7/6/2011
CLIFFTOP W.Va. – Guests and visitors to
Babcock State Park will find America’s original ride –
horses. Earnest and Sue Gwinn are the owners of
Babcock Riding Stables and contract with the park to operate the equestrian service.
“We are one of four state parks in West Virginia that offer horseback riding as an outdoor recreation option,” said Clinton Cochran, park superintendent. “Horseback riding is part of the state’s heritage and we’re fortunate to have the Gwinns keeping that tradition at Babcock. They are excellent equestrians and horse owners.”
The other state parks with equestrian operations that offer horseback rides are Cacapon, Lost River and Pipestem Resort state parks.
Babcock Riding Stable offers rides of solitude and peace through Babcock’s rugged beauty. The park is noted for extensive wildflowers and wildlife habitat. Four trail ride options are available. A one hour trail ride, a two-hour ride that includes going across Mann’s Creek and to a secluded pond, and a half day ride that is three hours. The three-hour ride also crosses Mann’s Creek but features stops at mountain overlooks and covers more terrain. The late evening rides are also popular and begin at 5 or 6 p.m. depending upon the time of year.
Babcock Riding Stable is open Tuesday – Sunday. It operates June 1 through August 31 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., with fall hours from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday rides are available by appointment. Trail rides are guided by experience wranglers. Ride costs range from $25 - $65 depending upon the ride length.
About Babcock State Park
Babcock State Park is located in Fayette County at Clifftop. Cabin and camping facilities are open from mid-April through late-October. Babcock is one of West Virginia’s earliest designated state parks and features cabins, camping, fishing, outdoor swimming and hiking trails. The 4,127 acre park is near the New River Gorge scenic area and Hawks Nest State Park.
Babcock’s most recognized feature is the Glade Creek Grist Mill. “The mill captures more photography interest than you can image,” claims Cochran. “So much that we have installed a webcam with a bird’s eye view and the link is posted on our website
www.babcocksp.com.”
The park office takes calls year-round asking about the weather and lighting conditions, and leaf color. Photographers are trying to determine the perfect time to take pictures of the mill. "The webcam is 24/7/365, as they say. We listened to what callers were asking about and responded and the information is a click away."
For information about Babcock State Park, call 304-438-3004 or visit
www.babcocksp.com. For Babcock Riding Stable, call 304-438-5046 or email
babcockridingstable@yahoo.com.
Contact Information
Sue Gwinn, Babcock Riding Stables or Clinton Cochran, Park Superintendent
304-438-3004
babcockridginstable@yahoo.com or
Clinton.C.Cochran@wv.gov