Pack up your RV and head to this week’s Travel Tuesday featured destination to celebrate West Virginia Day! Pipestem Resort State Park located in southern West Virginia provides the perfect getaway for you and your family this summer! With great amenities, endless activities, and stunning local attractions, you’ll never be bored!
About Pipestem
Pipestem Resort State Park was created under John F. Kennedy’s Area Redevelopment Administration and is considered an official state park. Because the park is 4,050 acres, there is a large amount of explorable scenery and nature that surround the developed area. Set in the gorge of the Bluestone River, this park offers an experience unlike any other.
The site features a total of 82 sites which include 31 sites with full hookup and 19 withe electric only. They even offer a dump station, water and clean bathhouses. At the entrance, you can find the office and a camp store with a friendly staff. The park itself, however is very nature centered and tends to highlight that in every way possible. There is a nature center on site where you can experience what the native flora and fauna are like in the area.
The campground is a beautiful, relaxing area to escape from the daily, busy life and have an experience in a new setting. The varying landscape allows the diverse scenes of wildlife with a new sight around every corner. From mountains and valleys to rivers and gorges, there is no better place to visit for West Virginia Day or any other occasion!
Activities at the Park
One thing that sets Pipestem Resort State Park aside from the rest is their ability to cater to everyone. No matter what you are interested in, there is sure to be an activity for you to participate in on the grounds. The games and events going on are endless and the staff that organizes the activities is very precise with releasing detailed schedules of the planned everts for that week on line, so we suggest planning your trip around a time when you can take advantage of the fun activities going on right at the park!
If you want the view of a lifetime, we suggest taking a ride on Pipestem’s iconic aerial tramway. Ride in a car at 3,600 feet and travel through the mountains and valleys of that area. The ride is six minutes long and is open all summer! Amp up your vacation experience with a tramway cable car ride!
Not only is Pipestem a great to learn about the history of the area, but is is always a great place to go if you are looking to find a cultural experience. The amphitheater is a beautiful venue that is now used for concerts and theater groups that will take place in the town.
If you are looking to stay active while on your RV vacation, we suggest picking up your bike and following along on the endless bike trails Pipestem has to offer on site. But if you don’t have room to squeeze your bike in with you on the trip, (because let’s face it: packing an RV isn’t an easy task) there’s no need to worry! Pipestem offers direct bike rentals that every guest is welcome to take advantage of. With the widespread landscape and variety of trails to choose from, you will have a great time out riding, no matter what experience you have.
During the summer and spring months, one of everyone’s favorite things to hear is the birds chirping. What better way to relax on your vacation than to go bird watching! West Virginia is known for the wide variety of birds they have and the campground even offers bird walks and an informational program video. Whether you’re looking to see an eagle or just enjoy the sounds, the campground gives every bird-lover exactly what they want!
With the amazing views that you can find in Pipestem, you’ll want to take the short hike up to Bolar Lookout Tower! Named after the 6th superintendent of Pipestem, this tower is only a short distance from the entrance of the park and has become one of the focal points. After hiking the steep, quarter mile trail up to the top, you will have access to a picturesque landscape. At 3,000 feet up there isn’t a better view of the park.
Kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, peddle boating and swimming are all offered on the grounds and provide a great way for all guests to enjoy the water. There is even fishing available in certain areas of the park. Anyone can rent canoes and kayaks to enjoy the natural waters and guests can have access to any of the multiple pools you can find around the park. The recreation Center has an Olympic style pool with a diving well that is open on weekends and can be booked for private parties on weeknights. The park also contains a resort style pool that is heated and is open on the weekdays. At McKeever Lodge, also in the indoor pool facility, all the guests can find access to a beautiful fitness room and sauna.
No matter what type of golf you like to play, Pipestem has the answer for you! Not only to they offer beautiful, traditional greens, but the site also has other types of golf available as well. The disc golf course is located in the wooded heart of the park. This Par 62 course ranges in difficulty and allows a fun time for every dic golfer! If you forgot the disc, the park pro shop has them available for sale and rent. If you’re more unconventional, the park offers the ability to play fling golf on the traditional golf course they have on the grounds. It is offered at both the short course and championship course and costs the same as traditional golfing, and the fling stick is even included! And for those who love soccer, foot golf is the way to go! This combination of golf and soccer is a fun activity for any family wanting to stay active and have a good time! The 3 Par golf course used for this activity is open after 4pm and offers rentals that include the traditional uniform.
If you’re looking for somewhere to relax and an escape from the sun, there is a gazebo and arbor next to the administration building lawn area. This area is perfect for anything from a picnic to a special occasion. The scenery is beautiful and, with ample parking, everyone is able to enjoy it!
Pipestem Resort also offers a variety of horseback rides and trails. You can choose a tour that lasts anywhere from half an hour to overnight. On the overnight trips, your horse stays in a stable while you have the opportunity to stay in a 19th century cabin and are treated to dinner and breakfast. If horseback riding doesn’t interest you, they also have hayrides that groups can take.
Known for its emphasis on local nature, this park has a Nature Center that is open year round and features displays of a variety of West Virginian wild life. The center also offers programs that can introduce guests to the history of local species and the trails and paths around the park.
One of the most unique parts of this park is their RC race tracks. They have both a dirt track and paved NASCAR style track. The tracks are near the Recreation Center and are open year round. These provide a fun family activity for anyone who loves cars and is looking to have a race of their own!
Because many of these activities require an additional fee, Pipestem has made it easier on all of their residents by adding a Resort Activity Pass (RAP). When you purchase this, you have access to any activity you want to do 8 extra activities on the grounds for one price!
Activities in Area
Nearby, you can find state parks, attractions and activities that are all just a short drive away from the campground. Explore West Virginia on your own, away from the park and have the chance to experience the scenery that so many love!
Bluestone State Park is just a short drive away and offers guests activities from fishing to sports games. With the lake at the park, there are many water activities that are offered which makes this park the perfect place to go on any summer day excursion! Relax lakeside or poolside and launch your lake trip from the marina! During the summer, you can also take guided hikes through the wooded part of the hiking trails.
There is also a Bluestone Wildlife Management Area where you can participate in a variety of outdoor recreational activities and enjoy a peaceful getaway. Here, hunting and fishing are great activities and are currently not in season. You can also ride horses here and keep them in the stable on the grounds.
If you’re looking for a hike outside of the park that will give you one of the best views in all of West Virginia, we suggest taking a trip to Brush Creek Falls. This site is know for its picturesque waterfall and incredible surrounding scenery. However, this falls has a unique part of the history of West Virginia intertwined with it! The area’s purpose varied from grist and woolen mills in the late 1800’s to a logging camp and route in the 1900’s. It was a place that helped build what West Virginia is today.
If you are an advanced hiker or are looking for a challenge, try out the Camp Creek State Park. 35 miles of trails span across 6,000 acres of land to provide for a unique experience on each trail. Some of the trails are even accessible by horseback. There are also beautiful rock falls here and plenty of areas to go hunting or fishing. Picnic areas are scattered throughout the park and offer a great place to relax and enjoy a meal in nature.
With such a variety of great activities on and off the grounds, there is no better place to celebrate West Virginia Day than here at Pipestem Resort State Park!
Photos courtesy of Pipestem Resort State Park and Pipestem Resort State Park Facebook
