An animal hospital will be constructed soon on recently purchased property in the Elkins Railyard, officials said.
Appalachian Animal Hospital in Crystal Springs, owned by Dr. Tonya White, will move to the Railyard location, with improvements to make the facility "a state-of-the-art hospital in the heart of downtown Elkins," White said in a press release.
The property was purchased from the Randolph County Development Authority for $175,000. The deal was finalized July 18. The RCDA voted to sell the property in February.
White hopes to put the bid for construction out in August, and is currently "finalizing engineering designs," according to Robbie Morris, executive director of the RCDA.
"The RCDA is pleased to welcome the Appalachian Animal Hospital to the historic Elkins Railyard," Morris said in the press release. "Their state-of-the-art facility and top notch services will be a nice addition to the area."
White said that, with the addition of Dr. Justine Saville and Dr. Amanda Haddix, the hospital has grown to the point that it is ready to "take the next step."
"Because of the addition of our two new doctors and the expansion of our operating hours, we are now better able to serve our clients' veterinary needs," White said in the release. "We have outgrown our current facility, and if we have to go to the next level anyway, why not provide our clients with a state of the art hospital in the heart of downtown Elkins. We feel that this location will provide convenient access for all of our clients."
The new hospital will feature 25 indoor runs; a fenced, outside exercise area; and a separate cat boarding ward.
"There will be separate kennel ward areas for surgeries, grooming and critical care patients, and our crematory will be housed within the building itself," White said. "The facility will be well ventilated in all areas, as well as having more examination rooms, a special 'bereavement' room and a roomier lobby area for our clients and their pets to be more comfortable while they wait.
"We are very excited to be part of the growth and development of the Elkins' downtown area, and we look forward to serving our hometown with the best in veterinary services for many years to come," White said.
White also recently opened a satellite office in Parsons.
The Railyard property the animal hospital will be built on is located near Elkins Physical Therapy, officials said.
During the last 12 years, development in the Elkins Railyard has included renovation of the depot, creation of a town square, the construction of a new railroad bridge over the Tygart Valley River and a major infrastructure project.
Contact Brad Johnson by email at bjohnson@theintermountain.com.
