As the environmental pressures associated with anthropogenic global climate change have become more acutely perceived, nations around the world have begun to investigate carbon neutral energy transitions. As the United States embraces the clean energy transition, the Appalachian region will too need to transition its economy to lower carbon alternatives. One of the Appalachian Regional Commissions’ (ARC) five goals includes “Building Regional Culture and Tourism”. In the 2022 fiscal year, the ARC invested $25.9M in 58 projects across Appalachia. These investments aim to revitalize Appalachian communities through renovations of historic buildings, promotion of local arts and cultural heritage, and the sustainable use recreation and tourism resources in the region. This study investigates how measures of the recreation/tourism industry, whether dollars generated or employment, relate to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and point source Greenhouse Gas emissions in the ARC region.