J.W. and Hazel Ruby West Virginia Welcome Center

Riggs Ward Design created the exhibition design and media programming for the J.W. and Hazel Ruby West Virginia Welcome Center at the Summit Bechtel Reserve. The project delivers an engaging, hands-on experience that highlights the history of the Boy Scouts, the site’s natural resources, and the impact of the Ruby Foundation.

The design features interpretive graphics and artifact displays that provide historical context while inviting guests to explore the Reserve. Visitors can interact with exhibits that showcase the significance of scouting in West Virginia, the broader legacy of the Boy Scouts, and the unique landscape of the Summit Bechtel Reserve.

Interactive components include a 3D digital map of the Reserve, a scouting guest book, a merit badge display, six exploratory kiosks, outdoor simulations streaming GoPro footage on two large 4K monitors, and an augmented reality sandbox that teaches visitors about the local terrain. When the center opened in July 2017, it welcomed over 25,000 scouts in its first week during the BSA Annual Jamboree.