PIPESTEM, W.Va. — Take a ride on a zipline at heights of up to 250 feet, or try your hand at ax throwing, skeet shooting or archery, it’s all there this summer at Pipestem Resort State Park nestled between Mercer and Summers counties.
The activities got underway at Pipestem Memorial Day weekend and most continue through Labor Day in September, with some lasting longer.
The park’s main summer attractions include the Pipestem Peaks Zipline Tours, Adventure Lake and splash pad, and the multi-faceted Adventure Zone that includes eight different activities packed into one attraction.
Pipestem CEO Michael Buechler told MetroNews that all of the attractions are still fairly new at the park, with the lake and zipline being in year 6 and the Adventure Zone in year 4.
He said they have all been very well-received additions to the park, filling a gap in the Bluestone River portion of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and the Southern West Virginia region.
“You know, this part of the state didn’t have too many adventurous activities, we’re not quite as developed as Fayetteville in that regard, so this was a big addition to this area in Southern West Virginia and it’s very well-received,” Buechler said. “We have a lake full of kids on a daily basis, the weekends you can expect a couple hundred of people down here coming and going.”
He said they are also constantly updating and switching up certain aspects of the activities like the various obstacle courses on the lake.
The Adventure Zone includes ax throwing, skeet shooting, archery, disc golfing, e-biking, mountain biking, mini-golfing, and laser tag.
The zipline features heights reaching up to 250 feet over the Bluestone Gorge and speeds of up to 50 miles per hour.
Buechler said the zipline is a great activity to do at the park if you’re looking to take on something on the more extreme end.
“I believe it is the best zipline in the state, maybe I’m a little partial in that regard, but it is awesome, the last three ziplines go over the Bluestone Gorge three separate times and you’re upwards of 250 feet in the air,” he said.
A new state-of-the-art tram is also currently being built at the park. Buechler said it should be complete by sometime this fall.
He said the tram is the only form of transportation for guests to get back up the mountain from the zipline ride and they have being utilizing UTVs during the ongoing construction of the tram.
Buechler said even though the tram is mainly just meant for transportation purposes up and down the mountain, everyone always looks forward to the ride.
“It’s really good for all ages, I’m astonished at how many people come here just to ride that tram, and I think it’s because grandma, grandpa, the little ones can all do something together,” said Buechler.
The park’s previous tram was over 60 years old, opening for the first time in 1970.
The new tram system will feature many new modern upgrades and will be completely ADA handicapped accessible.
Pipestem also offers whitewater rafting on the Bluestone River, horseback riding trips and golf courses.
You can find out more about Pipetem’s various summer activities by going to their website. There you can also book the activities of your choosing.