North Bend State Park Offers Vacation Values

North Bend State Park might hold the park system's record for the greatest number of packaged events and rates.  “Our guests like shorter stays and a little something to do for a reasonable rate,” says Kristi Steed, group coordinator at this Ritchie County Mecca. There are 13 packages posted on the North Bend State Park web page, not including the park's special events.

North Bend State Park features a 29-room lodge, nine vacation cabins, two campgrounds, a restaurant and outdoor attractions of a swimming pool, miniature golf, picnicking, and trails.  The North Bend Rail Trail is accessible from the park.  A 305-acre lake is part of the appeal for guests visiting the area. “The water is calm and the fishing is fine,” says Steed.

Packages at North Bend vary in types of accommodations and extras.  The pricing for packages is always for two individuals and includes taxes and gratuities as appropriate and the total cost for the package, not a per person cost.  “We get a lot of compliments on just saying what you get and the total price,” says Steed. “People just want to know what they’re getting and no surprises.”

Some of the packaged fun at North Bend State Park includes:

“Fall” in Love with West Virginia, Sept. 12-30, is a cabin package for two nights and includes boxed lunches for two individuals and a Ritchie County welcome basket.

A “Sizzlin’ Summer” package runs through Sept. 1 and includes one night at North Bend lodge plus dinner and breakfast for two and available on Sunday – Wednesday nights.  For $145 total, it is a nice summer evening getaway and the only other cost would be fuel to get you here, according to Steed.

The most popular package is “Fishing for a Deal” available from Sept. 13 – Oct. 31, 2010.  It includes one night at North Bend State Park Lodge, breakfast for two at North Bend State Park Dining Room, and lure/bait for the type of fishing you want to do and specific to the fishing conditions that day.  Hess Fish and Tackle redeems the lure coupon and helps first-time anglers to North Bend find the fishing patterns on the lake.  “We’ve made this package rate of $99 to reel in bass fishermen and women to check out the lake,” Steed says.

North Bend, like many of West Virginia’s state parks, is a honeymoon destination.  The Anniversary/Honeymoon package at North Bend includes lodging, breakfast with room service, a rose and other memorabilia. The Anniversary/Honeymoon package is available year-round.

History Traveler Packages combine vacation with area historical sites.  “Voyage” combines a stay at North Bend with Blennerhassett Island’s Regional Museum, sternwheeler ride, Blennerhassett Mansion tours and horse-drawn wagon ride in Parkersburg. “Frontier” leads guests to Prickett’s Fort State Park to experience fort history and the Job Prickett house.  Both packages are based out of North Bend.  The package is for one night at North Bend lodge and entry passes for activities or facilities at the partner parks. “The package price is -- you guessed it -- $99,” Steed says. Voyage and Frontier are summer-into-fall packages and each coincides with operational hours at Blennerhassett Island Historical and Prickett’s Fort state parks.

Other packages are: “Babymoon”; golf partner package with North Bend Golf Course in nearby Harrisville; Great Rates Falling; a mid-week lodge rate for “leaf peepers” in October; the Red, White and Blue packages; Country Christmas on Dec. 24-25; and, in 2011, the Great Getaway.

For more information about packages at North Bend, visit www.northbendsp.com (see “Events/Deals”) or contact the park at northbend@wvdnr.gov or 304-643-2931.