05/19/2026
After hundreds of name suggestions and an incredible amount of community support, our elk statue officially has a name…
Meet Larry Bob Wilson! 🦌✨
The winning name, “Larry,” was submitted by Fallon Walker, whose suggestion received an impressive 251 likes during our community naming contest! The name was inspired by her father, Larry K. Rockel, a retired DNR sergeant who helped support elk restoration efforts in West Virginia.
After much consideration, we also wanted the statue’s name to honor several of the individuals who helped spearhead the return of elk to the Mountain State former West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Director Bob Fala and former West Virginia Natural Resources Commissioner Kenny Wilson.
From 2014–2016, Wilson helped acquire 44,000 acres for a wildlife management area that would become home to the elk reintroduction program. In 2015, though the project was already underway, Fala worked tirelessly to help move the initiative forward. Within 15 months, the Legislature passed the necessary laws to make the project possible, and a source herd for the elk had been identified.
In December 2016, the first 24 elk were released in Logan County, West Virginia. Today, the herd is estimated to have grown to about 150 elk. This is truly an amazing accomplishment, and the work of these individuals as well as so many others do not go unnoticed.
Thank you to everyone who joined in on the fun and helped welcome Logan County’s newest photo opportunity at the Country Roads Byway Visitor Center located on Route 73. We loved seeing all of your creative ideas and community excitement surrounding elk restoration in Southern West Virginia! 📸
