River House Lodge, Rowlesburg, WV

Here you can find out about upcoming events in Rowlesburg and the general area from spring through December! You will also find local and area attractions.

Cannon Hill

Rowlesburg was a critical railroad link for the UnionArmy during the Civil War. Lee made destruction ofits famous bridges a high priority. Despite attempts,the Rebels never touched the bridges of Rowlesburg.The original Cheat River Bridge (shown below) stoodthroughout the Civil War due to valiant efforts of theundermanned Union regiment stationed in Rowlesburg.

At this time there are no rides to Cannon Hill. Hikers may walk the trail. However, the gate to the trail is locked so hikers must climb over the fence. If this situation should change, I will post it here. 

Festivals

Several annual festivals call Rowlesburg home. These festivals help boost the local economy by attracting visitors from the surrounding cities, towns and states. The last weekend of April the town jumps to life with the Annual Chili and Ramp Cookoff sponsored by the Rowlesburg VFW. Some of the funds go to benefit the Shriners Hospitals. This is a big event and involves folks from every part of the area. Next comes the Annual Cheat Fest in nearby Albright the first week of May. The event is large and draws white water enthusiasts from the surrounding states. Lots of music, many vendors and wonderful kayaking and rafting on Cheat River.

The Rowlesburg Revitalization Committee sponsors several festivals: the River City Festival of the Arts on Memorial Weekend offers Jazz, Opera, Instrumental & Choral Music, Art, Ceramics, Quilting and Photography Exhibits, Interpretative History Portrayals; the All American Wars Living History Weekend including catered Ball the last weekend in June; the West Virginia Chestnut Festival and the Kristkindl Markt in December.  In addition the town hosts the Annual Labor Day Ox Roast The festival season ends with a New Year’s Eve Ball.

The Annual Labor Day Ox Roast is sponsored by the Rowlesburg Park, the Rowlesburg Revitalization Committee and the Rowlesburg Volunteer Firemen. The festival includes exhibits at the Railroad Depot, Ambulance Building and Szilagyi Center. The three-day events includes a Fireman’s Parade, Railroad History Day, Ox Roast, Fireworks, live music, a Festival Ball, Alumni Day, Family Day in the Park and rides to the historic Cannon Hill battle site.

The Annual West Virginia American Chestnut Festival is hosted by the Rowlesburg Revitalization Committee and the Rowlesburg Community Park. The festival features vendors of Chestnut tree saplings, roasted Chestnuts hot off the grill, Chestnut Furniture, Chestnut Flavored Foods, Chestnut Treenware, Scientific Lectures and the annual meeting of the West Virginia Chestnut Association, Park Activities, Festival Dinner, Raffle, Auction, and the Chestnut Ball.

In December the Szilagy Center welcomes the Christmas Market {Christkindlesmarkt}. Vendor’s tables burdened with collectibles, crafts, quilts, holiday foods and many Holiday Gifts file the entire auditorium of the Szilagyi Center. A part of the draw is the music, food, food and more food and the big favorite, Gluewein and grilled bratwurst.

Lodging: Main Stay; River House Lodge

River Action

Cheat River is one of the great wild rivers of the eastern United States. From Rowlesburg north, the river becomes a Class II and III challange. Beyond Albright is the Cheat Canyon. Here the water reaches Class IV. Many outfitters take tours on both sections. Click on those listed below for more details.

Check with these folks about joining their Narrows trip in Rowlesburg at the Community Park. Many tours put in there at the start of the trip. The Blackwater Outdoors trips on the Cheat return to Rowlesburg so guests at the River House Lodge may join their trips in Rowlesburg. For Cheat River River Outfitters, guests must join the tours in Albright, about a 20 minute drive. 

Cheat River Outfitters in Albright, WV: http://www.cheatriveroutfitters.com/.

Blackwater Outdoors in St. George, WV: www.blackwateroutdoors.com

Cheat River Water Trail

The Upper Cheat Water Trail is a project involving Friends of the Cheat and locals around the Cheat River Watershed. The trail is part of the National Water Trail program in the National Park Service. This is part of the the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The Cheat River Water Trail starts in Hendricks, WV on the Black Fork and ends in Rowlesburg, WV. It is a Class I section suitable for beginners and provides family friendly paddling for all to enjoy!

Fishing the Cheat

Cheat River, meandering 73 miles through the mountains, is on of the great fishing streams in West Virginia with its Rainbow, Brown, Brook and Golden Trout. Now the river is being stocked 6-8 times each year at 18 locations from Pringle Run south to 5 miles upstream from the US 50 bridge. The Cheat River Restoration Committee also stocks Walleye and Catfish. Fishing the river in Rowlesburg has yielded some very large trout, some over 18 inches.

Visitors can book fishing guides with the River House Lodge, or call Cheat Trips at 304-864-3390.

Allegheny Trail

The Allegheny Trail runs right smack through Rolesburg. The hiking trail is a 330-mile north-south trail whose northern terminus is on the Mason-Dixon Line at the Pennsylvania-West Virginia border near Bruceton Mills. It winds south until it meets the Appalachian Trail on Peters Mountain at the Virginia-West Virginia border. Volunteer workers maintain all sections of the Allegheny Trail, which is marked by 2"x 6" yellow blazes.

In 2000, the Allegheny Trail (along with four other trails in West Virginia--the WV sections of the American Discovery Trail, the Greenbrier Trail, the Brooke Pioneer Trail and the Hatfield McCoy Trail System) was designated as a Millenium Trail by the Millenium Council.

The Allegheny Trail, for maintenance purposes, is divided into four "sections," described briefly below and in detail in the "Hiking Guide." The trail is maintained by the West Virginia Scenic Trails Association.

Section 1 starts at the Pennsylvania line and ends at the stables at Blackwater Falls State Park. This is the part of the trail that passes through Rowlesburg.

NOTICE: Allegheny Wood Products has closed the trail through the Cheat Canyon for road construction and logging operations. A re-route has been blazed.

Camp Dawson Re-Route: The re-route around Army National Guard firing range has been completed. The new route has been blazed.  The blazes on the old route have been removed.  You should have no problem following the new route.

Section 2 starts at the stables at Blackwater Falls State Park and ends at the parking lot at the Cass Scenic Railroad.

Section 3 starts at the Cass parking lot. The end of section 3 is in Greenbrier County where the trail meets county road 14.

Section 4 is incomplete, although two segments are open and available for backpacking. The trail is open from the southern terminus of section 3 to Interstate 64, where it breaks and picks up again at Laurel Branch in Monroe County, ending on Peters Mountain at a junction with the Appalachian Trail

Dances

The 2017 dance schedule at the Szilagyi Center has come out. The dances are a smash hit for the area. Folks come from Oakland, Morgantown and all over Preston County. The bill of faire includes food, drinks and lots of swing, rock and present day popular music. I am posting it here in case some of our visitors may not have seen it. Also, drinking driving is never a good idea, especially on our roads and late at night. We welcome folks to reserve at the River House Lodge and walk home safely.