Pocahontas Convention and Visitors Bureau Announces the Great Greenbrier River Race

Cara Rose of the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau announces the upcoming Great Greenbrier River Race. Cara.

“Our first big event for Spring is the Great Greenbrier River Race –that’s just around the corner, on April 30th” said Cara. “We usually have about 500 people participating in that event, probably another 500 people come to spectate. We’re very excited to see the warm weather and invite our visitors to the Great Greenbrier River Race.”

Cara talks a little about what the race is.

“It’s a Triathlon” Cara said. “You can do it solo if you choose to, or you can have a team of 2 or 3 or even 4. There is a canoe component, a bicycling component and also a running component. They do break it into age groups as well – so there are a lot of opportunities to win.”

And the route of the race?

“It begins in Marlinton and ends in Marlinton” said Cara. “Typically the race begins with the running component up the Greenbrier River Trail and back down. They get in the canoe or the kayak on the river down to the about the Blue Bridge area –Buckeye – and then ride their bikes back to Marlinton.”

You can call the Convention and visitor’s center in Marlinton at 800-336-7009 for information about the race.

Cara also wanted to talk about the Tourism Scholarship.

“The Convention and Visitors does sponsor the Tourism Scholarship for one PCHS graduate annually” Cara said. “This we are so fortunate that the Snowshoe Foundation is going to match our scholarship for this 2016 annual award. So the award will be for $2000.00 for the recipient this year, and that’s $2000.00 annually for up to 4 years. So students that are interested in applying can pick up a scholarship application here or they can also pick up an application at the Guidance Office at the high School. We are looking for students who intend to go into the hospitality or tourism related career.”

Cara says that to apply, the students must be residents of Pocahontas County and are graduating from Pocahontas County high school. The deadline for applying is coming up quick – April first, so if interested, pick up an application soon.

Cara also wanted about another award coming up quickly -Cara.

We also sponsor the Tourism Person of the Year Award which was established in 2014” Cara said. “The applications are available now, so anybody who wants to submit a nominee for that award can call the Office or pick up an application. And this would be an award for somebody who really exemplifies hospitality. It could be anybody who works at a restaurant, perhaps. It’s really an opportunity to recognize an individual who does an outstanding job representing Pocahontas County and their business to the visitor – someone who is very friendly and goes out of their way to make their guest feel right at home.”

So if you know someone involved in any aspect of the tourism or hospitality business, submit them for this award. Remember, the deadline for applying for the scholarship or nominating someone for the Tourism Person of the Year is April first. You can reach the visitor’s Center at800-336-7009 or 304-799-4636.