I love the sound of my own voice. You will love the value of this offer.
Everyone loves free food! We love to share our groovy little town of Fayetteville, West Virginia, and its great eateries.
So enjoy free lunch this holiday weekend when you stay in the cabins with our already great winter rates. To be honest, the weather this time of year can be like Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde: grey, and trying to change from rain to snow or warm, clear and blue. Either way, it makes for great cabining.
If its yucky outside, the fireplace and hot tub are calling you. If its warm and sunny, the trails are waiting to show you amazing vistas and glimpses of our past.
Both are great ways to get ready for an nice free lunch and a nap! That is a blueprint for a day of cabining.
If you are really lucky, it will be snowing lightly when you arrive, covering the area in a blanket of white overnight. You can choose to stay snuggled down in the cabin, “snowed in” for the weekend.
Give us a call (1-888-488-4836), and we guarantee you a wonderful weekend of cabining— complete with a fresh local lunch.
While we are often the butt of jokes and on the wrong end of every poll or survey, there is a balance. Nature loves the balancing act.
My home and business are in The New River Gorge area of West Virginia, so spectacular in so many ways that we the people of the USA made it part of our National Park System.
People come from all over the world to enjoy this area of almost heaven. They come to raft and kayak the New and Gauley Rivers. People move here so they can spend all their free time scaling the Endless Walls of the gorge. Others come because they feel the magic in the air that is made palpable by generations of adventurers that have made Fayette County home.
The Boy Scouts of America could feel it, too. And they showed up in a huge way. The Bechtel Summit Family Reserve just played host to its first National Jamboree. With an investment of almost half a BILLION US dollars (???WTF????) you know they are seriously in luv with WV. So head over heals have they fallen for Almost Heaven, they have tagged their commitment the future of scouting and their home for the next hundred years.
Yes, WV has issues. We know you do, too. Yet we are too kind, good and smart to feel the need to point the finger at your sore spots. We know the pain it causes, undue and unjust many times. Others we deserve, and own.
I luv WV’s wacky weather
I luv that my wife can grow an Ossum vegetable Garden and keep greens growing all year round under a cold frame. I luv that I hunt in my own back woods and fish on truly world-class waters. I luv the wacky weather we get in all four seasons, sometimes all in one day. I luv the eclectic mix of people.
I luv the waves of birds migrating to live here. They have flown for thousands of miles, seen everything in between, and they choose to make their home and raise their young here, year after year. Hmm, just like us.
This is just the stuff in arms’ reach of Opossum Creek Retreat. Maybe I should do another story about the wild and wonderful things in our neighboring counties, too? There are many. What are you favorites?
West Virginia is my home, and I am happy to say so.
Shutdown be damned! Bridge day is really happening anyway.
BASE Jumping is still on for Bridge Day, despite Government Shutdown.
It’s Official. “We will have Bridge Day even if the government is shut down,” said Sharon Cruikshank of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce.
Yes, it will be a little different, but who will notice? My guess is no one. All the security and traffic control supplied by the State Highway Patrol will be in place, and everything is going to run smooth as silk.
Will we see fewer park Rangers? They are designated as essential, so they will be there.
The crew from New River Jetboats will be leading the team picking the jumpers out of the river— one of my favorite parts. The Ossum food vendors will be there.
We will be there, and we hope you will be here, too.
Everything except the world-famous Visitor Centers are open now. This park does not have a gate, so we are free to enjoy our lands, and the weather has been beyond perfect for fall fun.
The BSA Summit is very “Disney-esque.” Very well organized; everyone knows what to do when. Amazing design, wonderfully constructed with attention to detail.
Yes, they are still studying mud.
I heard not one complaint about the mud. But there is lots of it.
But the Tree House is perfect. What an amazing piece of work! Every school kid in Fayette County needs to spend the day in it. Or better yet, every school kid in the region. Heck, the country. This is a truly world-class learning environment.
The Summit’s Tree House
I would like a tour just to tell me about the bridge. The giant swinging bridge. Whoever thought this up was tripping for sure, and wow, is it OSSUM!
There are not many straight lines, and that is really cool. Even when they could go in a straight line, they did not, and man does it pay off in the overall feel of the place.
Could they do things better? Like have a lot more trash cans? And with every trash can a recycling bin? This is a big disconnect from the message that is so perfectly delivered in the Tree House.
Of course, “It will be better next time.”
But we saw so many happy faces, you had to smile along with them. From the fat old white guys in their scout outfits huffing up the hills talking about the wonders their troops had seen and experienced, to the solo young lady in her Venturer’s uniform from some foreign land studying every detail of the Tree House exhibit. I imagine her taking the idea back to her homeland and building something like it.
Geoff and his favorite part of the Summit!
The happy young locals laughed with the Scouts as they sold ice cream and lemonade from under little umbrellas, feeling the weight of the cash in their pockets and the newfound understanding that the Scouts are a lot like us.
Yes, business was slow for us, and all the other businesses I have talked to. Maybe that will change for the next one. Maybe we will see residual positive business from this long-term.
The most fantastic part, one way or another, no matter how distant or disjointed the connection between you and our visitors to the Summit is, this event changed people’s lives, because they came here to our WV.
The BSA Jamboree is underway here in the mountains of West Virginia. There have been NO traffic hassles for the locals on the main roads. Way to go BSA. They did close that stupid exit at Glen Jean onto and off of 19. Should never have been built in the first place. Very dangerous spot.
We have had two groups of scouts plus Americorp volunteers there this week to help us out, and have been kicking butt.
We have three modules for the Boy Scout’s service projects: carpentry (that’s us), building board walks and Blue Bird Boxes; invasive plant removal (they seem to like this a lot, maybe because their fearless leaders make it so fun); and trail building, which I have not seen yet but hear is ‘O’ so nice!
No, really, it is hard to make a party any better than starting with costumes and dressing up. It’s like Halloween in June.
But there are a few things that really made this day in one of America’s “Coolest Small Towns” even better.
Start with a town full of happy people. (Back in the day I could have used the word “gay” in place of happy, but it has been taken over to mean other things.)
Add: puppies!
So many Sock Monkeys!
Add: a WWII Biplane. A giant Sock Monkey and some dude in a tux.
Add: lots of kids, Kids are shameless when it comes to putting on a costume. When do we lose that?
Add: a skydiver.
Add: a film crew. You are going to want to share the fantastic images later.
Add: perfect weather.
Add: some bikes, trikes, roller blades,longboards, and anything else that moves
Add: more Sock Monkeys.
Next, have everyone run around a lot, laughing, smiling, screaming, and yelling. Then…
Dance! Dance in the streets while the police block traffic for you! You will have to watch the video for this part.
What a great way to spend the afternoon. It reminds me what a lucky bunch we are. Humans, that is.
They had me at food vendors. Plus sampler-size versions of most of the activities, lots of logo gear, a concert Saturday and a huge fireworks show!
Ziplining will be one of the activities visitors can try during the Jamboree.
Besides, my Grampa B was a big-time scouter, and my Uncle Scott is an Eagle Scout. I think they would like it if I went. I was a scout, too, but I do not still fit in my uniform.
Just so you know, the Boy Scouts of America had to win me over to try again. I was really uninspired after the drive through that I tortured the family with a few weeks back.
The Summit let a bunch (1,200 cars) drive through for a tour. The line stretched forever— bumper to bumper traffic. It took us 4 hours to drive through. There was virtually no explanation of what you were looking at. What you could see was not finished, and, frankly, the place looked like a bomb site. My cousin Katie said, “Are they studying Mud?”
Don’t get me wrong. I have been cheerleading for this from the start.
I am sure it will look very different in a few days when they open the gates on the 2013 National Jamboree. I know how things tend to come together at the last minute, having had that phenomenon play out with every cabin we built. Deadlines work.
That said, I really want to see how it will be different on game day. What we learned after the first tour is much of the “under construction” stuff is not scheduled to be ready for this Jamboree. I am sure they got more grass to sprout and cover up the mud.
I am betting that the pain of the last trip has been forgotten by my teenage son, and I can dupe him into making a day of it, and even talk a couple of his buddies into joining us. My wife will not be swayed, and our daughter is out of town at camp. The boys and I will sample as much stuff as they will let us, eat “fair food,” and maybe stay for the concert and fireworks. That sounds like a great day.
We are definitely thrilled about one aspect of the Jamboree: the scouts will be doing “the largest service project ever undertaken” while they are here. Service work is good stuff. We do it, and we love the idea that a lot of good work will be done through the service projects. Wolf Creek Park will get some love from a few troops. We actually helped develop the programing by volunteering ourselves, and will be there again when they show up to cut trail and build boardwalk.
We have been invested in this event from the beginning and are cheering and helping to make it a success.
I will be there with bells on as a volunteer and a visitor. From these viewpoints, I will see firsthand how OSSUM it is, and fill you in.
Geoff’s got guide experience in fishing, rafting and other adventures.
Okay, the whole world is stretching it, but a big chunk of the Western Hemisphere is accurate.
From Montana’s ice cold waters and rugged back country, to the Grand Canyon, to the southernmost reaches of South America on rivers dammed long ago, to that narrow waist of Central America. Yes, raft guiding was very good to me. There was some fly fishing guiding, and there were some pack trips on horseback that took me to places I am sure no one has ever set foot. Keith and his family have led trips to the high plateaus of Peru building schools.
And we choose to make The New River Gorge our home.
Now, we don’t guide anymore, but we know the area well, and we do love to share our knowledge. Take advantage of our free info and ask us some questions! All guides love the sound of their own voice.
We have some fun and informative videos on Youtube that will really help you plan your vacation. Tours of town, trails and restaurants, to name a few.
We also show how to tell temperature based on rhododendron leaves, if you like that kind of thing.
If you visit our website, you will see full-day itineraries for almost every situation.
Let’s just say you want help with some questions about certain activities or the best time of year to come bird watching or to Girls Club. Okay, maybe we are not Girls Club experts, but… well, yes we are. At least the planning part.
We don’t do things that way. It’s just that we are halfway through the year. Sweet and sad at the same time.
It’s no wonder the Boy Scouts chose to set up here. Beautiful, wild and wonderful!
For the next few months, we are jamming! And for good reason: it is Ossum here in the summer.
If you have not made a summer trip to the New River Gorge, we still have a few holes in the calendar.
If you don’t like what we have to offer, you need your pulse checked. This area is rich with excitement and relaxing options side by side that you can’t normally find all in one place.
Our variety is so great, The Boy Scouts of America “bet it all” on Fayette County and the New River Gorge. If you have not heard, BSA has made us their new home for “the next 100 years,” Former Gov. and current US Sen. Joe Manchin was quoted as saying, “This will be a billion-dollar project.” The BSA has said they are going to spend $400,000,000.00 (That is so cool, typing all those zeros).
The contractors I have talked to have say we have been tasked with building “best in class” on every project. That means best bike trail in the world, best shooting sports venue in the world! We already have best rafting and climbing.
Whatever they are building has to be the very best, and this is thrilling, especially if they allow the public to use these fantastic facilities when the Jamboree is not in town.
2013 is the first run for the National Jamboree here in Fayette County, WV, on the Bechtel Summit, and The Scouts will be here in numbers too big to ignore in a few weeks.
No one knows what the Jamboree will mean to our area or Opossum Creek Retreat as a business. We hope it will be a big positive.
They punched the ticket; now all we can do is take the ride. Hope it’s best in class.
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