What’s new in West Virginia State Parks and Forests 

Visitors will find it easy to remain connected to the world even as they enjoy a quiet getaway in the mountains with high-speed wireless Internet service at state lodges and resorts. “Wi-Fi availability has become a factor in destination selection,” said Ken Caplinger, Chief of West Virginia State Parks. “Our lodges and resorts are wired for service or partial service throughout the facility. Lodge-wide access at Cacapon, Pipestem and Tygart Lake state parks is expected by mid-summer of 2009 with approved funding.”

“That will bring our lodges into the 21^st century,” Caplinger said. 

Meanwhile, at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park in Pocahontas County, six antique steam locomotives are in service – a first in the park’s history. Also, two more lumber company houses have been restored, bringing the total of renovated houses to 22, up from 13 a few years ago. The town’s clubhouse, formerly owned by the Mower (pronounce the “o” as an “a”) Logging Company and used to house visiting dignitaries during its heyday in the 1940s and ’50s, is undergoing a $500,000 renovation that is expected to wrap up in July.

“We were fortunate to receive a 50-50 matching grant from the federal government through a program called Saving America’s Treasures,” Caplinger said. The clubhouse, also known as the Luke House, will serve as a stop on the town’s historical walking tour.

In Parkersburg on the scenic Ohio River, the state park system is in the procurement phase for a newly reconditioned, 149-passenger sternwheeler for Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park. The boat is expected to be in service for the park’s season opening on May 1.

Local funding has provided for the construction of a spacious picnic shelter at Tomlinson Run State Park in the Northern Panhandle. Overnight guests may choose to try out one of the park’s new camper cabins, which sleep five and have electricity and lights. Tomlinson Run also is the only park in the system to offer yurts – circular-shaped, walk-in tents built over a wooden frame. Yurts and camper cabins, which rent for about $35 to $50 a night, are ideal for the novice camper seeking a step up from tents. For a complete list of campgrounds in West Virginia's state parks, visit www.wvstateparks.com/lodging/camping.htm

“They’re a good deal and they’ve been well received,” Caplinger said. 

Tomlinson Run’s swimming pool, which closed last year for renovations, is expected to reopen between Memorial Day weekend and July 1.

Big changes also are in store for the youngest visitors: The state is spending about $1.7 million to replace playground equipment throughout the park system. The upgrades will result in safer and more modern equipment, Caplinger said. The new wooden systems are designed to blend in with their natural settings.

Bringing Fido along? West Virginia State Parks and Forests’ pet-friendly cabin and cottage rental, which began in 2006, has proven to be such a success that some parks have extended the number of pet-friendly rental units beyond the required minimum of 10 percent, Caplinger said. Pets are limited to dogs and cats, with a maximum of two per unit. Some additional fees apply. For more information about the pet policy, visit www.wvstateparks.com/petpolicy.htm.

Other improvements are underway or will begin soon. They include the construction of 13 rental cabins at Blackwater Falls State Park, construction of a recreational center at Chief Logan State Park, renovation of the bath house at Berkeley Springs State Park, renovation of the pool at Laurel Lake Wildlife Management Area, expansion of the lodge at Cacapon Resort State Park, an addition to the lodge at Twin Falls Resort State Park and additions to the activities buildings at Cedar Creek and Holly River state parks.

A large-scale project is taking place at Little Beaver State Park, a 562-acre day-use facility in Raleigh County. Park officials are laying out plans for a 75-site, full-hookup campground that is targeted to open in the later part of 2010.

“It’s going to be an absolutely spectacular campground,” Caplinger said. Accessible from Interstate 64 near Beckley, W.Va., “it should really appeal to campers visiting southern West Virginia by increasing campsites availability, and Little Beaver is not far off Interstate 64 at all.”

Officials are expecting an upswing in camping at all state parks and forests this year, Caplinger added. “Advance totals look strong this season.”

While camping was up by a couple of percentage points last year, cabin rentals and lodge rentals remained level, he said. Parks may be seeing smaller group arrivals, but individuals and family vacationers are still traveling.

“We think that they’re choosing West Virginia state parks because it’s closer to home and we’re close to a large population in the eastern United States,” he said. “The economic downturn, the gas prices certainly didn’t hurt us. In fact, they may have helped us a little bit.”

For more information or to make reservations at state parks or forests, call 1-800-CALL WVA or visit www.wvstateparks.com.

Tweet

Contact Information