Black Knight Country Club is purchased by the City of Beckley

4/20/2018 (Permalink)

Private Country Club soon to go Public

The recent closing of Black Knight Country Club was a sad day for many in the Beckley and surrounding areas. But thanks to the City of Beckley purchasing it in April 2018 our community is smiling again. This is a subject just about everyone is talking about in our small town and I became curious about the 90 year history of this property.

• The Golf course/clubhouse was originally organized in 1928-29 by the vice president of Raleigh Coal & Coke, Col Ernest Chilson. The name “Black Knight” was the trademark of Raleigh Coal & Coke. It was a private club and only the prominent in coal and related industries could become members.
• Raleigh Coal & Coke ceased operations in 1950. The club members purchased Black Knight in 1951.
• For the next 60 years the shareholders kept the facility open to private memberships only. Membership began to decline and once again closure was emanate. Luck had it that another prominent coal operator, Jim Justice, purchased the club in June 2011. The local newspaper released that he paid $1 million dollars for the property and amenities.
• Justice states he invested over $5 million but still could not get the membership increased and the cost down to keep the club open. The announcement came after Christmas 2017 that the private club was closed.
•  In April 2018 the City of Beckley finalized its decision to pay Gov. Jim Justice $3 million to purchase Black Knight Country Club.

We wish our town success and best wishes to the city public works department as they proceed to keep this historical facility open.

 Councilman-at-large, Tim Berry, said it best “People are looking forward to being able to take part in what used to be an exclusive country club. Now, they can come as regular members of the public to enjoy.”