6/27/2011
HACKER VALLEY, W.Va. – Hacker Valley is home to one of the most relaxed and natural places to find camping, vacation cabins, hiking trails, and summer activities in West Virginia:
Holly River State Park in Webster County.
Holly River is a popular traditional state park with modern appeal – a place to cast off stress and relax. Cabins are open mid-April through Oct. 31. The park also has 88 campsites in what many consider one of the coolest areas of the state for camping during hot weather. Fishing, picnic pavilions, hiking, historic structures and a summer restaurant round are also part of the ambiance.
Holly River offers activities in the summer months, organized and frequently conducted by seasonal naturalist Biff Healy.
Activities scheduled at Holly River in July 2011 range from
hikes and
fish feeding to
food safety to
stream ecology.
Twenty-two days in July, at 10 a.m., Trout Unlimited invites visitors to meet at the
Trout Pond to learn about West Virginia’s state trout and the
Centennial Trout. Attendees may help feed the fish. This program is scheduled for July 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30.
Campfire cooking and
summer food safety program “encourages campers, and cabin guests to use proper cooling or freezing of food and cooking methods when enjoying the outdoors,” said Healy. “Practicing basic food safety methods can keep a summer vacation from becoming a hospital trip. We make the information fun and hope to prevent belly aches and worse, due to improper food storage or preparation.” Attendees receive a refrigerator thermometer.
The food safety program is scheduled for July 1 and 22. The program is in a cooperative effort with the W.Va. Department of Health and Human Resources.
Healy conducts other programs or activities as part of his summer work that include:
Mineral Friends, July 2, 23;
West Virginia Wild, July 3, 20;
Knots and Lashings, July 7;
Compass Course, July 8;
Campfire programs, July 8, 15, 22;
Hayrides July 9, 16, 23, 30.
Hikes are scheduled frequently in addition to other activities.
Four special summer programs are scheduled in July at Holly River State Park. These programs are also open to the public, without charge, and feature square dancing, flyfishing, snakes, and birds of prey.
- Appalachian Dance is set for July 1. Meet at the Old Pavilion at 7:30 p.m. for square dancing with nationally known caller, Lou Maiuri of Summersville, W.Va.
- Sam Knotts, owner of Appalachian Flyfishing and Guide Service, will discuss equipment, fly tying (hands on), and give casting instruction at the Windy Gap Schoolyard. The Fundamentals of Flyfishing is scheduled for 1 p.m. on July 16.
- “Snakes of West Virginia” finds biologist Jim Fregonara with the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources at the park, Thursday July 21 at 1 p.m. “Learning about snakes found in West Virginia is important,” said Healy. “Snakes are vital to ecological balance.” Meet at the Activity Building for this special presentation by a state herpetologist. Cameras are welcome.
- Hawks, owls and eagles are birds of prey and part of a special program – “Wings of Wonder,” presented by Three Rivers Avian Center. Based in Brooks, W.Va., Ron and Wendy Perrone bring live birds and their educational program to state parks during the summer. Three Rivers Avian Center is at Holly River on July 29 at 4 p.m. “It is an opportunity for youngsters and adults to learn about raptors and see them up close,” said Healy. For other Wings of Wonder dates at other W.Va. state parks, visit www.wvstateparks.com, click Events Calendar.
Summer activities are posted on the Holly River website under Events. For information about Holly River State Park, visit www.hollyriver.com or call 304-493-6353 for activity information, camping and cabins.
Contact Information
Biff Healy, Holly River State Park Naturalist
304-493-6353
DNR.Parks@wv.gov