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Summersville Lake

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Summersville History

Civil War History
      
 

BOATING
Boating activities are extremely popular on Summersville Lake due to the clarity of water and the 68-80 degree water temperatures from June to September. Waterskiing and knee boarding are favorite activities and boats may be rented at the marina as well as Summersville Lake Retreat. Many groups of friends and families also simply spend the day relaxing, talking, swimming, and exploring the shoreline in search of the best swimming hole. Enjoy cliff jumping and swimming at Long Point, Whippoorwill cliffs, and Waterfall cliffs. Bubbles Cove and Long Point are favorite spots to snorkel and scuba in what Skin Diver magazine refers to as “The Little Bahamas of the east.” At Long Point, the area is roped off just for access by scuba divers, snorkelers, and swimmers. Visibility and water temperature are optimum for diving between 35-45 feet. While diving, cliffs which exist about 100 feet below the surface, rock walls and overhangs may be seen.

Summersville Lake Marina is a full-service facility offering seasonal boat slips, overnight boat slips, gasoline, pontoon boat rentals, jon boat rentals, hot sandwiches, snacks, ice, bait, fishing and marine supplies.
Call 304-872-1331 for more information.

CULTURAL ARTS
Ivy & Stone Council for the Arts is dedicated to the promotion, enhancement and expansion of the cultural arts in Nicholas County. The diverse programming definitely brings to the entire community a level of cultural experience and education of the arts. Enjoy from Bach to Bluegrass, pop, jazz, gospel, creative dance and more. www.ivyandstone.org

DIVING
“Skin Diver Magazine” calls Summersville Lake “The Little Bahamas of The East!” for good reason. It is the cleanest, clearest freshwater lake east of the Mississippi River. Average summertime visibility is 20 - 45 feet depending upon rainfall! Sarge’s Dive Shop provides NAUI / YMCA scuba certification classes and lessons, scuba, swimming & snorkeling charters or trips, and lake tours. Sarge’s diving season runs from mid-May through mid-September. For over 30 years, Sarge’s has provided the public, law enforcement and first responders with excellent scuba diving training, certification and scuba equipment sales and service. Sarge’s Dive Shop is located right on Summersville Lake – it literally floats on the lake! You can drive up to Sarge’s in your car or in your boat!
Call 304-872-1782 for more information.

FISHING
Summersville Lake is one of the best small and largemouth bass fishing lakes in the state of West Virginia. The lake is also stocked with trout at the tailwater bi-weekly in the fall. The assortment of fish includes walleye, bluegill, an occasional rainbow trout, crappie and channel catfish. The 30-50 foot deep water with buoys marking fish attractors make this lake optimal for fishing with the entire family. Night fishing and using minnows for bait is permitted. When fishing for walleye, bottom bouncing night crawlers, crank baits, or trolling is recommended. Catfish pursue chicken livers and bass tend to prefer plastic bait or top water plugs. On the lake, there is unlimited horse power with clearly marked no wake zones and speed zones.

West Virginia’s rivers also offer an abundant variety of fish. The hard-fighting smallmouth bass finds prime habitat in the rich ledges provided by the New River and Summersville Lake. The Gauley River shelters the gigantic, elusive muskie. Some of the best trout fishing in the nation can be found in the rivers flowing from eastern and northern parts of Nicholas County and WV, such as the Cranberry, Williams, Cherry, Upper Gauley, and the Muddelty.

GEOCACHING
The newest “treasure hunt” activity that according to www.geocaching.com, has 3 million active geocachers involved in the hunt. And yes, Summersville has hidden “caches” to be found.

GOLF COURSES
Try Nicholas Memorial Golf Course (304-872-9850), a nine hole public links located north of Summersville on Route 19 near the Veterans Memorial Park, or play nine holes of golf in the scenic mountains of Richwood at Cherry Hill Country Club (304-846-9876).

MOUNTAIN BIKING
West Virginia has been rated as one of the top five mountain biking destinations in the United States by Mountain Biking magazine. You can explore the banks of Summersville Lake on its network of trails, ride through the Monongahela National Forest, or try the new Cranberry/Tri-Rivers Rail Trail in Richwood. Many outfitters offer guided tours that range from beginning riders to more advanced terrain.

MOVIE THEATER
Marquee Cinemas Nicholas Showplace. 300 Merchants Walk Plaza. 
Great place to visit on those rainy days or winter snowy days.
304-872-2470

ROCK CLIMBING
The Summersville Lake has become internationally famous over the past few years for the enormous number of vertical cliffs available to rock climb or rappel. With over 2,800 acres of water and 60 miles of shoreline, much of its shore is lined with towering rock cliffs and boulders, which offer breathtaking scenery and some of the most accessible, and yet challenging, rock climbing and rappelling in the United States. The rock at Summersville Lake is composed of Nuttall Sandstone. The sandstone cliffs range from 30-80 feet in height, and the walls range from slightly overhanging to extremely overhanging. The cliffs offer enjoyable face climbs and overhanging routes with horizontal edges, pockets, and jugs.

With over 100 different climbs, climbing and bouldering are popular among visitors. Satisfaction Area, Rats Hole, Jeff’s Bunny Hop, That Eight, and Hippie Dreams are some favorite spots among climbers. For those who boulder, in the fall and spring water levels recede and expose many boulders such as those in Pirates Cove. For climbing indexes, visit our website at www.summersvillecvb.com

SUMMERSVILLE - MUDDELTY WALKING & BICYCLE TRAIL
Walk or ride through nearly 3 miles of trails under a canopy of mature trees. The trail provides an easy walk with wide, improved trails, bridges at water crossings, and gentle hills. Muddelty Creek runs alongside the trail, providing the sounds and magic of fl owing waters. Picnic facilities for families and groups are located in the Jones Hole area. Fire pits and barbecues are provided at each picnic site. The nearby creek and cleared forest area make a great playground. Sturdy bridges make water crossing easy going. They also give scenic panoramas from the “creek viewpoint,” letting trail visitors admire the hillsides and forest. The trail and forest are home to a wide variety of animals and plant life, including several varieties of wild orchids. Several historic sites are found along the trail including the Starbuck Textile Mill, the Campbell Power Plant, and the first 4H Camp in Summersville.

WHITEWATER RAFTING

THE GAULEY RIVER
Prepared by West Virginia Professional River Outfitters Association
Good Gauley, Miss Molly! Rafting just doesn’t get any better. It’s not about mastery (no one really masters this river) as much as communion with an incredible force. It is a combination of adventure, camaraderie and scenery that leaves rafters in a state of sheer euphoria at the end of the day – and planning their next ride on the “Beast of the East.” The Mountain State’s pride and joy ranks seventh among the world’s raftable rivers and second only in the United States to the Colorado River.

Today the National Park Service oversees 25 miles of the river and 11,000 acres of surrounding wilderness. It is a remote, wild region accessible only by raft or kayak – and an area of incomparable beauty. Outfitters advise rafters to polish their paddling skills on the New, and then graduate to the lower section in preparation for the Upper Gauley. To really enjoy this big whitewater ride, you need to have some mileage on your paddling skills. With more Class IV and Class V rapids than any other Eastern river, it is one of the most intense experiences in commercial rafting and sheer nirvana for experienced paddlers.

THE NEW RIVER
Prepared by West Virginia Professional River Outfitters Association
What’s New about the New River? Certainly not its age. It is one of the world’s oldest river systems, second only to the Nile. But every year thousands of fi rst-time rafters have a “New” experience that leaves them forever hooked on white water and returning year after year. Many who rafted here in the ‘70s come back – as do their children and grandchildren – generation after generation having its fi rst taste of whitewater on one of the most popular rafting rivers in the Eastern United States. New River fans are a diverse group. From family fl oat and duckie trips for novice rafters (Class II - III) on the Upper sections to exciting whitewater adventure on the Lower section (Class IV - V), the New River can be enjoyed by almost anyone.

SUMMERSVILLE LAKE RETREAT LIGHTHOUSE
*Coming in 2013. Imagine a lighthouse that is over 100 feet tall at Summersville Lake Retreat! Anticipated completion is the Fall of 2013. The unique location and classic architectural design of this landmark project will provide spectacular views of West Virginia’s largest lake and surrounding mountain region, while at the same time re-using almost 72,000 pounds of structural steel otherwise slated for the ovens to be re-forged. Become a part of history and purchase one of the 120 steps leading up to the top of the lighthouse. Call 888-872-5580 for more information or visit www.summersvillelakeretreat.com.