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This post could have been up days ago if we'd just not taken so many damn pictures.
I know this was supposed to be a tour of the state, but it was geographically easier to drive through Virginia to get to our first point of interest. So, technically, our first stop was The Homestead in Hot Springs, VA.
That was nice enough, but the tour really started at the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs.
One of these days, we're going to stay there overnight and tour the bunkers - but we had a lot of other things to see that day... like Lewisburg, and Hern's Mill Covered Bridge...
And, of course, the New River Gorge.
That was quite enough for one day, so we stopped in Summersville for the night. It was great, until my sister left voicemails on my cell phone in the middle of the night which caused it to beep every ten minutes for the next couple of hours until I finally got up and turned the damn thing off around 4 AM.
Since we were up at such an ungodly hour, we grabbed breakfast and headed out. First stop - Hawk's Nest State Park. I wanted to ride the aerial tramway, but sadly it wasn't running that day. We did, however, snap a few of the amazing view.
Just a few miles down the road, we stopped in at the Mystery Hole, which was also closed. Luckily it was opening in a few minutes, so we hung around and snapped a few photos of the outside while we waited for the proprietors to get their shit together (cameras weren't allowed inside).
It's intriguing! Rly!I won't spoil it for anyone, but I will say this: the Mystery Hole is neither a hole, nor a mystery. But that doesn't mean it isn't fun - it totally was. It's worth the minimal admission fee. And I also want to state, for the record, that I was the only one in my group who was able to stand up in the "hole" without using my hands (both James and the biker couple had to grab on to the railing). So there.
After that, it was on to Charleston where we hung around the capitol...
...and perused the Multifest (which apparently consists of food, sunglasses, fake designer bags, and large framed portraits of african american couples about to get it on - and I'm kicking myself now for not snapping a picture of those). Then we wandered around the civic center for a little while until it became too unbearably hot and humid to do anything but go take a nap in the air-conditioned hotel.
This was the part where I had planned to run down to Madison and go see Jesco White, but that'll have to wait until next time. :(
We also ended up skipping the Mothman Museum and Blennerhassett Island due to time constraints, but the rest of the day more than made up for it. We spent the afternoon at Stonewall Jackson Lake/Resort swimming, kayaking, eating hot dogs, and taking the cruise tour (the cash bar was overpriced, but handy to have on the boat).
By the time we got off the boat it was nearly dark, so we drove into Weston to try to find something to eat and instead ended up inside the abandoned insane asylum (funny how that worked out... next time I'll have to go hunting for the asylum and maybe I'll get some damn food). IN THE DARK. At 9:00 PM. (And dammit, I was still in my wet bathing suit.) This wouldn't have been a big deal if the state hadn't cut electric to the place years ago... so it was literally pitch black inside, especially up the huge wooden staircases. At one point, on our way through, something tugged on my foot. There may or may not have been some shrieking on my part, and I nearly peed myself before I realized that it was just a rope my foot had gotten tangled in.
Oh, nothing, just having a minor heart attack.Our last stop was the French Creek Wildlife Preserve (also known as the Game Farm). I took a lot of pictures, but after reviewing them, I've decided I'm going back again to get more pictures without the stupid chain link fence. To hell with your angry predators - I demand better photos.
Out of all of the photos, this one is my absolute favorite. It doesn't matter how many times I've seen it, it still makes me giggle...
...and I'm afraid a caption contest is just plain necessary. Even if I'm the only one who participates. ;)
Seriously, though...
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Thursday August 9th 2007 at 7:02pm from Jenny +
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Oh wow! I had no idea West Virginia actually had cool things in it.
The same weekend you did that I took a little tour of Virginia (half a tour, ironically, I had no idea you were doing this). All my pictures involve me being drunk however. Oh what a state.....
Anyway, my point was this - Nice photos. I bet the inside of the old asylum (my dad used to work there!) was fantastic! Was it hard to get in there?
It has so many cool things, we didn't have time for them all! It's hard to drive for more than an hour or so without coming across a state park or neat place to check out. :)
What that trip really needed was a stop at Tari's... so good I still want to eat there years later! The one place we had down here that came close shut down. :(
Well, dammit, where's all YOUR pictures? Hmm?
As far as the asylum goes, it's not hard to get in. It's not like there's a fence or anything, you can slip under a wire and walk right in the front gate (despite the sign out front that basically says "Fuck off and get out of here and never come back").
The tricky part is that the security guards often keep the doors separating the wings locked, so you could only maybe get in one section. What you really have to do if you want to see it all is stop out front and take pictures from outside the gate... and you have to be out there a few minutes, long enough for the security guard on duty to notice you... then, when he drives up in his security mobile, don't run off. Just start asking him questions about the building, and (if you see the same one we did) after a little bit he'll offer to let you see the whole damn place if you want. (He seemed lonely, and if I was guarding the asylum, no way would I want to be there by myself!)
My boss went a few years ago and tried to sneak in, then bribed the guard when she got caught with a $20. We got in for free, and we didn't even have to do any sneaky ninja evasion moves. ;)
Wtf, when did your dad work there? What did he do? I hope he didn't have to clean the poo off the walls when the mentals flung it around...
Oh, and I have to add this part:
So we're out there talking to the guard guy, and we're mentioning how nice the building is, and we bet it's really something to see inside, and he's all "Oh, well, I'm not really supposed to, but sometimes I let people in."
And it's DARK, so I'm very noncommittal, plus he seemed a little... strange. Nice, but strange. And James goes "Oh, can we go inside?" And I'm like, fuck.
And the guy's all "sure."
And I'm like, fuck.
And we go inside, and then after a little while the guard says "My favorite part is the basement (where the shackles apparently are), it's real interesting... I'm here until 11, so you can go wherever you want."
And James probably would have, but there was NO WAY IN HELL I was going down there. The phrase "no one to hear you scream" comes to mind.
I said this to him, after we left - "You know, that's how horror movies start." And you know what he said?
No, really, wait for it:
"Well, that thought had occurred to me, but I figured he would have to take me out first, so I was pretty careful to keep him in my sight... Well, all except for that one time when I had my back turned to him, he could've got me then."
W. T. F.
So, not to freak you out or anything, but when I got to the picture of you inside the asylum, it was all wavy on my screen. I know it's just my computer, but it was strange timing on my computer's part...I hope.
You may want to show that picture to someone else within seven days, just in case. ;)
We were told that people keep seeing "things" develop in their photos... thankfully, ours were fairly un-paranormal.
Up to this point, anyway.
Dammit!
Where's all my pictures? on my digital camera. because I'm WAY lazier than you are.
My dad worked there right before I was born. He transported mental patients to court appointments. No poop cleaning, to the best of my knowledge
Good pictures though. I'll keep that in mind about bribing guards; or just asking nicely!!!
Looks like you guys had alot of fun. And your pictures are terrific!
Just a few asides:
1. So it is stilled called the "French Creek Game Farm"! People need to stop looking at me funny when I call it that :D
2. Your description of Multifest was dead on. Dead. On.
3. Your blog rocks!
Not much lazier, I'm sure. It took me four days, and this isn't even all of 'em.
I totally did not know that. I wish I had, I would've loved to hear about it. The state is auctioning the place off August 29th, so if he wants to see it one last time... now's his chance. :)
Hey, Jackie!
1. Ye - it seems that the DNR insists on calling it the "State Wildlife Center," but all of us normal folks still call it the Game Farm. I personally stick with "Game Farm" because I'm lazy, and it has less syllables, and it just has a much more amusing connotation to me. :)
2. Man, those portraits were REALLY something else. I am so pissed off that I was too busy standing there with my mouth hanging open to take a damn picture. :\
3. I like yours better. ;p Thanks, though. I'm still hoping one day you'll explain the title... :)
Oh, balls. That was supposed to be "Yep." I haven't started speaking olde english... yet... I just suck at proofreading.