ocrwvdev, Author at Opossum Creek Retreat

One Family’s Take on A Staycation at Opossum Creek

Recent guest Clinton Curtis wrote this blog post about his recent stay at Opossum Creek with his family.

My wife and I created a ritual this year – coinciding with the Chinese New Year we would escape to a secluded location in the mountains with our two daughters to reflect on our lives and plan for the year ahead. Theoretically, we could have done this at home, but to retreat from our daily routines and familiar surroundings added energy and excitement to the process.

We rented a cabin at Opossum Creek Retreat where the stars pierce the ink black sky at night and the only distractions are the wildlife and the gurgling stream.

To some, it may seem like a lot of effort to pack and drive to an offsite location for such an event, but many fortune 500 companies send their employees great distances for such ‘offsite’ meetings because of the unencumbered creativity that ensues. For us, however, the trip from our home to the woodland sanctuary of OCR is all of seven miles!

To describe this phenomenon we’ve borrowed the term ‘staycation’ from the 1970’s book Your Money or Your Life. Our staycation has been even better than expected. We have welcomed the Year of the Dragon in fine fashion, nestled in the tree branches of the eastern woods we love so much.

Our cabin exemplified simplicity and royalty simultaneously, and dipping into the hot tub in midwinter added an element of the mystical.

Our family found a wonderful harmony at OCR and a quiet ability to fulfill our goals. As I mentioned, we have created a ritual, and we plan to return to Opossum Creek Retreat in 2013 to bring in the Year of the Snake!

The Personal Touch – Meetings at Opossum Creek Retreat

Doug Arbogast is an adjunct faculty member of Bridgemont Community and Technical College and Principal of Travel Green Appalachia. He promotes authentic and sustainable travel experiences in Appalachia on his blog – www.travelgreenappalachia.com.

I was fortunate to be a participant in a working retreat at Opossum Creek Retreat last week. The retreat brought in faculty and staff from Bridgemont Community and Technical College in Montgomery, WV to refine and refocus their Sustainability Awareness Training curriculum.

In order to practice what we preach, we looked for a locally owned and operated venue suitable for a group of 10-20 to do some brainstorming for a few days. Geoff and Keith graciously offered to host our retreat and provide food for the group at a price comparable to the chain hotel options we considered.

Here’s why you too should consider Opossum Creek Retreat for your next corporate retreat:

First Class Service
Warm cookies awaiting us on arrival, attention to every detail, logo mugs and stickers, and a guided tour of the property show that they truly care about and appreciate each guest.
Craftsmanship
Hand crafted cabins from locally milled timber where each piece of wood, from the trim to the tables, has a story.
Ownership
I doubt you’d find the owners of any chain hotel awake before you are making your breakfast.
Buy Local
Leakage occurs when the dollars you spend leak out of the community. OCR is locally owned and operated. At OCR the dollars you spend trickle down to other community businesses they support like West Virginia Fruit and Berry Sparkling Cider, Happy Trails Café, Red Roof Farm Jam, and Blue Smoke Salsa.
Farm to Table
Get to know the chickens that laid the eggs you ate for breakfast.
One of Your Personal Chefs

According to the 350 Project:

*When you spend $100 in a national chain only $43 stays in the community. The rest leaks out to the national headquarters or suppliers which are located elsewhere.

*When you spend the same $100 in a locally owned, independent business $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures.

We ventured into downtown Fayetteville, WV and put more of our money into the community by enjoying some handcrafted pizza and local brews at Pies and Pints.

If you consider the impact of your business (or leisure) trips and not only the ability to accomplish the goals of your retreat but also the quality of the experience then I encourage you to seek out venues like OCR for your next retreat.

Check out the OCR Facebook page for testimonials from some of the retreat participants.

Oh, and did I mention what its like to sit in a hot tub in the cool winter air, under a clear night sky, filled with stars and void of light pollution after a full day of meetings?

ATTACK of the Wooly Adelgid! But never fear, the Cavalry is coming!

At Opossum Creek Retreat we are blessed with a location that allows us to provide maximum privacy and seclusion with a minimum of impact.

Part of the reason we can offer this is the Eastern Hemlock. This ever green tree, with its thick layers of low hanging branches, provides a visual break between the cabins.

We have been battling the wooly adelgid for many years, and not without some success. The wooly adelgid is a destructive pest that sucks the sap from Eastern Hemlock trees, causing them to die 4-10 years after infestation. We have won a few of the battles against this bug, but are losing the war because as civilians we do not have access to the good stuff.

(Cue dramatic music)

Today the Cavalry arrived in the form of THE WOOLY TEAM. We are participating in a pilot program being implemented through a joint effort between the US Forest Service, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, and in cooperation with the National Park Service and the West Virginia Division of Forestry.

By teaming up, these groups have been able to provide the expertise that is required to survey and assess the extent of the wooly invasion, the health of the trees, and how best to treat them. They also have access to the good stuff that the general public can’t get their hands on.

This is a cost sharing program. For us to hire the Wooly Team to come in and do the assessment would be cost prohibitive, let alone purchasing the chemicals used to treat the wooly adelgid. The early estimates look like it will cost several thousand dollars for our share; we are happy to pay it. We are sure this level of expertise exists in the private sector; from what we have seen we would not be able to afford to begin a project of this scale without our partners.

This is a quick video of what they do.

The Wooly Team will be back in the spring to treat the area. We will keep you informed on our progress.

Why 250,000 Boy Scouts are Coming to The New River Gorge And You Should Too (Just Not at the Same Time!)

The beauty of this area is all it takes to understand why the Boy Scouts of America chose to locate their newest camp here in the New River Gorge. Access to so many awesome outdoor activities is what makes it even more special.

The Summit Bechtel Reserve is the 4th High Adventure Base Camp for the Boy Scouts in the United States. The enormity ($400,000,000) of the project is incredible. The 10,000 acre camp is going to thrust the scouts into the future in a magnificent way.

And the reasons that the Scouts chose the New River Gorge as their camp location are the very same reasons this area is great for anyone who enjoys outdoor activities.

The New River Gorge National Park offers truly world class activities in a big way:

Whitewater
Rock climbing
Mountain Biking
Small Mouth Bass Fishing

Darn close to world class (you know I am going to get in trouble for this distinction):

Hiking
Camping
Hunting
Bridge Walk
ATV Trails
Zip Lines
Driving tours
Coal History
Waterfalls

Why not at the same time?

The Boy Scouts report that 50,000 scouts will visit every year in all seasons in small groups. We hope these scouts families will stick around after they drop the kids at High Adventure Camp.

But the big scout event here is the 2013 National Jamboree, which will draw 250,000 people to our area July 15-24 2013. Trust us, it will be crazy. We are excited and a little afraid of the unknown. This area does not play host to that many people all summer let alone in a two week period.

So what we’re trying to say is if you are not coming specifically for the Jamboree then you will want to pick another time to visit.

The Boy Scouts trust us enough to spend four hundred million dollars here.

Come see what the scouts already know.

An Often Missed Treasure: Kanawha Falls

Have you been whitewater rafting in West Virginia?

More than 100,000 people a year visit this area, seeking adventure to soothe their inner-adrenalin junkie or as a release from the daily grind.

As wild and chaotic as many sections of New River and Gauley River are, the place where they come together is much more comparable to a lake.

The Confluence
The New and the Gauley combine waters at Gauley Bridge to form the Kanawha River, and from here to the Ohio River the Kanawha is mostly flat, calm water.

Except, that is, about 1.2 miles below the confluence of these streams. Here the river drops more than 15 feet in one plunge. It’s an amazing display of water and bedrock. This is Kanawha Falls.

Location and Size
Perched right beside US route 60, which is now designated as a National Scenic Byway, this spectacle of nature is one of the easiest and most accessible pieces of scenic beauty in the area. With the advent of WV’s interstate system, many travelers to the Fayetteville area forgo the road less traveled and miss this and other areas of interest along route 60. But for those who take the time to travel the scenic route, this behemoth of a “waterfall” is a worthwhile reward. And depending on the amount of water going over it, the view may be very different each time.

Spanning the Kanawha River at well over 600 feet wide, this falls is accessible from both sides of the river and because of its size, the view you get from either side is very different. It is so large it is very hard to get the whole thing into a picture. But taking in its immense size and soothing resonance is a pleasure that you won’t soon forget.

Like to Fish?
This area is renowned by anglers for its incredible fishing opportunities; as such a large physical barrier prevents fish from going any further upstream. With a great variety of fish here there is no telling what may be on the end of your line as you reel it in.

History

There is plenty of history associated with this area also, from the multiple Indian tribes that used the Kanawha’s waterways to the first settlers that braved this rugged terrain, this area has seen its share of action. George Washington was responsible for the clearing of the Midland Trail for use as a travel way and a Civil War Union Army Camp known as Camp Reynolds was located across the river from what is now the Glen Ferris Inn .

The first white settler to this area was Reuben Van Bibbers, who was reported to have leapt from a rock on the south bank into the river to escape a group of angry Indians. Thank goodness his wife was good with a canoe as the area below the falls contains some strong current.

So whether you are a West Virginian who’s never been there or a visitor looking for a way to spend an afternoon, the Kanawha Falls areas is definitely one that shouldn’t be missed.

What does the river mean to you?

Being on, and around, a body of water has an interesting effect on people. For some, it becomes an extension of self. Our friend Ashley, a local and longtime boatman, shares his story.

It’s A Part of Me
The New River is as much a part of me as is my arm or leg.

I have been on, in, and around the New River for so long, that floating along on its current seems as natural and as effortless as breathing.

I grew up with the New River essentially in my back yard but never floated the waters until I was 18. I now have accumulated more years on the river in my life than not. It seems incomprehensible to try and imagine my life without it.

When I am on the New River in a boat, I know of no stress in my life that doesn’t become much smaller before the end of my trip. It’s like every wave I crash through serves to cleanse my soul. When I leave its shores I always promise it shall not be long ’till I visit again. I find the river captivating. I never grow tired of the experience.

Friendships
The New river has given me many things in life, including three of the dearest friends I have. I would never would have met them were it not for the river.

One of those friends passed away 2 years ago during a cold February. The first place I went to mourn was into the waters of the New River. It still helps me heal when I miss him.

He too wrote of the rivers bond and how it had impacted our lives so I know it’s not just me thinking this way. I don’t know if everyone that spends years traversing its waters feels the same way I do, but I imagine it holds a dear and special place in a great number of their hearts.

A Teacher
The New River is old and wise. I have learned to listen to it and it has taught me many things I now carry forward in life.

It has taught me:

Patience
Understanding
Humility
Above all else, respect

If you don’t respect a rivers power, it will let you know in no uncertain terms just how little control you have over it. It will show you that no matter how well you think you understand it, it still has a few things it hasn’t shown. It will show you exactly what you are seeking; you just may or may not see it right away.

It took me years of looking to uncover the tranquility I get from it now and I curiously wonder what it will teach me in the next 20 years.

What does the river mean to you?

West Virginia Ghost Towns

West Virginia is spotted with ghost towns, not of the haunted variety, but deserted.

Coal and timber boom towns along railways, river shores and forgotten timber roads have left fragmented structures that outlived the resources around which the towns sprung up. Boom and Bust are an understood part of the industries even today, some Appalachian communities continue on a slow death march toward ghost town status as timber companies and coal mine operations close or relocate. A look through ones Appalachian family history reveals names of towns that cannot be located on modern maps; we must dig deeper for clues to figure approximately where they once lay.

Thoughtfully exploring where people once busily lived their lives carrying out daily routines, now reclaimed by nature and her elements and forgotten by human recollection, ruins are truly exciting to come across while walking through the woods. Standing stone fireplaces and chimney stacks, moss covered limestone block foundations, long lines of coke ovens, or forgotten family cemeteries marked with indiscernible head stones are all exciting rediscoveries.

The climate here is not favorable to natural preservation as it is in the more arid western U.S. Luckily, we are located next The New River Gorge National Park, and we have a few ghost towns preserved to help tell the story of West Virginian history that has shaped Appalachian lives and culture to this day. The mine towns of Kaymoor and Thurmond are good examples. Both are just around the corner from Opossum Creek Retreat Cabin Rentals, and every bit worth the trip. In February 2011, Travel + Leisure Magazine listed Thurmond as one of Americas Coolest Ghost Towns.

Opossum Creek Retreat has an enchanting link to Thurmond that puts me in mind of Pinocchio. The story begins about 80 years ago with a couple of white pine saplings sprouting in Thurmond while it was still a booming town. No one can know the untold stories that took place under and around the evergreens through their many seasons, but they stood witness as the town prospered, diminished, and was ultimately preserved.

To gain safe access with the least environmental impact in the removal of a dilapidated search and rescue building, the trees were sacrificed but not wasted. Geoff and Keith took the trees home, milled, stacked and dried the lumber. After a patient and painstaking two-year process, the stately timber was transformed into handsome handcrafted tables to be set in The Meadows great room where stories will be shared and countless stories will be made.

Where have you rediscovered the remains of a ghost town?April 2011

Ramps: Have You Tried the Wild Leek?

By: Rachel Davis

From the moist, shady floors of Appalachian forests in late March and early April you can find a spring delicacy pushing through the fallen leaves with smooth, broad, light green leaves often with deep purple or burgundy tints on the lower stem, and a scallion-like stalk and bulb rooted tightly just beneath the soil surface. The white bulb, lower leaf stalks and the leaves are edible. These attractive wild leeks are known around here as ramps, or ramson.

The ramp (Allium tricoccum), is a wild onion native to North America. They can be found in the spring growing in their natural environment from South Carolina to Canada, and are popular in the cuisines of the rural South and Quebec. Ramps are a unique, acquired taste; the strong flavor and odor is best compared to a combination of onions and garlic.

Local ramson folklore can be traced back to early English immigrants of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Mountain folk believed feasting on ramps in the spring would ward off the ailments of winter, as Dad always said they “purify your blood.” I have also heard it said that ramps are good for the heart; may have anticancer qualities, and will cure what ails ya.

The mountain folk of Appalachia have long celebrated the arrival of spring with ramp feasts. Ramp festivals, feeds and dinners are widespread throughout Appalachian communities annually celebrating the arrival of spring with the pungent little plant. These days the local restaurants serve a variety of foods containing the wild leeks, and they can be purchased at local grocery stores, or from individuals selling their bounty along the rural roads.

Full blown festivals usually include a cook-off, ramp eating contest, heritage music, dancing, crafts, and a pageant. Locals sell their specialty foods featuring ramps such as jelly, salsa and seasonings. Local artisans display handmade ramson souvenirs, and humor focuses on the plants extreme pungency. No exaggeration, their scent seems to emanate from the pores of your skin for a couple of days after a hearty ramp meal.

Ramps add wonderful flavor to soups, egg dishes and casseroles, and can be enjoyed raw or cooked. Simply cut off the roots, scrub off any dirt, and rinse thoroughly. The green leaves usually have a milder flavor than the bulb. In central Appalachia a traditional ramp dinner includes freshly picked ramps, scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, bacon, ham, pinto beans, and cornbread. That’s a menu that will make any Mountaineer hungry!

Ramps are popping up in markets and restaurants from New York to San Diego, have you tried the little wild leek known as the “king of stink?”

The Robin Snow

Special Guest Post By: Rachel Davis

Around here crocuses and daffodils are among the first spring flowers to emerge and bloom. Neither is native to this land, but both were favorites of the Appalachian residents of long ago including my Grandmother who as a young woman planted them here in her yard. I am sure she watched them as eagerly as I do for the first indication of spring. After they have bloomed, I have learned to watch for the return of the Robins – but even then, winter is not quite finished in Appalachia.

As winter passes and the seasons change, I am reminded of a bit of weather folklore from generations past. Seasonal cold snaps, warm spells, and snow falls have names. The old-timers in the mountains had a number of named snows, including the Robin Snow, the Cabbage Snow, and the Easter Snow.

In the Appalachian Mountains and most of the northeastern U.S. the migrating American Robins return from their wintering grounds in vast flocks, eagerly hunting night crawlers and other favored foods. Robins return just before spring and are almost immediately followed by snowfall. The snow that falls after the first Robin’s song is the Robin Snow. This year the snow fell two days after the Robins’ return.

In the melting Robin Snow my brother Alan captured the image of this easily recognizable leucistic Robin that has returned to his yard year after year.

As for the crocuses and daffodils, being the first to bloom it is inevitable they will hold each of the spring snows. The delicate looking buds and petals are not as threatened by the snows icy touch as they appear. Although I witness it year after year, snow covered petals continue to be an extraordinary sight.

The sun light melts the snow and warms the earth, waking the pollinators who seek out nectar from the early blooming spring flowers; and to the delight of the Robins the night crawlers surface the saturated soils.

The early flowers have bloomed, the Robins have returned, the Robin Snow has fallen, and the long awaited spring season has finally arrived.

The next two snows to watch for in the Appalachian Mountains are the Cabbage Snow which signals the time to start cabbage seeds, and the wet and clinging Easter Snow which some folks refer to as the Fuzzy Snow.

What early signs of spring do you watch for in your neck of the woods?