| Development ongoing at Fayette’s Confluence Resort |
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By Fred Pace Register-Herald reporter “It took me 20 years at a technology consultant and accounting business in the big city before I started on my dream,” Major said. In the summer of 2006, Major opened The Confluence Resort. “It is located on 300 spectacular acres bordering the Gauley River National Recreation Area with direct access to both the Gauley and Meadow rivers,” Major said as he described the property. “The resort boasts breathtaking views, rock cliffs, historical landmarks, a 70-foot waterfall, nature trails, rails-to-trails along the rivers and endless possibilities for adventure.” A grand opening and open house for the resort’s main house showed off the resort and its future potential. “Our facilities include the five-bedroom, 4,000-square-feet Patterson House that can be rented as the whole house or as a three-bedroom house and two-bedroom apartment,” he said. The site also features a pondside pavilion, historical sites, beach area, two barns, hot tub, gas grills, big screen television and broadband Internet access. Recently, the resort has made several other upgrades. “We have been very busy,” said Major. The resort has just completed two new vacation rental houses, according to Major. “They are extremely high quality and were designed to fit very naturally onto our setting,” he said. Major says guests can take in the natural beauty that surrounds the area and enjoy several overlooks along the Gauley River. “We have also completed a wedding overlook that has turned out just beautifully,” he added. Major grew up just outside Morgantown and graduated from Wheeling Jesuit College with a master’s degree. He said he had to move to Washington, D.C., due to lack of jobs in West Virginia. “I guess that is a similar story for many West Virginians,” he said. In his free time, Major got around the state. He said he fell in love with Fayette County. “It’s a beautiful place,” he said. “The activities, such as kayaking and whitewater rafting, were also very appealing to me.” In 2004, Major sold his home in Maryland and made the big move to West Virginia. “I always wanted to move back to West Virginia,” he explained. “I wanted to purchase a large piece of property with a lot of natural beauty associated with it. I wanted to sensitively develop it into a mid- to high-end resort in the area.” Major says the long-term vision for the property is to build timber-frame chalets along the back ridge of the property. “We are hoping to bring some of our great architectural work to the area,” Major said. “We want to add to the local economy and provide as many outdoor adventure opportunities at the resort and in the local area with premier professional outfitters and outdoor recreation businesses. We want the entire community to benefit from our presence.” |