Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
As part of the West Virginia Division of Tourism’s promotion of winter adventures, the Travelocity Roaming Gnome traveled to Pocahontas County last week to visit some of the best locations for a winter getaway.
The Gnome and his entourage were joined by Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Cara Rose as they visited Cranberry Glades, Elk River Inn and Restaurant and Snowshoe Mountain Resort.
“The whole purpose was to promote winter recreation in the state,” Rose said. “I was really delighted that the state is sponsoring these visits. It’s something that the rest of us, as an individual county, could not afford to do.”
The Gnome has a full passport of stamps from his travels all over the world, but he always finds time to travel in the United States. In the past year, he visited two states, including West Virginia.
“He visits all over the world, basically, and over the past year, most of his travels have been in other countries and only one other state,” Rose said. “West Virginia – he’s been here twice in the last year.”
Both of the Gnome’s visits to the state were documented on his social media sites – Twitter and Instagram – as well as on the Travelocity site and West Virginia Division of Tourism Facebook page.
The spring visit was well received by consumers, and Rose said she hopes the winter visit will be, as well.
“By far, the spring visit they did had the best return on investment they’d done for any marketing,” Rose said of the Division of Tourism. “It was well worth the second investment for his visit.”
Rose said the visit went well and the Gnome experienced a lot of new things, including snowshoeing in the Cranberry Glades, snowboarding, snowmobiling and even a dip in the pool at Snowshoe and a meal at Elk River.
“He’s a wonderful model,” Rose joked. “He never complains about his wardrobe or makeup; not demanding at all; pretty easy to pose. He always had a smile on his face; never had his eyes closed when I took a picture.”
During his trip to West Virginia, the Gnome visited Charleston, Winterplace, Timberline, Canaan Valley, Shepherdstown, Glade Springs, Weathered Ground Brewery and Tamarak.
To see highlights from his West Virginia trek, visit https://www.instagram.com/roaminggnome/