Pipestem Resort State Park

Pipestem Resort State Park
Bluestone Gorge
Map showing the location of Pipestem Resort State Park
Map showing the location of Pipestem Resort State Park
Location of Pipestem Resort State Park in West Virginia
LocationMercer County, West Virginia and Summers County, West Virginia
Coordinates37°32′03″N 80°59′54″W / 37.53417°N 80.99833°W / 37.53417; -80.99833
Area4,050 acres (16.4 km2)[1]
Elevation2,690 ft (820 m)
Established1963[2]
Named forSpiraea alba
Governing bodyWest Virginia Division of Natural Resources
Websitewvstateparks.com/park/pipestem-resort-state-park/

Pipestem Resort State Park is a 4,050-acre (1,640 ha)[1] state park located in southern West Virginia, on the border between Mercer and Summers counties. The park was built with grants provided by the Area Redevelopment Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce under the administration of President John F. Kennedy.[3] It is located in the gorge of the Bluestone River.

The Park name derives from pipestem, or narrowleaf meadowsweet (Spiraea alba), a locally common shrub historically used for making pipe stems.

The park features two hotels, one of which may be reached only by an aerial tramway to the bottom of the gorge, 26 fully equipped wood cabins, a regular and a par-3 golf course, several restaurants, and other recreational activities, including its own stable of horses.

Lookout tower on Pipestem Knob

The park's nature center features displays of native plants and animals, and offers nature programs. The Nature Center is open year-round, and includes the Harris Homestead, a reconstructed 1900s (decade) period historic house museum, barn and meat house.

Nearby cities and attractions

See also

References

  1. ^ a b West Virginia State Parks Facilities Grid, accessed March 29, 2008 Archived February 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Where People and Nature Meet: A History of the West Virginia State Parks. Charleston, West Virginia: Pictorial Histories Publishing Company. April 1988. ISBN 0-933126-91-3.
  3. ^ Kermit McKeever award web page, accessed September 30, 2006
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