10/1/2009
ANSTED, W.Va. – Guests visiting Hawks Nest State Park this fall will see change, not only in forest foliage colors, but also in how far their travel dollars stretch. Overnight stays at Hawks Nest Lodge now include continental breakfast at the River View Restaurant located in the park's year-round lodge.
"It's a new value. We're ramping up guest service to be more inclusive in our lodge room service," says Tom Shriver, Park Superintendent at Hawks Nest. “We’ve done so many upgrades over the past years to modernize our lodge and create a positive guest experiences, but we try to retain that 'homecoming' atmosphere that Hawks Nest is known for.”
Recent improvements at Hawks Nest include installation of an elevator system for access to the conference room and restaurant from the lodge lobby, morning coffee stations, a smoke-free environment, and wireless Internet service throughout the lodge rooms and lobby.
“The results and guest comments say volumes about what a few changes can do to make a travel experience go from traditionally great to super,” says Shriver, who is an advocate for subtle improvements that don't interrupt the park's ambience. The landscaping of the lodge and inclusion of programmed special events are also part of the Fayette County attraction.
Inclusion of continental breakfast in the room rate is another subtle improvement that guests appreciate. Continental breakfast is available to overnight lodge guests from 7 - 10 a.m. daily. Pam Strunk, restaurant concessionaire at Hawks Nest, is looking at ways to maximize use of trained staff and implement ways to provide and render services that customers see as value for their travel dollar. “We find many guests are just looking for a light breakfast or no breakfast as they generally are off to see the New River Gorge area,” says “I can provide better service and a nice light breakfast for guests and concentrate our food service efforts on a quality lunch and dinner menu.”
Hawks Nest State Park, located in Ansted, is a park with two faces. The Lodge area is a product of park system development in the 1970s and includes a 31-room lodge, a restaurant overlooking the New River, meeting room, nine-hole golf course, aerial tramway, jet boat rides, tennis courts and ample parking.
The “lower park,” or second face of Hawks Nest, is one of the Mountain State's earlier park developments. This area was designed and constructed during the recession of the 1930s and is the Hawks Nest most people recognize.
"The view shed is the same magnificent panorama today that you'll find in any snapshot taken in the same place in the 1960s, 1950s or 1940s,” according to Shriver. “The lower park offers a shelter, lawn space, and opportunity to capture fall foliage photographs, winter crystals or spring flora from a view shed that only the Grand Canyon might exceed. The difference here is that there is no entrance fee and at least 50 percent of the U.S. population is less that a one-day's drive to visit. For those of us here in the state, it's a treasure in our own back yard and now, it comes with breakfast when staying at the lodge.”
For more information about Hawks Nest State Park, visit www.hawksnestsp.com or call 304-658-5121.
Contact Information
Tom Shriver, Hawks Nest State Park
304-658-5121
tomshriver@wvdnr.gov