Ever wondered how you can do more for public lands but you aren’t sure where to start? Outdoor Alliance’s Outdoor Allies series explores how other outdoor adventurers got their start in advocacy work and their advice for how you can harness your passion for the outdoors into advocacy for the land and water you love. Corey Lilly is a 10th generation West Virginian who works to lead his hometown of Beckley as Director of the new Beckley Office of Outdoor Economic Development. Widely recognized as one of the top professional adventure athletes in West Virginia, Lilly has led whitewater expeditions across the globe, toured as a professional skier, and is a competent climber, mountain biker, and outdoorsman.

What do you like to do outside and how did you first get connected with the outdoors?

I first connected to the outdoors when growing up in Crow Hollow where my grandfather, aunt, uncle, cousins, parents, and siblings lived. We had a good bit of land and animals like horses, ducks, chickens, and pigs. My earliest connections to the outdoors were swinging on vines, fishing in Little Beaver Creek, riding my bike, feeding the animals, hunting on the hill, and chasing tadpoles and lightning bugs. My family still farms, but I spend more time kayaking, climbing, skiing, biking, hiking, and foraging nowadays.

Corey Lilly, Douglas Falls in West Virginia

You have a pretty fascinating family history. Can you tell us more about the evolution from your parents or grandparent’s generation to yours in terms of how you see the land and water in West Virginia?

My family, for generations, worked as coal miners. Their hard work in the mines has lifted the family and community to a place where I and others can pursue different means of living, less impactful on the place we love most. We have loved living in the Appalachian mountains and think it's the most magical mountain range in the world. I am so thankful and blessed to be the one to honor their unbelievable work for our family to survive by paying homage by developing those same sites for people to connect with the community and nature.

Last summer, you were a key player in advocating to your Senator, Joe Manchin, to pass the Inflation Reduction Act. Why is this kind of legislation so important to the City of Beckley and to West Virginia at large?

The Inflation Reduction Act allowed West Virginia to pivot the economy. We've needed to diversify the economy and bolster new industries in distressed coal communities, and fortunately, Congress allocated funding specifically for this purpose in this act.

Formerly 80+ coal towns, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve designation took place in 2020 and has become the new face of West Virginia. We are repurposing past coal mining and logging sites around the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve as outdoor recreation hubs to attract and retain young talent, celebrate cultural heritage, serve visiting tourists, and compliment businesses.

I started Beckley's Office of Outdoor Economic Development shortly after the designation, understanding that Beckley is not only the population center for the national park but for southern West Virginia coal mining. When we open new economic sectors in this struggling coal hub, we further strengthen the resilience of our way of life as West Virginians. The Inflation Reduction Act assists us in doing that.

What do you hope to see as the future of West Virginia’s outdoors?

I want the state to hold the outdoor experience in high regard and embrace the outdoor economy while preserving and celebrating its authentic Appalachian culture, local outdoor ethics, and varied user groups. We have a unique energy here in West Virginia. We have so much space here that we can create an experience for each group without compromising the experience of another and the history of the land. I want West Virginia locals to do it all, climb, boat, bike, hike, hunt, fish, forage, and more while feeling the depth of being a part of a proud hillbilly lineage and paying homage to our ancestors who worked their life away underground for us to live in the most beautiful state of Appalachia. Let's hold that life we love close to our hearts as we strategically move forward.

Lightning Round:

Favorite West Virginia recreation destination: Whitegrass Ski Touring Center

Most used piece of gear you own: The original Skier Trash T-shirt designed by myself, my brother Bob, and Glen Plake.

A place you want to go: Chamonix, France

Outdoor Allies: Corey Lilly