission will have
(03:12):
discussions in the months ahead about proposals for high voltage
power lines in northern and eastern counties of the state.
Potomac Edison has notified the PSC that it'll seek approval
of a fifteen mile line in Jefferson County that would
be separate from, but will eventually connect to, the mid
(03:33):
Atlantic Resiliency Link. Company spokesman Will boy says a plan
to use the path of the company's current transmission line
through the area and build up or at a higher
elevation above the existing lines. Now. These lines will be
in West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia. Firefighters from Harrison and
(03:57):
Marion Counties battle to fire Monday afternoon on Coon's Run Road.
One male victim was treated for third degree burns and
the cause remains under investigation. A police in Harrison County
say a driver was able to escape a rollover accident
without any major injuries. That crash occurred on I seventy
nine near the Jerry Dove exit on Monday evening just
(04:22):
about six o'clock. The accident slowed traffic in the area
for several hours. In the aftermath, results from the recent
Metro News West Virginia poll will be that'll be the
focus of the teno six guest on Metro News talk Line.
(04:42):
There are some concern being expressed by residents about the economy.
Pollster Rex Repass will join Metro News talk Line at
ten o six to talk about the latest West Virginia pole.
The powerball jackpot rolls over again. He hit the numbers
Monday evening. The estimated prize for Wednesday will be a
(05:05):
one point three billion dollars. A fifty thousand dollars Winter
was purchased at the Cheat Lake price Cutter ahead of
the Saturday drawing of the Bill Belichick College football coaching
Area starts with an el. North Carolina gets worked over
by TCU forty eight to fourteen and the weather today
(05:26):
looks beautiful. Just to put it into one word sun,
maybe a cloud or two. And I've seventy seven tonight
clearing a low of fifty three and tomorrow more clouds
than today and maybe even a shower in the afternoon
and a high temperature of eighty degrees. It is nine
eleven in the University City, partly cloudy sixty three at
(05:49):
the moment. When we come back, spend a few minutes
with the Ron Justice with the Mylond Park Foundation. We'll
be talking about the brand new Miland Park Ice Pavilion
opens today. It's coming up next on AM fourteen forty
f m one oh four point five w A j r.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Of your town.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
Now back to the talk of the town.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Good Tuesday morning. Eighty is nine sixteen now West Virginia.
Five one one is reporting your crash on I seventy
nine northbound at the one forty four mile marker. And yes,
another crash on I seventy nine northbound, this one at
mile marker one thirty two. So if you're in that
area you can expect some delays, that's for sure. On
(06:35):
the phone, we've got Ron Justice from the Miland Park Foundation.
Good morning, Ron, how are you today? Good morning Mike,
how are you hey, I'm doing good. Thank you very much.
You have a good weekend.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
I did, how about you?
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Absolutely? Absolutely? Okay, Well, let's see, today is opening day
over at the Miland Park Ice Pavilion. Okay, now let's
see let's start here. Construction or I guess the idea
for this we started at about maybe eighteen months ago
(07:10):
or so, so this project came together pretty quickly. How
was it financed and how much did it end up costing?
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Well, we did start about eighteen months ago with the concept.
We were very fortunate to have support from the Hazel
Ruby mcquain Charitable Trust that helped us move the project
forward and really put it over the top. So we
started construction about nine months ago and the March Western
(07:41):
has done a wonderful job keeping us on budget and
on time, and so originally we had scheduled to open
on October first, but with hockey season, we're able to
get in a little bit early. So here in the
first two weeks we're still under some outside construction, but
(08:03):
the buildings open and we will start in fact, Morgantown
Hockey Association has practices this evening, so we will be
open this evening for that and then public skate and
birthday parties and those kind of things will open on
the weekend of the thirteenth and fourteenth.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Okay, now, can you describe the layout of the building
for us? So what does it have.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
We have an Olympic sized ice there. We have eight
dressing rooms in the facility. We have two large meeting
rooms in the facility of warming room, concessions, skate rental area,
and seating permanent seating for nine hundred and six and
(08:52):
then we have temporary seating for three hundred, so we
could we could seed up to about twelve hundred in
the new facility.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
And I guess you're probably planning for that kind of
crowd coming up on the twelfth when WVU Club Hockey
plays Pitt.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Yes, we are planning that that will be a packed house.
They've rearranged their schedule to coincide we have a big
football game that weekend I think here in Morgantown, so
they moved some things around and that will occur on
the twelfth, So WU Hockey will be playing Pitt and
we also have the County Fair going on at that time,
(09:29):
so a lot going on at Mylham Park on that weekend,
but you know, we're very excited about it, and the
facility's a great facility. We had so many people contribute
to us, and you know, we just can't thank people
enough for all the hard work and the efforts to
get this open.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Now, which organizations will call this facility.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Home, Morgantown Hockey Association, the w View Club Hockey as
well as we will have the PUEL and I'm not
all in tune with what basically the high school teams
will be playing in here on Thursday evenings as well,
(10:16):
So we'll have those three groups and we're working on
some others right now, but out of the shot, we'll
have those three groups, all right.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Ll Ron Justice is with us from the Mylon Park Foundation. Now,
is the facility constructed such that maybe in the future
sometime if you wanted to add another sheet of ice,
can you do that.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
We did construct the facility that way and planned it
that way that you know, the demand and obviously the
financing was available to do that in the future. We
could add another slab of ice in the future, and
it's set up very nice that, you know, should that
ever occur, that we would have one common area and
then two sheets of ice, one on each side of
(10:58):
the common area. But for right now now we're just
excited to get this sheet open. Beautiful facility. They did
a great job on it and kind of coincides with
our KOA opening. You know, we did get fully open
with KOA. We're still under construction there. I know you're
going to have Frank witt on in a few minutes,
but it all kind of opened up, if you will.
(11:20):
On this past weekend, we did have a w hockey
in doing their tryouts on Saturday and Sunday. So it
was a busy time here with the KOA being open
and the cabins being open. So very exciting for us
at montl Park.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
Ron Justice with Mylon Park Foundation is with us in
to Ron back in Indiana. My grandson plays club hockey.
They travel to Michigan, they traveled to Ohio, Pennsylvania. Two
years ago. They even had a tournament down in Charleston,
West Virginia. And to just make the point, they are
(11:56):
a very mobile group. They traveled, they carry a lot
of equipment, they bring a lot of people with them,
and they seem to spend a lot of money. So
what's the future of this facility. At Myland Park.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Well, you're correct on all of those things. And again
we're very fortunate in this community to have a strong
club program through WU which also brings some additional travel
opportunities into town. But our plan is to have this
facility open twelve months out of the year, and certainly
(12:30):
we've already been in discussion with some of those travel
groups that would be looking to come to Morgantown, and
that season for the most starts part starts around March,
goes March, April and May, although they do travel year round,
but those are the high points for them, So we're
working on that right now. But the facility will be
(12:51):
a twelve month facility.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
Now, Ron, do you think or maybe forecasts that the
addition of this facility and the focus on hockey will
maybe encourage hockey at a higher level and draw more
young people into the sport.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
That would certainly be the hope. And and you know,
my good friend Don Spencer years ago had the vision
and others to bring hockey to Morgantown and it's continued
to grow and a few years back a study was
done and certainly it shows that it can our community
can support two sheets of ice and we're very supportive
(13:29):
of what Bopark is doing with their facility as well.
So I think overall just bringing hockey even at a
higher level into the Morgantown and West Virginia area. I
think we're one of only two facilities in the entire state.
I think there's one in Charleston and one here. But
you know that that's uh that that really our community facilities.
(13:51):
And I know folks at West Banco Arena have been
very helpful in helping guide us and giving us pointers
and TI so the hockey community is very well connected.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Now you mentioned public skating opportunities at the Miland Park
Ice Pavilion. When will those be right now?
Speaker 2 (14:11):
We have them targeted on. There will be additional hours too,
but things like birthday parties, public skate we'll be looking
at Sunday afternoon and Saturday evenings right now, WU is
their schedule. We will have hockey games on Friday evenings,
(14:32):
so weekend schedule we'd kind of look like that where
you would have WV on Friday evenings, Morgantown hockey on
Saturday morning and Sunday mornings, and then public skate in
the evening on Saturday evening and afternoons on Sunday, so
we'll have probably quite a few hours a weekend available
(14:52):
for public skate.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
Now, let's see, we've got the Miland Park ice pavilion.
It opens today. There town ice arena is still under renovations.
How do those facilities work together if they are supposed to.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Well, I think there's just you know, one of the
big issues was the compression of ice time just to
get in to have practices in public skates. So I
think working together, having two sheets really provides more opportunity
for more people to get in facilities. And like I
said before, you know, we've worked very well with Boat
(15:31):
Park and certainly there's enough room in the community for
both groups. And certainly we hope adding another facility just
helps to what they do at Boupark as well.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
And then just a little bit about Mylond Park. You know,
you mentioned that you'll have the fair next week, You've
got the ice arena pit coming to town, You've got
the Koa campground. There's always seemingly something going on there
at the community center. Myland Park just can continues to grow.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
We do continue to grow, and we've been very fortunate
and blessed to have so many great supporters, and we've
had a very robust baseball softball season that continues with
the new turf fields here, and you know, we kind
of forget we're coming all summer, but swimming season is
now opening for WU and it'll soon open for our
(16:27):
high school team. So the aquatic Center, which is a
state of the art, just added to that. So, you know,
we're very fortunate to have facilities like this in Morgantown,
and we continue to plan for the future. And one
of the things that we're continuing to look at and
plan and hopefully start to move forward very quickly is
a new facility that would bring biking to Morgantown more
(16:49):
robust biking community.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
You know, I'm glad that you brought that up because
where I was headed with this growth situation. Don't mean
to you. Don't come at you out of left field
with this, but you know, the exit one point fifty
five renovations do include some multi modal transportation opportunities, and
that could spell even higher traffic for myland park.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
That's correct, and we're very fortunate that our County Commission
worked very hard on the grant and they work very
well with the MPO and the State of West Virginia
to put all this together, and frankly, you know, Sean
Sikor has been a great leader on that and now
that it's moving forward, I think it's just going to
(17:34):
open up more opportunities for us in this community. So
kudos to them for you know, it's been a long
time coming, but you know, keeping the focus and now
having you know, con see into the future and see
that that's going to happen.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Now. Coming up on September the twelfth, WV you will
play Pitt in the brand new Miland Park Ice Pavilion.
I was looking online and those tickets are currently available,
so you can go out and get yourself a ticket
today for that contest against Pitt. Coming up on the
twelfth of September. Any special grand opening plans for that
(18:13):
pit game run.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
Not for the pit game, but obviously I think that's
going to be an attraction in itself. But we will
have a public opening on the eighth of September, which
is a week from yesterday, and it will be at
the new facility and that will start at four o'clock
and that's kind of our I guess grand opening for
(18:40):
the facility, but we're on a soft opening now, and
then having the pit game that week and having opened
Skate that week just kind of opens it up a
great way. So we're just looking forward to people coming
and seeing the facility and getting out and skating.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
And now, forgive me, I'm pulling this off the top
of my head, but five years right, that's what we
just recently celebrated.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
That's correct, We've been you know, the concept of Mylond
Park occurred twenty five years ago by great leaders in
our community like Mark messel Road and Craig Walker and others,
and the county schools and you know visionaries that helped
kind of plant that seed twenty five years ago. And
here we are today with well not probably the most
(19:27):
comprehensive recreation facility in the whole state of West Virginia.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
Absolutely, Ron Justice with Myland Park Foundation. Ron, thank you
very much, sir.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Join the conversation at one eight hundred and seven sixty
five eight two five.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
This is the talk of the town.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
A good Tuesday morning, partly Claudie's three degrees in the
University City and just a reminder I seventy nine northbound.
Some problems northern part of Marion County, southern part of
mont County. One crash mayle marker on the northbound side.
The second crash reported at mile marker one thirty two,
(20:20):
so expect delays in that area. In studio, we've got
the general manager of the Morgantown Myland Park KOA Holiday Campground,
Frank Witt. Good morning, Frank, how are you?
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (20:33):
Good, good morning, Mike. Good to be here.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
It's a pleasure to have you in the studio. Frank. Now,
I guess tell us what the Myland Park KOA Holiday
Campground is.
Speaker 4 (20:44):
Well, it's really an RV campground park, but also we
have cabins and tent sites and the KOA Campgrounds of America.
It's a franchise which Milond Park got into here and
the people traveling near and far know about it. And
it's a campground really comprised of our V sites full
(21:05):
look up and then we've got cabins and ten sites,
so that's a big part of it. Really, it's just
a campground for RV's tents and campers.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
Sure. Now, I think to be able to understand what
we have here, we need to understand the franchise a
little bit, so if you could explain the term holiday sure.
Speaker 4 (21:25):
KOA Campgrounds of America, which is throughout not only the
United States but also into Canada. They have five hundred
and twenty five campgrounds and they have different levels of
service journey holiday campgrounds and also resort campgrounds. And that's
kind of like levels of service of a hotel. You know,
some hotels are you know this are the bells and
whistles they offer, Like that's a journey for us, it's
(21:45):
kind of not many bells and whistles. The holiday campground,
which we're currently noted as has a destination, there's activities,
there's amenities, you know, much more to do, and then
there's a resort, which we're not far from. We're actually
pushing to be a resort camp ground. Yeah, it's really
for people to come and enjoy it all in the
area and be there, but the services that are offered,
(22:05):
So we are really pushing with KOA to be a
resort campground, which they've only got about eighteen to twenty
of those right now. So we're, like I said, pushing
hard for that resort status. But the holiday campground is
kind of the status.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Level where we're at what are the roadblocks currently to
getting resort status.
Speaker 4 (22:24):
It's really not much roadblocks. It's really just meeting their
quality Assurance guidelines. KOA set certain guidelines you have to meet,
which we feel we've checked those boxes. But also working
with KOA to say, hey, well they give us that designation,
so we're close. We've been back and forth and discussions
with KOA, so we're hoping to have that designation somewhere
in the near term or you know, within the future.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Here okay, So it would sound to me like they
want to see you sustain that good customer service and
set a trend.
Speaker 4 (22:53):
That's correct, and I think where we've started here, we've
started that already when we open up the campground in May,
so we're on the right track now.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
This past weekend, Labor Day weekend, last weekend the summer,
how busy were you? What did you have?
Speaker 4 (23:07):
Well, I'll tell you what. Since we opened in May,
we had forty one sites opened in May, and then
just this past week we opened up the remaining campground
sites and with those people coming in for the Labor
Day and not only after the course the Great Mountaineer Game,
we had over thirty three people check in on Friday,
thirty three campers RVs for the weekend, so we had
about seventy close to half over half the camp sites
(23:29):
full for this just soon if we just opened.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
So it was exciting to see them while coming in
and enjoy not only the wonderful weekend but the weather
of at the campground.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
Okay, now, help me understand if you would, what all
that you do have out there, because there's tent camping,
there's there's also some cabins, and then each one of
the RV areas or not each one, but there are
different levels of r V camping.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
Correct, correct, Yeah, like styles in a hotel, you can
get different upgrades or what's inclusive or included the RVs.
For instance, we have back in sites. We have one
hundred and thirty seven first of all RV sites, twenty
seven of our back in sites, and then we have
what's known as pull through sites, which a lot of
people like the pull through sites because they're easy and
easy out. But within that you'll see we have a
(24:21):
very colorful map that we give out to people. But
there are certain sites that we call Premiere koa patio sites.
There's a concrete patio with a fire ring at Airn
deck chairs and there's ten of those out of one
hundred and thirty seven. All of those sold out this weekend.
That's an up charge, it's about twenty dollars more for
those versus the regular but all of those sold out
(24:42):
and people enjoying those type patios, so.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
I'd say it'd be worth twenty dollars to have a
concrete patio and a fire ring.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
Yeah then just me. Yeah, And the other sites are
wonderful as well. They have the picnic table, fire ring,
you know, so they're just as nice as just the patios,
just more of a little it's upscale on.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
That sure, sure. And tent camping, well, yeah, go ahead.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
Yeah, the tent camping, we have water electric tent sites
there that which will be near our lodge and they're
near our current playground structure. We have four tent sites
there which we have a little kid's playground in Kangaroo
Jumper we call it a jump pillow. And then we
have six tent sits at the end of the campground
at the very last row there that also have water
(25:24):
and electric. Clock up tent.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
Enthusiasts and tell us about the cabins.
Speaker 4 (25:29):
The cabins, which Lancaster cabins the Lancaster Pennsylvania. These cabins
are come fully equipped with only the bedding, TV, refrigerator, stove,
and we add the other amenities sheets and towels and
so forth. But they're made by the Amish. And we've
got twenty two of those different different styles from one rumors,
(25:51):
which is kind of like an efficiency three to four folks.
And then we have Ozarks. The Thozarks are my favorite.
They accommodate six to eight easy, they have a loft,
they have a nice front porch. Then we have a
couple of eighty A ranchers for those to use. And
then we've got a couple of a frames right now
that we've also incorporated. We're kind of using those. One
(26:12):
is a registration office where our lodge is getting built
right now that they're gonna be fully equiplix that sheets, towels, linens,
uh and you know, some toiletry items and so forth.
So and they also have a concrete patio with two
adiron deck chairs, and so it's would you rather stay
in one rumor or that for a weekend or maybe
(26:33):
a hotel room. My bets would hopefully be h within
our cabins are really pushing.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
I would agree with you. Now, help us understand where
this is in Myland Park. And and then as you
describe where it is, I'd like for you to describe
some of the views that the campers get, because you know,
out of Myland Park, if you're in the right spot,
there are some beautiful views.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
Yet where this was designated and placed, it's right not
far from the lower event center and sports complex as
you're going past the Man County building and before you
go up the hill to the pro performance area up
there in the upper ball fields. It's in that it's
in the bend there you make a left in the campgrounds.
Right up that way, you'll see a big, huge eight
foot by ten foot sign. It says koa holiday lit
(27:21):
up at night. And that's where it's thirty seven acres
out of the island Park four hundred acres overall, but
thirty seven acres is the campground. So it's pretty expansive.
And and you know, you don't realize how quiet it
is there at night. You know, you think, oh, I'm
near Morgantown. Have the city lights and everything else out
there in the evening and when things and activities are
(27:43):
slowed down. It's very peaceful and serene where the sun
sets over there. And actually when the baseball and softball
girls softball is going on at night, when all the
lights are lit up kind of in towards the field,
and then you're hearing the ting of the bat. And
then when the lights go out at night, it's kind
of like field of dreams, you know, one by one
is like the whole thing quiets down. So it's a
(28:05):
pretty neat experience out there. And in the mornings out
there on a Saturday morning when I'm helping out, I mean,
there's nothing. You see a flock of geese flying overhead,
you know, but it's really in the farm land that's
out there. It's much more serene than I envisioned a
couple of years ago, you know. So, and I think
people who have been there, they've commented on the peacefulness
(28:28):
and everything else. So that's great.
Speaker 3 (28:30):
And then I'm looking at the fact sheet that you've
given me here, and I think that you did mention it,
but it bears mentioning again that you've got laundry services available,
they'll pick up your trash, you allow golf carts on
the grounds as well.
Speaker 4 (28:47):
That's correct. We're gonna have golf carts that you can rent.
People have their own bikes and e bikes and so forth,
but that those are men things there and we have
right now we have a laundry facility on the grounds
and we also have one that's at the sports center
for people to use until our our lodge is completed,
which our lodge will have a nice full laundry room,
an activities area, six showerhouse and so forth. But all
(29:10):
that's part of the grounds.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
Okay. Now, you know there might be some people. One
thing that we haven't really talked about our community standards,
and you know a lot of people might be asking themselves,
well you've just said it's peaceful at night? How peaceful
at night?
Speaker 4 (29:26):
Well we have, like I said, we have quiet hours.
We ask people at ten o'clock, you know, anything's kind
of a quiet time, you know, and tone it down
and we try and set that standard and people have
been respectful of that. You know. What we do in supply,
A big part of it is how we maintain I
think the property in the grounds. I think when you
maintain a high standard, I think people typically will abide
(29:49):
by that. And they see that, and we go over
the rules and rakes we have. You know, we're pet friendly,
so we have dogs, but dogs have to be on
a leash. We go over that, we have two camp canines.
Camp Canine is regually a dog park with turff and
dogs can run in and out off a leash. So
very pet friendly, but yet we have certain kind of
rules to bude by, you know, camping rules, you know,
(30:09):
so and not to say that on any given home
game that's a big win that it may be a
little bit maybe a little bit louder an, you know.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
I could understand that. Last thing I've got for you,
Frank is talk a little bit about the camping culture.
Talk about the people that you'll run into up there,
because I think the camping community is there are a
friendly bunch of folks.
Speaker 4 (30:33):
Yeah, that's correct, Mike. The big thing is since COVID
camping exploded, when everyone you had to be in seclusion
and everything else but being outdoors, so the RVs and
the sales and everything, it's just in twenty twenty just
took off. So that culture has kind of changed the landscape,
you know, with the not only KOA but campgrounds overall
(30:57):
which we've been fortunate to be a part of. But
with that said, is we've got those folks, and then
we've got people that have been camping for twenty or
thirty years and had their RVs and where we're located. Uh,
it's kind of the power of koa dot com. But
there are people that just online, they automatically see our
campground and they just sign up for it. Getting off
the interstate, we're traveling north to south, you know, and
(31:20):
they just jump off to get a campsite for the night.
So it's a it's a nice diversity. I mean, it's
from from demographics, from young to old to you know.
It's it's a neat culture. And everyone at a campground
you separate all your different demographics. They all seem to say, hey,
we're all neighbors. So it's kind of a neat thing.
Speaker 3 (31:40):
Yeah, you know, I agree. I agree with you. Now
let's see if you like more information, you can call
three zero four three two two eight five six two
go ahead, yep.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
And the only thing I didn't mention is called our
one park pass, which is very exciting. So when you
stay at the campground, you get to use the aquatic Center,
the fitness center, all the facilities at Milond Park with
a one park pass. So you know, people say you
have a swimm pool, said, yeah, we have one of
the best swimming pools next the state or eastern coast,
with the aquatic center, each flash pad and everything else.
You want to shoot basketball, you want to play pickle ball,
(32:12):
you want to go work out. It's and we're adding more,
I know with his ice hockey arena. It was talked
about earlier on. We're going to be available to get skates,
you know, people can rent skates and so forth. Working
on that dynamic. But the one park pass is a
big thing. They didn't realize part of their registration fees
their family. They get to use all different parts of
the park.
Speaker 3 (32:28):
So when will the lodge be done?
Speaker 4 (32:30):
The lodge we're pushing, of course, I want to say yesterday,
But the lodge we're pushing here by the end of October,
early November. It would be a great trick or treat, you know,
So I hopefully we're pushing for that. And once we
get the lodge and everything, that's kind of our signature piece.
I think then we'll be uh, you know, it's going
to be more exciting, beautiful we offer there.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
Well, it sounds great, Frank, that's for sure. Frank Witt,
he is the general manager at the Miland Park koa
holiday campground. If you'd like more information, you can call
three zero four three two two eight five six two. Well, Frank,
appreciate you coming in.
Speaker 4 (33:07):
Mike, it's been a pleasure. Thank you.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
Absolutely take care of yourself. It is nine forty seven.
We'll be back to wrap things up coming up after
this on AM fourteen forty FM one oh four point
five w A j R.
Speaker 1 (33:21):
West. Now back to the talk of the town.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
Good Tuesday morning. It is nine p fifty three in
the University City, partly cloudy and sixty three degrees Metro
Newsaki Weather says mostly sunny today and I have seventy
four degrees definitely a great weather day. And today is
the opening day of the Myland Park Ice Pavilion. That
(34:05):
facility will see twelve hundred and coming up on September
the twelfth. It'll get a worthy break in, as you
might call it, with the matchup between WVU Club Hockey
and pitt that's coming up on the twelfth of September.
And those tickets they are on sale. Now you can
go out to the WVU Club Hockey website and you
(34:28):
can purchase those tickets. Now. That facility is just about
forty thousand square feet, eight locker rooms and one Olympic
sized sheet of ice, and it'll be home to the
Morgantown Hockey Association and very very soon, I'm sure if
you don't know anyone or have anybody in your family
(34:49):
that plays club hockey, you're about to find out just
how popular this traveling sport is. It's ever bit as
popular as say, maybe saw ball, especially when you get
into the Midwest and some northern areas of the country.
But that will be yet another huge draw for Miland
(35:13):
Park once the once the word gets out that the
Miland Park Ice Pavilion is open, it will certainly draw
a lot of events, a lot of people. And just
like Susan Reddel would tell you, got to put the
heads in beds, and what does she say, one more night,
(35:33):
one more dollar, something to that effect, say nine fifty four,
partly cloudy in sixty three. We'll be back to wrap
things up after this On AM fourteen forty FM one
four point five w A j R.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
We are talking about your town now back to the
talk of the town.
Speaker 3 (36:07):
Good Tuesday morning coming up, but later today, as a
matter of fact, beginning at three o'clock, a visitation service
will begin at the House in the House of Delegates
Chamber for State Supreme Court Justice Tim Armstead. That gets
started at three o'clock this afternoon. Armstead passed away on Tuesday,
(36:28):
August twenty sixth, following a battle with cancer at the
age of sixty the let's see Armstead. He served in
the House of Delegates for twenty years, and he served
as speaker from twenty fifteen through twenty eighteen. Was appointed
to the Supreme Court, then re elected to a twelve
year term to the state's highest court in twenty twenty.
(36:52):
That visitation service begins in the House of Delegates Chamber
at three o'clock and the funeral service will follow at
six pm. That is at the State Capitol. Coming up
later today. Weatherwise, it looks like this could be about
the last perfect day that we have because it looks
(37:14):
like for the remainder of the week outside of Friday,
we'll begin to work a chance of showers in with
each afternoon. It's time now for Metro News Talk Line
on the voice of Morgantown,
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