For your family’s safety and ours we meet or exceed guidelines.
We have always received great reviews for cleanliness and will continue to make it our top priority.
You can feel safe in knowing we are tested regularly and no one has been positive.
You may go directly to your cabin so no need for in person contact.
That said we are here and happy to help, with masks on, if you should need anything.
Book a safe Cabin in The Woods for you family today. Give Anna a call 8884884836
We went to this cabin that was tucked in the woods with a fireplace and hot tub. It was awesome. We had family dinner for the first time in a long time. The cabin was next to the New River Gorge National Parks, and Mom actually went on a walk in the woods. When we got to the overlook, the views were incredible. In this little town called Fayetteville, we had really good food at these cool locally owned restaurants and saw some stuff about Civil War and coal mining history we did not know before. But mostly we hung out together. It was fun. Next time we are taking a fishing trip with a guide so Dad does not have to touch the fish. Mom wants to try rock climbing, and I am going to be tall enough to do the ziplines.
Opossum Creek Retreat LLC is located in South-central West Virginia next to The National Parks of Southern West Virginia, which includes the New River National River, The Gauley River National Recreation Area, The Bluestone National Scenic River beside Babcock State Park, Hawks Nest State Park and Pipestem State Park.
Adventures abound! World-class whitewater rafting, zipline and canopy tours, mountain bike trails, the Bridge Walk, rock climbing, fishing, 70 miles of hiking trails and antique shops in every small town. Driving tours that include 4 of the top 10 waterfalls in West Virginia, and countless others.
We are family owned and operated. I designed and built the cabins to fit snugly in the surrounding forest. We are happy to share our private and secluded piece of Almost Heaven with you.
Opossum Creek Retreat LLC
www.opossumcreek.com
www.youtube.com/user/opossumcreek
888.488.4836
Thank you,
Geoff Heeter
We are lucky to host WVU students every so often.
Dr. Ding has been bringing students here or having me speak to his class in Morgantown for about a decade.
The first time I went to WVU and spoke to Dr. Ding’s class, complete with a massive Power Point, I did not get a standing ovation. In my defense, it was early in the day, and they are mostly teenagers. I did get a lot of good questions and discussion, and The Ding asked if we could do it again. When I suggested bringing the students on a field trip to Opossum Creek Retreat for a firsthand look and conversation with an “ecotourism” business, The Good Dr. said, “Great idea, can you make us lunch?” (Oh, can we make lunch!)
I did not set out to be an “ecotourism” business. We did not know such a thing existed. We just did what we felt was the right thing: build a quality product, treat people fairly and be a good neighbor. And as it turns out, that is what ecotourism, in my opinion, boils down to.
I am sure that a year-long class at WVU requires a longer explanation, but for the day that they are here at OCR, that will be our triple-bottom line.
Making people happy feels good.
Weevils wobble, but they don’t fall down.
This little monster (black spot about ⅛ of an inch) is named the yellow poplar weevil, and he has leapt from obscurity onto the front page. They are changing our landscape before our eyes, even if it is only temporarily.
They say almost all the poplar trees will survive this year’s attack. In West Virginia, poplar trees make up a big chunk of the forest. There are more poplar trees (by mass) than any other type. So when they all turn brown, it is hard not to notice!
I have seen this to a much lesser extent before, but never really paid any attention.
Well, now I am paying attention, and find it amazing that one of these little weevils (and I only found one on this tree) can eat an off a lot of leaf.
Will we be missing the golden color the poplar trees to add to the fall pallet? As you can see, some of the damage is completely destroying the leaf, yet on others only the tips have curled.
What will remain when these little guys start to go dormant in July?
I do not know if they will just hang on, all brown and shriveled until fall, or if they will start dropping now. Either way, it will be odd to see this fall, and hopefully it is a one-off occurrence.
Relaxing in a hot tub is good for you.
Fresh air is good for you.
Eating well is good for you.
Taking a stroll is good for you.
A good night’s sleep is good for you.
Breaking the routine is good for you.
Cheap easy fun is good for you!
MLK getaway weekend: 3 nights in one of our Ossum cabins is good for you. Only $133 per night is good for your bank account. (3 night minimum.) Other packages are available, including in-cabin massages, meals and more.
Daydreaming is GOOD for you.
Dream guide:
Friday:
Leave work ASAP.
Hit one of Fayetteville’s amazing restaurants.
Pre-bed dip in the hot tub. (Long week, long drive, nice dinner; time to soak it all away.)
Don’t forget the Facebook selfie in hot tub.
Saturday:
Breakfast— late, of course! Yes, sleep in. You deserve it.
Stroll/ hike/ run to Long Point.
Instagram panorama from Long Point.
Did you bring a picnic?
Afternoon nap. (Fresh air makes your brain happy… and sleepy.)
Tonight, we are trying new food, and maybe a new drink from the bar. YUM!
Tweet happy thoughts to your fans.
Sunday:
No plan today. Relax.
Hot tub, fireplace, movie: ahhhh. Happy!
Monday:
Let’s not think about that yet.
Good for you!
Fill in the blank: I like cold _______.
Weather is my answer. The colder, the better. I go outside when it is cold. I hide in the AC when it is hot. Today was beautiful, cold and clear, and very, very quiet.
This is a Youtube video I made a few years back about telling the temperature by looking at the rhododendron leaves. Can you guess the temperature (within a degree or two) on each day?
The leaves were tighter today, but I forgot to take a picture. (That is a hint)
After a day of making sure pipes don’t freeze and thawing the one that did, a hot tub and cold beer are in order.
What is your favorite thing to do when the thermometer bottoms out?
New Year cats!
We have a pair, and we are willing to share.
Over the years, we have given homes to several strays that have found their way to OCR.
There is the cat Bear who now lives in Pennsylvania, another cute kitten now living in Florida, and a whole litter of puppies that showed up during the New River Birding and Nature Festival, and were an instant hit when they headed off to their new homes in every direction. And that’s just to name a few.
Then these 2 furry creatures appeared.
They were weak, fragile and friendly. I was soft, and the crew was very convincing. We took them to the vet and looked them up online, and discovered that they’re a very rare breed— the Korat.
These cats are given (never sold) as a traditional wedding gift for good luck in Thailand. They are now happy, healthy and strong, thanks to the help from the crew.
The sad part:
We now know that these cats are lovers. They crave human attention, much more than we can provide. Our pair are playful as puppies, ‘talkative,’ come when called, and love lots of affection. They need a home with a person or family that they can love on everyday.
What better way to start the new year than with new friends?
This is not a desperate act. We love the cats and will keep them. But if a home is out there, we are willing to give you our good luck charms.
Give me a call.
How to Bridge Day: Get here early to beat the crowds so you can eat!
Friday is Taste of Bridge Day. It is legendary, and for a good cause. You buy tickets, and these tickets get you sample-sized bites of all the local restaurants’ best stuff! There is a full bar, and our local brewery Bridge Brew Works shows off their stuff.
The venue is the campus of our friends at Adventures On The Gorge. They have a wonderful setting for this kind of event. You do want to get in early and try as many different types of dishes and you can, because the crowd favorites and the winners will run out before its over.
You will want to get back to your cabin at Opossum Creek Retreat at a reasonable hour to be well-rested for Bridge Day itself.
Yes, I am sure this is why you are planning to come all the way to Fayette County, West Virginia: to eat your way through the weekend. But hear me out.
Let’s start with the morning rush. Everyone loves pancakes, and funnel cakes are pancakes on steroids, really. I volunteer on Bridge Day, getting up before dawn to set up the Chamber’s tent and both… not because I am civic-minded, nope! I do it just so I can get behind the gates and get to one of these crazy concoctions bright and early. Plus, you get to eat them with your hands, and that makes everything better! Come to think of it, everything today is finger food!
Now it’s time to walk out on the bridge, and maybe cross the bridge and have lunch! Or second breakfast. Now it gets much harder to decide: turkey legs? Yes. Gyros? Yes. Massive hoagie with french fries? YES. Wait, prime rib sandwich or fajitas or BBQ? I need more days! Or help. It is really good to bring help so you can divide and conquer, each ordering something different and sharing tastes.
Okay, time for more walking back across the bridge, stopping to take part in the spectacle, enjoying the views and the people. Now, it’s time for a sweet snack. Kettle corn or hand-squeezed lemonade, maybe a carmel apple, or— you guessed it— funnel cake!
Once the festival closes, take the quick trek over to downtown Fayetteville, where the fun is just getting started. And by fun, I of course mean food! Sample the entires in the chili cook-off while you enjoy the live music.
Then take the long walk back to the car after pounding the pavement all day. You will be so glad you have a hot tub and a cozy cabin to recover in.
Day 3 is the best! Sleep in, take a driving tour into the gorge you were peering down on yesterday, maybe a hike out to long point or diamond point. And go find that full-size serving of your favorite taste from the Taste of Bridge Day and enjoy! You have earned it.
Good vacationing! Hope to see you again soon.
The fungus fairy is very busy this time of year here in The New River Gorge National River Area.
The grounds around Opossum Creek Retreat are rich with mushrooms. Big or small, I like them all— from dull, plain old toadstools to the dazzling, even other-worldly. Fungus and Mushrooms have always had the power to pique our imagination.
My kids used to make these into worlds filled with mystical creatures and magic.
I just like the color of this one.
Yep, coral. Just like in the ocean, only a fungus.
If you would like to spend some time strolling in the woods relaxing and letting your imagination run wild, we can help.
Check out some more great fungus shots on our facebook page.
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Give her a call at 888-488-4836 10-6 EST.
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