The Old Gist Mill in Babcock State Park West Virginia is one of the most recognized Photo op sites of West Virginia.
Babcock state park is probably the most desired destination of fall leaf peepers in West Virginia because of the unique old fashioned setting that the grist mill and surrounding forest provides.
This mill stands as a monument to over 500 grist mills that milled flour at the turn of the twentieth century. In the early 1900’s the railroads started providing mass produced flour and reduced the need for the time consuming process of manually grinding and transporting flour.
Old grist mill at Babcock State Park
The Grist Mill at Glade creek still demonstrates the production of flour, and has done so since 1976 when it was constructed from three different mills. Stoney Creek Gristmill provided the basic structure, Spring Run Grist Mill provided the overshot wheel after the main building was destroyed in a fire and other parts came from Onego Grist Mill which was originally near Seneca Rocks, West Virginia.
Babcock State Park is one of West Virginia’s most attractive and scenic parks. There are trails and cabins for rent in the park year around.
Babcock maintains more than 20 miles of trail open to hiking and 10 miles for biking and horseback-riding. Most wander the park’s uplands and skirt the sandstone cliffs that rim the Mann’s Creek Gorge. The Raleigh Sandstone, which forms the cliffs at Grandview State Park, some 20-miles south of Babcock, outcrops here as the cliff at the observation shelter on Island-in-the-Sky Trail and has eroded into the “tunnel” on Natural Arch Trail. Many short trails near the park’s picnic area are convenient for short woodland hikes; its longest follow or descend the gorges of Mann’s Creek and Glade Creek.
Recreation: hiking, biking, game courts, playground, paddle-boating, horseback-riding, pool-swimming, lake and stream fishing
Lodging: 28 cabins; 52 camping sites
All cabins feature electric lighting, modern appliances, and are completely equipped for housekeeping including cooking utensils, dishes, flatware, bed linens, and towels.
52-unit campground (includes 4 handicap accessible sites) complete with tent or trailer campsites, picnic tables, ground grills and a central bathhouse with toilet facilities, hot showers and coin-operated washers and dryers. Two potable water fill-up stations and two sewage dump stations are available for campers and RV’s.
Reservations begin the Friday before Memorial Day and ends Labor Day. Only mail-in reservations will be accepted from February 15-March 14. Mail-in reservations must be postmarked on or after February 15, or they will be returned. A maximum of three reservation forms per envelope will be accepted; any more and all requests will be returned. You may also call in for a form to be sent to you and to be mailed back to the park.
Rates:
Electric sites = $21 per site / per night
Non-electric sites = $18 per site / per night Dining: restaurant, concessions, picnic areas
Highlights: Boley Lake, Island-in-the-Sky Overlook, Glade Creek Gristmill
Babcock State Park
HC 35 Box 150ClifftopWV25831
Phone 304-438-3004 or 800-CALL-WVA Fax 304-438-3007
45 min drive south of Summersville on route 19.Then turn left on route 60 follow the signs.At the US Rt. 60 East to Rt. 41 South exit, travel east 10 miles to State Rt. 41 South. Babcock’s campground is 2 miles south of Rt.60 at Cliff top, while the main park entrance is 2 miles south of Cliff top.
Note: The restaurant maybe closed.
Site: http://www.babcocksp.com
