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HINTON – Two West Virginia state parks known for beautiful surroundings, spectacular views and numerous activities are only 10 miles from each other.
Pipestem State Park and Bluestone State Park are located in Summers County and are a short distance from the county seat of Hinton, W.Va.
Pipestem Park has two lodges, McKeever and Mountain Creek Lodge, along with 82 camp sites and 26 cottages.
One attraction at the park is the tramway that sweeps from the Upper Station at the Canyon Rim Center to the floor of the rugged Bluestone Canyon where it crosses the Bluestone River before arriving at Mountain Creek Lodge. The tram is the only public access to this secluded lodge.
Mountain Creek Lodge features 30 modern rooms with telephones, television, an excellent dining room, meeting facilities, and a game room. This getaway spot is complete with each room featuring a balcony overlooking the river.
The Bluestone River flows beneath the tram. Eight miles below the tram, the Bluestone River enters Bluestone Lake.
For the sportsmen Pipestem has fishing options available; for hunting the Bluestone Wildlife Management Area is close by. Fishing is more popular at Long Branch and is stocked with trout in the spring; it also has channel catfish and large mouth crappie and blue gill. Rent boats for the lake.
“There is so much to do; it is really impressive with indoor and outdoor pools, and five restaurants,” Pipestem park superintendent Dave Caplinger said. “In the summer we have disc golf, mini golf, radio control race tracks, a full activity program featuring a nature program and fun activities every day. Like other parks we have hiking trails and horseback riding,” he said.
During the summer, there is live entertainment every Saturday at the Pipestem Amphitheatre.
Caplinger said a recent addition to the activities at Pipestem has been drawing a lot of interest. About a year ago, the park began offering “foot golf,” which is played on an actual golf course using soccer balls. The golf course at Pipestem has added special holes – apart from the regular golf holes – for people interested in trying foot golf.
“It’s a really nice addition to our park and our golf course,” Caplinger said.
While foot golf can be played by any age, it seems most popular with younger people, including children. Caplinger said whole families can spend time together on the links, with the parents play regular golf and children playing foot golf.
“We’re the only place in the state of West Virginia which currently offers foot golf,” he said of Pipestem.
Bluestone State Park encompasses more than 2,100 acres of rugged, heavily forested, mountainous terrain, and provides a wide variety of water-oriented activities for guests and residents of southern West Virginia.
In the midst of this wilderness park, just five miles south of Hinton, are nestled 26-modern cabins, a campground and fine recreational facilities. The extra plus is that Bluestone is adjacent to Bluestone Lake, the state’s third largest body of water.
Bluestone National Wild and Scenic River flows into Bluestone Lake within the Bluestone State Park boundaries. Hunting and fishing opportunities abound at 17,632-acre Bluestone Wildlife Management Area adjacent to the park and nearby Camp Creek State Forest.
Due to the sizable lake at Bluestone, boating and fishing are naturally an important part of the recreational opportunities at the park. The addition of hiking trails, a swimming pool, game courts, and a seasonal nature/recreation program create a well-rounded array of activities.
The proximity of Bluestone to Winter Place ski area makes the park’s rental cabins affordable accommodations for ski groups and winter vacations.
Historical and recreational interest in the Bluestone area includes the outdoor musical dramas “Hatfields and McCoys” and others shows performed at Grandview Park, near Beckley. Pipestem Resort with its myriad recreational facilities is only nine miles to the south.
From beautiful scenic overlooks of the Bluestone Gorge to the two lodges, vacation rental cottages, campgrounds, golf courses, restaurants, modern conference facilities, and much more, Pipestem Resort State Park has something for everyone.
Just north of the park are Bluestone Dam, Hinton and the New River Gorge National River, center of some of the state’s best whitewater rafting and canoeing. Of special note are Sandstone Falls and the Visitor Center, just north of Hinton.
A major event at the park is the Travis Pond Memorial Boat Races, a powerboat competition for craft capable of speeds of 85 mph which was held in late May.
“The Travis Pond Powerboat Race took place the very weekend after Memorial Day and filled the pit area and lakefront with racers and spectators,” said Bluestone Superintendent Brett McMillion. “The weekend was a success and added a bump to the local economy with the increase in guests to our park and lake. The 2016 National Race will be in August and could double or even quadruple the number of racers and spectators,” he said.
Bluestone averages from 200,000 to 250,000 visitors a year. Hunting and fishing opportunities abound at 17,632-acre Bluestone Wildlife Management Area adjacent to the park and nearby Camp Creek State Forest.
“We are deep into the summer season,” McMillion said. “In addition to lake activities, Bluestone’s cabins and campsites continue to be very popular. The cabins at Bluestone provide a great option for families to experience the outdoors while still having many of the comfortable amenities to make their stay more enjoyable. Also, water hookups were added to seven of the campsites in Meador Campground this year,” he said.