Marlinton

We left the Chief Cornstalk Wildlife Management Area and headed for a little RV park I had spotted in the Subaru. It is the "Riverside RV park" just north of Marlinton, WV on Rte. 219. This used to be a mobile home park, but a big flood a few years ago washed away all the mobile homes. Now, it is simply a short asphalt lane with 16 full hook-up sites. At the end, is the Greenbriar River. At the Rte. 219 end, there is a men's outdoors clothing store where you contact folks about the RV sites, a car wash, and right next door, a decent grocery store. I could get a good view of the satellite for TV. I was quoted rates of $25/day, $140/wk, and $300/month. FHU and a clear sat. signal right next to the forest! I took a month. The campground filled for the Pioneer Days week long festival, but other than that, I had maybe 2 or 3 neighbors, sometimes none at all.

Here are two pictures, taken from the same spot. You can see, I had access to the river right out my front door.

Marlington camp, us at near left, site 16

River access about 200 feet from my door

Marlinton is small, but there is a coffee shop (Dirtbean Hale) with WiFi, two small groceries, a hardware store, banks, a great laundry ($12 and they do the work), and a couple restaurants. I recommend north on 219 for a few miles to Dorie's for breakfast. I met with other recovering alcoholics 3 times a week here. The big event for Pocahontas County is Pioneer Days in Marlinton, and I got to attend. I walked the little two block midway, went to the old car show (good stuff here), and watched the parade. Saturday, I went to the truck and tractor pull. I had a good time in the little town. No Verizon cell, but others with different service were making calls. No over-the-air TV. I think I got two AM radio broadcasts.

I learned Marlinton is on the decline, there used to be a lot of industry here, but it all went away. Most folks who live in and around Marlinton work at the Snowshoe resort north of there. There is a historical museum just south of town, a lot of the history of Pocahontas County has been preserved. 

This made a great base camp for exploring the Marlinton, White Sulfur Springs, and Gauley Ranger Districts of the Monogahela National Forest. Folks here are very unpretentious and open. I swam the river with Emo a few times. 3 meetings a week, a coffee shop with WiFi, groceries next door, and beauty all around. I even enjoyed the rainy days.

More about our hiking and driving in the forest next time, now that I've established base camp.