Pilot your way to a mountain retreat
Leave your car at home and pilot to a secluded holiday instead!
That’s right, you can bring your plane on your West Virginia vacation! Take off and get refreshed deep in the countryside.
These 2 unusual places are just plane friendly:
Almost Heaven…
This “peaceful mountain oasis” is perfect for adventurers on holiday. To begin with, Heaven’s Landing Retreat in Burlington has its own landingstrip (4WV4) and hangar. That’s because a pilot and his wife own the joint.
Want to bunk above your plane at the house? You’ll feel like an early aviator in the Captain’s Suite, for sure. But Airstrip View is a restful, romantic room with— like its name suggests— a vantage point you don’t usually get at a retreat! You can also tuck into the country farmhouse or 6 pondside cabins.
Don’t have a plane but want a taste of the action? The family’s Just Plane Adventures can pick you up at virtually any airport in the Mid-Atlantic region!
If you want to get out and about, keep up the airplane theme with a visit to Flying W Farms Restaurant. They serve hearty, fresh Appalachian fare. Dig into their famous rib dinner or devour steak-and cheese subs, towering farmer burgers and homemade potato salad.
Taste more fresh dishes like egg scrambles, homemade apple-nut bread and specialties like pancake sandwiches and organic granola at Cafe Burlington. Tantalize your tastebuds with a creative spin on a classic: the Northwest Benedict, which stars wild Pacific salmon.
Right down the road is Flying Squirrel Ranch & Farm, which has a distillery and a stocked pond. Taste samples of craft whisky, gin, moonshine and more. You can also give your spirits a lift on Flying Squirrel’s 500-foot zip line!
Deep in the Gorge
Want luxury and the sensation of living in the wilderness? Wild Rock, a community tucked into the New River Gorge, has modern, upscale vacation homes.
Pick from luxurious lodging like The Tree House, a sprawling hideout perched among towering trees. Highlights include 2 master suites, a hot tub and a separate bunkhouse. Bring your friends— there’s plenty of room!
Or, The Cliff House’s sleek lines, glowing wood and vast windows have 4 large bedrooms, a fireplace, a raised kitchen and stupendous views. In fact, you can see the river 900 feet below the house!
You definitely won’t be bored in the Gorge. Fayetteville, America’s Coolest Small Town, is just down the hill, with quirky shops, a historic theater and a sprawling antique mall.
Wanna explore the wilderness? Gear up at Water Stone Outdoors before heading to New River Gorge National Park for an adventure and the iconic New River Gorge Bridge (BASE jumpers even leap from this landmark on Bridge Day.) Around here, there’s always something to do!
The town is also an unexpected dining gem! Try pizzas with offbeat toppings at Pies & Pints, one of America’s top 20 pizzerias. Sip crafted espresso drinks at Vandal’s Kitchen and the quaint Cathedral Cafe, which also makes homemade muffins and imaginative meals. But don’t miss Secret Sandwich Society’s lineup of local brews and handcrafted sandwiches, either.
Wondering where to park your plane during your stay at Wild Rock? Talk to the owners of the private airstrip that runs alongside the property. But Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW) makes a convenient back up plan— something all pilots gotta have!
What would you explore on your plane vacation in West Virginia?
This post was last updated on July 24, 2020