In the coming months, Beach Vickers hopes to be back in the Mountain State achieving his goal of filming a series of spots aimed at state and national parks.

The Vickers-proposed independent production is slated to be called the “The Mountaineer Traveler.” He wants to shoot footage at parks throughout the state in hopes of boosting the state tourism movement.

West Virginia Public Broadcasting is cooperating with Vickers to develop the series, he says, provided he can lock down the necessary funding.

According to Vickers, the series will feature six half-hour episodes highlighting seven state parks and Harper’s Ferry National Park, the latter which was the site of abolitionist John Brown’s anti-slavery raid of the federal armory in 1859. State-operated parks to be included are Bear Town, Blackwater Falls, Blennerhassett Island, Canaan Valley Resort, Cass Scenic Railroad and Droop Mountain Battlefield, as well as Hawks Nest State Park and the adjacent New River Gorge Bridge.

“We want to produce a high-quality program in order to attract more dollars into this important and growing part of the state’s economy,” he said when announcing the program last year.

Instead of simple narration, Vickers plans a more hands-on approach to telling the story. He wants to involve viewers in his own park experiences as if they are virtually there beside him.

“It will be like a man on the street interview, or maybe a man on a hillside,” he said this week.

Vickers says California’s public television system highlights local parks in such a manner, and he felt it would work in his home state.

The shows will include interviews of park rangers, historians and authors. Vickers will also interact with visitors enjoying what the state has to offer.

He will be assisted by fellow West Virginia native Gary Fish, who will appear in each episode as a special “youth correspondent.” Fish will demonstrate park activities with particular appeal to younger children, teenagers and families.

“How lucky we are in West Virginia to be surrounded by so much fun, beauty and history just outside our doorsteps,” said Vickers, who plans to utilize in-state production talent to supply filming and editing services.

For more information, contact Vickers online at www.beachvickers.com.