Adventure Advisory: Scares and Thrills
The Adventure Advisory, prepared and distributed by Wild, Wonderful West Virginia (GoToWV), highlights some of the many activities happening across the Mountain State. Additional listings are posted at www.GoToWV.com. Event organizers and promoters are encouraged to submit items electronically at https://GoToWV.com/partners/.
Every Wednesday – Sunday until Oct. 31: “Hysteria” Haunted House—A Live Haunted Attraction, Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Weston
304-269-5070; info@trans-alleghenylunaticasylum.com; https://www.theasylumwv.com/; https://www.trans-alleghenylunaticasylum.com/
What better place to get into the spirit of Halloween than at the spooky old mental hospital? The abandoned site hosts a family-friendly fall festival, paranormal tours, and a haunted house, “Hysteria,” where a demented doctor has brought his patients’ nightmares to life. Tickets are $20 per person. Anyone age 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Oct. 16: Blennerhassett Fall Dinner Cruise, Blennerhassett State Park, Parkersburg
304-420-4800; https://www.blennerhassettislandstatepark.com/calendar.html
Enjoy a relaxing country-style dinner on board the Island Belle sternwheeler. Ticket price includes river cruise and dinner. Advance reservations are required. Cruise price: $25 adult; $21 youth (3-12). This cruise boards at 5 p.m. at Point Park.
Oct. 16-18 and 23-25: Boo at the Zoo, Oglebay Resort, Wheeling
800-624-6988; www.oglebay-resort.com
Don’t miss this special opportunity to dress up and visit the zoo after dark! All participants receive bags at the door to stash the candy you will collect at eight treat stations scattered throughout the zoo. Additional activities taking place include a LASER show at the Benedum Theater and a spooky special Halloween-themed train ride.
Oct. 16-18, 23-25, 27, 29-31: Dungeon of Horrors, Moundsville
304-845-6200; info@wvpentours.com; dungeonofhorrors@wvpentours.com; www.wvpentours.com
Experience the fright of being locked in a cell, the fear of being lost in a maze, and the terror of an eerie walk through the dungeon of horrors. Do you have what it takes to make it through? The Dungeon of Horrors is not recommended for ages under 13. However, Oct. 27 is designated Family Night and approved for ages 7-12.
Oct. 17: 19th Annual Halloween Party and Haunted House, Blackwater Falls State Park, Davis
304-259-5216; https://www.blackwaterfalls.com/special.htm
Blackwater Falls State Park hosts an evening of spooky fun for students up to 7th grade level. Activities include a costume contest and games followed by a walk through the Haunted Area if you dare. Activities take place rain, snow or sunshine.
Oct. 17: New River Gorge Bridge Day, New River Gorge Bridge, Fayetteville
800-927-0263; Sharon@fayettecounty.com; bridgeday@officialbridgeday.com; www.officialbridgeday.com
Food and fun, culture and community all come together for an amazing experience. This year spectators will have the opportunity to watch BASE jumpers leaping off the bridge as well as parachutists from the Whisky 7 World War II vintage aircraft landing on the bridge. Additional activities and attractions include rappelling, stunt team performance, chili cook-off, car show and more.
Oct. 17-18 and 24-25: Hinton Railroad Days, Hinton
304-466-6100; 304-466-5420; newrivergateway@gmail.com; www.hintonwva.com/railroaddays.html
Each year Hinton’s Railroad Days include vendors selling many different and unusual crafts such as rings made from coins, coal scrip and old coins; flag boxes; wooden furniture; hand-painted items; quilts; jewelry; driftwood creations; wooden oil lamps; patio foundations and more. Hours are 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. each day.
Oct. 22-25: 2015 USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championship, Snowshoe
877-441-4386; 800-336-7009; info@snowshoemountain.com; www.snowshoemtn.com
Collegiate mountain bikers are heading to Snowshoe Mountain to battle it out for the championship. Racers will compete in downhill, cross-country, short track and dual slalom events.
Oct. 23-24: 14th Annual Women’s Expo, Brushfork National Guard Armory, Bluefield
304-487-1502; 304-325-8438; pmcc@frontiernet.net; www.pmccc.com
This expo features nearly 100 vendors including information, giveaways, crafts, and products to buy. Stage activities include music and dance performances, a fashion show and a Princess-Pirate Party for kids.
Oct. 23-24: Terror on the Tygart: Haunted Hayride, Tygart Lake State Park, Grafton
304-265-6148; https://www.tygartlake.com/events.htm
Dare to be scared as you journey through the darkness! What awaits you in the forest at Tygart Lake State Park? Rides begin at dark and end at 10 p.m. There is a fee per person per ride.
Oct. 23-24: West Virginia Turkey Festival, Mathias
304-897-7282; strawdermank@hotmail.com; https://www.facebook.com/wvturkeyfestivalpageant
Attractions include a craft show, food vendors, car show, turkey shoot, Youth Pageant with the Teen and Queen Pageant on Saturday evening. A ham and turkey meal will take place Saturday evening. Friday’s activities include an appearance by Barney Fife impersonator Larry Delawder.
Oct. 23-25: Native American Weekend, Prickett’s Fort State Park, Fairmont
304-363-3030; https://www.prickettsfortstatepark.com/
Bring the family and enjoy an interactive history lesson which will include demonstrations, displays, and hands-on activities for the kids. Regular admission applies. Hours are Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday from 12 noon – 4 p.m.
Oct. 24: Irish Road Bowling, Chief Logan State Park, Logan
304-792-7125; www.wvirishroadbowling.com
Come enjoy a game that was invented in Ireland. Irish road bowling is a fun, family friendly roll and stroll sport, easy to learn, yet exciting for serious athletes. Shots on the country road course can roll 300 yards!
Oct. 24-31: 3rd Annual Boo!Fest, Shepherdstown
304-876-2786; svc@shepherdstown.info; https://shepherdstown.info/events/shepherdstown-boofest/; https://www.facebook.com/ShepherdstownBooFest?fref=ts
Celebrate Shepherdstown’s hauntings and history during Halloween week with films, tours, costume parade, storytelling, Vampire Ball, and trick-or-treating. There will be a wide variety of activities for everyone to enjoy.
Oct. 30-31: C-K AutumnFest and Pumpkin House, Ceredo and Kenova
304-360-1381; ckautumnfest@aol.com; www.ckautumnfest.com
Events and activities include a craft show, cruise-in, tractor show, haunted trail, old-fashioned bake-off, home canning competition, scavenger hunt, kid’s activities and more. Visit the Pumpkin House which has thousands of carved pumpkins on display.
Oct. 31: 16th Annual “Smoke on the Water” Wetzel County Chamber of Commerce Chili Fest, New Martinsville
304-455-3825; chamber@wetzelcountychamber.com; www.wetzelcountychamber.com
Activities and attractions include a Chamber 5K Run/Walk, concessions, crafters, exhibits, children’s games, Bouncy House, live entertainment, contests, car show, children’s costume parade, Kid’s Corner and more.
Oct. 31: Halloween at Cass, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, Cass
304-456-4300, ext. 111; https://www.cassrailroad.com/
Celebrate Halloween at Cass with a costume contest, activities for all ages, haunted places and other scheduled events for the day and evening.
Oct. 31: Halloween Party, North Bend State Park, Cairo
304-643-2931; www.northbendsp.com
Celebrate Halloween at North Bend State Park with games, prizes, costume contest, crafts, and much more.
Oct. 31: Halloween Train, Cass Scenic Railroad, Cass
866-460-7265; https://mountainrailwv.com/
There will be ghosts, goblins and surprises in store on this night ride to Whittaker Station!
The train departs at 6 p.m. Reservations required.
Oct. 31: Mystery, Mayhem and Murder in West Virginia, Blackwater Falls State Park, Davis
304-259-5216; https://www.blackwaterfalls.com/special.htm
An evening of ghost stories that reveal the darker side of Appalachian folklore is presented by special guest Jo Ann Dadisman. Enjoy the ghost stories, the mysteries and the “un” normal events that shaped an emerging state and its people. Not recommended for the very young or faint-hearted.
Real. Excitement * Real. Family Time * Real. Mountain Flavor * Real. Adventure * Real. Fun * Real. Wild, Wonderful West Virginia. You can find it here. Call 800-CALL WVA or visit GoToWV.com. Share your Real. West Virginia stories on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with #GoToWV and #RealWV.###
This post was last updated on November 11, 2015