Almost right in the middle of "Wild, Wonderful" West Virginia sits the town of Summersville. Summersville's main attraction is Summersville Lake, formed by a rock-fill dam on the Gauley River. On that lake sits Mountain Lake Campground and Cabins, a family-oriented campground that has all the resources necessary to have a great time living the RV life.
It starts with the family. "We have owned the campground since 2005," said Abby James, daughter of the owners, "And it is truly a family experience. My mom and I run the store and my dad and brother do the maintenance." Along with the family, their staff and manager, Devin, receive great reviews for their attentive and friendly attitudes. James explains that the family originally was awarded the campground in order to have more time together. "My dad worked away from home a lot and we didn't have a lot of time as a family," James recalled, "So we were awarded the campground, moved from Oak Hill to Summersville and basically had to rebuild what was here." The family was chosen to run the campground after it came up for lease from the Army Corps of Engineers and they submitted their plan for running the campground.
Their goal for the past 14 years has been to provide a fun, family-oriented campground. "You know how a lot of people say they are going to do something and they never do? Well, my parents aren't like that. They did everything they set out to do," James informed The Buzz. And, as a result, the campground has something for everyone. There is a camp store, best described as something like "Cracker Barrel," said James, cabins and yurts, water/electric sites and primitive, pool and beach, and so much more. "Plus, we are right next to the Summersville Lake marina which rents pontoon boats," James said.
RV sites at Mountain Lake Campground & Cabins in West Virginia.
"Our goal is to have everything you need in the campground without having to leave," James said. Though there are plenty of fun things such as white water rafting and festivals throughout the summer, many folks enjoy having all the amenities and stay at the campground and enjoy it. One reviewer’s testimonial follows: "This was our first trip here and it will not be our last. We had a lakeside campsite which I will always want. So beautiful, camping right on the water. So much fun watching the boats, kids having fun in the water, and people kayaking. We never wanted to leave the campground. A pool, bouncy thing to jump on, putt putt golf, BBQ restaurant, golf carts to rent, and the lake. Great place to relax and have fun!"
They have cabins and three yurts for rent, as well. Recently the local Votech school came and built one of the cabins on the property as part of their curriculum. "Mom and Dad were looking for ways to involve the community and started talking to the high school about a program they have that provides different job training," said James. "About 23 students built a cabin for the property as part of the construction program."
James recommends renting one of their golf carts because the campground is pretty big. Also, there are some central activities throughout the summer that campers really enjoy. "One of activities for families is the chocolate lover’s weekend," James said. "There is a chocolate pool and even a chocolate slip and slide!" They also have a Pirate weekend, Christmas in July, and other events that can be seen here.
The area is known for its beauty, particularly for Summersville Lake, which is the largest lake in West Virginia. The Governor of West Virginia, Jim Justice, said of the lake: "According to SCUBA divers, Summersville Lake is the clearest freshwater lake east of the Mississippi River. This led to earning its name as “The Little Bahamas of the East.” Check it out for yourself today!" Though it is not perhaps the actual clearest lake east of the Mississippi, it is certainly a clear, clean lake with plenty to do. It has over 28,000 acres of water and 60 miles of shoreline. There are opportunities to boat, water-ski, swim, fish, and, as related by the Governor, SCUBA dive. In fact, there is an interesting tourist attraction 30-40 feet below the water for scuba divers. A couple decades ago, a scuba club sank a boat, The Thomas Patrick, for scuba divers to venture to and explore. It can also be seen above ground when the lake is drained in the winter months.
If you are to venture out of the campground, there are a lot of interesting sights and festivals. The 38th Annual Music in the Mountains Bluegrass Festival is from June 20 - June 23 and features some of the best performers in bluegrass. The Nicolas County Potato Festival takes place the first weekend of September in Summersville and will be celebrating its 50th year of rides, vendors, entertainment, and car show. There is also the Grape Stompin’ Festival, now in its 28th year, at Kirkwood Winery where visitors can drink wine and whiskey, as well as stomp some grapes!
Another interesting tourist destination is the only lighthouse in West Virginia, which was erected in 2012. According to the West Virginia Tourism website, the lighthouse started as a happy coincidence where a wind turbine rolled off the truck and became damaged to the point of it being incapable of producing wind power. Therefore, the Summersville Lake Retreat owners purchased it and the community pitched in to erect it as a lighthouse that provides great views of the lake and surrounding area. In fact, instructors and students at Fayette Institute of Technology and Nicholas County Career & Technical Center helped design and build the lighthouse’s lamp room and surrounding widow’s walk and the solid steel spiral staircase within. The crown piece, donated by Rader Airfield, is a vintage Westinghouse rotating beacon that casts a beam of light seen from 30 miles away. Though it is on another retreat area, the lighthouse is accessible to everyone.
These festivals, sights and more are available in and right outside Mountain Lake Campground and Cabins. If you are looking for “Wild, Wonderful” time in West Virginia, be sure to check out the campground and enjoy the family amenities that the James’ family offers.