rental cabins Archives - Opossum Creek Retreat

Speed Puddles

Puddles. I hope this is my nickname in my old age.

I was talking to a guest and he was going on about what a great area the Gorge is, how much he liked the cabins, how private and peaceful it was, and how great restaurants in Fayetteville were. And then he asked, “Why don’t you fix the road?”

I knew immediately what he was talking about. You see, we have a long driveway, not really a road so much. It’s not a great road. It is really not even a great driveway.

I would like to see a strip of grass down the middle making it more of a two-track from my childhood, but… fix it? No WAY! Those puddles are staying!

Cities and fancy resorts and gated communities— these kinds of places have speed bumps. We have Speed PUDDLES! Yep, speed puddles. Some call them chuck holes or potholes or any number of endearing terms, but to us, they are speed puddles.

This one had a life of it’s own so we had to fill it in.

The straight away has lots of speed puddles to remind you to relax.

You see it is a one-lane gravel driveway, not a road. And if you are going too fast, you will miss something you don’t want to miss. I mean, you do want to miss the puddles, and you can work around them if you slow down enough. And you don’t want to miss all the cool things we have seen on the driveway.

Slow down, look around and relax. The mud will wash off.

Besides, they are a good weather gauge: if the puddles are dry we need rain. They have not been dry too much this year.

Come check out our speed puddles and slow down a little. You will like it.

We’ve Got That Old-Fashioned 4th Pride

Back in the day, 4th of July was a stay-at-home holiday. Most families did not travel. That’s why we think of the hometown, American-feel Main Street parade when we think of July 4th. All those cliches are true, and give us a warm and fuzzy feeling about our nation’s birthday celebration.

Celebrate America and the values of the good old days

As well they should!

Today, our summer vacation schedule is compressed into 6 weeks: Mid-June to the end of July. That’s down from Memorial Day to Labor Day in the good old days, when there was a good solid 12 weeks of Summer.

There are lots of reasons why the summer has been smooshed, but let’s save that for another time and just say that if you still want that hometown feel while you’re traveling over the July 4th holiday…

We have all that in Fayetteville, WV.

Bring Grama and the kids and do some recreation, some relaxing and some cabining.

We have all that at Opossum Creek.

Hitting the Halfway Point

Halfway.

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.

In a Valentine’s Day Panic? Opossum Creek to the Rescue!

Don’t worry, we do Valentine’s Day everyday, all year long.

I really I could read some of the comments in the guest books to you, but I get choked up.

Vday always seems to create a lot of pressure on all sides of the holiday. Who says you have to be at the top of your game on this certain day of the year just so they can sell some flowers and chocolates?

Forget about it! We can rock your romantic world any day of the year.

Relax in your cabin’s hot tub with your sweetheart.

The Cabins are clean and cozy and tucked in the woods. It’s a beautiful romantic drive just to get here no matter where you are coming from.

We have an unbelievably great selection of restaurants, or you can cook in the cabin or on the grill.

Watch a movie, read a book.

Soak in the hot tub.

Go for a walk, hand-in-hand or even get a massage in your cabin from our super star massage therapist.

Yes, we do any and all of this everyday, and we are really good at it too.

So relax: you can make up for Vday any time, any day here at OCR.

Countdown To … Nothing?

Stop the presses! The world will end on Dec. 21. We’re not taking reservations after the Mayan calendar expires in 17 days.

How are you spending your final 17? Wouldn’t it be quaint to spend the last few days of time as we know it holed up with your loved ones, cherishing each other and the natural beauty surrounding you? We’re all warm and fuzzy just thinking about it. In fact, it would be a downright shame if you weren’t able to visit us before the end of time.

That’s why we’re giving you a little help: $5 off for every night left on the Mayan calendar. Thank you for a great run, and be well in the time and space beyond the end of time!

To be honest, we’re not really sure what the physics of time after time will be. Maybe we’ll see (or otherwise perceive) you there? But we’re crossing our fingers you visit beforehand, just to be safe. Until then, enjoy the holiday season!

Breakin’ the Rules!

Yes, we are rule breakers. School does not teach us this skill but we entrepreneurs can’t help it. We are made that way.

And you can be too.

Everyone has rules. I don’t know why but we do. My job has always been to bend or break them. Just ask my parents.

Opossum Creek Retreat has rules just like everyone else. The big difference between us and them is that we are happy to break the rules for you. Well, except the no smoking in the cabin rule. That one is not negotiable.

I got a very nice note from a future guest about how she had spent 4 hours on our website (OMG! 4 hours! Are you okay? Did you stop for water?), her whole trip was planned when she saw THE RULE about minimum stay. Crushed, she sent a note explaining her situation. As it turns out we have room to make a shorter stay work for she and her lucky husband. He will be so surprised!

We are very fortunate to have a job that allows us to make people happy everyday. Even if that means we have to break a few rules along the way.

So get some really good rule breaking tips. Then get out there and break some rules! Just nothing that might end up with you in handcuffs.

Hmm, unless you can get a home confinement sentence and the judge lets you serve it at one of the cabins.

I see a potential “Cottage” industry here. “Special rates for longer stays”. “Nonviolent Offender Discount.”

What rule would you most like to break?

Special Events! Where We Make You Feel Special at Opossum Creek Retreat

We host lots of special events here at Opossum Creek Retreat. Want to take part or plan one of your own? Read on…

Yoga and Climbing Weekend

This event starts tomorrow and you can still get in, so DO IT. We do a fair number of these specialty events each year.

You may not believe this but I practice yoga, and way back when I climbed too. These two activities belong together, and Elaina Erinz Smith and Erin Larson blend them wonderfully.

This is the second year for this ossum, intimate, expertly organized weekend. See you on the mat but not on the rock.

Run Around the Gorge

I am not a runner, but this looks like fun and Mark Lattanzi is a pro at organizing and running an event.

Even the guy who pulled a muscle and was laid up on the couch was smiling and having fun at last year’s event. He did not get to run but came anyway because he loves the camaraderie, the area, and the food.

So he got to relax at Opossum Creek Retreat all weekend cheering his friends new and old to the finish.

Meetings

If you have to be in a meeting, you should do it here.

Why? Because even though you need to get some work done, you can do it in one of the prettiest conference rooms around. It’s almost like you’re working outside; huge windows let nature right in.

Weddings

It’s a no-brainer that Opossum Creek is a place where lots of couples want to host their weddings.

Beautiful outdoor space? Check.
Plenty of nature and pretty views? Check.
Room for lots of guests to stay? Check.
Great indoor space too? Check.
An unique venue unlike any other? Check.

Who could ask for more?

Family Reunions

We’ve already given you plenty of reasons why Opossum Creek is THE place to host a family reunion. Simply put, we’re the perfect spot for reconnecting, rejuvenating, and remembering what’s important.

Some Other Fun Events

In 2013 there’s the Todd Norian yoga retreat weekend. My yoga teacher BabaRANBOYD has been studying with this guy for almost a decade. I am excited to be able to attend one of his weekend sessions on my home turf.

And of course the big one: The New River Birding and Nature Festival. This has grown into an amazing week with hundreds of people enjoying our hospitality and the Spring migration of birds.

We may not be all that special. But when we host events like these our guests tell us we are.

Okay, all are guests are special. I was just trying to say we do special events really well. Now, I am not bragging, Just repeating what I have been told. Why else would they keep coming back?

Want to feel special too? Just come to Opossum Creek Retreat.

Spring Break at Opossum Creek – Why It’s a Great Idea

Need a reason to spend your spring break in West Virginia? Not much we can say that adds to this email from one of our guests (except that we are glad they’re coming back). Read on…

Hi Keith-

I don’t know if you remember us or not, but we rented a cabin from you at Thanksgiving. Our daughter goes to Marshall, and she wanted to stay in WV for Thanksgiving and not come back to Florida. Well, as it turns out, she would rather stay in WV for Spring Break as well! Imagine that- we live 30 minutes from the beach, and she would rather stay in WV 😉 Truth be told, we would rather GO to WV again.

We were thinking of going to Snowshoe, but the snow has been so sketchy. It seems we Floridians aren’t that good at snowboarding on ice, which is what I am afraid we are going to run into. And we have kids ranging from 4-19. I think the cabin would be best for everyone, since the little girls can play in the snow (if there is any) right outside, and the big kids can head to Winter Place to snowboard if they want to. We are split on what we want to do- everyone wants to go to Snowshoe (but the littles are too little to ski/snowboard), AND everyone wants to go back to the relaxing cabin where Mommy was in a good mood, they can eat home cooking, and everyone was entertained.

Steve and Wendi

This is not the first time guests have felt this way about their stay. Will you be spring breaking in West Virginia?

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?