Holly River State Park

History of Holly River State ParkEdit

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, under the direction of the Farm Security Administration, in 1937 began purchasing property to reforest the land and reclaim streams. For the next five years, the federal government continued the effort, purchasing additional land and building recreational facilities. Holly River State Park was created in 1938, under the management of the State Conservation Commission. The state took full control in 1954 when the federal government transferred the deed.

RecreationEdit

Holly River features a variety of recreational activities including:

During the summer, park staff leads special activities such as nature hikes, hayrides, marshmallow roasts and other sports events.

CabinsEdit

Holly River features ten furnished cabins constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s using local natural stone and timber. Situated along a tributary of Laurel Fork Holly River, each cabin includes a stone fireplace along with an outdoor grill, picnic table, linens, and a bathroom with shower.

CampgroundsEdit

Holly River's 88-unit campground features electric hookups, picnic tables, and cooking grills at each site. A dumping station and four bathhouses are also provided on site. The campgrounds are normally open from the first Friday in April through the last Monday in November.

Store and restaurantEdit

A basic store is located in the park providing staple groceries and sundries. A locally operated restaurant is also located in the park. In 2009, 2012, and 2015, the Holly River State Park Restaurant was named by the West Virginia Division of Tourism and the Collaborative for the 21st Century Appalachia as one of the "101 Unique Places to Dine in West Virginia".

Potato KnobEdit

Located at 38°38′21″N 80°19′38″W

Located off Webster County Route 3 (Left Fork Holly River Road), Potato Knob is a popular attraction rising approximately 600 feet (180 m) above the surrounding terrain. Potato Knob Trail winds its way up the steep incline to the summit of the hill.

Upper FallsEdit

Located at 38°38′09″N 80°19′13″W

Located near Potato Knob is Upper Falls of the Holly River, a large waterfall on Fall Run. The site features a recently completed observation deck, stairway to the base of the falls, parking lot, and upgraded road access.

Windy Gap SchoolEdit

Located at 38°39′57″N 80°21′16″W

Windy Gap School is a former one-room schoolhouse that was located on a remote tract of land owned by the Division of Natural Resources. To help make the schoolhouse more accessible to park visitors, the Holly River State Park Foundation led a volunteer project to relocate the schoolhouse to near the park headquarters.

AccessibilityEdit

Accessibility for the disabled was assessed by West Virginia University. The assessment found the campground, picnic shelters, swimming pool, and playground to be accessible. During the 2005 assessment some issues were identified concerning signage and slippery stairways.