From Rafting to Resort: One-Stop Gorge Vacations

Did you know that in the mid 1990s there were around 15 whitewater rafting companies in southern West Virginia?

Did you also know that at that same time, close to 250,000 people were coming here to raft on our southern WV rivers?

Rafting has been a huge draw for this area for a long time and has played a large role in West Virginia tourism. But these days, folks are visiting for much more than our great whitewater. They want to take advantage of all our natural wonders.  And a few rafting companies are helping visitors do just that.

Rafting Resorts

The rafting industry has changed a lot in the last 10 years, and it has as much to do with Disney World and DollyWood as it does with whitewater. These places are vacation destinations, where folks could easily spend a week doing a variety of activities.

A few rafting companies realized that in order to give customers what they wanted, growth was needed. One day on the river wasn’t enough. They needed to offer more.  They had to fight fire with fire.

Three southern West Virginia outfitters have started transitioning into full-fledged vacation resorts. In fact, some are offering all-inclusive packages. letting guests customize their stay.

One Stop Vacation

Adventures On The Gorge, ACE Adventure Resort and River Expeditions are all moving towards this model. Guests want full week vacation adventures, so outfitters are adding lots of new activities to their roster of current offerings.

Adventures on the Gorge just finished its Gorge View swimming pool, its skeet range and the Timbertrek Aerial Adventure Park. And they have plenty more to do. TreeTops Canopy Tours, disc golf, rock climbing, mountain biking, horseback riding, paintball and a whole lot more are right on site. Combine this with cabins, camping, and 3 restaurants, and everything you want out of your vacation is at your fingertips.

ACE Adventure Resort has many similar activities. They also have the coolest 5-acre lake, loaded with inflatable obstacles, slides, and a zip line. There’s also a mud obstacle course, a zip line, plenty of hiking and biking trails., and ATVs. ACE owns over 1,000 acres of mountainous WV terrain and there is plenty of lodging onsite, from primitive camping to plush cabins. ACE is also very adept at handling large groups.

River Expeditions also offers many of the same great activities for folks ranging from mild to wild.  Luxury cabins, outdoor pool, and an on-site saloon are just a few of the amenities. There are plenty of packages available, and custom vacations can also be created.

What’s your favorite part of an all-inclusive vacation in southern West Virginia?