Harpers Ferry News and Updates

Advice for Visitors to Harpers Ferry

Harpers Ferry welcomes visitors to our tiny, historic, amazing town. Please remember that Harpers Ferry is a real town with families, senior citizens, children and pets who hope that the multitude of people who come to experience our history and beautiful scenery will respect the property, health and safety of our residents.

To ensure that your visit is pleasant and successful, please consider the following information:

Parking

The National Park Service has opened its large parking lot at Cavalier Heights but offers no bus service into town at this time. If you park there you will have to walk about 2 miles to get to town. If you wish to park in Harpers Ferry, you need to download the ParkMobile app to your phone. Paid parking is available on Washington Street in upper town Harpers Ferry, and along Potomac street in lower town. Some visitors may have difficulty getting a wi-fi signal at first, so try moving slightly away from your parking spot. If you can’t get a signal and don’t want a parking citation, you should consider finding a different place to park. Do not block driveways, mailboxes, or fire hydrants. Parking is not allowed in the residential side streets or the streets that parallel the main street through town. Heed the “Residential Parking Only” signs if you do not want a parking citation.

Trash

The National Park Service has adopted a “Leave No Trace” policy, which means that visitors must be prepared to dispose of their trash by carrying it out of the park when leaving. There are no trash or recycling receptacles on Park property. If you accidently drop something on the ground, please be considerate and pick it up. Facemasks can easily fall out of your pocket and they are especially unsafe for other people to have to pick up. A limited number of trash receptacles are found along the commercial side of Potomac Street that are maintained by the town.

Sanitary facilities

The National Park Service has temporarily closed its public restrooms due to the restrictions posed by the coronavirus. The town has provided a limited number of portable toilets (“porta-potties”) in lower town at the end of Potomac Street and in upper town at the corner of Washington Street and Franklin Street. Please do not relieve yourselves in the woods or on private property or in backyards. Not only is it illegal, but it is a serious health and safety concern for visitors and residents alike.

We hope you enjoy your visit to Harpers Ferry.

¤ Harpers Ferry strongly encourages face coverings and physical distancing as COVID-19 numbers increase across the country - 1 Jul 2020

Today the Corporation of Harpers Ferry announces the rollout of a campaign promoting health and safety for residents, businesses, and visitors by strongly encouraging physical distancing and the wearing of face coverings. This consists of updating signage throughout the town ahead of the Independence Day holiday weekend, the addition of hand sanitizer stations, and continuing to provide temporary restrooms and a hand-washing station on Potomac Street.

On June 24, The Town Council of the Corporation of Harpers Ferry passed a resolution strongly encouraging safety precautions for residents, businesses, and visitors. This includes physical distancing of six feet, wearing masks when walking on the narrow sidewalks in Lower Town and entering businesses, as well as requiring patrons to comply with the stated request of any businesses regarding the wearing of face coverings in their establishments.

Over 1,000 masks have been provided by the Jefferson County Health Department for free to local businesses to be able to provide to visitors who do not have them.

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park CLOSED

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park announces that following guidance from the CDC and recommendations from state and local public health authorities in consultation with NPS Public Health Service officers, the following Park buildings and services are temporarily closed as of 18 March 2020:

• ALL PUBLIC RESTROOMS, including the Lower Town Harpers Ferry area, Schoolhouse Ridge, and the Visitor Center
• Entrance station / fee collection
• Visitor Center
• Shuttle buses
• Bookshop
• Information Center
• Lower Town museums and exhibits
• Train station
• Ranger programs

Park trails remain open at this time. Updates will be posted at the Park's Current Conditions webpage.

Notice of vacancies on boards of Town government

The Corporation of Harpers Ferry is actively seeking volunteers to serve on the following boards of the Town government:

• Board of Zoning Appeals (one alternate vacancy)
• Planning Commission (two vacancies)
• Water Commission (two vacancies)
• Parks and Recreation Commission (one vacancy)

Those individuals interested in seeking appointment to any of these commissions should send a letter of interest to the Town Clerk at clerk@harpersferrywv.us.

Notice of water rate increases

After conducting a public hearing on 22 February 2018, the Town Council approved the second and final reading of Ordinance 2017-09, which increases water rates in two steps. The first step of an increase of 5% on water service rates only (not sewer service) went into effect at the 1 June 2018 billing.

The second step, a 29% increase on water service rates, will take effect 60 days prior to the closing on the USDA loan for the water system infrastructure project, expected to occur in the spring of 2019.

Ordinance 2017-09 can be read in its entirety here.

Information on paid parking in Harpers Ferry

Harpers Ferry has instituted three paid parking zones to improve safety and better regulate the very limited parking within the Corporation. Two of the zones, 7510 and 7520, are on Washington Street (Alt. U.S. 340). The third is on Potomac Street in Lower Town. The cost for parking is $1.00 per hour in Zone 7510, $2.00 per hour in Zone 7520, and $3.00 per hour in Zone 7515. Parking may be purchased in half-hour segments. Payment may be made using the Parkmobile cell phone app. To use Parkmobile, open the app, enter zone number, select amount of time desired, and pay by major credit card or PayPal. Visitors may find it easier to download the app to their cell phones before visiting Harpers Ferry to simplify their parking experience at the following link: http://us.parkmobile.com/mobile-apps.

Paid parking is strictly enforced in all three zones between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Sunday through Saturday. Violators may be fined and /or towed. Parking is free in all paid parking zones after 6:00 p.m. and before 8:00 a.m. Sunday through Saturday.

All sides streets within the Corporation of Harpers Ferry are parking by residential permit only. Violators may be fined and / or towed. Permits for residents and their guests may be purchased at Town Hall.

Harpers Ferry Water Works customers can pay online.  To learn more, click here.

List of businesses licensed in Harpers Ferry

The Corporation maintains a list of operators and companies licensed to perform business in Harpers Ferry. These businesses have volunteered to appear on this public list. To review the list, click here.