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The Other Lake

May 14th, 2012 by Adventures on the Gorge

By MRod

For ten years, I lived just outside of New York City. On my visits home, usually within my first twelve hours back in Fayette County, I would find myself exploring Plum Orchard Lake as if it were my first time there. The hustle-bustle of metropolitan life and the cacophony of city-sounds were always sensory-rich but there was something about the gentle sway of the pier, the smell of earth and the sound of the forest which would instantly take me back to my childhood. Back to a time when I was free to explore the woods just outside my back door, when caterpillars and brilliantly colored flowers would capture my attention for hours and I cursed the fact that I could not draw well enough to convey the beauty which was always within my reach. Nowadays, I am thankful for digital photography which allows me to share some of my favorite places “off the beaten path” with my friends who might otherwise never have the opportunity to explore them with me.

Though Plum Orchard Lake is only thirty minutes from the New River Gorge Bridge, when people tell you they are “going to the lake,” they are usually referring to Summersville. Sadly, Plum Orchard is oftentimes overlooked as a recreational option. Although swimming is prohibited, there is a treasure trove of places to explore for photographers who want to capture nature in her finest moments and fishermen who don’t want to be disturbed by Sea-Doos.

Plum Orchard Lake Wildlife Management Area encompasses 3200 acres. There are 21 first-come, first-served primitive campsites at Beech Bottom campground and 17 primitive sites above the dam each for $12 per night.

Also located at Plum Orchard is a shooting range with no charge, as long as you observe all safety rules and guidelines. Although this lake is not as highly trafficked as its counterpart in Nicholas County, you should consider making a daytrip to the area to take in the beauty and solitude that Plum Orchard offers. If you are already familiar with Plum Orchard, please share your photos and stories! We would love to see/hear them.

Directions to Plum Orchard Lake.

Tags: Birding, Birds, Fishing, new river gorge, Plum Orchard Lake, West Virginia
Posted in New River Gorge | Leave a Comment »

3 New River Trips—and You Can Try Them All in 2012

April 11th, 2012 by Adventures on the Gorge

It’s been a big winter for us here at Adventures On the Gorge. We built a ton of new stuff, but for the average river rat, the really exciting part of it all is that we’re offering 3 new rafting trips this year. They range from mild to wild, tame to insane and lazy to crazy, so no matter where you fall the adventure spectrum, we’ve got a new trip for you.

Family Lower New River

The Lower New River is the trip that built the WV whitewater industry beginning back in 1969. There’s a lot of history down here, and now we can open it up to a whole new range of rafters.

I don’t know precisely how many families we have who raft or ducky the Upper New, but secretly lament the fact that their youngest clan members are too young to raft the classic Lower New. Well, the minimum age just went down from 12 to 8. Bear in mind, this is not our typical Lower New trip—it’s geared more for the little ones to enjoy it. Every boat on these trips—and they will be big boats—will be outfitted with oars, which a very experienced guide will row. That alone makes this trip a bit tamer, but we’ll also only run the Family Lower New River at summer water levels, which means that even though there are still some mighty big waves, everything is a bit slower and milder. Your guide will also only run the more conservative lines through these rapids.

Jump to this trip on Class VI-Mountain River, Rivermen or Songer Whitewater.

Summer Middle Gauley

So, you like the idea of floating solo in a ducky, but the Upper New just seems a little too mild for you, eh? Then the Summer Middle Gauley may be just what the river doctor ordered! On this trip, you get to explore the Gauley immediately below take out for the Upper, where, at typical summer flows, the rapids are steeper and highly channelized. This is a terrific fun trip, and if you’re interested in duckying the Upper Gauley, it’s a great way to get the required experience.

Jump to this trip on Class VI-Mountain River, Rivermen or Songer Whitewater.

Wait, what? Duckying the Upper Gauley!?

Heh. Read on.

Summer Upper Gauley

When the water on the Gauley becomes more suitable for fishing than big water rafting, we’ll just be getting warmed up. That’s because this year, for the first time ever, we’re offering a summertime ducky run down the famed Upper Gauley.

You and your duckie better be on your guard, because this is a serious run. It’s rocky, steep and way more intense than any other ducky trip we do. It’s also long and strenuous and you’ll be in a ducky alone, so you better bring your A game. The Upper Gauley drops 335 vertical feet in 9 miles, and on this trip, you’ll feel every inch of it. As the water level goes down, the rapids get remarkably steep. So, while yes, this is a ducky trip, it’s nothing like any of the other ducky trips we offer—it is anything but tame, mild and lazy. So much so, in fact, that we won’t let you on this trip unless you have at least one prior day in a solo boat of some kind, such as a kayak, canoe or another ducky.

The Summer Upper Gauley is perfect for June thrills. And we have a new put-in for this one—at the confluence of the Meadow and Gauley Rivers, right above Lost Paddle.

Jump to this trip on Class VI-Mountain River, Rivermen and Songer Whitewater.

Tags: class vi, Gauley River, Gauley River rafting, New River Rafting, rafting, summer Gauley, West Virginia, whitewater, whitewater rafting
Posted in Activities | 3 Comments »

When “New Stuff” Doesn’t Even Begin to Describe It All

April 11th, 2012 by Adventures on the Gorge

By Jay Young

Around Adventures On the Gorge, 2012 is becoming known as the year of new stuff. But the phrase “new stuff” is woefully inadequate to describe it all. In fact, we’ve been on a building spree that would make an Egyptian Pharaoh say, “Huh. That’s a lot of stuff.”

Here’s the rundown on the newness you’ll find waiting for you when you arrive for your vacation.

TimberTrekkin’

TimberTrek, our new aerial adventure park, absolutely dominates this list. Part ropes course, part canopy tour, TimberTrek is 62 obstacles, bridges, zip lines and slides between tree platforms ranging in height from 10 feet to 50. This thing will immediately make you feel like Erroll Flynn and Johnny Weismuller as you fly, glide, pull, climb, zip, yell and giggle your way to forest glory. We’ve got 5 separate courses on TimberTrek ranging from easy to difficult, and in a 3-hour chunk, you can really pack in the adventure.

We’re going to create a whole generation of arbor ninjas with this one, and notably, that generation begins at 7 years old. If you have a young ‘un that’s too little for TreeTops or Gravity, it’s a great option, because even the easiest course has a zip line. If you’re more the swashbuckling type and you want a real challenge, never fear—the hardest course will put gorilla hair on your chest.

TimberTrek is built with spectators in mind, too. You can stroll the forest below, camera in hand, or watch from the new deck at Rendezvous Lodge with a frosty beverage.

The best part: all through May 15, 2012, Timber Trek is half off! Trek the timbers for 3 hours for just $39.50/person (regular $79)!

Canyon Falls Swimming Hole

Consistently, one of the comments we receive from guests is that there isn’t enough around the resort to do that’s free and not limited by time in any way. We’ll we listened. Our new swimming pool, Canyon Falls Swimming Hole, will open by the end of June. Made in part of regional stone and designed to fit seamlessly into the landscape, Canyon Falls is a waterfall pool with a snack bar, a kids’ splash and spray area, a zero-entry end and tons of deck space, including one that overlooks the New River Gorge. Bring your bathing suit and save some quality lounging time!

The New Chetty’s Pub

Over the last few years, Fayetteville has become the hidden jewel of West Virginia dining. Your first thought might be, “Yeah, but that’s not saying much.” Well, I grew up in DC and have spent time in NYC and Chicago, and the restaurants here more than hold their own. Chetty’s has always been a part of that, but now it is even more so.

We hired Virgin Timber Lumber Company to build the new bar from reclaimed wormy chestnut, and it is absolutely gorgeous. Add more space to the equation and 2 quirky garage bay doors that open onto the new Chetty’s deck, plus a new head chef—Rezan Nese and her new menu which goes way beyond the already terrific fare we had before, and you get a restaurant that is primed to become a highlight of a lot peoples’ vacations. We often post specials on the Chetty’s Facebook page, too, so like it to stay up to date.

Stacking the Decks

How do you make a resort that sits on the very rim of the magnificent New River Gorge even more beautiful? You build decks—great big honking decks, where the eye candy flows like river water. We’ve got 2 of them.

The first is at Chetty’s Pub, and while the previous deck gave guests a supreme vantage point to overlook the New River, the new deck gets you just a hair closer than before, and it turns out that makes a big difference! The Chetty’s deck will be THE place to watch the sunset every evening.

The second of 2 new decks is off the side of Rendezvous Lodge on the Mill Creek Campus. Though it doesn’t overlook the New River Gorge, it does sit within 20 feet of one of the TimberTrek courses, which makes it the ideal spot to relax with a beverage while your friends and family whoop it up in the trees like Tarzan. You’ll want a camera here for certain.

Sunset Trading Post

It’s a well-known fact that between the 4 retail stores at Adventures On the Gorge, we have the largest selection of Adventures On the Gorge souvenirs anyplace on Earth. Well, everybody likes to shop on vacation, but let’s face it, sometimes you want a place that sells a little more than a T-shirt, sunglasses or knick-knacks. Peddling artisan crafts, clothing and more, Sunset Trading Post is that place. It’s located right where the sunset shines, too, between Smokey’s On the Gorge and Chetty’s Pub. Perfect!

16 People per Night

Lastly, if you’ve ever been told during Gauley Season, “I’m so sorry, but we don’t have any 4-bedroom Deluxe Cabins available that weekend… rejoice. We’ve got 2 new ones just waiting for you to hot-tub, grill, stock the fridge and sleep the sleep of the truly exhausted.

Tags: Adventure On the Gorge, Gauley River, new, new river gorge, TimberTrek
Posted in Around Campus | 9 Comments »

Hawks Nest Dam April Fools Joke

March 30th, 2012 by Adventures on the Gorge

ATTENTION: This was an April Fool’s Joke. To our knowledge, Hawk’s Nest Dam will be where it is for a long time to come. Please accept our apology for any inconvenience this caused.

By Jay Young

In 1936, Union Carbide completed work on Hawk’s Nest Dam, about 4 miles downstream of where the New River Gorge Bridge currently stands. The accompanying construction project, to divert water via tunnel from the New River at the Dam to a power plant some four miles downstream, is on record as the worst industrial disaster in the history of the United States. Congress proclaimed the death toll from acute silicosis at 476, but unofficial estimates are far higher, reaching into the thousands.

In so far as modern-day whitewater rafters are concerned, however, there was another effect. The Hawk’s Nest project de-watered four miles of whitewater downstream, which boaters unaffectionately call “the Dries,” and forever submerged four more miles of whitewater upstream, which we now call Hawks Nest Lake.

Forever, that is, until spring of 2013.

“I’m sure going to celebrate tonight,” said Jennifer Horowitz, chairperson of West Virginia Professional River Guides, or WaVe PRO. “Achieving the removal of Hawk’s Nest Dam is the culmination of years of effort and lobbying. I especially want to thank Conservation America and Congressman Holt.”

Holt, a Republican Rep from WV, is himself partially responsible for the creation of the New River Gorge National Scenic River, which will take control of the New River Gorge downstream of the current Dam site on June 1 of this year.

So what does this mean for rafting guests of Adventures On the Gorge brands—Songer Whitewater, the Rivermen and Class VI-Mountain River? “I’m sure we’ll have new rafting trips available,” beamed AOTG CEO, Paul Buechler. “We still don’t know exactly what we’ll offer, but you can probably expect a Lower-Lower New River Trip that puts in at Fayette Station. And I guess we’ll start called what’s now the ‘Lower New’ the ‘Middle New.’ A lot depends on what the rapids are like. They haven’t been seen, much less boated, since the 1930s.”

Adventures On the Gorge has also obtained the rights to 37.5 tons of rubble from the destroyed dam, which we plan to use to build a retaining wall in our new pool, Canyon Falls Swimming Hole.

While we here at Adventures On the Gorge are ecstatic about the move, to be fair, not everybody in the area is as psyched. The river bed immediately below the Dam has become a favorite among local rock climbers who practice a subset of the sport called “bouldering.” When bouldering, climbers scale climbs that, while short, are also typically harder than longer roped routes. Unfortunately, the Hawk’s Nest boulders will almost certainly be submerged. “You know, it’s cool that the boaters are going to get their river back,” said Roger Jones, President of the New River Alliance of Rock Climbers, or NRARC, “But for us, there’s not a lot of upside.”

Head of AOTG’s Cliffside Climbing & Rappelling, James Baylor, himself a former raft guide and current river rescue instructor, has mixed feelings. “This is so weird,” he said.

Regardless of where you stand on the issue, however, it’s hard to deny that this will thoroughly rearrange the outdoor recreation landscape in the New River Gorge. Removal of the Hawk’s Nest Dam is tentatively scheduled to begin on February 1, 2013.

PS: April Fools!

Tags: April Fools Day, Hawks Nest Dam, hoax, joke, new river gorge, the Dries, West Virginia
Posted in History, New River Gorge | 18 Comments »

The Story of Stories

March 12th, 2012 by Adventures on the Gorge

By Shea Anderson

Storytelling is a powerful connector. It connects people, ideas and cultures and can link the past and present. The West Virginia Storytelling Guild helps connect the Mountain State to this important tradition.

“Stories remind us of our shared humanity,” said Susanna Holstein, an original and current board member of the West Virginia Storytellers Guild. “It’s a bonding experience. When I tell stories, strangers start sharing and talk to me like they know me. And that’s because they do.”

Holstein said different stories are appealing for different reasons, and part of the art of storytelling is finding what the audience is looking for. She said the guild, with about 50 to 60 members statewide, is a good way to bounce ideas off of others and develop stories in a way that captivates audiences.

“Some stories are funny, and everyone likes to laugh,” she said. “Ghost stories are haunting and eerie and make you wonder. Folk tales talk about overcoming adversity. Everyone can relate to loneliness and feeling like the outsider, and most people understand that love conquers all.”

A founding member of the guild, Karen Varaunch, said practicing and refining storytelling techniques is another important function of the guild.

“You have to invest yourself into a story,” she said. “You work a lot on honing it. It becomes a part of you in a way. But I could sit in a room for three years practicing violin, and I’d be a musician. If I sit in a room talking to myself, I’m not a storyteller, because I didn’t have an audience. Storytelling is an experience that transcends reading or watching a film.”

A performer with an acting background, Varaunch said the audience is key. But she has had unexpected consequences of the power of her stories. During her portrayal of losing a husband to coal mining, a woman left the room crying because she’d recently lost her father in the mines and was touched by the message. Ten years later, the woman approached Varaunch to tell her she loved the piece.

“The thing about a live performance is that you never know,” Varaunch said. “You can lose them in a second, or they can come in not expecting to like it and they do. It can all change, and I’ve had it all happen. If I can have people listening silently and intently, I love it.”

The guild usually has about 5 to 6 performances per year, including a tent at the Vandalia Gathering in Charleston and appearances at the state book festival. They also have an annual gathering for members, which includes workshops and a storytelling concert showcasing various techniques and styles.

“Since the first person drew a picture on a wall, we’ve been telling stories,” Varaunch said. “A modern storyteller is anyone who uses any technique they have. Steven Spielberg is a storyteller.”

And it’s not just for kids, she stressed. Stories are used to pass on culture and communicate emotions.

“It’s important to keep in touch with where we came from and who we are,” Holstein said. “We may be different and come from different social backgrounds,” but stories remind us of our common ground.

The West Virginia Storytelling Guild website includes bios of the members, detailing their storytelling styles and specialties. Anyone wanting to join the WV Storytellers Guild should e-mail Varaunch. The annual dues are $15.

What’s your favorite personal story to tell? And when you tell it, what do you do to draw in your audience?

Tags: Charleston, Vandalia Gathering, West Virginia, West Virginia Storytelling Guild, WV
Posted in History, New River Gorge | Leave a Comment »

Play Me Some Mountain Music. And Turn It Up!

February 21st, 2012 by Adventures on the Gorge

By Shea Anderson

Appalachian music has proven its prowess: compelling enough to be passed down from generation to generation, substantial enough to move from country to country, and versatile enough to still be evolving today.

Traditional Appalachian music pulls from a wide variety of themes, and its staying power comes from the intriguing and relatable tales that appeal deeply to emotions.

“They had murder, love, riddles,” said Suzanna Holstein, a member of the West Virginia Storyteller’s Guild who focuses on folk ballads. “If they’re good enough, they take on a life of their own. Ballads make you wonder about what happened and why. Some are funny; everyone likes to laugh. Family-themed songs make you feel connected to the past. Some folk music talks about facing adversity and it’s encouraging.”

“Pretty Polly,” a tale of love and courting that takes an abrupt and shocking twist, is an example of the unconventional element of Appalachian folk that Holstein said gets lost in today’s more predictable pop music.

The “roots” traditional music eventually expanded into genres like bluegrass, folk and country. But at their beginning, many folk tunes were performed without instruments, meant to be simple songs for people to sing as they worked. The European songs traveled with settlers to America, and eventually were coupled with music. Common instruments for Appalachian tunes were guitars, violins (fiddles) and banjos. In the early 19th Century, the genre even inspired its own instruments, including the fretted dulcimer.

Possibly an alternative to the fiddle that was easier to produce, the dulcimer had its own unique sound and became a common accompaniment to Appalachian ballads. Here is an example of a traditional comedic Appalachian song, “The Devil and The Farmer’s Wife,” played on the dulcimer.

In addition to adding music, lyrical changes and vocal variations have contributed to the evolution of Appalachian music. Songs with uncertain origins in Scotland, Ireland and other European countries, as well as Africa, migrated to America and have been reinvented by popular artists, including Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Grateful Dead. Here is an example of Nirvana covering “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” (The song originated in Appalachia and was also known as “In The Pines” and “Black Girl.” The original printed version as compiled by Cecil Sharp appeared in 1917. At the time, it had only four lines and lyrics which, by today’s standards, might seem racist.)

Ever-evolving, Appalachian music does not always have roots in the far-distant past. Musicians are still taking the heart of the Appalachian ballad to pass on their histories today. “The Last Public Hanging in West Virginia” was penned by Tom T. Hall after he read an article about the 100th anniversary of an event in 1897 in Ripley, WV. Listen to Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs’s version of the modern yet historically-inspired piece.

If you could write a modern-day folk song about your visits to Adventures on the Gorge, what would it sound like?

Tags: Appalachia, Appalachian music, bluegrass, West Virginia
Posted in Music | Leave a Comment »

It’s Good Work When You Can Get It

February 14th, 2012 by Adventures on the Gorge

By Michelle Rodriguez (MRod)

Lots of us have favorite guides—those go-to people who we know will make a rafting, climbing or zip lining day the best it can be. But have you ever wondered what that guide does once the leaves have fallen, the boats have been put away and snow flakes fall from the sky?

I recently had an opportunity to catch up with a few of our employees who have ventured away from campus for the colder months to pursue adventures of a different type.

Dan Beck and Chris Hayes are guides with our Cliffside Climbing staff. At the end of our 2011 Season, they headed west in the search of wintertime adventures. When the rest of the country is seeing all-time-lows in snow accumulations, you can always be guaranteed there will be snow of some type in Colorado. The two men are currently roommates in Summit County (home to Vail resorts) and their work is far from that of a climber.

Dan works as a Castle Builder and Trouble Shooter at the Ice Castles at Sliverthorne. The Ice Castles are a series of walkways and ice arches that reach heights of close to thirty feet. These unique structures are hand built using ice and water as the sole building materials. Dan harvests icicles and sticks them to the structure nightly. Daily maintenance of the arches and walkways is necessary due to warm weather and continual guest traffic through the facility.

Take it from me—this place is simply beautiful. Depending on the time of day and the hue of the sky, the ice formations can appear to be a variety of colors. The lighting used to showcase the ice leaves you feeling as if you are standing in the middle of a fairy tale waiting for a princess to appear just around the corner. It makes sense that this is a destination spot for families with children and for adults who are whimsical and young of heart.

Chris has found a job that combines his love of snowboarding with the art of helping guests memorialize their ski trips. He works for Epic Mix. With EpicMix, a smart-phone app, a guest’s activity on the slopes is automatically captured and uploaded to their online account. With a scan of their pass, the on-mountain photographers can take a picture and deliver it to a guest’s online account so it can be shared on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites. A guest can buy the digital image online, follow their days skied, track vertical feet, see which lifts they rode, earn EpicMix pins for achievements, and collect points. All this is possible because of Radio Frequency scanners at the base of every lift and RF technology built into every Vail Resorts season pass and PEAKS card.

Dan and Chris will make their treks east in April/May and you will be able to see them dangling from the rocks again this summer at Adventures On the Gorge.

“Sketchy” Steve Goode is a videographer with AOTG. He is that guy in the kayak who captures your Gauley trip right down to the very last rapid. (“Yeah girl!”) Like Dan and Chris, Steve has a love for snow. You can find him working as a Ski School Instructor for Snowshoe Mountain, located in the heart of Pocahontas County, WV. There, he teaches all levels of skiing as well as free-style. If you ever wanted to learn how to do those crazy flips you see on the X Games, Steve is the man who can teach you.

As if that weren’t enough to keep him busy, Steve also runs a retail store, where he’s responsible for following the latest trends in the ski industry and purchasing the merchandise that is all the rage. He’s also a rep for both Dragon Goggles and Solomon Skis.

This summer, you will catch Steve in a kayak, following your boat along the New and Gauley Rivers and capturing the next great adventure of your life.

If you are interested finding out “where are they now” about one of your favorite guides, let us know in the comments and we’ll see if we can track them down!

Tags: new river gorge, off-season, raft guides, West Virginia, winter
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Plan the Perfect Wedding on the Gorge

January 9th, 2012 by Adventures on the Gorge

By Angela Sundstrom

Ready to say “I do?” Adventures On the Gorge, West Virginia’s premier adventure resort, is not only the epicenter for outdoor activities, but weddings as well. Yes, you heard right. Weddings! Did I just blow your mind? It’s true. Our resort is THE place to tie the knot these days. I know many couples out there were recently engaged over the holidays. (Since you are reading this blog I’m going to assume that means you, so congratulations!) Now the planning begins. Have you ever considered Adventures On the Gorge as your venue? If not, check-out my list of our best wedding photos from previous years plus some insider advice.

After reading this, just click if you’d like more information on Weddings on the Gorge. Or
send us an email!

The View: With this scenery, who wouldn’t want to tie the knot here? Our campus is located directly on the rim of the New River Gorge in southern West Virginia. Conveniently located 20 minutes North of Beckley and one hour from Charleston, you and your guests can still escape reality, while all the essentials are available within a short walk or drive. Melissa Perella Photography.

The Details: Dare to be different! Every bride struggles with the details of a wedding, but you can benefit from combining elements of traditional and modern. Simply picking us as your venue screams unique! Look for things outside of the box, such as serving breakfast food for your reception. Use antique-style photographs of your families as table decorations to signify the uniting of old and new. Go all out and rent a massive tent for your reception on our property complete with a contemporary dance floor and homemade jam as party favors. It’s your day! Make it memorable! Photo: Logan Bockrath.

Family and Friends: Of course, your day would not be complete without family and friends, especially the wedding party! Treat them. After all, they are stressing right along with you. Plan a pre-wedding brunch for your bridesmaids at a deluxe cabin or a night of football and wings at Chetty’s Pub for the groomsman. Want something bigger? Plan an entire week of adventure activities prior to or following your nuptials. Is there any better way to celebrate a marriage then the happy couple hurtling through the forest on a zip line or bombing the exhilarating rapids of America’s best whitewater? Melissa Perella Photography.

The Food: Have your cake and eat it, too! Our event coordinator can offer suggestions or recommendations on area vendors to book for your wedding. Want an elaborate cake with four tiers and fondant flowers? No problem. Live band instead of DJ? Sure, we can do that. How about an evening reception on our lower deck overlooking the pristine gorge with glowing lanterns, sparkling cocktail glasses and a checkered black and white dance floor buzzing with guests? You bet! Anything within the reach of our staff and vendors is yours for the taking. Rebecca Kiger Fotografia.

The First Kiss: In order to get to that first kiss as husband and wife, you might be struggling with what to do about an officiant or marriage licensing, especially for a destination wedding. The State of West Virginia requires all couples have a valid marriage license before the service. If you are a state resident, you should obtain your license in the county in which you live. If you are not a resident, you can obtain your marriage license in Fayette County at the office of the County Clerk. We also can assist in contacting a local minister, rabbi or priest for your ceremony. Photo: Brandon S. Warren.

The Facilities: Our facilities are one-of-a-kind! Smokey’s On the Gorge, our premier restaurant, is the hub of it all when it comes to weddings. From an intimate ceremony overlooking the New River Gorge on the lower deck to our open air pavilion for the ultimate celebration, we’ll make it happen. We also offer deluxe and rustic lodging, 3 restaurants and over 30 different adventure activities to choose from. Melissa Perella Photography.

Photo Ops: Make sure your photographer knows about all of our hidden gems on campus such as the overlook just below Smokey’s. The New River Gorge offers spectacular scenery from breathtaking waterfalls to jaw dropping cliffs, many of which can be seen from our campus or are located within a short drive.

The Food Again: Have I mentioned the food? We know you’ll probably be bringing your own cake and favors, but our culinary staff can certainly satisfy your taste buds. Our premier restaurant, Smokey’s On the Gorge, caters weddings and is renowned for gourmet buffet style dining. From Carribbean Jerk Pork Loin to Cavitappi with Shrimp, Scallops & Pesto Cream plus everything in between, our seasoned kitchen staff can customize a menu to your taste. Melissa Perella Photography.

Fun: We’re the fun wedding! Whether young or old, everyone has a good time here. Make sure to add on your adventure activities such as rafting and ziplining or rent out Rendezvous Lodge for some after-hours fun. Melissa Perella Photography.

The View Again: Ok, I realize I have already drilled this into your brain, but our views are simply AMAZING! There’s no being modest. They rock! Melissa Perella Photography.

Weddings at the edge of the Earth: Here’s just one more example of how to take your wedding day to the edge… literally. Photo: Jay Young.

Happily Ever After: There you have it! My advice for planning your AOTG wedding as told through major successes of the past. Think Adventures On the Gorge is exactly what you’ve been looking for? Call us! Our event coordinator would love to speak with you. After all, we want every couple to complete their journey and find a fairy tale ending! Photo: Angela Sundstrom.

Tags: new river gorge, Smokey's, wedding, West Virginia
Posted in Around Campus, Guests, New River Gorge | 5 Comments »

On the Important Things in Life

December 7th, 2011 by Adventures on the Gorge

At Adventures On the Gorge we just wrapped up a promotion called Countdown to Crazy. Half sale, half contest, participants could enter to win a $1000 gift certificate by booking lodging and/or activities for the winter 2011/2012 season, or they could submit a blog post. Needless to say, the guest-authored blog content rolled right in! This one from Douglas Cook, does an eloquent job of reminding all of us what the important things are in life are—and that a dash of adventure makes love seem all the more vivid.

By Douglas Cooke

My family and I had the privilege of being guests at AOTG in a deluxe cabin for the Thanksgiving holiday, but to narrow those days down to one memory is an impossible task.

From the cabin that enabled my wife to prepare a beautiful holiday feast with all the trimmings… to TreeTops Canopy Tour, Gravity Zip Lines and rock climbing and rappelling… the staff at AOTG handled nearly every request perfectly (right down to my request for good weather!).

My wife and sons were so happy with the experience, and the time we spent together made us all even more thankful for the blessings there are in life… from love and family to the breathtaking scenery in and around the New River Gorge and AOTG campus.

We will definitely return to AOTG for whitewater rafting and another rock climbing and rappelling tour with Kyle. Kyle was the best guide we had, which is really saying something because ALL of our guides were excellent. Kerry and Evan on TreeTops and Chris and Meghan on Gravity deserve kudos as well.

My wife, Kelly, posted not 1, 2 or 3… but 122 (yes… one-hundred and twenty-two) pictures on Facebook of our cabin, campfires, tours, the campus and everything to show our friends what a fabulous time we had and what a wonderful place AOTG is. The picture of the 4 of us during the TreeTops Canopy Tour is my desktop wallpaper image now.

We cannot wait to return and try our hand at whitewater rafting on the New River. See you in the Spring!

Tags: new river gorge, TreeTops, West Virginia canopy tour
Posted in Activities, Guests, New River Gorge | Leave a Comment »

Countdown to Crazy—We Have a Winner!

December 1st, 2011 by Adventures on the Gorge

By Jay Young

“Ruth Wingfield, come on down!”

That’s what I wanted to say, but it’s a little cliche and, indeed, might actually be trademarked. I opted instead for, “Hi, Ruth, this is Jay Young at Adventures On the Gorge.”

It was lame, I know, but hear me out. There were three ways for people to enter the Countdown to Crazy gift certificate give away. One was to book lodging or adventures during the Countdown and two was to write a blog post on your best AOTG, Songer, Rivermen or Class VI-Mountain River memory. To be fair to anybody who booked a winter vacation prior to the Countdown beginning, we also decided to automatically enter those folks. Ruth is one.

That, however, left a question unanswered. “Ruth,” I asked, “are you aware of the Countdown to Crazy contest we’ve been running here since the middle of October?”

“Uh, no…” Ruth answered tentatively.

Okay, problem. I could tell that I was automatically in Ruth’s do-not-trust file. I can’t say as I blame her. Isn’t it common sense that anybody who says you won a contest you didn’t enter is scamming you? If you told me that I won such a contest, I would be suspicious, for sure. If you told me something too good to be true, for example that I won $1000, I’d probably just hang up on you.

I explained how her name came up, and then I broke the bombshell that would either bring a smile to her face or make her hate me. “Ruth, you won a $1000 gift certificate that you can use on any lodging and in-house activities we have!”

“Oh,” said Ruth. “That’s kind of cool.” She was still listening, but I could tell Ruth was also still leery. I launched into a stumbling and unsolicited assurance of how this was no scam and I wasn’t trying to sell her anything, nor had I any ulterior motives whatsoever.

By the end of the conversation, I think we were on the same page. Ruth, if not, I hope this blog post helps! You won! I don’t want to sell you anything! You only have to attend a brief time-share orientation while you’re here. (Kidding! I’m kidding!)

Congratulations, Ruth! Give me a shout when you come to enjoy your gift certificate. I’d love to snap a couple pics and maybe write another blog post.

Cheers!

Tags: Adventures On The Gorge, contest, Countdown to Crazy, gift certificate
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