Do you want your vacation lodging to be as adventurous as your activities? Then you’ve come to the right place! At West Virginia State Parks, we are constantly trying to think outside the box and give our guests a one-of-a-kind experience they will never forget. If you’re planning a trip, consider these top three unique places to stay:
Thorny Mountain Fire Tower: A View You’ll Never Forget
Thorny Mountain Fire Tower sits more than 3,000 feet above sea level and offers a spectacular 360 degree view of Seneca State Forest and the Greenbrier River Valley. Originally constructed in 1935 for wildfire detection, the tower is open to overnight guests who want to get away from (and above) it all. A campfire ring, picnic table and outhouse are located at the tower’s base. This unique accommodation, combined with views of the forest by day and stars by night, will truly give you an experience you’ll never forget.
Cass Scenic Railroad Company Houses: Historic Homes with Modern Conveniences
Perhaps the state’s best kept lodging secret, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park offers old-fashioned company houses from the era when Cass was a mountain logging town. These two-story houses are totally refurbished and include everything you’ll need for your stay. Each unit also comes equipped with television and Wi-Fi. Open year-round, the houses are heated for winter rentals. Twenty houses accommodate a range of 5-12 guests. Two houses are ADA accessible. Dogs and cats are permitted in designated cottages for an additional pet fee. The homes can be rented per day up to two weeks. And to top it all off, house guests staying five nights or more receive two free Cass train tickets!
Yurts: Camping with Convenience
You’ve seen them in movies and on television but may not have known their proper name. Yurts are round, tent-like structures with holes in the ceilings, and we have them at Tomlinson Run State Park! Each yurt comes with a cooler, propane stove, lantern, cookware, picnic table and fire ring, as well as at least one bunk bed. Two of the yurts, one of which has electricity, sleep two people each. The other two available yurts sleep up to five. Yurts book quickly and are available April-October.