Ousted Blackjewel Coal CEO Building Resort, Roman Coliseum Replica
The CEO of a company that sent home nearly 700 coal miners this week is in the process of building a large resort in his hometown.
News outlets in the Milton, W.V. area are reporting that Blackjewel CEO Jeff Hoops is completing the $30 million first phase of the project.
It's unclear what the total cost of the resort will be.
Blackjewel, which is headquartered in Milton, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week. On Monday, the Bell Ayr and Eagle Butte mines were abruptly closed and 700 workers were sent home.
The baseball fields will be replicas of famous ballparks like Yankee Stadium.
Speaking about the proposed resort, Powder River Resource Council Executive Director Jill Morrison called Hoops building the planned resort in the face of the coal mine bankruptcy "criminal."