ACE Adventure Resort
Encyclopedia
ACE Adventure Resort is a 1500 acres (607 ha) commercial outdoor wilderness park located in the New River Gorge, in Fayette County, West Virginia
, USA.
With four rafts, ACE began operation in 1980 out of a rented room at the old Chuckwagon Motel in Oak Hill
, West Virginia
where the two original owners met up with vacationers before raft trips. A former strip mine surrounded by wooded forest was bought in 1988. ACE also occupies property that was once a favored hunting and fishing retreat of President Harry S. Truman
. There were only three buildings on the property when ACE took residence: the house Truman stayed in, an A-frame for the Secret Service
detail and a small lodge structure near one of the property's five lakes. The lodge was expanded to a present day dining facility. ACE recently acquired Wildwater Expeditions, the first whitewater rafting outfitter to make a trip down the Gauley river.
, which are two of the most powerful rivers in the northeast. Other accommodations at ACE include a 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) lake and beach, 27 hotel-style cabins, 27 rustic houses and 30 different kinds of tents, along with 40 horses for riding.
Fayette County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,579 people, 18,945 households, and 13,128 families residing in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile . There were 21,616 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
, USA.
History
Original American Canadian Expeditions (ACE) owner Ernie Kincaid began kayaking on the New River as a teenager in 1969, one year after the first rafting company successfully made it down the river, and would follow rafters down on his kayak.With four rafts, ACE began operation in 1980 out of a rented room at the old Chuckwagon Motel in Oak Hill
Oak Hill, West Virginia
Oak Hill is a city in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States and is the primary city within the Oak Hill, WV Micropolitan Statistical Area. The micropolitan area is also included in the Beckley-Oak Hill, WV Combined Statistical Area. The population was 7,589 at the 2000 census...
, 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...
where the two original owners met up with vacationers before raft trips. A former strip mine surrounded by wooded forest was bought in 1988. ACE also occupies property that was once a favored hunting and fishing retreat of President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
. There were only three buildings on the property when ACE took residence: the house Truman stayed in, an A-frame for the Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
detail and a small lodge structure near one of the property's five lakes. The lodge was expanded to a present day dining facility. ACE recently acquired Wildwater Expeditions, the first whitewater rafting outfitter to make a trip down the Gauley river.
Activities
ACE offers 17 activities, whitewater rafting, along with Zip Line Canopy Tours, rope courses, ATV rides, horseback riding, rock climbing, mountain biking, kayaking clinic, swimming, kayak tours, paintball, a mud obstacle course, adventure lake and beach, fishing, camping, team-building and Bridge Walk tours. Guided trips on two rivers: the New River (Kanawha River) and the Gauley RiverGauley River
The Gauley River is a river in West Virginia. It merges with the New River to form the Kanawha River, a tributary of the Ohio River. It is one of the most popular advanced whitewater runs in the Eastern United States and is the chief feature of the Gauley River National Recreation Area.-Headwaters...
, which are two of the most powerful rivers in the northeast. Other accommodations at ACE include a 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) lake and beach, 27 hotel-style cabins, 27 rustic houses and 30 different kinds of tents, along with 40 horses for riding.