Pipestem Resort State Park
Encyclopedia
Pipestem Resort State Park is a 4050 acres (1,639 ha) state park
located in southern West Virginia
, on the border between Mercer
and Summers
counties. The park was built with grants provided by the Area Redevelopment Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce
under the administration of President John F. Kennedy
. It is located in the gorge of the Bluestone River
.
The Park name derives from pipestem, or narrowleaf meadowsweet (Spiraea alba
), a locally common shrub historically used for making pipe stems.
The park features two hotel
s, one of which may be reached only by an aerial tramway
to the bottom of the gorge, 26 fully equipped wood cabins, a regular and a par-3
golf course
, several restaurants, and other recreational activities, including its own stable of horses.
The park's nature center
features displays of native plants and animals, and offers nature programs. The Nature Center is open year-round, and includes the Harris Homestead, a reconstructed 1900s period historic house museum, barn and meat house.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
located in southern West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, on the border between Mercer
Mercer County, West Virginia
-External links:* * * * * * *...
and Summers
Summers County, West Virginia
Summers County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 13,927. Its county seat is Hinton. Summers County was created by an act of the West Virginia General Assembly on February 27, 1871 from parts of Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer and Monroe...
counties. The park was built with grants provided by the Area Redevelopment Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce
United States Department of Commerce
The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903...
under the administration of President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
. It is located in the gorge of the Bluestone River
Bluestone River
The Bluestone River is a tributary of the New River, 77 mi long, in southwestern Virginia and southern West Virginia in the United States. Via the New, Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River...
.
The Park name derives from pipestem, or narrowleaf meadowsweet (Spiraea alba
Spiraea alba
Spiraea alba, commonly known as narrowleaf meadowsweet, pale bridewort, or pipestem, grows on wet soils of the Allegheny Mountains and other portions of eastern North America....
), a locally common shrub historically used for making pipe stems.
The park features two hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
s, one of which may be reached only by an aerial tramway
Aerial tramway
An aerial tramway , cable car , ropeway or aerial tram is a type of aerial lift which uses one or two stationary ropes for support while a third moving rope provides propulsion...
to the bottom of the gorge, 26 fully equipped wood cabins, a regular and a par-3
Par (score)
The word "par" is a term in the game of golf used to denote the pre-determined number of strokes that a scratch golfer should require to complete a hole, a round , or a tournament...
golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
, several restaurants, and other recreational activities, including its own stable of horses.
The park's nature center
Nature center
A nature center is an organization with a visitor center or interpretive center designed to educate people about nature and the environment. Usually located within a protected open space, nature centers often have trails through their property. Some are located within a state or city park, and...
features displays of native plants and animals, and offers nature programs. The Nature Center is open year-round, and includes the Harris Homestead, a reconstructed 1900s period historic house museum, barn and meat house.
Nearby cities and attractions
- Athens, West VirginiaAthens, West VirginiaAthens is a town in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,102 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bluefield, WV-VA micropolitan area which has a population of 107,578. It is the home of Concord University.-History:...
- Concord UniversityConcord UniversityConcord University is a comprehensive, public, liberal arts institution located in Athens, West Virginia, United States, founded on February 28, 1872, when the West Virginia Legislature passed "an Act to locate a Branch State Normal School, in Concord Church, in the County of Mercer".Founded by...
- Princeton, West VirginiaPrinceton, West VirginiaPrinceton is a city in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 7,652 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bluefield, WV-VA micropolitan area which has a population of 111,586. It is the county seat of Mercer County...
- Hinton, West VirginiaHinton, West VirginiaHinton is a city in Summers County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,880 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Summers County. Hinton was established in 1873 and chartered in 1897. Hinton was named for John "Jack" Hinton, a prominent lawyer of Summers County and husband of...
- Bluestone State ParkBluestone State ParkBluestone State Park is a state park in Summers County, West Virginia. The park is located along the western shores of Bluestone Lake, an impoundment of the New River built and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers...
- Bluestone LakeBluestone LakeBluestone Lake is a flood control reservoir located on the New River near Hinton, West Virginia. At its normal pool level, Bluestone Dam impounds a stretch of the New and its tributary, the Bluestone River. Normally approximately in size, the lake can grow to over long at flood control pool...
- New River
- Sandstone Falls