BLOG
Lafayette Flats
Welcome TO THE
America’s newest national park has received lots of media attention since its designation was announced in January 2021. As long-time New River Gorge enthusiasts, we are thrilled to share our playground with a wider audience and are thankful for the well-deserved media coverage, but we’ve found that many of the stories miss the mark. It’s […]
In 2013, when we began renovating the building that is now home to Lafayette Flats, vacation rentals were starting to really take off. But the idea of having several in one building was a complete novelty. We found ourselves in need of a quick way to accurately communicate what we were creating. Was it just […]
The best way to truly experience the New River Gorge National Park is to take the trails less traveled. By avoiding the most popular hiking areas – and other humans – you are much more likely to see wildlife, find undisturbed flora, and experience the natural rhythms of the forest. Here are five less traveled […]
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word souvenir? Shot glasses, magnets, hermit crabs? If you traveled around West Virginia as a child, the answer is probably miniature coal figures. Oh, how I coveted those little black bears in all the state park gift shops. All these traditional souvenirs […]
There’s something so charming about Fayetteville, West Virginia, the small town that sits on the rim of the New River Gorge National Park. Sure, the forest that surrounds Fayetteville is enchanting, but the small town itself has a lot to offer. At its center is the historic Fayette County Courthouse, which is surrounded by great […]
It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been married; your wedding anniversary is always special. But planning a weekend getaway, especially during a pandemic, can be daunting. Well, worry no more! With these helpful tips and our insider info, you can easily put together an engaging trip you both will enjoy – all without stress or […]
Each year since 2015 we have allocated a portion of our vacation rental income to our West Virginia Art Fund. The purpose of this fund is to support West Virginia artists by purchasing a new work to display in Lafayette Flats as part of our effort to create an alternative narrative of the state’s culture […]
Editor’s Note: Jessica Sands is the first of two 2021 New River Gorge Creatives in Residence at Lafayette Flats. Jessica was born in WV and raised in Southern Pennsylvania. She received degrees from Bethany College and West Virginia University, and she is currently working as Senior Lecturer, Multilingual Writing at Cornell University. This is Jessica’s […]
The New River Gorge National Park may be best known for its world-class whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and adventure activities but it’s the lush Appalachian forest that makes this place so enchanting. This hardwood forest is ecologically diverse, rich in cultural and natural history and packed full of recreational opportunities. The New River Gorge […]
Without a doubt, the best view of the New River Gorge Bridge is from the end of the Long Point Trail in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. While it is the Instagram-worthy spot at the trail’s terminus that gets most of the attention, the journey has other merits, and there are a […]
Best spots to get the shot in New River Gorge.
Our handy photo guide will provide all the insider info you need to easily find the most photogenic locations in the New River Gorge National Park.
