babcock state park

You've probably seen photos of this grist mill before. They're in art galleries all over the country, so why not see it in person while you have the chance? But don't stop there. This 4000 acre state park is a great place to spend the day. It is rarely busy and beautiful during every season. Furthermore, it offers many activities, including horseback riding, countless hiking trails, fishing, paddle boating, canoeing, swimming, swinging bridge, tennis courts, play grounds, overlooks, etc., off its beaten paths if you take the time to explore.

I have been several times over the years and this place never disappoints. The old mill is beautiful, the falls are perfect in the fall ;), and the entire park is full of history and beauty. There really isn't a bad time to go, though of course like many attractions in southern WV, it will close for the season as far as the office and inside of mill are concerned. It still has its magic and beauty and you should go a few times.

We were visiting West Virginia, which is a beautiful state, and someone told us we were near Babcock. This is a wonderful place! I have seen this mill on calendars, it is so lovely. We just visited the grist mill and took lots of photos, but it is truly delightful!

Loved this park! It was beautiful and they make their very own corn meal in the mill. Would recommend it to anyone.

This is one of the most beautiful grist mills around. Be sure to carry a map, since GPS can not be depended on the get you there.In addition to the mill there is a lake, hiking, and they rent cabins for over night stays. It's a beautiful park!

We were passing by and decided to stop..It is a beautiful place The Grist Mill is not running due to lack of rain but it still is beautiful..The leaves were very pretty.We took lots of beautiful pictures.

We were on a four day trip through the gorge, and over to Cumberland Gap, so we didn't spend a lot of time at any one place. We had to stop here and see the Glade Creek Grist Mill though. It is as beautiful to see in person, as it was in the many beautiful pictures we have seen of it. And now, we have our very own pictures, and memories. We did inquire about their cabins, as we have read they are nice, but opted not to stay there this trip. We did drive through the park, and took a walk down by the lake. Looks like a nice park, the grist mill being the main attraction!

We stayed 9/30/14 to 10/1/14 to take pictures of the Grist Mill, fish and hike.It was beyond our expectations. We saw the Grist Mill and said "Wow" you can't take a bad picture. Then drove to the log cabin and said "Wow" the log cabin nestled in the woods felt like The Hobbit. Then when we didn't think it could get any better."Wow"..the lake was clear and still, surrounded by colorful trees. They provide toilet paper, soap, towels, dishes, cookware, dish soap and firewood. Bring your own food, charcoal, paper towels, foil and shampoo. The nearest restaurant is 25 min. away. It was very romantic to lay in bed in front of the fire. The better time to go would be spring or summer when the rhododendrums are blooming, the paddle boats and horses are available to ride.

Why stay at a motel when you can rent these wonderful cabins? We stayed after Labor Day for a week and are ecstatic with our lucky find. For $70 a night we stayed in the nicest cabin we've ever rented It had a big indoor fireplace, a double bed, a table with seating for four, 2 rocking chairs, a fridge, microwave, stove, and sink, and a shower and toilet. Did I mention the coffee pot, towels, and fully stocked kitchen utensils, plates, bowls, garbage bags, etc,? Then there was the change of linen that they dropped off mid-week. And this was just the inside! Check out the covered porch with a small table and chairs, grill,picnic table, and firewood that were provided. Note: firewood is only for the indoor fireplace, no exterior fires are allowed. The best was that we were the only ones in our section. I highly recommend this fantastic campground. It's not far from the attractions you likely came to see, restaurants, hiking trails, etc. Oh, there are hiking trails here too, very nice. Lastly, I'd like to comment on how clean this cabin was. The wood floors were very clean, nothing on them to stick your feet to the wood. The fridge, stove, sink, and bathrooms were very nicely taken care of. Kudos to the staff for taking pride in their work and making their guests comfortable. Enjoy!

Babcock State Park is home to the Glade Creek Grist Mill which is a very photogenic structure dating back to the early days of America. Early morning photos of this gem are breathtaking especially in Autumn. There are many campsites available for campers as well as cozy cabins for those who want a more comfortable accommodation. When visiting in early August we found this park practically empty. Nearby one can find the New River Gorge Park and Bridge on Route 19. We camped in our trailer and were surprise there were no bugs even though it was mid-summer. We did get a visit every evening from a resident skunk.

We were here with our very large family for labor day weekend. The park had a beautiful mill with a knowledgeable staff and corn meal that is available for sale. Although the mill is probably the most popular and beautiful attraction, we had nice hike with several classic WV overlooks of the rolling hills, and we visited the lake for quick paddle boat rides ($3/half hour for each person). This location would also be convenient to see the new river gorge. For more adventurous travelers, this is also near several white water rafting companies. There is plenty to do in this area for a weekend stay.We also stayed in their cabins. We had a very large group that was split between the largest cabin (4 bedrooms that sleeps 8-10), campsites, and the smaller cabins. The large cabin had a large living room, dining table, and kitchen. It was perfect for feeding our large group and for hiding during the rain. It also had a reasonably size covered porch. The cabin was clean, but I would recommend bringing your own towels and dish rags. Also, we found an air mattress to be more comfortable than the available roll-away beds.

This park is just isolated enough to be quietly off the beaten path, yet it is near enough to tourist sites that is still a convenient alternative to more expensive lodging options. The campgrounds were well-maintained, with restrooms cleaned several times daily and an attendant on duty until 10:00 pm every evening. We found a great playground for our grandson, as well as hiking trails, scenic overlooks, climbing rocks in the stream near an old mill, and even an excellent equestrian facility. The mill itself is one of the most photographed scenes in this part of the United States. It is a beautiful site that also lends itself well to rock-hopping! There are cabins as well, tucked down the gorge from the mill. If you need a quiet, comfortable place to escape and "get back to nature," Babcock Part is the perfect place.Don't miss the Equestrian Center located near the main campground. They offer pony rides for young children, and 1 hour and 2 hour trail rides for adults. These were one of the highlights of our vacation.

This park seems most famous for its picturesque grist mill and it is in fact special. The mill was constructed in the 70's from the remains of several other mills, but all is authentic. The miller is Steve, who really knows his stuff. He grew up in the area and I've never seen a more dedicated, knowledgeable and enthusiastic miller at a park before. Spend some time with him and ask him anything. We also did a hike directly behind the mill, called the Island in the Sky trail. This trail was listed as moderate as IT IS NOT. This is a strenuous trail with lots of elevations and climbing and the views are none, you see the trees within the hike and nothing else, in all honesty the hike is so rocky you can't take you eyes off of the trail for fear of falling. The trail empties out on the road above, it's easier coming down from above, but you still have to walk up the steep road to get back to your car. If you go the other way the trail going uphill is even more difficult, but you do get to walk down the road on the way back. Forget this trail, try another or just enjoy the mill and the river.

I have an inflatable kayak never used it. Needed a small lake for maiden voyage. Some idiot forgot life jacket, so the marina left me use one for free. They rent canoes, boats and paddle boats starting at $6 an hour. Really small impounded lake, but prefect for my use. Lots of people fishing off banks. Bass and bluegill mostly. But watch trip to bathroom at Boley lake, rangers (three of them) came to corral a diamond back rattlesnake. It was good drama for twenty minutes as they took apart boardwalk to get poor little guy out. Park has awesome house back riding at reasonable prices. Photo opportunity at grist mill(prefect fall pic). All together a nice place fifteen minutes from Fayetteville and tourists.

Stayed for the weekend and enjoyed all the quiet surroundings!!! The rustic bungalow cabins are exactly that but worth the value with all the modern appliances and cooking utensils and plenty of HOT water. The park is just a short drive to some of the most beautiful sights WV has to offer and all very budget friendly. Just remember to bring cash for all the fun activities because credit cards are only accepted at the main office. And don't be surprised if you feel like you have the whole place to yourself it's just that big!!