Last summer was an unusually wet one for the our little group of vacation rental cabins in the New River Gorge. I can remember when Paul Shaw (an Opossum Creek Retreat family member) and I spotted the giant gilled mushroom growing from the side of the tree in front of the Over the Hill cabin. […]
Are You Prejudiced Against Trees?
The New River Gorge (our backyard) is filled with trees. So what’s one more? What follows is the story of our Royal Paulownia Tree, AKA the Princess Tree, and its life at Opossum Creek Retreat… It’s weird to think that, if you packed your china in some seed pods to protect them (the original packing […]
Beat The Heat
Baby, it’s hot out there! I’m talking about the New River Gorge in West Virginia. Y’know, the big backyard for our cabin rentals. I remember when I made the move here in 1992 from Central Florida. My dad and I rented the box truck, loaded it and made the trip. It was July and it […]
The Fastest Zipline Ever (Almost)
As a rental cabin owner guy, you get certain perks. This is a post about one of them. Burning Rock Outdoor Adventure Park had invited The Opossum Creek Retreat Adventure Team ™ (that’s us) to test drive their Brand New Dual racing Zip line. Having been a stranger in a strange land, I know it […]
The Secret To Hiking With Kids
Hiking with kids in and around the New River Gorge of West Virginia is all about going nowhere fast… I am a mountain of patience. I am mountain of patience. I am a mountain of patience. Aaand breathe. That’s how I recommend starting each hike with kids. You can try starting each day that way, […]
How To Have The Best 4th Of July Of Your Life: Follow These 5 Tips
The New River Gorge is surrounded by small towns, and it’s perfect for the 4th of July. I came from a much bigger place, but a lot of the traditions are the same. Back in the day I can remember weaving red, white and blue crape paper through the spokes of my bicycle. A couple […]
Why River Guides Are Awesome A Former New River Raft Guide Speaks
My first spring here in West Virginia, I was training to be a whitewater raft guide in the New River Gorge. In March. Right. It was cold. Unbelievably cold. A lot of our initial trips found us on the icy river with snow still on the banks and freezing air. I wondered to myself if […]
Building The Perfect Cabin: A Love Story
For some reason, when you say “Cabin”, lots of people still think of the hunting camp. They imagine a stereotype of a cabin. You know, a moldy, dirty shack. Out house only. We still get people asking if we have running water. Even after they’ve seen our brochure or website. I don’t get it. That […]
5 Activities You Shouldn’t Miss With Your Kids In The New River Gorge
My daughter and I grew up together, here in the New River Gorge. We have been exploring it since she was just a tot. We hunt, fish, hike, pretty much anything outdoors. Alex is in College now, but we still get out when we can (I’m looking forward to some time together this summer). Any […]
