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If your vision of camping includes sleeping bags on cold, hard dirt, extreme temperatures and restrooms located somewhere in the woods, maybe you haven’t tried glamping -- short for glamorous camping.
The concept has been around for a while. Now the state of West Virginia is getting in on the action, with 32 glamping tents available for reservations at four state parks: Blackwater Falls, Lost River, Pipestem Resort and Summersville Lake.
The developments are the result of a private-public partnership between the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and Out & West, LLC, a West Virginia company based in Lewisburg.
“You’ll get the full West Virginia state park campground experience, but you’ll show up to the preset tent with hotel-style beds, heat, AC, a mini fridge, and some other hotel amenities that make any overnight stay that much easier,” Out & West owner Corinne Traub said.
Out & West will construct, operate, and maintain the accommodations, while the state retains ownership of the parks and receives revenue for park operations.
“That’s done without money being spent by our taxpayers. That’s a great thing,” Gov. Patrick Morrisey said. “The state will benefit, the company will benefit, and tourism overall will benefit.”
Thirty-two new units are available for reservations that start next April and can accommodate two to six people. For more information or to make a reservation, contact any of the four state parks or visit wvglamping.com.