I can’t believe we are already into December and our trip to Canaan Valley, is up and coming.  We are so looking forward to skiing the slopes, snow tubing and ice skating, we are actually counting the days down.  We love skiing and have skied in the Mountains of Banff and through the slopes PA —now we are headed on a great sponsored trip to Canaan Valley, Tucker County, West Virginia to hit the trails in January 2013! I just was given the photos to see where we will be staying for the first time and I have to share this with you.  I hope this will help you in planning your fun family times this up and coming year!  Best of Canaan Realty has got our accommodations covered.

If you have not already looked into skiing here you are missing out because not only does Canaan Valley boast some of the best trails around our area, their prices on tickets are so modest!  Our passes will be Ski the Valley tickets which can be used at either (Timberline Four Seasons Resort or Canaan Valley Resort) resort for 2 days in a row.  The prices on these tickets are very ‘frugal’ and give you plenty of time to really get your Ski Groove on!

OUR LODGING

Our lodging will be provided by Best of Canaan Realty.  They have arranged a really great location for my family to stay after long days on the slopes and I wanted to share a photo of it with you.  I love planning as many moms do as well, and I need to have the details so that I can get things in order so once we are there I can relax.  These pictures show me what I need to know and allow me to figure out where we can eat, hang out, and everything about the area, so I can plan it out and get it right.  With 5 people traveling together planning becomes a bit more difficult as I want to make sure as a mom that everyone is satisfied in some way.

This will be perfect after skiing the slopes, ice skating and snow tubing

The MOOSE LODGE will be a great way to unwind each day.  Everyone is getting their Own BED which is a bonus, no tossing, turning and smashing on each other, no cramming – S-P-A-C-E, something that is vital after a day of physical activity.  Speaking of space the MOOSE LODGE, provided by Best of  Canaan Realty,  has plenty of space:  This is a 2 story townhome which has 3 bedrooms and a loft with a sleeper sofa.  There is a private hot tub, Full Kitchen with a fireplace, 2 and 1/2 baths, with plenty of room to spread out! We are close enough to walk to the ski trails!

We are really excited for this trip and the kids are counting the days down until we arrive! Look out Tucker County, here we come!

This is calling my name!

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Read the Entire Press Release Here:

News Release: October 22, 2012
Facebook: WV Commerce – State Parks Hoy Murphy, Public Information Officer (304) 957-9365 hoy.r.murphy@wv.gov
Contact:
Lisa Ratliff, Canaan Valley Resort State Park (304) 866-4121
It’s snow time at Canaan Valley! Big changes create better outdoor recreation
DAVIS, W.Va. – Canaan Valley Resort State Park is located within a high mountain valley that is actually carved from a plateau. Its base elevation – what visitors recognize as Canaan Valley – is 3,430 feet and the area as a whole includes a wildlife refuge, vacation homes and other private rental properties and the state park, Canaan Valley. The highest elevation at the resort is 4,280 feet.
“When you have the terrain, the elevations and accommodations, winter sports are the result,” says Lisa Ratliff with Canaan Valley Resort. “When it snows in West Virginia, it’s time to visit Canaan Valley to play in the snow, to ski, and this year, to tube.”
Canaan Valley Resort is undergoing massive renovations. From the replacement of the 1970s-era lodge and current construction of a new complex, to the downhill ski area improvements and the construction of a mega-tubing park that will open December 2012, Canaan Valley is changing. “The tubing park is going to be awesome,” says Ratliff. The tubing park will have up to 10 lanes and will be the longest run in the mid-Atlantic at 1,200 feet.
Carolyn Mansberger, construction projects manager with the state park system, agrees. “The replacement, updates and new outdoor sport opportunities began in May 2012, and are in different phases currently. When the various projects are completed, Tucker County and state tourism as a whole will recognize the positive impact of a state park of this magnitude. It is a beautiful area year-round.”
Three main features that the general public will notice immediately are the new Canaan Valley Tubing Park, opening for its first season in December 2012; a wobble clay shooting range, which is a non-winter sport and will open in the spring of 2013; and the new lodge complex projected for completion in August 2013. One hundred fifty of the original rooms at Canaan Valley Lodge remain open as well as the park restaurant, gift shop and meeting rooms during the new construction phases.
Canaan Valley Resort capital improvements in a nutshell
Slopes and tubing debut in 2012 ski season
Construction for installing a new snow tubing park and wobble clay range at Canaan Valley has been in full speed throughout the summer of 2012. “We are very excited about the new facility and the expansion at the ski area,” Ratliff says. Ratliff lists the fire ring at Bear Paw Lodge, the new ski school and beginners area with a magic carpet and warming hut as some of the amenities that visitors to the park will be happy to find.
Improvements or additions on the snow side of improvements include a new snowmaking system, greatly expanded snowmaking, lift improvements, and a “magic carpet” for the new tubing park. A magic carpet is a surface lift much like an escalator or people movers found in airports, except outside. Like the song lyrics say, “Long way to go and a short time to get there,” the magic carpet moves people quicker to the point where fun begins.
The wobble clay range is a non-winter sport. This shooting range provides shotgun shooters sporting opportunities that are considered more challenging than traditional trap shooting. This facility is under construction at the tubing park area. A wobble clay range is also found at Cacapon Resort State Park in Morgan County.
Bear Paw Lodge, the check-in area for downhill skiing at Canaan Valley, also has been upgraded. The work and renovations include new furnishing; roof replacement; energy efficient windows; and exterior upgrades, including paint, steps and retaining wall improvements. Five contractors are involved in different aspects of the ski area improvements. Total cost of all ski area work is approximately $10 million including A/E fees.
Nearby Blackwater Falls State Park also is revamping its original sled run which is also slated for opening this winter. The two state parks are within 15 miles of each other and both appeal to the outdoor-minded person or families and offer winter indoor and outdoor facilities and activities.
New digs for skiers, golfers and nature buffs coming in 2013
Lodge complex development includes two new wings, North and South, which consist of four levels with amazing views from the sleeping rooms and restaurant. Each level will have 42 guest rooms for a total of 168 rooms when the project is complete. Some guest rooms will have fireplaces and balconies. Rooms that are ADA compliant are included and all rooms will have flat-screen televisions, individual climate control, and wireless Internet access. VIP suites also will be part of the new digs, according to Mansberger. The new areas add almost 95,000 square feet to the existing facility for a total of 158,824 square feet. “Other than the architecture of the lodge, I think our biggest compliment from overnight guests will be the enclosed walkways for rooms and the increase of views of the valley from within the building structure from many vantage points,” says Mansberger.
The main lodge entrance will look different. The current entrance as the second story will have a glass canopy for panoramic views of the mountain valley. Four elevators,
updated fire protection, electrical, and plumbing systems are all part of the scope of work that is a huge part of a project, but generally not easily recognized. Parking lot improvements, landscaping, loading dock modifications and meeting rooms also get a makeover, according to Mansberger. All renovations, additions, and upgrades, including parking lots, cover approximately 3.5 acres. The cost is $25 million. The primary contractor is Harbel, Inc. The anticipated lodge renovation project completion is slated for August 2013.
If you are looking for winter fun, find it at Canaan Valley Resort. Information about resort accommodations, skiing, and activities is posted online at www.canaanresort.com Lodging rates and specials are posted or call the state park at 304-866-4121.
**DNR**

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