Pipestem Resort State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pipestem Resort State Park |
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 Pipestem Resort State Park
Location in West Virginia
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| Location | Mercer County, West Virginia and Summers County, West Virginia |
| Area | 4,050 acres (16.4 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,690 ft (820 m) |
| Established | 1963 |
| Named for | Spiraea alba |
| Governing body | West Virginia Division of Natural Resources |
Pipestem Resort State Park is a huge park in southern West Virginia. It covers about 4,050 acres, which is like 3,000 football fields! The park sits right on the border between Mercer and Summers counties. It was built with help from the U.S. government in 1963, during President John F. Kennedy's time. You can find this amazing park in the deep valley of the Bluestone River.
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Welcome to Pipestem Resort State Park!
Pipestem Resort State Park is a fantastic place for outdoor adventures. It offers many fun activities for families and friends. You can stay overnight or just visit for the day.
What's in a Name?
The park's name, Pipestem, comes from a special plant. This plant is called narrowleaf meadowsweet (Spiraea alba). It's a common shrub that grows in the area. Long ago, people used its stems to make pipe stems. That's how the park got its unique name!
Fun Things to Do at the Park
Pipestem Resort State Park has lots of cool things to do. You can find two hotels here. One hotel is at the bottom of the gorge. You can only reach it by riding an exciting aerial tramway!
The park also has 26 cozy wooden cabins. These cabins are fully equipped for a comfortable stay. If you like golf, there are two golf courses. One is a regular course, and the other is a special par-3 course.
After a day of fun, you can eat at one of the park's restaurants. You can also go horseback riding! The park has its own horses ready for you to explore the trails.
Explore Nature at the Center
The park has a great nature center. It shows off the local plants and animals. You can learn about the creatures that live in the park. The nature center also has fun nature programs. These programs teach you more about the outdoors.
The Nature Center is open all year round. It includes a special place called the Harris Homestead. This is a recreated old house from the 1900s. You can see how people lived back then. There's also a barn and a meat house to explore.
Places to See Nearby
There are many interesting places close to Pipestem Resort State Park. You might want to visit some of these:
- Athens, West Virginia
- Concord University
- Princeton, West Virginia
- Hinton, West Virginia
- Bluestone State Park
- Bluestone Lake
- New River
- Sandstone Falls
See also
