ocrwvdev, Author at Opossum Creek Retreat

It’s Valentine’s Day Which Makes it Couples Season

It’s couples season. For everyone. Which, naturally, means spring is near.

Bear with me, this will seem a bit of a stretch. Frankly, it is.

You see, the critters know that spring is near. Some of them, like the red shouldered hawk and the grey fox in my back yard are busy playing “the game”. The woods are teaming with amorous animals squawking, yelping, howling. You get the idea.

The sounds are music to my ears as it signals spring is not far.

Ever hear a foxes love song? It’s not really very pretty. In fact, it sounds a bit like James Brown is in my backyard. The foxes feel good. I knew that they would.

The Bald Eagles that now live along the New River are sitting on eggs as you read this. Brrr. That’s devotion.

When you look closely at nature, there are many signs (and sounds) which let us know that love is in the air. If you dig deep into the history of Valentine’s Day you’ll find a direct connection to the cycle of nature.

Consciously or not we humans follow the signs and seasons of nature. After all, we are animals too, right?

It’s Couples Season
It’s the perfect time for you and your mate to focus on each other. No distractions.

We can make this easy for you. We can help you decide if you need things to do like hiking or a massage. Maybe all you need is a do not disturb sign on the door.

Just pick your days and give us a call, 1.888.488.4836. It’s that easy.

West Virginia. It’s Nearby with Plenty of “Firsts”

Ever watch Jeopardy and something comes up that you can answer? If you’re like me, you jump out of the chair and shout the question. Hey, it’s rare. And my wife says I need to get some excercise.

Just in case West Virginia ever comes up on the show, we want you to be prepared. We also know some of you have yet to visit us. So we’d like for you to know a little bit more about our great state, as we are much more than home of The Dark Lord of Coal Country. We hope you will come visit (and bring your friends to dazzle with your Jeopardy skills).

Great things happen (and have happened) here.

West Virginia Can Claim:

Home to the first golf course in the US
The first mail route
The first major land battle of the Civil War
The Birthplace of Mother’s Day (Hi Mom!)
Highest home owner ship rates
Lowest crime rates
Lowest cost of living in the nation. (Cue Mr. Rogers theme song…. Won’t you Be My Neighbor?)

Take a minute and find a West Virginia-first that you think is great. Share it with us on our Fan Page and you just might win a free stay for your first trip.

Quick Geography Lesson
We are taking a wild guess that West Virginia is pretty near where you are sitting right now.

We share borders with Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Kentucky and Virginia. We are in the middle of lots of folks. You have us surrounded. My point is, if you live over there (I am pointing towards Ohio) and you know some one that lives over there (now pointing towards Virginia) it’s really easy to meet them here (yes, I am pointing at the ground).

It’s simple. You start driving. They start driving. You both end up at one of our cabin rentals in the woods.

Don’t worry we’ll give you directions, and maybe lunch. Maybe t-shirts too.

Any reservaton that has people from two states gets free lunch for everybody
Any reservation with people from 3 or more states gets free tshirts for everybody

We always like to know how folks decided to choose our cabin rentals. We often hear this answer: “We were looking at the map and WV was half way between us… ”

So look at the map and call a friend and plan your first trip to West Virginia.

How We Make Every Christmas “Green” In The New River Gorge

We each have great stories of the Holidays. Each is different and reminds us of time with friends and family. Here is one of my favorites.

Every Christmas my Dad would bring home a fresh-cut Christmas tree. One year in particular stands out…

Dad brought home a tree that was full and perfectly shaped. It filled the house with a fresh pine scent so pungent you could close your eyes and imagine yourself deep in the woods in the middle of a pine thicket.

It was a grand tree.

There was only one, shall we say, issue with the tree that year. It was about two feet taller than the height of the ceiling. I am all for creative problem solving. Especially when they make me laugh. For years.

Instead of shortening the tree at it’s base the top was trimmed to fit flush against the ceiling. I can still picture the tree, decorated and lit with a top that seemed to magically disappear. It looked like it went right through to the attic. It still comes up from time to time and we still laugh about it.

Here at Opossum Creek we have our own Christmas tree tradition.

During the holiday season each cabin will it’s own live tree with everything you need to decorate it. It’s just one of the ways we celebrate a green Christmas.

The trees are dug live and wrapped in burlap so we can plant them after the Holiday season. Next time you visit, you’ll notice the pine trees of various sizes. These trees were in one of our cabins, decorated with gifts under them..

Memories and stories are born around these trees as friends and family share this most joyous time of year.

What are your favorite Holiday stories?

The Summit Bechtel Family National Scouting Reserve

The Boy Scouts are on their way!

The Boy Scouts of America have made a HUGE investment in Fayette County, West Virginia but more importantly in their own future.

They have purchased more than 10,000 acres of the New River Gorge and are turning it into the next, best thing. 10,000 acres!

We (Fayette County and West Virginia) look forward to hosting the National Jamboree in 2013. And again, every 4 years after that. Each time, bringing 200,000 to 300,000 visitors to our area.

If that weren’t enough to be excited about, consider we could possibly play host to the World Jamboree in 2017. All of this, in addition to my favorite part, High Adventure Camp!

Every High Adventure Camp will bring kids from all around to experience all the “Wild and Wonderful” they can handle!

This is huge! Can you tell I am excited it?

Know what else is huge? The machines being used to move earth.

Check out this video showing the care being taken to offset some of the major earth moving required to get ready for a quarter of a million people.

We welcome The Boy Scouts to Fayette County and look forward to helping make this huge project a huge success.

P.S. My Grampa B would have loved this.

Fire Up Your Next Corporate Retreat

For tens of thousands of years mankind has been intrigued by fire. It has been used to heat, cook and forge metal. Also for some a place to meet and relax.

Relax
One of my favorite ways to kick-back, reflect and relax is to strike a match and light a campfire. This is when I like to open my box of nothing, er brain.

Meet
It wasn’t too long ago, we had the opportunity to host a unique corporate retreat here at Opossum Creek.

Every evening some of the group would strike a fire and gather ‘round. I overheard one say “what is it that attracts us to fire?”. Watching the guys around the fire, some talking and some just gazing at the embers is a scene played out around fire-rings all over.

It was noted that the time spent around the fire was often, more productive than any other time during the meeting. In fact, some business-altering decisions were made around that fire as they gathered in the evenings.

Bonds were formed and personalities were defined. This quote pretty much sums it up, “We arrived as a team and left as a family”

Opossum Creek Retreat offers an unusual form of corporate retreat. We are nestled in the middle of some of the country’s best outdoor activities and, in my opinion, the most beautiful scenery anywhere.

Next time you have a corporate meeting, ask yourself, “How much more could we accomplish around a campfire?”.

Slacking and Making Up Seasons

Slacking?

Well yes, we have been slacking. Thank you for noticing. It means you care.

You may have noticed that the “what is it contest” on the Facebook fan page has been absent of late. Guilty as charged. Others noticed our blog postings have slowed. Well, that we can explain. It became difficult to write as the prizes we meant to give away piled up. We’ll fix that.

Like the moon and the seasons, here at Opossum Creek Retreat, we tend to wax and wane too.

One of the things I like most about hospitality and living in a vacation destination like The New River Gorge National Park is this: There are seasons. Very distinct seasons. These seasons mean change. We like that.

Just as the seasons change, our guests change too. Right now, there are not as many folks visiting us as did in the summer and fall. Or even the winter. During the “shoulder season” it’s always interesting to watch the change in why you visit us. In fact, it leads us to start making up our own season. Sometimes, we even make up words to describe our made-up seasons.

Need an example? We’ve entered the “Just looking for a relaxing getaway at a nice quiet cabin” season. It’s one of our favorites.

Not too long ago, we were knee-deep in “fall color tour, hike and raft the Gauley River” season.

Before that? “Hang out with friends and do stuff then grill” season. That right there, is good fun (and good food).

Need a reason to visit? Make up your own season and celebrate. Post it on our fan page and you just might win something. After all, we need to get rid of a few prizes, so we can get back to writing.

Well? What’s your made-up season?

Why Fall Is My Favorite Time In The New River Gorge

For as long as I can remember, the end of summer has been bitter-sweet.

On one hand, it meant the end of long days, vacations, sleeping-in and staying up late. That was the life!

On the other, it signaled the beginning of frosty mornings, turning leaves, blue-bird skies and my favorite pastime of all. Hunting.

There is something magical about the woods in the fall. The intense coloring of leaves brought on by shorter days and cool nights. The smells. It all keeps me returning to the woods time and time again.

Since I was a boy, I have tagged along on my Dad’s hunting and fishing trips. Every trip to the woods serves as a reminder of the things he has taught me and time spent together exploring. Dad doesn’t get to the woods anymore, but he’s always there with me in spirit.

For the past 18 years I have made the New River Gorge area my home. I have been exploring its woods from day one. In that time, I’ve barely scratched the surface of all there is to see. While it would take another lifetime to see all she has to offer, I intend to keep trying to see all I can.

Whether hunting & fishing, hiking a historic trail or biking along an old rail-grade, fall is my favorite time to play in the New River Gorge.

6 miles with 6 kids and 3 photos. A fall hike in WV

The Cowpasture Trail at Cranberry Wilderness is just over 6 miles long. Mostly flat, gentle slopes and a wide, variety of terrain and plenty to explore.

Not too long ago, we loaded up and headed over to hike with a rag-tag group of kids.

6 miles. 6 kids. 3 photos. This, is the story.

Too often the simple fact of being unsure if you are prepared will prevent stepping outside and having an adventure.

Usually the hardest part is just (sorry Nike) “doing it”. Get up, throw the kids in the car, some water, some granola bars and roll. Yes, it can be that easy.

Warm colors of fall in the Cranberry Wilderness

Sometimes, it may be difficult to pry kids away from the Xbox, DS, or TV. The persistence in pushing them out the door is worth it. The adventure to be had on the trail is one that creates awareness of surroundings, and memories of time with friends and family.

On our way up, the fall colors were at their peak at Cranberry. Bright oranges, reds, yellow and muted brown. The colors there are about a week ahead of ours here in the New River Gorge.

It made for a beautiful drive.

The real story of the day was watching the kids experience new things. Unexpected wonders of fall from the deep rich colors, to the smells encountered just walking through the woods.

From pine thicket to bog there was something new around every corner.

Milkweed pods? Check. Opening them to send the tiny seeds afloat with childhood wishes attached. They also make great projectiles for throwing at your sister (as my son demonstrated!).

The point is this: You do not need to plan an extensive backcountry trip to get out and have fun. Throw on your tennis shoes, grab some water and let your kids show you what they discover.

4 Things You May Not Know About the Gauley River

The Gauley River. We love it. We know many of you do too.

If you have rafted the Gauley River, there are many things you do know. It’s big, it’s fun…frankly, it’s the “awesomesauce” (as the kids might say).

With all that you likely do know about the Gauley River. I thought it might be cool to share a few things, you might not know.

Four Things You Might Not Know About the Gauley River

Headwaters

The Gauley begins in the Monongahela National Forest as three streams. The North, Middle and South fork.

Headed to ‘Nawlins

It meets the New River at the Town of Gauley Bridge. Together they form the Kanawha River comprising part of the Mississippi Watershed.

We’re Glad it’s Not the Gad Dam

When the Summersville Dam was created a small, abandoned town was flooded. Thankfully the Army Corp of Engineers broke the tradition of naming the dam after towns flooded in the process. The name of the town? Gad.

Civil War History

The Gauley area was the site of the Battle of Carnifex Ferry on September 10, 1861, a Union victory in the American Civil War.

The attraction of the “Big Five” of the Gauley River is indeed exciting but imagine what it would have looked like as the confederate troops crossed the river near Woods’ Ferry after being defeated during the battle of Carnifex. If you’re rushing here to run the Gauley and heading for home as soon as you’re done, you’re missing out!

While the Gauley River offers some of the finest, most challenging whitewater rafting anywhere, this area offers so much more. The Gauley River, more than just whitewater.