Long History, Glowing Future

Pipestem Resort State Park has caught the eye of many awestruck travelers and adventure seekers. 

This story was originally published in the August 2025 issue of Wonderful West Virginia. To subscribe, visit wonderfulwv.com.

Written by Dawn Nolan
Photos Courtesy of West Virginia Department of Commerce

Pipestem Resort State Park marked its 55th anniversary on Memorial Day. With the highly anticipated reopening of its aerial tram on the horizon, a 55-show concert series underway, and its naturalist-led Full Moon Hikes gaining popularity—not to mention its aerial adventure tour, aquatic playground, championship 18-hole golf course, 26 miles of trails, and other numerous recreational activities—it has only gotten better with age

Located at the border of Mercer and Summers counties on the east rim of the Bluestone River Gorge, Pipestem Resort State Park opened in 1970—but its story begins a decade earlier, during John F. Kennedy’s presidential primary campaign. 

“Kennedy came to West Virginia and brought his entire family with him,” Pipestem Resort Activities Coordinator Scott Hill says. “They fell in love with Southern West Virginia, and Southern West Virginia fell in love with the Kennedys. And so, JFK promised that, if he became president, he would help Southern West Virginia with economic development, and that economic development could come in the form of a resort.”

Though Kennedy did not have the chance to see that promise fully carried out during his lifetime, Pipestem Resort State Park was built with grants provided by the Area Redevelopment Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce under his administration. 

“His dream was already in place. Now, every day you walk on the property at Pipestem, it’s part of John F. Kennedy’s dream. That’s our history,” Hill says, pulling a coin out of his pocket. “And so, for our employees, we have a John F. Kennedy half-dollar. On the back it says, ‘Promise made by John F. Kennedy in 1960, promise kept by Pipestem 1970,’ and the new ones say, ‘And the promise continues with you.’ It’s a reminder of what links us all.” 

High in the Sky 

Pipestem Resort State Park has grown significantly over the years, and one major addition was in 2019, when the park opened its Pipestem Peaks Zipline Tour. 

“We change because our guests want different things, and we want to make sure that we have what they want,” Hill says. “I mean, in 1970, ziplining wasn’t a thing, but it definitely is now.”

Pipestem Peaks consists of nine different ziplines, a cable bridge, a belay, and two short hikes. It begins at the Canyon Rim Center and ends at the bottom of the Bluestone River Gorge. The longest zip is approximately 1,600 feet, or more than a quarter of a mile. Riders can travel up to 50 miles per hour at over 300 feet in the air! The whole tour lasts 2½ to 3½ hours, and reservations can be made online.

But soon, the zipline won’t be the only opportunity you’ll have to see the beauty of the park from the skies. The park’s aerial tram, which had run since 1971, was shut down after the 2023 season to be replaced with newer machinery, and the project is almost complete. 

“The previous tram was a four-person tram—this is an eight-person tram,” Hill says. “The previous tram was a lot more subject to winds than this particular one. It’s going to be a lot more sturdy and able to carry more.” 

Pipestem Resort’s aerial tram takes riders down into the Bluestone River Gorge. It travels 3,410 feet with an elevation change of 1,200 feet over the course of about six minutes. At the bottom are the Bluestone River and the soon-to-reopen Mountain Creek Lodge—a 30-room lodge with full-service restaurant and gift shop that will be accessible only by the aerial tram. The restaurant is set to offer Appalachian fine dining with all the classics, from biscuits and gravy to catfish filets and much more. 

To Hill, the Mountain Creek area is like stepping back in time. “You go down, and the forest is back to where it was hundreds of years ago. There’s not a whole lot of roads going through, and there’s not a highway. If someone needs time to breathe, Mountain Creek is the place.”  

Down at the Water

There’s nothing better on a hot summer day than cooling off in the water, and at Pipestem Resort State Park, there are options. 

Climb, slide, and jump on giant inflatables at Adventure Lake for a few hours or all day long. When you need a break, sit back in a lounge chair on the beach. Got little ones? Take them to the Splash Park and Kids Zone, with 18 splash features for them to discover and enjoy. “The Splash Park is good for younger folks. It’s a place where you can take your toddler, and you know they’ll be safe,” Hill says. Adventure Lake and Splash Park are open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Labor Day. Passes can be booked online in anticipation of your next outing. 

DID YOU KNOW? The name Pipestem is derived from Spirea alba, also known as the pipestem or meadowsweet plant, the stems of which were once used as shafts for tobacco pipes. It is found around the park.

If you are itching to cast a line, the park’s location on the Bluestone River makes it a perfect place to fish. “Some of the die-hard sportsmen like to smallmouth bass fish in it,” says Park Superintendent Frank Ratcliffe. “It’s a very shallow stream, so they do a lot of wade fishing. Fly fishing for smallmouth is a lot of fun on the Bluestone River.” 

Additionally, within the park, Long Branch Lake is trout-stocked. “Now, in the summer months, more do channel catfishing,” Ratcliffe says. “It’s got some good channel catfish in it.” A valid fishing license is required. 

Extra Activities for Extra Fun

Pipestem Resort State Park has four golf courses: a championship 18-hole designed by Geoffrey Cornish and a nine-hole par three, plus miniature golf and disc golf courses over at Pipestem Adventures—a must-visit part of the park with fun for visitors of all ages. There are also a driving range and areas designated for FlingGolf and foot golf. “If you want to do a short course, we have that, and then if you want to be challenged, we have that as well,” Hill says.

When not hosting golfers, the courses also welcome curious visitors for Full Moon Walks led by park naturalists. “We take every opportunity to let our guests get out into nature with a staff member of the park,” Hill says. “And the Full Moon Hikes are a great opportunity to do that. They’re done on our golf course, so it’s a big, open space. The naturalists are armed with information on certain phases of the moon that they share with the group. We’ve done one for the Pink Moon and the Harvest Moon, for example.”

The walk is about 2½ miles long along holes one through nine. Weather-appropriate clothing and a flashlight are recommended. 

“It’s a low-impact, high-fun thing,” Hill says. “It’s amazing when you slow down your pace and you notice what’s right under your nose. These full moon hikes let you chill out for a bit and do that.” 

And, finally, when it comes time for rest and relaxation, Pipestem Resort has something for that, too. The on-site Mountain Serenity Spa will pamper and rejuvenate you for continued adventures. From massages and manicures to Reiki and trail therapy, with special packages for couples, men, and brides, you’ll never want your stay to end. 

With all this and more, Pipestem Resort State Park welcomes visitors from across the state and country and even internationally every year. “There’s a lot of people that have come here every year for the last 40, 50 years. It’s a tradition for them,” Hill says. “We have guests from Southern West Virginia, all through West Virginia, in our region, and some worldwide, from the Philippines to Brazil. It’s amazing where people travel from to get to Pipestem.”