Photo by Jay Young/Adventures on the Gorge.
By Samantha Cart
Every year on the third Saturday in October, BASE jumpers from around the world gather at the historic New River Gorge Bridge as they prepare to fling themselves from the top and parachute an impressive 876 feet to the bottom of the gorge.
The oldest and largest organized BASE jumping event in the world, 2018 marks the 39th annual Bridge Day celebration. However, what began as one day dedicated to this extreme sport has grown into a weekend-long festival that attracts more than 100,000 spectators to West Virginia. In addition to rappelling and BASE jumping, Bridge Day weekend now includes a variety of events, including Taste of Bridge Day, Bridge Jam, the Active Southern West Virginia Bridge Day 5k and the Bridge Day Chili Cook Off. West Virginia Executive spoke with Official Bridge Day’s full-time staff and Bridge Day weekend alumni to get the best tips and tricks for experiencing this unforgettable event. Here they offer an inside look at how to navigate lodging, parking, traffic and crowds for a truly wild and wonderful weekend.
Securing Lodging
The first step to a successful Bridge Day weekend is having somewhere to stay. BASE jumper registration opens on July 1, and this is typically when most people start making reservations. While the New River Gorge area has a variety of lodging to choose from, rooms fill up quickly, so planning ahead is a must.
“In 2017, lodging was booked solid as far north as Wheeling and as far south as Virginia,” says Mandy Wriston, tourism specialist for the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce, New River Gorge Convention & Visitors Bureau and Official Bridge Day. “If you decide to attend Bridge Day, book as far in advance as you can. The region offers hotels, bed and breakfasts, cabins and camping.”
Attendees who cannot find a room in Fayetteville may also choose to stay in surrounding areas such as Oak Hill, Glen Ferris and Hawks Nest.
Packing for Bridge Day
Once the room is secure, knowing what to pack—and what not to pack—for Bridge Day can be the next biggest challenge.
“Dress in layers, and wear comfortable shoes,” says Sharon Cruikshank, Bridge Day chair and president of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce. “Also, backpacks are not allowed, and if you have a diaper bag or a purse, it may be searched.”
Cruikshank, who works year-round with the Bridge Day Commission and the more than 40 volunteers it takes to pull off such a large event, also recommends leaving all pets at home.
Taking on Traffic and Parking
Bridge Day weekend’s jam-packed schedule means visitors have the opportunity to explore the entire New River Gorge area. This also presents additional challenges in the way of traffic and parking. With up to 100,000 spectators, the traffic can be a bit overwhelming.
The 2018 Bridge Day weekend kicks off on Friday, October 20, with Taste of Bridge Day from 5-9 p.m. at Adventures on the Gorge (AOTG), Bridge Jam from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Cascade Festival Grounds and a performance by the Groundhog Gravy band at AOTG’s Rendezvous Lodge from 8-11 p.m. On Saturday, Route 19 will close at 7 a.m., and shuttles will begin running at 8:30 a.m. from the Kroger in Oak Hill, Fayetteville Walmart, Fayetteville High School, Fayette County Courthouse, Smales Branch Road and Midland Trail High School. Bridge Day officially begins at 9 a.m. with BASE jumping and a 5k at 9:15. During the ongoing festivities, there will also be the Bridge Day Car Show at the New River Gorge Gateway Center on Laurel Creek Road and another night of music at Bridge Jam. Cap off the day with dinner from 3-5 p.m. at the Bridge Day Chili Cook-Off in downtown Fayetteville. Route 19 will not re-open until 5 p.m., so arriving before the road closes, finding a place to park and catching the shuttles are vital.
“Parking is at a premium on Bridge Day,” says Wriston. “I highly recommend utilizing one of the shuttle parking lots located on both sides of the bridge. Keep in mind the New River Gorge Bridge is 3,030 feet long. The round-trip parking shuttle will save you a lot of walking by bringing you straight to the gates of Bridge Day. When you are ready to return to your vehicle, just meet the shuttle at the gate where you were dropped off.”
The shuttles cost just $3 for a round-trip, giving guests easy access to the Bridge Day festivities.
Navigating the Crowd
According to Cruikshank, officials start coordinating and scheduling Bridge Day at 4 a.m. on Friday morning, which is a good indication of how eager and early some attendees are.
“If you want to beat the crowds, get here when the gates open,” says Wriston. “The crowd starts to form about mid-day and increases until the event is over. Bridge Day ends promptly at 3 p.m. All shuttles stop running roundtrip at 1:30 p.m. so we can get the crowds off of Route 19 and out from underneath the bridge. I recommend arriving no later than 12 p.m. if you really want to get the full experience.”
Making the Most of It
Depending on a guest’s available time and interests, a lot of fun and excitement can be packed into a weekend in the New River Gorge area. From live music to whitewater rafting to the unique food culture, the area truly has something for everyone.
“I would recommend taking a rafting trip down the river while in town for Bridge Day,” says Chelsea Dorsey, who has been attending Bridge Day since 1997. “Even a float trip down the New River would be fun, and if you’re not into the water, there is plenty of mountain biking, zip lining and rock climbing.”
Make the most of the Bridge Day schedule by attending Taste of Bridge Day and Bridge Jam. Taste of Bridge Day allows visitors to sample food from the area’s finest restaurants and caterers while enjoying local artwork and live music and supporting the Oak Hill and Fayetteville rotary clubs. The food vendors, which include Café One Ten, Smokey’s Steakhouse and more, will be competing for awards for best appetizer, best entree, best dessert and people’s choice. Taste of Bridge Day also features a kids’ zone with a dining area, face painting, balloon art, superheroes in costume, a kid-friendly deejay and a nine-hole miniature golf course. After sampling all of the food, head over to Bridge Jam, which is the best of both worlds—a music and craft beer festival. This year’s lineup includes Railroad Earth, Fletcher’s Grove, The Company Stores and Common Houses.
“Bridge Jam is a new addition to the Bridge Day weekend,” says Wriston. “The Bridge Jam organizer, New River Events LLC, provides free shuttles to take you to and from Bridge Jam, so feel free to pitch a tent and get comfortable.”
For almost 40 years, people from across the country and around the world have made their way to the New River Gorge for this iconic celebration. In short, Bridge Day is a special event that captures the best of West Virginia—unmatched natural beauty, adventure and family fun.
