2024 SATW Central States and Eastern States Chapters Meeting

Monday, May 13 – Friday, May 17, 2024

Meeting at a Glance

Conference Sponsors

Adventures on the Gorge, Visit Southern West Virginia and Greenbrier County CVB have developed the partnerships and support to provide funding, transportation, meals, event hosting, day tours and pre- and post-conference tours. These entities are eager to show SATW why John Denver called it “Almost Heaven.”

Established in 2007, Adventures on the Gorge is one of the world’s first adventure resorts. Located on more than 300 acres adjacent to the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, the resort offers more than two dozen outdoor adventures including whitewater rafting on the New and Gauley Rivers, aerial adventures, rock climbing, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, fishing, mountain biking and hiking. The resort features an array of lodging choices including deluxe multi-bedroom rental homes and cabins, hotel-style cabins, bunkhouse cabins, rustic cabins, glamping tents, RV sites and campgrounds. In addition, the resort offers restaurants, shops, a conference center and a variety of vacation packages.

Visit Southern West Virginia is comprised of nine counties offering a variety of activities and places to stay. Included are cities and small towns, railroad and coal history, adventure and art. This is an exciting mix of rural areas and delightful downtowns.

Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau is focused on the Greenbrier Valley which is known for its historical landmarks, foodie culture and natural beauty. The Greenbrier Resort is its most famous attraction, but the Old Stone Church, Carnegie Hall, Alderson’s Store and other gathering places have maintained their prominence in this vibrant valley.

Registration Timing

Early Bird Pricing – Jan. 2-31, 2024, Meeting Pricing increases $50 per person Feb. 1-29.

SATW member couples: A reduced rate will be provided for the second registration in the event of SATW member couples who are both attending the meeting.

Number of Delegates

Maximum: 60

Accommodations

Accommodations will be provided for three or four nights of the core meeting at a choice of cabins, glamping tents, RV sites and campsites at Adventures on the Gorge.

*Members flying from the Lewisburg Airport will have the option of spending the final night at a Greenbrier County hotel.

Conference center

The Adventures on the Gorge conference center – The Lookout Post – was built in 2016 and is located on the rim of the New River Gorge and Smokey’s restaurant. The Lookout Post features up to five meeting rooms with flexible design to accommodate a maximum of 200 people theater style. Separately or when combined with Smokey’s and varied outdoor patios and decks, the facility is an extraordinary special events venue.

Registration Fee Includes:

· Ground transportation on Monday, May 13 and Friday, May 17 to/from Charleston’s Yeager airport (CRW) or Lewisburg’s Greenbrier Valley (LWB) airport and selected Amtrak stations and Adventures on the Gorge

· Four nights of accommodations at Adventures on the Gorge (or three nights at AOTG and one night at a Lewisburg or Sulphur Springs hotel for members departing from the Lewisburg Airport)

· Four dinners, four breakfasts, four lunches. All meals beginning with the reception on the opening night and breakfast on departure day

· Professional development sessions

· Marketplace

· Awards dinner

· Chapter business meetings and breakfast speaker

· Choice of two half-day tours and one full-day tour

· Awards banquet

Getting here

Southern West Virginia is located within 500 miles of about 50 percent of the U.S. population. Two major interstates – I-77 and I-64 – cross through the heart of the region. The area is served by two regional airports – Charleston’s Yeager (CRW) and Greenbrier Valley (LWB) in Lewisburg as well as Amtrak train stations.

Ground Transportation

Ground transfers will be provided to and from Yeager International Airport (CRW) and Lewisburg-Greenbrier Valley Airport (LWB) as well as the Amtrak stations in White Sulphur Springs and Prince. Ground transfers will be available for all pre- and post-meeting trips as well as on Monday, May 13 and Friday, May 17. Members wishing to participate in the welcome reception and dinner must arrive by 4 p.m. Drive-time from CRW to Adventures on the Gorge is one hour, 15 minutes.

Weather

In May, the typical high temperatures are in the 70s and lows are in the high 40s.

Pre-Meeting Trips

Pre-meeting trips begin post-lunch at 1 p.m. on the start day and end at 4 p.m. on May 13, the first day of the core meeting unless otherwise noted. Pre-trip hosts will provide transportation from airports to the start point for the pre-trip as well as transportation from the end of the pre-trip to Adventures on the Gorge for the start of the meeting.

Post-Meeting Trips

Post-meeting trips begin following breakfast at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 17 and end on the final day. Post-trip hosts will provide transportation from AOTG or Greenbrier County as well as transportation to airports at the end of the trips.

What’s so Special About Southern West Virginia?

Southern West Virginia has something – actually, a lot of somethings – for every person in the family. The adventurer will find options ranging from river rafting to rock climbing to aerial activities. The history buff will want to return often. Its heritage is heavy on immigrant-driven industry with a culture featuring distinct musical, culinary and other offerings. West Virginia was the last state to see an Interstate highway and is the first that comes to mind when someone refers to “Country Roads.”

May is the perfect time to show off the state. The rivers are running high, temperatures are comfortable, and destinations and attractions are ready for visitors.

Adventure

The region is home to multiple adventures on land, in the water and in the air.

Land adventures include hiking, mountain biking and some of the best rock climbing east of the Mississippi. Water activities go beyond the world-class whitewater rafting on the New and Gauley Rivers with Summersville Lake hosting boaters and swimmers throughout the summer. Aerial adventures include ziplines, ropes courses and the BridgeWalk.

National Parks

The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is the country’s newest – and West Virginia’s first – national park. The region is also home to the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River.

History

Early Colonial life, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the coal fields and the railroads helped to define West Virginia, and their influences are still felt today. The state abounds with historic sites, railroad excursions and mine tours. There’s even a trail commemorating the country’s most famous feud between two families, the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System. West Virginians embrace their past, and they love to show their guests around.

Culture West Virginia is regarded as the center of Appalachian culture. Folk music from Irish and Scottish immigrants resulted in the Bluegrass we listen to today, and African American Blues has been a large part of our culture. German and English immigrant groups are also common to the state’s heritage.

Early Bird Pricing opens on January 2.

Half-Day Tours

Upper New River Rafting

The mild whitewater of the Upper New River offers gentle rapids and scenic views of the New River Gorge. Rafters typically paddle small inflatable kayaks – called duckies – that hold one adult. Tour participants can also choose to paddle in a raft with a guide. Paddlers will experience Class II and Class III Rapids. No experience necessary.

The trip begins at Adventures on the Gorge, where you will be outfitted with a helmet, Personal Flotation Device (PFD), wetsuit and splash jacket if needed. Rafters should wear or bring a synthetic layer and neoprene gloves and booties if you tend to get cold. Also bring sunscreen, sunglasses and any medication needed. Guides carry small waterproof bags to stow medications.

Lower New River Rafting – Express Run

This half-day express rafting trip is among the most popular adventures at Adventures on the Gorge, with 25 Class II-V rapids and stunning scenery. In the spring, the trip is typically 16 miles long. Guides and up to eight passengers maneuver the 16-foot raft through rapids and obstacles. No experience is necessary, but paddlers should be comfortable in the water and be able to swim.

TreeTops Zipline Canopy Tour

This on-campus zipline meanders through an old-growth Eastern Hemlock forest and features 10 zip lines, five sky bridges, two short hikes and a 30-foot rappel off the final platform. The course begins on a ridge top and gradually descends through a hardwood forest biome of oak, maple and birch before settling at a stand of hemlock trees along Mill Creek. In the spring, look for the spectacular blooms of rhododendron, the West Virginia state flower.

West Virginia’s magnificent hemlock trees are threatened by the invasive Woolly Adelgid, a tiny insect that infests trees and ultimately kills them. Adventures on the Gorge helps mitigate the devastating impact of these insects by using a portion of fees to fund protective treatments.

Timber Trek Adventure Park

This aerial obstacle course features seven increasingly challenging courses with dozens of platforms as well as bridges, ziplines and crazy obstacles that challenge agility and strength. Courses range from easy to highly challenging. You can go at your own pace and choose when to stop.

Bridge Walk

The Bridge Walk features a 3,030-foot-long catwalk 25 feet below the surface of the New River Gorge Bridge with heights topping out at 852 feet. You’re securely harnessed in and following a guide as you learn about the history of this remarkable bridge.

On Your Own – Adventures on the Gorge, Fayetteville and National Park Service Canyon Rim Visitor Center

Explore Adventures on the Gorge campus on your own. Visit the funky and charming shops, galleries and breweries of downtown Fayetteville. Or explore the exhibits at the National Park Service Canyon Rim Visitor Center and walk to the New River Gorge Bridge. Adventures on the Gorge will provide shuttles between the three locations.

Full-Day Tours

Greenbrier Valley Sampler

Participants in this tour will discover some of the wonders of Greenbrier Valley, including underground treasures, the arts and history of downtown Lewisburg and its fantastic foodie scene. Begin the day with a tour of the Cold War-era bunker at The Greenbrier guided walk through the historic landmark hotel. Next up, an exclusive tour of The Schoolhouse Hotel. The world’s first fully accessible ADA-compliant hotel. Then descend 120 feet below the Earth’s surface for a 45-minute walk through Lost World Caverns. Discovered in 1942, the cave features a wonderland of stalactites and stalagmites. (Bring a jacket; it’s 52 degrees down there.) After the cave tour, participants will head to downtown Lewisburg for historic Carnegie Hall and Greenbrier Valley Theater tours. The day will include a leisurely lunch at a downtown restaurant.

Foodie Scene in the Greenbrier Valley

Explore the vibrant foodie scene within the Greenbrier Valley. The day starts with a tour of the Cold War-era bunker at The Greenbrier and guided walk through the historic resort. Sample the “spirit” of West Virginia at Smooth Ambler Spirits. Take a tour of historic downtown Lewisburg, peppered with stops at various restaurants, for a taste of the ever-growing food scene. End the day in White Sulphur Springs with a tour of the world’s first fully accessible ADA-compliant hotel, The Schoolhouse Hotel. Learn how the Disability Opportunity Fund transformed the former White Sulphur Springs High School into a game-changer property for the hospitality industry.

Up in the Air in the New River Gorge

This tour will sweep you off your feet – literally – with a choice of two aerial adventures. The tour includes lunch at Chetty’s at Adventures on the Gorge.

Choices include:

· TreeTops Zipline Canopy Tour, an on-campus zipline that meanders through an old-growth Eastern Hemlock forest and features 10 ziplines, five sky bridges, two short hikes and a 30-foot rappel off the final platform.

· Bridge Walk, featuring a 3,030-foot-long catwalk 25 feet below the surface of the New River Gorge Bridge.

· Gravity Zipline tour, featuring a total of six ziplines increasingly faster and longer ziplines culminating in the thrilling Adrena-line, one of the longest single-length ziplines in the nation. Roughly three quarters of a mile long.

· TimberTrek Adventure Park, an aerial obstacle course.

Lower New River Whitewater Rafting

This is the most popular trip at Adventures on the Gorge with 25 Class II-V rapids. The trip runs through the scenic New River Gorge and ends right below the New River Gorge Bridge. The trip includes a jump rock, swimmer’s rapid and riverside lunch. Length and intensity vary based on changing water levels. In the spring, the trip is typically 16 miles long.

Guides sit in each eight-passenger, 16-foot raft and provide instruction before each rapid and throughout the trip. The trip begins at the Adventures on the Gorge campus, where you will be fitted with a helmet, life jacket and wetsuits and splash jackets if needed. Consider wearing or bringing a synthetic layer and neoprene gloves and booties if you tend to get cold. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and any medication you need throughout the day. Guides carry small waterproof bags to stow medications.

Full-Day Upper New River Whitewater Rafting

This is the most popular family rafting trip at Adventures on the Gorge. The mild whitewater of the Upper New River offers gentle rapids and scenic views of the New River Gorge. Rafters typically paddle small inflatable kayaks – called duckies – that hold one adult or one child and one adult. Paddlers will experience Class II and III rapids. A riverside lunch is included.

Pre-Tour

Experience the National and State Parks of Southern West Virginia

This guided three days/two nights tour will provide you with an in-depth look at the country’s 63rd – and newest – National Park, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, as well as the Gauley River National Recreation Area, Bluestone National Scenic River, along with some of Southern West Virginia beautiful State Parks.

This scenery and culture-rich tour highlights the human history, recreational offerings, wild habitat and spectacular natural beauty of the region’s three rivers.

Tour highlights include Sandstone Falls, Pipestem Resort State Park, the Bluestone National Scenic River, (tramway is expected to be closed), Grandview, Summersville Dam, Gauley River National Recreation Area, Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park, Kaymoor Mine Site (choice of hikes Kaymoor Miners Trail {strenuous}, or Long Point Trail {shorter with semi-strenuous climb at end}). Thurmond Historic District, Canyon Rim Visitor Center with guided hike to New River Gorge Bridge, and Babcock State Park.

Includes:

Ground transportation from airports
Accommodations: Beckley, WV Hotel
Meals: Dinner: Saturday and Sunday, Breakfast: Sunday and Monday, Lunch Sunday and Monday. Alcohol not included.

Post-Tours

Small Town Charm at its Finest

Start exploring historic downtown Lewisburg to peruse the art galleries and locally owned boutiques. Take a deeper dive into the history of the area with a walking tour by the North House Museum. End the evening over dinner in a local restaurant. Start the day feeling refreshed after a 45-minute halotherapy session at the Salt Cave and Spa. Then head 120 feet underground for a tour of Lost World Caverns. End the evening with dinner at a local restaurant, followed by a performance at Greenbrier Valley Theatre. Sunday starts off with brunch at a local restaurant. Then traverse to White Sulphur Springs for a tour of The Schoolhouse Hotel. The world’s first ADA-compliant hotel. Dinner at the flagship restaurant for the School House, the Varsity Club. Your choice of a nightcap on the Roof Top Bar at The Schoolhouse.

Includes:

• Ground transportation to airports

• Accommodations

• Meals: Three lunches, three dinners, three breakfasts. Alcohol not included.

Hatfield and McCoy Trail ATV Adventure/Twin Falls State Park Lodge

Depart Adventures on the Gorge after breakfast and head towards Twin Falls Resort State Park. Our guides/transportation will find you a wonderful stop for lunch and a storytelling activity to learn the history and folklore of the infamous Hatfields and McCoys. Dinner will be at the Twin Falls Restaurant at your leisure that evening.

Breakfast at the park with an early pick up time to head to the ATV Resort for your full day adventure.

You will spend your day in a shared ATV. The Tour is guided but you will have the opportunity to drive if you want to give it a try!

With more than 700 miles of trails throughout the mountains of southern WV, the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System is one of the largest off-highway trail systems in the world. Trails pass through some of the most ATV-Friendly towns in the country, including some places where it is legal and encouraged to drive your ATV to the local restaurant for a meal. There will be a short stop at the Hatfield-McCoy Homeplace Museum and Hatfield Family Graveyard along the route as well as a stop for lunch. Plan to get DIRTY! Participants need to be able to get in and out of an ATV comfortably.

Includes:

Ground transportation
Accommodations: Twin Falls Resort State Park Lodge
Meals: two lunches, two dinners and two breakfasts. Alcohol not included.