The new Tamarack Travel Plaza in Beckley opened its doors on Thursday, December 26, 2024, offering travelers a much-anticipated stop with food, restrooms, and retail options. The plaza is home to the only Popeye’s Chicken location in southern West Virginia, and on opening day, the line at the Popeye’s kiosk was so long that some customers reported a 45-minute wait.
In addition to Popeye’s, the plaza features other popular food outlets, including Starbucks and Wendy’s, with lines forming at both locations as travelers sought a quick bite.
Two Canadian visitors from London, Ontario, stopped at the plaza on their way to a cruise port in the southern U.S. “There’s a lot of nice stuff in there, and the combination of Starbucks, Popeye’s, and Wendy’s is perfect for food and drinks,” said Maja Mariewicz. Her travel companion, Olivia Kurowski, added, “It’s also really clean in there,” commenting on the plaza’s well-maintained facilities.
The grand opening of the $60 million Beckley Travel Plaza will take place on Monday, December 30, 2024, at 6 p.m. The event will be celebrated by Gov. Jim Justice, WV Parkways Authority Executive Director Jeff Miller, the Parkway board of directors, and other officials.
