Delicious food and gorgeous views. WV state park restaurants will wow your senses.
West Virginia’s state parks are known for unique and exciting attractions. From Blackwater Falls to the Pioneer Farm at Twin Falls, there’s no shortage of cool places to see. But did you know several state parks also have unique restaurants where you can enjoy one-of-a-kind meals and spectacular views? Here’s a sample of what some of our most popular park restaurants have to offer.
Vista Restaurant at Hawks Nest
Not all restaurants are made alike. And nothing has a view quite like the Vista Restaurant at Hawks Nest. Located in the park lodge, the Vista Restaurant overlooks the breathtaking New River Gorge and provides a bird’s eye view of the rugged New River Gorge National Park and Preserve below.
If you’re planning a vacation in the New River Gorge, you’ll definitely want to stay at Hawks Nest and spend some time at the Vista Restaurant. Hours vary by season, but the restaurant is open all year for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu features American dining staples, such as buttermilk pancakes at breakfast, hamburgers at lunch and New York strip steaks at dinner. You can’t go wrong, but make sure you stay for dessert and order vanilla bean ice cream, which comes in a Belgian waffle with your choice of strawberry, hot fudge or caramel topping.
The Lodge Restaurant at Tygart Lake
Eating out during a beach vacation is one of life’s greatest pleasures, but you don’t have to travel hundreds of miles to enjoy a delicious a crab cake. The Lodge Restaurant at Tygart Lake provides another unique dining experience: lakeside dining and food delivery to your boat. Just park your boat at the courtesy dock at the lodge.
The Lodge Restaurant is open all year and has a spacious outside patio dining area that provides great views of the lake and 350-slip marina. The menu features a signature crab cakes, steak dinners and rainbow trout, among other local favorites. The Lodge Restaurant also has a selection of microbrew beers and fresh-brewed coffee from West Virginia roasters.
Holly River Restaurant
Traveling is a great way to explore new places and try new things, but you have to admit there’s no place like home. The good thing about Holly River’s Restaurant is that you can enjoy a little bit of that down-home feeling while you’re on vacation.
Listed as one of the 101 Unique Places to Dine in WV, Holly River’s restaurant provides home-style meals and country hospitality. Featured menu items include homemade bread, lasagna and roast beef sandwiches, but the restaurant is best known for desserts, such as blackberry cobbler and rhubarb pie. They’re worth the trip alone! But you’ll want to plan to visit between April and October because the restaurant is only open during the vacation season.
Mountain Creek Dining Room at Pipestem Resort
You’ll have to ride an aerial tram down into the Bluestone River Gorge to eat at this next restaurant, but that’s just part of the experience. The Mountain Creek Dining Room at Pipestem Resort’s Mountain Creek Lodge is known for a unique menu and high-quality presentation.
Everything on the menu is made in house with love and care. There’s smoked wings with secret dry rub, brisket burnt end dip with seasoned crostini, weekly gourmet burgers and crab-stuffed trout with lemon dill and caper beurre blanc. And don’t forget the chocolate lava cake with fresh raspberries and chocolate ganache. You’ll need multiple visits during your stay just to try everything on the menu. Mountain Creek is open during the summer when Mountain Creek Lodge is open.
And for craft beer enthusiasts, make sure you try Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company’s 35 Parks Pale Ale, available on tap at Pipestem Resort. This beer has robust citrus and toasted flavors and is sure to refresh you after a day of outdoor activities.
Hungry yet? Here’s how you can get the most out of these West Virginia State Parks restaurants.
- Plan your trip.
Pick a park, or make plans to visit all four, and create a list of activities that will help you and your family work up an appetite during your stay.
- Book your stay.
Reserve your lodge room or cabin for a weekend or longer so you can enjoy several different meals in between your outdoor adventures.
- Make memories that last a lifetime.
Treat dinner with us like a meal at home by making it all about spending quality time with your family.
