Recreation
Unquestionably, West Virginia and the I-79 Corridor is a haven for outdoor lovers. The Mountain State is dotted with nearly 50 unique state parks, state forests and wildlife management areas, which are considered among the best in the nation. Few places offer a better way to experience nature firsthand and to revel in the solitude of the ancient Appalachian Mountains. North Central West Virginia offers over 70 miles of paved trails that weave through the cities and nature for walking, running, roller blading or biking.
Recreational activities are virtually endless. Fish for the elusive brook trout along a secluded stream or let the kids in on the fun at a bluegill fishing rodeo. Swim in a natural swimming hole, count laps in an indoor pool or round up the gang for a half-day horseback journey on hidden trails. You can bicycle from charming rural town to town, through eerie tunnels and across scenic bridges on West Virginia's award-winning rail-trail systems.
I-79 Corridor recreational amenities:
Pricketts Fort State Park is a day-use historical and recreational park, located just north of Fairmont, West Virginia, two miles off Interstate 79 at Exit 139. The original fort was built in 1774, and provided a place of refuge from Indian attack for early settlers to the area. Now a state park, the site also includes the Job Prickett House, built in 1859 and listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Both the reconstructed fort and the Job Prickett House are open for public tours from mid-April to November, with a living history style interpretation.
http://www.prickettsfort.org/
Stonewall Resort, among West Virginia's premier resorts and conference centers, blends luxury accommodations, lakeside cottages, spa services and golf with water sports and outdoor recreation. Leisure activities are virtually endless with an Arnold Palmer 18-hole championship golf course, a fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, and complete spa and salon services. Watercraft rentals and houseboats are available at our full marina. And in surrounding Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park, hiking, biking and natural beauty are just steps away.
http://www.stonewallresort.com/
Coopers Rock State Forest gets its name from a legend about a fugitive who hid from the law near what is now the overlook. A cooper by trade, he resumed making barrels at his new mountain hideout, selling them to people in nearby communities. Coopers Rock State Forest is 12,713 acres and serves as a recreation and preservation area. West Virginia's state forests also serve as areas of publicly owned land for forestry research, timber management, and watershed and wildlife protection. Bands of rockcliffs line the Cheat River Gorge and provide numerous overlooks. The centerpiece among these is the main overlook, which furnishes a panorama of the gorge and distant horizons.
http://www.coopersrockstateforest.com/
Cheat Lake located in northeastern Monongalia County, W.Va., was formed in 1925. The area was documented for development by a young George Washington, who envisioned a canal and portage system involving the Cheat River and the Lake Lynn area. The 13-mile lake has been a popular recreation spot ever since. Allegheny Energy owners of the lake recently added a 20-acre park and 4.5-mile hiking and biking trail on the banks of Cheat Lake for the enjoyment of the general public.
Golf is available throughout the I-79 Corridor, private and public, including the Pete Dye Signature Course, the Arnold Palmer designed course at Stonewall Jackson Lake, the four star rated Lakeview Course and numerous other exceptional courses.
http://www.tourmorgantown.com/index2.php
http://www.marioncvb.com/
http://www.greater-bridgeport.com/
http://www.clarksburg.com/events.htm
http://www.stonewallcountry.com/
