Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Thursday 16 March 2017
Hot tubs, fire pits in Appalachia for offseason bargains

MICHAEL VIRTANEN burgh.
Associated Press That was also the cost of a
ROANOKE, W.Va. (AP) — winter room at West Virgin-
The sky faded toward co- ia’s Twin Falls Resort State
balt over the rolling horizon Park, where we stayed in
and its bare hardwood for- February, after the desk
est, the faux street lamps clerk knocked $25 off our
in the foreground lighting reserved low winter rate
the outdoor walkway and and upgraded our room.
swimming pool. One man It’s located up a winding
lingered in the adjoining road in southern West Vir-
Jacuzzi despite the 30-de- ginia’s coal country, on
gree chill that blew mist off a mountaintop surround-
the heated water. ed by its own golf course
The moon gradually cast and hiking trails through
a narrow, shimmering line forests that are a nature
across the lake. I sat at preserve. There were few
a high bar table sipping other guests midweek in
peach moonshine watch- February. We saw three at
ing through picture win- breakfast. The lodge has 47
dows as winter dusk fell in rooms and an indoor pool.
the Appalachian Moun- West Virginia has eight oth-
tains. er resorts in the state sys-
The state of West Virginia tem, all with lodges, most
owns this resort, called This March 11, 2017 photo shows the grounds at The Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, W.Va with cabins or cottages
Stonewall, along with other Associated Press and campsites to rent as
upscale resorts with golf well.
courses, indoor pools, Ad- According to state offi-
irondack-style lodges and two kinds of moonshine at room at a $40 discount, for against a longer walk on cials, the parks had about
miles of scenic hiking trails the moment — peach and $129. The resort was half- trails through the woods. In- 7 million visitors last year
for laid-back getaways in coffee-flavored — and full on the weekend with stead, we drove 15 minutes and nearly 700,000 over-
about 200 people. Staff to see the sprawling, goth- night guests. Discounts in-
couldn’t have been friend- ic Trans-Allegheny Lunatic clude golf passes for any
lier. Desk clerks checked Asylum in Weston. Built in of the four resort courses,
us in four hours early. Taxes the 1800s as a sanctuary a $50 rate for any standard
and a resort fee added $30 for the mentally ill, it housed room at any lodge in Janu-
to the bill. 2,500 patients in the 1950s ary and package offers
Heading to our room later, and closed in 1994. It’s now updated monthly.
we saw families still playing a national landmark. We A West Virginia friend rec-
in the indoor half of the pool didn’t take the tour. ommended Pipestem
and its adjoining Jacuzzi, Stonewall’s golf course with Resort State Park, in the
kept at 88 and 103 degrees, Arnold Palmer’s name on it state’s southeastern cor-
respectively, same as the was empty except for a few ner, which has two lodges,
water outdoors where we swans, the golf shop and one open year-round with
swam earlier.In the sunny its restaurant closed until balconies and views of the
afternoon, we walked out spring. The lodge’s health Bluestone Canyon gorge,
on the boardwalk that spa was open, taking ap- and a second lodge open
crosses part of the lake, pointments for facials and from May to October and
heading toward the ma- massages, discounted to reachable only by an aeri-
rina and the campground $50 on Thursdays in March. al tram. Room rates start at
This March 11, 2017 photo shows hearth in the lodge at the already booked solid for The resort is a about two-
Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, W.Va the summer. We decided hour drive south from Pitts- $75.q
Associated Press

the offseason. Thanks to poured the peach into a
offseason bargains, a stay small cordial glass. Several
can be had for as little as small distillers produce ver-
$50 a night. sions of the liquor in West
The wood fire in the large Virginia, where it tradition-
stone hearth threw heat ally came from corn mash
into Stonewall’s high-ceil- in Prohibition-era stills.
inged lodge. Guests drift- The winter cold had driven
ed in and out, warmed at me and my companion in
the fire, or lounged on the from the outdoor fire pit,
sofas. Soft jazz played in where more wood was
the background. A cou- burning. Fixings for s’mores
ple nestled in the dark- were offered: chocolate
paneled library next door bars, marshmallows and
reading in club chairs un- graham crackers. The
der lamps. s’mores were gratis, as was
The downstairs restaurant the upgrade we got to This Feb. 15, 2017 photo shows The Twin Falls in Mullens, W.Va.
and tavern were busy. The a lakeside room, though Associated Press
bartender said she had only we’d booked an ordinary