This two day, roughly 500 mile driving trip in West Virginia was part of my West Virginia Very Important Parks Person Program.
On Monday, June 10, 2024 I left Manassas, VA to explore 6 West Virginia State Parks. I traveled I66 west from Manassas, VA to I81 south to I64 west. It took me 5 hours to get to Caldwell, WV. Below are the details of each visit:
Greenbrier State Forest, Caldwell, WV– This state forest was about 3 miles south of I64 near Caldwell. For a state forest they had a lot of amenities. Swimming pool, frisbee golf, gift shop and a campground. They had moved the gift shop to an adjacent larger building since I was here in 2021. I stamped my card at the VIPP box outside of the gift shop, then went inside. The lady running the gift shop was quilting behind the counter. Not sure if the product was for her or the store but it looked nice, I said hello, walked around the store and then proceeded to my next stop.
Moncove Lake State Park, Gap Mills, WV- This state park is located in one of the most remote parts of West Virginia. The road between Greenbrier SF and Moncove Lake SP was at least paved. But it was a single lane road that twisted and turned among the hills and valleys of West Virginia. It was like driving on a 13.5 mile driveway. I was really worried about having a head on collision in the middle of nowhere. Twice I had to dodge oncoming vehicles at the last minute. When I finally got to this park I decided not to take this road back. This park was very nice. It featured a 144 acre lake and all the amenities. I got my card stamped here and asked the people running the store of the best way to Lewisburg, WV. They suggested taking WV3 to WV8 to Union, WV, then travel north on US219 to Lewisburg. I would be traveling on the “road walk” section of the Allegheny Trail for a short stretch here between the park and WV8.
I got gas in Roncervente, WV at a small store. The town name is French for “Bramble Green” according to:
You can read more about it above. I got to Lewisburg, WV around 12 noon. All of the fast food places were packed with travelers and locals. The least crowded one was the Hardees. So I stopped there. There was one cook and one cashier running the place. The poor lady taking orders for the counter and drive thru looked frazzled. I told her to hang in there.
I wanted to make good time so I ate my Big Cheeseburger while driving north on US219. I tried had to keep from spilling the contents of the burger onto my shirt. But the last bite leaked ketchup and mustard all over my shirt. 🙁 I drove past the Relax Inn in Lewisburg where I would be spending the night. I then drove 36 miles to Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park, WV.
Droop Mountain Battlefield & Beartown State Parks, Hillsboro, WV– When I got to Droop Mountain SP I changed my shirt and stamped my card at the outside VIPP box there. There were stamps for Droop MTN and Beartown in the box. There was a state employee mowing the grass there. He must not get many visitors because he actually drove the mower over to me, shut it off and started a conversation. He told me about the park and encouraged me to visit Beartown since it was only a few miles away. But I was trying to get as many stamps on my card as I could in one day. So I didn’t. According to:
the battle of Droop Mountain was the last major battle of the American Civil War. Also, this was the first park in the West Virginia State Park system and was established in 1928.
Watoga State Park, Cal Price State Forest, Marlinton, WV– Next I traveled about 13 miles to Watoga SP. According to the :
West Virginia State Parks website
This is West Virginia’s largest state park at over 10,000 acres. And Calvin Price State Forest, right next door, is over 5,300 acres. The park office, where I had to get my card stamped, is in the middle of the park. It was roughly a 5 mile drive once I entered the park. While there I stamped my card for Watoga and Cal Price. I also noticed that they had a stamp for the Greenbrier River Trail there. The GRT was not on my card but it looks like it is now a West Virginia State Park as well.
I then had to debate whether I wanted to hit any other West Virginia State Parks or just call it a day. I decided to pack it in. So I drove about 45 miles back to Lewisburg and stayed at the Relax Inn. This was the cheapest motel in Lewisburg, WV. It got some bad reviews but I decided to stay there anyway. The place was old and it was a bit run down (just like me!). But the room was clean, there were no bed bugs, the AC/heat worked, the hot water worked and the TV worked. So I was fine. I got a large pepperoni pizza at a local pizza parlor and lived off of it for the next 17 hours.
On Tuesday morning, June 12, 2024 I left the Relax Inn and started the 220 mile trip back to Manassas, VA. I decided to travel through Charlottesville, VA on US29 and VA28 to get home. All was well until I stopped at a rest area on I64 east of Rockfish Gap, VA. I went to use the facilities. When I returned and tried to start my vehicle, it wouldn’t start. I thought “Oh, poopie!” I tried a few more times and, at one point, held the starter button until the vehicle turned over. I was OK then. So I turned off any unnecessary electrical items that may have contributed to the power drain and made it back home.
This was a good trip. I now have only two more West Virginia state forests and three more state parks to visit before I can send in my VIPP card and get a $25 gift card good at any West Virginia State Park. I will get these done in 2025. This will probably be my last time participating in this program.
With the exception of a brief rain shower on Monday night the weather was good. I learned a bunch of stuff on the trip, the people that I met were very nice. Even the lady at the convenience store in Roncervente that told me that her rest rooms were out of order. I didn’t think that they were. I also reconned the areas of the Greenbrier River Trail that I hopefully will be hiking later this year. West Virginia is a wonderful place. I want to spend as much time there as I can or even live there before my time is up.
Mike C
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