The idea of a “Tamarack North” has been attractive to some area residents for several years. In a sense, we already have it in the form of Cabela’s at the gigantic Highlands development in Ohio County.

But do we even want a carbon copy of the original Tamarack, just off the West Virginia Turnpike at Beckley? Maybe not, at least from a financial standpoint.

Tamarack is in a bit of trouble because it continues to lose money for the state, at the rate of about $1 million a year. Some state legislators have demanded that it be turned into a profit maker — or be abandoned. I don’t think an approach that drastic is good for West Virginia — for all of us, north and south.

Originally established to provide a showcase for Mountain State artisans of all talents, Tamarack has done an excellent job in that respect. Beautiful creations — everything from folk art to paintings that could hang anywhere, marvelous sculptures, delicious, unusual foods; and books reflecting our unique heritage, to name a few — can be found in one place at Tamarack. It offers a marketplace for mountain artisans as well as an attraction for tourists.

Tourism is big, big business in West Virginia — and our attraction is, well, us. By that I mean that our mountains and streams bring hundreds of thousands of people in each year. Our people complement the natural splendor.