West Virginia opened reservations on November 13, 2026 for 32 new glamping accommodations spread across four state parks, giving outdoor-minded travelers a furnished, hotel-amenity alternative to tents ahead of the 2027 season. The units will be available at Blackwater Falls, Lost River, Pipestem Resort and Summersville Lake state parks, with eight at each location for stays running from April 1 through November 30, 2027.
The project is a public-private partnership between the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and Out & West, LLC, a company based in Lewisburg, according to West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Out & West will construct, operate and maintain the units, while the state retains ownership of the parks and receives revenue to support park operations, per the same report. Officials did not disclose the specific revenue-sharing terms between the state and the company, according to wvexplorer.com.
Governor Patrick Morrisey made the announcement at Pipestem Resort State Park, where a demonstration unit was set up, according to Deep Arrival. Morrisey said glamping adds an overnight option without the state paying construction costs, per that report. The 32 units can accommodate two to six people each, according to West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
What's Inside the Units
The accommodations include furnished interiors with hotel-style beds, heat, air conditioning and a mini-fridge, with restroom facilities nearby, according to West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Both cited sources describe the setups as including seating, lighting and outdoor gathering spaces alongside the beds.
At Blackwater Falls specifically, wvexplorer.com reports listings showing starting nightly rates of $115 for a Basecamp unit, $125 for Outpost and $135 for Expedition, with a two-night minimum stay. That outlet also identifies designated pet-friendly accommodations among the Blackwater Falls listings. Nightly rates at the other three parks were not listed in the announcements, per Deep Arrival.
Four Very Different Settings
Each park offers its own backdrop. Blackwater Falls sits in the Allegheny Mountains, while Lost River is located in the state's eastern highlands, both part of what Deep Arrival describes as the northern and eastern highlands region. Pipestem Resort sits near the Bluestone River in southern West Virginia, and Summersville Lake State Park sits beside West Virginia's largest lake, popular for summer boating and swimming; Pipestem and Summersville Lake are both located in southern West Virginia near the New River Gorge, according to the same report.
A West Virginia Secretary of State meeting notice, filed separately from the park announcements, refers to plans for the state to enter a contract with Out & West LLC covering financing and construction, though the extract does not spell out the full contract terms.
Booking Details and Timing
Bookings are available at wvstateparks.com, according to Deep Arrival, a detail also reported by WTAP. Deep Arrival recommends booking early for summer weekends and fall foliage dates, identifying late September and October as potentially popular times to visit. The outlet also suggests checking individual unit details for linens, cooking rules and parking before arrival, and floats pairing two parks in the same region for a long-weekend trip.
The glamping rollout arrives as West Virginia's tourism sector posts strong numbers. The state recorded 78.4 million visitors in 2025, with its tourism economy reaching $9.4 billion in total economic impact that year, according to Deep Arrival's report.
