Pipestem Resort State Park
By J.D. Dooley
Where: Pipestem Resort State Park, WV
Location: Near Athens WV
Price: $87 (Standard Room) – $182 per night (Executive Suite)
The entrance to Pipestem Resort State Park.
Pipestem Resort State Park near Athens, WV is known as the “Crown Jewel of West Virginia State Parks.” I remember visiting this park as a child and thinking then that it would be a great place revisit. It never occurred to me that it would be 30 some years later and on a motorcycle, not a Ford Fairlane.
There are a number of way to get to Pipestem Resort from Boone, NC. The fastest, about three hours door to door, would be to make your way to I 77 north to Princeton, WV, then 14 miles north to the park for a total of 150 miles. But that’s not how we roll.
Instead, a more inspiring ride is to take Hwy 194 through Todd to West Jefferson, then US 221 to Independence, VA (60 miles). Where you can pickup US 21 north to Wytheville, VA which includes crossing the Jefferson National Forest (30/90 miles). In Wytheville take US 52 north back into the Jefferson National Forest. After 10 very scenic miles you will come to the Big Walker Mountain Lookout (10/97 miles). …
Big Walker Lookout Store
Big Walker Mountain Lookout and Country Store (http://www.scenicbeauty-va.com/) At 3,405 feet, Big Walker Lookout affords one of the most spectacular views of the Virginias. On a clear day climb the 100ft observation tower and you can see five states. This is a good stopping point for lunch. The Country Store offers café fair and snacks.
From Big Walker Lookout continue north on US 52 to Princeton, WV. Some of this, unavoidably, follows I 77 for a few miles (37/137 miles). From Princeton take WV 20 through Athens and Lerona 15 miles to the park entrance (15/153 miles. About 4 hours travel time without stops). As the photo above attests, you can’t miss the entrance.
Aerial Tramway to Mtn Creek Lodge & Restaurant
The park boasts two lodges, 26 fully-equipped vacation rental cabins, an 82-site campground, restaurants and modern conference facilities.
But the highlight of Pipestem is the aerial tramway. The enclosed cars carry you on a six minute ride of 3600 feet along some outstanding scenery to the Bluestone River Gorge and Mountain Creek Lodge and Restaurant below.
McKeever Lodge
My wife, Melissa, and I opted to stay in the McKeever Lodge which has 113 rooms and suites. Some rooms have views of the Bluestone Gorge. The executive suites offer wet bars, King size beds and some have Jacuzzi tubs. The lodge also offers an indoor heated pool, game room, saunas, and exercise room. Wireless access is available throughout the lodge and in most guest rooms. We chose a room with a Gorge view which in prime season go for only $98 a night.
Bluestone Dining Room, the restaurant in the McKeever Lodge, is a full service restaurant. We both enjoyed our meals. I had steak, but then I always have steak.
We played miniature golf ... Guess who won?
Melissa, more the gourmand, had mountain trout. Also on the property is the Black Bear snack bar with burgers, dogs and the like.
Also on the property, and accessible only by the tram, is the 30-room Mountain Creek Lodge. The rooms offer cable TV, telephones and a relaxing view of the Bluestone River.
Also only accessible via the tram, The Mountain Creek is a gourmet restaurant and seats dinner by reservation only. The restaurant offers complimentary continental breakfast for Mt. Creek Lodge guests.
If you are a golfer as well as motorcyclist, there are two golf courses, an 18-hole par 72 championship golf course, designed by Geoffrey Cornish, and a challenging 9-hole par 3 course. In case you’re wondering why I bring that up in a motorcycle story, they offer club rentals so you can combine as motorcycle/golf weekend.
If you are my kind of golfer you will enjoy the miniature golf as well as a variety of other activities including paddle boating, canoeing, fishing, bicycling, horseback riding, hiking, an observation tower, lighted basketball courts, horseshoes and archery.
Enjoying the view from a room at McKeever Lodge
Nightlife is a little limited but there is an outdoor amphitheater offering weekend summer entertainment including music and plays.
For the ride home I like to choose a different route when possible just for the variety. This ride back to Boone encompasses more rural West Virginia before returning to Boone via Tazewell, Marion and Troutdale, VA. I added a leg that goes through Welch, WV. Omitting that leg will shave an hour off the trip.
From Pipestem head back toward Princeton, WV on WV 20 (15 miles). Continue on WV 20 for 10 miles until it intersects with US 52 in Bluewell, WV (10/25 miles). Take US 52 north to Welch, WV (28/53 miles) In Welch take VA 16 South all the way back to Jefferson, NC, (116/169 miles). This route travels through beautiful countryside and passes by Virginia’s Hungry Mother State Park before bisecting the Jefferson National Forest again near Mount Rogers. In Jefferson, NC, NC 194 back to B
oone gets you home. (26/195 miles Approx. 5.5 hours)
Of course you can jump on I 77 at Princeton. From there it’s only 45 miles south to I 81 at Wytheville.
We thoroughly enjoyed Pipestem Resort State Park and felt that, for the money, it is one of the best resort values in he southern Appalachians. And, for motorcyclists, there is no bad way to get there.
The View from McKeever Lodge
Maps
Leg One from Boone, NC to Pipestem Resort State Park
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Leg Two from Pipestem Resort State Park to Boone, NC
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