Harpers Ferry News and Updates

Harpers Ferry will hold its municipal elections for Mayor, Recorder, and five Council members on Tuesday, 8 June 2021. All residents who are interested in seeking office were required to file a Candidate's Certificate of Announcement with the Recorder during the period ending 29 January 2021. (If filing by postal mail, envelopes must have been postmarked no later than 30 January 2021.) Click here for more information, including Candidates' Certificates of Announcement.

Resolution and Street Agreement approved by Town Council

The Harpers Ferry Town Council met on 26 February 2021, and with a quorum present, voted to adopt Resolution 2021-01, authorizing the execution of an agreement by and between the Corporation of Harpers Ferry and SWaN Hill Top Operating Partners, LLC ("SWaN") for the acquisition of certain real property by SWaN from the Town to encourage the development, construction, and operation of the Hill Top House Hotel.

Click on the following links to view the resolution and the agreement, both of which have been executed:

• Resolution 2021-01
• Street Agreement

Notice of water rate increases

Notice of a two-step rate water rate increase was given in 2018 after a public hearing and approval of Ordinance 2017-09 (Codified Ordinance 905). The first step, a 5% increase, began in April 2019. The second step, a 29% increase, became effective during the November 2020 billing cycle. The rate increase is applied only to the water service portion of customers' bills, not to the sewer service portion. Read more here.

West Virginia Indoor Face Covering Requirement

Amended 13 Nov 2020

Governor Jim Justice has issued Executive Order 77-20, which amends the Statewide Indoor Face Covering Requirement as follows:

• Face coverings must be worn AT ALL TIMES in all public indoor places, regardless of the ability to socially distance. Compliance is MANDATORY.
• If you are in a restaurant, you must wear your mask until you are ACTIVELY consuming food or drink, unless you are in a closed room by yourself.
• All businesses must post signs and ensure the requirement is being followed. Persons failing to comply will be charged with obstruction of justice.
• If a person enters an establishment without a mask, the police are to be called. That person may be charged with obstruction of justice.
• The order does not apply to children under the age of 9, or anyone who has trouble breathing or is otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
• Although not mandatory, parents are encouraged to assist children ages 2 through 8 to wear a face covering.

This order takes effect at 12:00 a.m. on Saturday, 14 November 2020. Click here to read Executive Order 77-20.

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 reopened its public restrooms along Shenandoah Street. Public restrooms at the train station remain closed. 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 National Historical Park operational changes to prevent the spread of COVID-19

In response to guidance from the CDC and the U.S. Public Health Service, the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park has modified its operations to support federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. All facilities are currently open except the Harpers Ferry Visitor Center. For more information, please see 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.

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. To review the list, click here.