By Olivia Miller
The Mountain State has a wealth of history, scenic beauty and outdoor adventures to explore, and in 2020, there’s even more available to experience. From new accommodations on the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System, which will make ATV adventures a weekend getaway, and the opening of Snowshoe Highlands, one of only 40 International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) ride centers in the world, to Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center’s $100 million renovation and expansion, the Aquatic Center at Mylan Park’s construction and Pipestem Peaks Zipline Tour, Adventure Lake and Splash Park’s grand opening, this year promises new adventures for all ages in West Virginia.
Appalachian Outpost
West Virginia entrepreneurs Ronnie and Diana Barnette are giving new life to an abandoned strip mall in the heart of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System in order to meet the lodging and dining needs of trail enthusiasts. The former Rita Mall, located in Logan County, WV, is now home to the Appalachian Outpost, which will serve as a one-stop shop for those wishing to explore the backcountry of West Virginia by ATV.
Upon completion, the outpost will feature 35 fully furnished cabins, retail space, restaurants, a gas station, convenience store, car wash and laundromat. The idea behind the project is to provide a full-service destination where guests can relax and enjoy the outdoors.
Twenty-five cabins are already under roof, and 10 additional cabins will be completed within the next year. The three-bedroom cabins will be equipped to sleep up to eight people. Due to its convenient location along the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System, ATV enthusiasts will be able to unhook their vehicles at the outpost and have direct access to the 700 miles of trails.
Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center
At the center of cultural activities in the Mountain State lies the newly renovated and modernized Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, which now houses expanded and additional meeting space, refurbished exhibit space and a new ballroom, catering kitchen and digital way-finding stations.
With an 8,000-square-foot atrium overlooking the Elk River and upgraded meeting areas, the center can now accommodate large conferences for various industries. All 25 meeting rooms are outfitted with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, flexible meeting configurations, digital screens and LCD projectors or smart TVs. The renovation, completed by BBL Carlton and ZMM Architects & Engineers, also included elements of West Virginia’s natural beauty into the architecture by using angular facing walls to reflect the cut rock faces that can be seen while driving on major interstates in the state.
The modernization of the center is not only reflected in its appearance but in its mission to create, implement and enforce policies that minimize its impact on the environment. Of the $100 million spent on the renovation, $28 million was used to purchase new HVAC and mechanical systems, resulting in increased energy efficiency.
Mylan Park Aquatic Center
Fitness and fun collide at the new Aquatic Center at Mylan Park in Morgantown. This state-of-the-art, 90,000-square-foot facility accommodates various water-related activities for people of all ages. It houses a community pool, outdoor splash pad, Olympic-sized 50-meter competitive pool, dive pools, fitness center, locker rooms, concessions and multi-
purpose classrooms.
Perfect for both family fun and individual use, the six-lane community pool and outdoor splash pad offer a variety of water play features, including six water slides.
Offering a truly dynamic fitness experience, members can enjoy a 1,600-square-foot fitness room with cardio and functional equipment, dual selectorized stations, free weights and stretching areas. At the center, the public can participate in private, semi-private and group swim classes.
Featuring the Morgantown area’s first Olympic-sized swimming pool, where up to 1,500 spectators can gather to cheer on West Virginia University’s swim teams, the facility is able to provide a wide range of experiences to its guests. When there are not swim meets or practices in progress, the competitive pool and diving well are open for members to enjoy.
Snowshoe Highlands IMBA Ride Center
One of only five of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic region, the Snowshoe Highlands IMBA Ride Center is a world-class network of mountain biking trails nestled deep in the Monongahela National Forest in Pocahontas County. While Snowshoe Highlands has been a top destination for mountain bikers on the East Coast for several years, the new bronze designation given by the IMBA situates the center in a class shared by only 40 others in the world.
This designation ensures that the ride center has large-scale facilities with trails available for every level of rider. Mountain bikers can expect a full-spectrum, well-rounded destination experience when visiting Snowshoe Highlands.
Sitting at 4,848 feet in elevation, Snowshoe Mountain is covered with long and short trail rides, loops, backcountry experiences and technical riding opportunities across its 11,000-acre backcountry. Riders will be greeted with rolling mountain vistas and babbling brooks while riding through the dense forest.
In the future, Snowshoe Highlands plans to develop two additional ride centers in nearby recreational areas in order to become an IMBA Regional Ride Center, which requires three additional ride centers to be located within two hours of it. This next phase is part of its vision to establish West Virginia as a true mountain biking haven.
Pipestem Peaks Zipline Tour, Adventure Lake and Splash Park
Experience Bluestone River Gorge at Pipestem Resort State Park like never before, thanks to Pipestem Peaks Zipline Tour, Adventure Lake and Splash Park.
Pipestem Peak’s three-hour zip line tour provides panoramic views of the gorge while soaring at heights of more than 300 feet. This unique 1,600-foot course features nine zips with a rope bridge, short hike and belay at the end. The tour concludes at the Mountain Creek Lodge at the bottom of the gorge, where guests catch the aerial tramway back up the mountain to the beginning of the course. Rain or shine, the zip line tours are operating hourly from May-October, giving the public an opportunity to experience the fall foliage in a whole new way.
Pipestem’s Adventure Lake offers more than 20 inflatables, some standing as high as 12-14 feet tall. Guests in search of R&R will enjoy relaxing on one of the beach chairs at the newly developed beach area. Those with younger children can take full advantage of the new Splash Park, which offers 15 different spraying, dumping and playing water installations. Splash Park is accessible with Adventure Lake admission. Both are open Memorial Day to Labor Day.
