St. Patrick’s Day Comes Early to West Virginia State Parks 

“You don’t have to be Irish to enjoy these special events,” says Sissie Summers, program administrator for West Virginia’s state parks.  “Some guests look to a park cabin, cottage, or lodge room for a weekend away. Others enjoy outdoor activities such as Pipestem’s eagle survey, hiking, listening to entertainers like Buddy Griffin and George Daughtery, eating an Irish feast, or learning about the life of 16^th Century Irish pirate Grace O’Malley in a dinner theater setting.”  

For information on March 14th events and other events, packages and activities at West Virginia State Parks, visit the calendar online at www.wvstateparks.com or 800 CALL WVA.

·         March 14 – Eagle Survey at Pipestem Resort State Park

The second eagle survey of 2009 is organized by Jim Phillips, Naturalist at Pipestem State Park. It is becoming a popular activity as both golden and bald eagles are being sighted more frequently in the Bluestone River area.

“On February 13, I took a class of students to the mouth of the Bluestone River in Bluestone State Park to look for eagles,” said Phillips. “It was a tremendous success. We had eagles in view for the entire 90 minutes we were there and saw at least five bald eagles and three golden eagles. Some were flying, some were perched in trees and some were on the bank eating fish. It was a great experience for everyone.”

The eagle survey on March 14th positions participants to at least 12 individual survey sites situated along the Bluestone River area. To participate, you should call Phillips by March 7 to be assigned to a survey team and specific site locations. Complete survey results are posted on Pipestem’s online recreation page following the event. For more information contact Jim Phillips at Pipestem Resort, 304-466-1800 ext. 379.

·         March 13-15 – 6th Annual Culinary Classic Weekend at Stonewall Resort State Park

Dale Hawkins, Stonewall Resort’s Executive Chef, welcomes more than 20 of West Virginia’s finest and most innovative chefs along with regional wine and food stewards for a weekend of dine-arounds, multi-course meals, seminars and demonstrations at Stonewall Resort State Park. Hawkins is known for his New Appalachian Cuisine and local harvest inclusion in his meals and dining experience. 

The weekend includes demonstrations, cooking seminars, a culinary throw-down with West Virginia chefs, including West Virginia native, Chef Cathy Fout of Chief Logan Lodge, and wine parings. A silent auction is part of the weekend with proceeds supporting The Collaborative for the 21^st Century Appalachia, a grassroots organization concerned with preserving the small farm, the environment, and a more traditional way of life.

The package costs is $549 per couple and includes two nights at Stonewall Lodge, two dinners and breakfasts at Stillwaters Restaurant, a Saturday evening reception with live entertainment,  and all activities of this classy food weekend. For more information or reservations, call Stonewall Resort State Park  at 304-269-7400.

Stonewall Resort is located in Lewis county, approximately five minutes of US 79 at Exit 91, near Weston.

·         Through April 30 – “A Savin’ o’ the Green” at North Bend State Park

North Bend employee Kristi Steed has taken St. Patty’s Day celebration in another direction. “We’re ‘savin’ the green’ and have an option for people like me who just need an affordable weekend out. “

Through April 30, North Bend offers a dinner by Chef Jim Ingles and breakfast for two and accommodations at North Bend Lodge for $99, including all taxes and gratuities. “Hiking, fishing, biking the North Bend Rail Trail, and the comfort of our lodge are something to celebrate.” Steed adds an Irish toast to get you into the North Bend spirit: “May your fire be as warm as the weather is cold. North Bend’s cabins and lodge lobby fireplaces are ready regardless of weather conditions.”

North Bend has several packages in March, including “A Reel Good Fishin’ Package” and two special events weekends: a Quilting retreat March 22-26 and a Women’s Getaway March 27-29. For more information on activities and packages at North Bend State Park, call 304-643-2931 or visit online at www.northbendsp.com. North Bend State Park is located in Ritchie County less than 25 minutes off US 50 at Ellenboro or Cairo. 

·         March 14 – 23rd Annual Irish Festival at Pipestem Resort State Park

Fun, food and merriment is scheduled at Pipestem Resort State Park March 14, starting with a game of Irish Road Bowling at 10 a.m. Saturday morning, a dinner buffet of Irish recipes and an evening of music, toasts and stories starting at 8 p.m.

Irish Road Bowling makes use of a ball made out of iron and steel that is heavy enough to pick up speed, yet small enough for any person to handle. “Besides the basic rules and terms, all you do is hurl this 28 oz. ‘bowl’ with an underhand motion over a one-to-two mile country road and see how far it goes!”  explains Melissa Jacobs, Pipestem’s activity coordinator. The game is scored like golf, with the fewest number of shots from the start to the finish line winning

“You don’t have to be Irish to enjoy this outdoor game and you don’t have to be particularly athletic or skilled, but a good sense of humor and the ability to have a good time is important.”

A buffet featuring traditional Irish recipes is scheduled at Pipestem’s Bluestone Dining Room from 5:30 – 9 p.m. The Bluestone Dining Room is open to the public and is a full-service restaurant. Meal preparation is by Chef Eric.

The Earl of Elkview, Buddy Griffin and the O’Daugherty Family Singers will be performing from 8 – 11 p.m., featureing current Irish music, recitation, and Irish toasts, jokes and stories. 

George Daugherty, known as the “Earl of Elkview,” has spent more than 25 years spreading the gospel of Irish music and has performed in concert with Irish folk musician Tommy Makem and storyteller Mr. James M. Healy. “The Earl” will be joined by West Virginia’s own Buddy Griffin. Griffin, a professor in the Fine Arts Department at Glenville State College is a fiddler and banjo player. Griffin organizes music for the West Virginia State Folk Festival and will serve as the scholar for the tour of the Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit, "New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music,” traveling the state from April 2009 through January 2010 and sponsored by Verizon under the guidance of the West Virginia Humanities Council. The O’Daugherty Family singers include Tom Daugherty, Sallie Daugherty and Kiera Daugherty.

The evening program is sponsored by The Southern West Virginia Irish Heritage Festival.  There is admission fee of $5 per person. For more information about Irish Festival activities, overnight reservations or other upcoming events, contact Pipestem Resort State Park, 304-466-1800. Pipestem Resort is located in Summers County on Route 20.

March 14  – Grace O’Malley, Irish Pirate Dinner Theater at Hawks Nest State Park

On March 14 at Hawks Nest State Park, Grace O’Malley, a pirate queen, will tell her colorful stories of life on the high seas in the 16th century. Not only did she fight against the conquest of Ireland by its powerful neighbor, England, she also commanded an army of men and remained a leading political figure in a time when women had no personal power. Through the story of Grace O’Malley, visitors at Hawks Nest will begin to understand the contemporary political struggles in Ireland by learning about the era in which these conflicts first arose. Grace O’Malley, performed in the Chautauqua style by actress Karen Vuranch, will give a monologue of the exciting life of O’Malley.

Remaining dinner theaters for the spring season at Hawk Nest State Park include: The Legacy of Mary Ingles March 21;  Americana: Country Roots – Traditional Folk with John Lilly April 4; and An Elvis Tribute, April 17 and 18. 

An overnight package is $162 for two and includes accommodations, the dinner and theater, and breakfast. Dinner theater only is $45.50 per person. Reservations are required and available by phoning Hawks Nest State Park, 304-658-5212. Hawks Nest State Park is located in Ansted along US Route 60, also known as the Midland Trail.

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