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Standing on the rim of the New River Gorge, it’s hard to imagine that the deep, narrow, and rocky landscape was once bustling with industrial activities. Read this post to learn how to best explore the remnants of the long-lost coal mining complexes and communities that once filled the Gorge.
Science is just starting to understand why people like waterfalls. It turns out that when water molecules collide while tumbling over rocks and into a splash pool they release negative ions into the atmosphere. When these negative ions hit our bloodstream our bodies produce biochemical reactions linked to alleviating depression, relieving stress, and boosting energy. […]
Why Not Ours? Each of the four flats at Lafayette Flats Boutique Vacation Rentals has a different color palette, but one color runs through them all – green. The color of the forest. The color of life. The color green signifies abundance to our primitive brains, soothing even our modern anxieties. One way we bring […]
Southside Trail is an easy seven-mile riverside trail that provides great views of the New River and passes through several abandoned mining towns. Rush Run, Red Ash, and Brooklyn were all once-bustling communities located along this abandoned railroad line. It’s one of the few trails in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve that […]
Editor’s Note: Michele Sons was the first of three 2022 New River Gorge Creatives-in-Residence at Lafayette Flats. Michele is an exhibiting fine art landscape and portrait photographer originally from England and currently based in southwest Virginia. This is an excerpt from her recent blog post. I am recently home from a cold, beautiful, snowy month […]
Did you just give that title a double-take? It may be because you aren’t used to rivers flowing north; not many do. But the New River does, so head south from Fayetteville to explore the upper section of the New River Gorge. You’ll find a very different landscape upriver. Immediately, you’ll see a much wider, […]
Michele Sons of southwest Virginia, L. Renée of Columbus, OH and the creative partnership of Nevada Tribble and Andre Hoyos of northeastern West Virginia have been selected for the 2022 New River Gorge Creative Residency at Lafayette Flats Boutique Vacation Rentals. Michele Sons Michele Sons is an exhibiting fine art landscape and portrait photographer originally […]
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 […]
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.
