Parks & Recreation
The City of Belington is one that predates the founding of the United States. Bealin’s, was named for a Jewish Merchant in 1855, and supplanted the original moniker, Barker’s Settlement. (Elias Barker had come to the area in 1766-1770 and sought to carve out a life for himself in the great West Virginia country side.) It was not until the late 19th Century that Belin’s changed its name. On the eastern bank of the Tygart Valley River, the city of Belington came into being.
As Belington is a city rich in history and inviting to visitors, many people come here to spend a day of exploring and learning. As they do, the Belington City Park offers a place to relax and enjoy a meal between excursions. The park is one of rustic charm in the rural mountains of Barbour County. A gazebo sits atop a low rise and overlooks a playground area. The grassy space, dotted with shade trees, offers plenty of room for blanket picnics, and throwing a Frisbee with the kids.
Picturesque and idyllic, the entire park has something to offer everyone, from relaxation to recreation. The park is a lovely venue for parties, and the gazebo provides for the perfect backdrop to any photo setting, be it engagement, wedding, high school senior portraits, or family portraits. Be sure to keep Belington City Park in mind for your next event.
Tygart Lake State Park may very well be the perfect vacation destination. The Tygart Lodge is a year-round 20-room facility providing panorama views of Tygart Lake. There are also seasonal cabins and camping areas open from April to December (call ahead for reservations and specific dates of operation). Eateries like the Boston Beanery Restaurant and Tavern provide you with dining pleasure at breakfast, lunch, dinner, or any time you get a hankering for something good to eat. While there, you can relax and revel in the view of the lake while enjoying your meal.
Recreationally, the park offers five hiking trails that take you from lakeside into the back-country wilderness of Barbour County. Bird watchers should be sure to call the park for information on the Bird Banding Weekends during the annual spring and fall migrations. Naturalists, parents, and school officials can call ahead to get the schedule of free nature programs and activities.
If you like to fish, this is the place to line-snag your favorite lake species from the comfort of a boat. If you have ever wanted to try your hand at kayaking or canoeing, but have been intimidated by the white water of various rivers, the calm of Tygart Lake is the perfect place to “get your feet wet” and try out a new adventure.
Tygart Lake State Park in Barbour County, WV, is the perfect place for your next family outing!
The community of Philippi offers an extensive array of recreational opportunities. The Dayton Park is the pride of Philippi, in terms of family friendly fun and recreation. The park is widespread and offers something for every member of the family to do. From expanses of open fields where the whole family (as well as the family pets) can burn off excessive energy, to picnic areas and playgrounds, there is no end to the fun.
It seems everyone’s favorite part of the park in the summer is the pool. Philippi’s swimming pool is a large, fairly new, modern facility with deep and shallow ends for both the novice and advanced swimmer. The exposed location allows you to advantage of the warm summer sun, and the adjacent covered area lets you get some shaded relief on the hottest of days.
The nearby basketball courts are a great place for a game of one-on-one or impromptu group scrimmage. There are two additional playgrounds located within Philippi. You will also find tennis courts, more basketball courts and baseball field (where the local Little Leagues hold their games). Other recreational venues include an archery range, weight lifting facilities, and racquet ball courts.
There are plenty of other recreational areas in Philippi found at the the Alderson-Broaddus College Coliseum and the Philippi City Building.
The highly-skilled, professional, and novice golfers alike are sure to find the Barbour Country Club golf course in Philippi quite challenging. The course opened in 1957 and is a long-standing regulation 70-par. It features nine holes that will have you test your abilities with narrow fairways, water-challenges, and treed foliage. The longest tees are over 2, 457 yards, so there is plenty of room to practice your driving shot. The course is rated 33.3 overall, and slopes are rated at 112: you are bound to get some invigorating exercise.
Although semi-private, Barbour Country Club welcomes all to the green. If you are not a member, you will need to “Call for Playing Privileges.” Ladies, you will tee-off from the same location as the men. If enjoying a couples golfing afternoon, this allows you to tour the course together as opposed to moving ahead and falling back to your companion. Food and beverages are available for an after-game snack. The facility is soft-spike and members may utilize their own carts.
The course is located along Route 119, on Buckhannon Road, just south of Philippi. The course is open daily and on weekends from mid-March to mid-November. Call for rates and guest playing privileges: (304) 457-2156.
Flowing north through Junior, Belington, and Philippi to Tygart Lake in Grafton, the Tygart Valley River is 118 miles long from source to mouth. It was named for David Tygart, the first white settler to live in the area. The Tygart Valley River is considered one of the best rivers on the East Coast for white-water rafting. Rafters navigate an eight-mile stretch of the river in Barbour County called the Above Arden to Big Cove Run. It's a Class III-V section, and one of many used for paddling. One favorite attraction of that particular section is it's long enough to paddle non-stop, and characterized by picturesque scenery.
Although many experienced rafters visit the river and bring their own gear, supplies can also be rented from local providers. Some even offer guides for newer rafters as well as packed lunches for visitors who want to spend large portions of a day on the river.
The Tygart Valley River is especially popular with white-water rafters in the summer months, because temperatures usually stay in the 80s during the day and dip into the 60s in the evenings. In addition to rafting opportunities, visitors can hunt and fish at the upper and lower parts of the river in areas managed by wildlife organizations.