Canaan Valley Resort State Park
Encyclopedia
Canaan Valley Resort State Park is a state park
within Canaan Valley, Tucker County, West Virginia
. Located in the highest valley east of the Mississippi River
, the park contains the second-largest inland wetland
area in the United States
. The valley featured the first commercial ski development in West Virginia.
The club began slope development in the early 1950s, signing a ten year operational lease with local landowners in 1954. Their slope, named Cabin Mountain Ski Area, featured two rope tows on 40 acre (0.1618744 km²) of terrain stretching from route 32 to a height of 3600 feet (1,097.3 m). Runs extended 0.25 miles (402.3 m) down a slope with a vertical drop of 300 feet (91.4 m). It was the first commercial ski establishment south of the Mason-Dixon Line
. The ski area closed in 1962.
In 1955, University of Virginia School of Law
student Robert Barton established Weiss Knob Ski Area, climbing the slope of Weiss Knob above the Cabin Mountain site to a height of 3900 feet (1,188.7 m). It featured 60 acre (0.2428116 km²) of terrain serviced by a t-bar as well as three rope tows. This site was acquired by the state of West Virginia in 1959, so Barton reopened "Weiss Knob Ski Area" at a new site on Cabin Mountain's Bald Knob. Opening in fall 1959, the new site featured four rope tows and the first snowmaking
equipment in West Virginia; in its first season, 412 inches (10.5 m) of snow fell, burying the equipment and closing the facility for the year. The resort remained open until 1970, when the impending opening of Canaan Valley Resort prompted Barton to go out of business. This new ski area was actually a redevelopment of the original Weiss Knob site; the second Weiss Knob site would be re-opened as the second home of White Grass Ski Touring Center
in 1981.
In 1957, the state of West Virginia made its first land acquisition with an eye toward further developing a ski industry in West Virginia. Sarah Maude Thompson Kaemmerling granted 3149 acres (12.7 km²) to the state in the 1950s for the formation of a state park with the stipulation that the state make a matching 3000 acres (12.1 km²) acquisition. The state would go on to claim more than 30 properties between 1964 and 1970. It was not until 1971, however, that the Canaan Valley Resort State Park was established centering on the ski slopes at the southern end of the Valley. In 1972, an 18 hole golf course was also constructed there. The lodge at Canaan Valley Resort State Park Lodge opened in 1977.
The park has been very successful and several private ski operations have opened nearby and in other parts of the state as well.
s, snow tubing, and since the 2005-06 season has been one of six ski areas in the U.S. to allow airboarding on its slopes.
A chairlift
and rope tow access the resort's beginner skiing area, on the far right of the mountain (facing up the slope). Other than this terrain and one long green trail running from the summit to the resort base, practically all the mountain terrain is marked more difficult or most difficult. These blue and black slopes generally descend the mountain at the same pitch, regardless of their difficulty marking. A triple chair and quad chair access the resort summit; the latter also has a mid-mountain station, which is the point at which airboarders are separated from other mountain users.
course.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
within Canaan Valley, Tucker County, West Virginia
Tucker County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,321 people, 3,052 households, and 2,121 families residing in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile . There were 4,634 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...
. Located in the highest valley east of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, the park contains the second-largest inland wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
area in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The valley featured the first commercial ski development in West Virginia.
History
In 1950 and 1951, members of the Washington Ski Club identified the Canaan Valley side of Cabin Mountain as an opportune place for ski development, based on pilots' reports. Because of its protection from the sun, snow on that side of the mountain often remains until April or later.The club began slope development in the early 1950s, signing a ten year operational lease with local landowners in 1954. Their slope, named Cabin Mountain Ski Area, featured two rope tows on 40 acre (0.1618744 km²) of terrain stretching from route 32 to a height of 3600 feet (1,097.3 m). Runs extended 0.25 miles (402.3 m) down a slope with a vertical drop of 300 feet (91.4 m). It was the first commercial ski establishment south of the Mason-Dixon Line
Mason-Dixon line
The Mason–Dixon Line was surveyed between 1763 and 1767 by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon in the resolution of a border dispute between British colonies in Colonial America. It forms a demarcation line among four U.S. states, forming part of the borders of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and...
. The ski area closed in 1962.
In 1955, University of Virginia School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
student Robert Barton established Weiss Knob Ski Area, climbing the slope of Weiss Knob above the Cabin Mountain site to a height of 3900 feet (1,188.7 m). It featured 60 acre (0.2428116 km²) of terrain serviced by a t-bar as well as three rope tows. This site was acquired by the state of West Virginia in 1959, so Barton reopened "Weiss Knob Ski Area" at a new site on Cabin Mountain's Bald Knob. Opening in fall 1959, the new site featured four rope tows and the first snowmaking
Snowmaking
Snowmaking is the production of snow by forcing water and pressurized air through a "snow gun" or "snow cannon", on ski slopes. Snowmaking is mainly used at ski resorts to supplement natural snow. This allows ski resorts to improve the reliability of their snow cover and to extend their ski...
equipment in West Virginia; in its first season, 412 inches (10.5 m) of snow fell, burying the equipment and closing the facility for the year. The resort remained open until 1970, when the impending opening of Canaan Valley Resort prompted Barton to go out of business. This new ski area was actually a redevelopment of the original Weiss Knob site; the second Weiss Knob site would be re-opened as the second home of White Grass Ski Touring Center
White Grass Ski Touring Center
White Grass Ski Touring Center is a cross-country skiing facility located in Canaan Valley in Tucker County, West Virginia. It originally opened in 1979 on White Grass Knob near Harrisonburg, Virginia. Two years later, the operation was moved to the site of the second Weiss Knob Ski Area...
in 1981.
In 1957, the state of West Virginia made its first land acquisition with an eye toward further developing a ski industry in West Virginia. Sarah Maude Thompson Kaemmerling granted 3149 acres (12.7 km²) to the state in the 1950s for the formation of a state park with the stipulation that the state make a matching 3000 acres (12.1 km²) acquisition. The state would go on to claim more than 30 properties between 1964 and 1970. It was not until 1971, however, that the Canaan Valley Resort State Park was established centering on the ski slopes at the southern end of the Valley. In 1972, an 18 hole golf course was also constructed there. The lodge at Canaan Valley Resort State Park Lodge opened in 1977.
The park has been very successful and several private ski operations have opened nearby and in other parts of the state as well.
Canaan Valley Resort
Canaan Valley Resort opened for skiing in 1971, on the original site of Weiss Knob Ski Area. It offers 39 ski trails, two terrain parkTerrain park
A terrain park is an outdoor area that contains terrain that allows skiers and snowboarders to perform tricks. Terrain parks have their roots in skateparks and many of the features are common to both. One of the first in-bounds terrain parks was the "Snowboard Park" built in 1990 at the Vail...
s, snow tubing, and since the 2005-06 season has been one of six ski areas in the U.S. to allow airboarding on its slopes.
A chairlift
Chairlift
An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel cable loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs...
and rope tow access the resort's beginner skiing area, on the far right of the mountain (facing up the slope). Other than this terrain and one long green trail running from the summit to the resort base, practically all the mountain terrain is marked more difficult or most difficult. These blue and black slopes generally descend the mountain at the same pitch, regardless of their difficulty marking. A triple chair and quad chair access the resort summit; the latter also has a mid-mountain station, which is the point at which airboarders are separated from other mountain users.
Amenities and recreation
Canaan Valley Resort State Park features a 250 room ski lodge, cabins, and camping. The park also provides hiking trails, bike trails, and a championship-level golfGolf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
course.
See also
- Alpine skiingAlpine skiingAlpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
- List of West Virginia state parks
- Canaan Valley National Wildlife RefugeCanaan Valley National Wildlife RefugeThe Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Tucker County, West Virginia is the 500th National Wildlife Refuge to be established in the USA. The refuge preserves a moist valley with unique wetlands and uplands at a relatively high elevation in the Allegheny Mountains. It is administered by the...
- White Grass Ski Touring CenterWhite Grass Ski Touring CenterWhite Grass Ski Touring Center is a cross-country skiing facility located in Canaan Valley in Tucker County, West Virginia. It originally opened in 1979 on White Grass Knob near Harrisonburg, Virginia. Two years later, the operation was moved to the site of the second Weiss Knob Ski Area...