Guest question regarding Limited Mobility and things to do near Blackwater Falls
Dear Jamie and Daniel,
My husband and I are staying with you next month. We are both “elderly” and I need some guidance from you regarding activities and eateries. My husband is in his 80’s and has difficulty walking distances. We need activities that would involve him; such as the New Tygart Flyer train ride or the scenic chairlift at Canaan. Can you recommend some sites that are easily walked to (if would be wonderful if it could be tied into a nearby meal as well).
While we will cook and eat many of our meals at the cabin, I need a break too! What eateries are “safe” (Virus talking) and good eats. Not pizza, but real food. I would greatly appreciate your guidance.
We will have just celebrated our 56th anniversary and we are so looking forward to our time at your cabin. Thank you for your help.
Question submitted by Chris
Hi Chris,
Congratulations on 56 years of marriage! How wonderful!
I get your question often and I think I can help you find some activities in and around Tucker County and Blackwater Falls that will suit his limited mobility. My father is in his 70’s with limited mobility and I’m always thinking of things I can have him do when he visits our cabins.
Alpine Lodge in Bowden
First I want to mention my all-time favorite restaurant in our area, the Alpine Lodge Restaurant near Bowden (NOT the one in Davis). It will take just under twenty minutes to get there but the food is ABSOLUTELY worth the drive! They are a small, locally owned dinner-only restaurant with a menu that is all made from scratch, locally-sourced, and filled with fresh ingredients. They always have a few fresh seafood options as nightly specials plus my favorite, lamb chops. Make your reservation for this meal first, then plan your stay around it. That is my number one recommendation.
Potomac Eagle
You’re correct, the New Tygart Flyer would be a great option for you guys, as long as he is comfortable climbing their tall steps getting into the railroad car. If that is a bit too much for him, I do have another railroad excursion in mind for you. It is a little farther away from our cabins but the Potomac Eagle train ride in Romney is a wonderful trip as well! Unlike the Flyer, the Eagle has a handicap ramp that makes it super simple to get into the car. The ride itself is a little over 3 hours. They take passengers through the “trough”, a beautiful, remote stretch of the Potomac River where you almost always see a number of bald eagles soaring overhead or nesting in the tallest trees.
Dolly Sods Wilderness Area
There are several mountain overlooks that are easily within walking distance of the car near us. One of the most popular is the forest road across Dolly Sods. Most travel to the north overlook at Bear Rocks Preserve but there is also a beautiful overlook not more than a mile after the gate on the south side (much closer to our cabins). Just on the other sides of Dolly Sods is the town of Petersburg and Cheetah B’s, the best restaurant in the county. They are open for dine-in or take-out and they have a wonderful menu. I’ve stopped here many times and I’m never disappointed with their food.
Spruce Knob
If you’re not interested in traveling down a gravel road, Spruce Knob might be a great option for you. Entering from Riverton, it is a paved road all the way to the summit. Spruce Knob is the tallest point in West Virginia and the views from the top are absolutely gorgeous! You can get a great view from the parking lot but there is also a very short, flat trail around the park with stunning overlooks on all sides. This particular overlook might be a good option for you because there is a great home-cooking restaurant at the base of the mountain called Gateway Restaurant (dine-in). They are open most days of the week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their specific hours are on their Facebook page here.
Blackwater Falls State Park with Limited Mobility
Blackwater Falls State Park and the nearby towns of Thomas and Davis are worth a visit as well. Two of the easiest overlooks to get to are the Gentle Trail to Blackwater Falls (perfect for limited mobility) and Pendleton Point. Both are a very short, flat walk from the parking lot and easy to find using the road signs within the park. The lodge also has a full service restaurant inside called the Smokehouse (dine-in). Our favorite eateries that are currently open in Davis are Bright Morning Inn (take-out and outdoor seating) and Stumptown Ales (dine-in). While in this area, another beautiful overlook right off the road is at the Fred Long Centennial Park, located between the towns of Thomas and Parsons. You can’t miss it. It is immediately after the GIANT windmills just beside Route 219.
Canaan Valley State Park
Of course Canaan Valley State Park is worth driving through as well, even if you can’t walk any of the trails. In late summer and all through the fall season, the ski lodge operates its chair lift for a nice scenic ride to the top of the mountain and back down. The road to the golf course is also very pretty. The resort within the park has three restaurants to choose from including a café, a full 3-meal dining room and a lounge that serves pub food (all dine-in). We also frequent Amelia’s restaurant (dine-in) for breakfast on the weekends and Canaan Valley BBQ. They are getting a great reputation for amazing BBQ and have managed to stay open during the virus outbreak with their take-out window and outdoor seating.
Germany Valley Overlook
If you’re up for a little drive, I have another trip in mind as well. Follow Rt 33 to Seneca Rocks where you can take in that natural wonder from their parking lot, then continue like you’re heading toward Spruce Knob only this time continue down 33 beyond Gateway Restaurant and climb the mountain. Near the top is the Germany Valley Overlook. This is definitely worth a stop! You can continue down 33 into the cute town of Franklin or turn onto Rt 220 and find Swilled Dog Hard Cider in Upper Tract. They have a tasting room and do tours on certain weekends in their facility. My favorite restaurant on that side of the mountain is Asbury’s Restaurant at Seneca Caverns.
Other Senior-Friendly Ideas
There are other options that might be suitable for you guys as well. Bird watching at the Canaan Wildlife Refuge, a show at Gandy Dancer, a wine tasting at West-Whitehill Winery or a sampling of whiskey at Still Hollow Spirits, maybe even the train museum in Elkins come to mind. I listed out about every recreational opportunity that I could think of within driving distance of our cabins in a blog post here. It might be worth glancing over to see if you see anything else that might be interesting. Let me know if I can be of other assistance!
Thanks,
Daniel
