The Elkins Depot Dispatch – October 2020
October 2020, Issue No. 1
THE ELKINS DEPOT DISPATCH
THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM THE ELKINS DEPOT WELCOME CENTER
(304) 635. 7803 | elkinsdepot.com | elkinsrandolphwv.com
It’s officially Fall
and the trees are transitioning to their autumn colors.
Here at the Depot, we have been watching as the trees out back slowly turn from bright green to vibrant reds and oranges. We are excited to welcome the visitors coming to the area to catch the beautiful scenery of a West Virginia fall.
The shift of seasons has brought other changes to the Depot. This past month the Depot welcomed a new AFNHA AmeriCorps member and a new volunteer! We are excited to have Morgan and Crystal joining us. We also have updated hours from the month of October. In October, we will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 9am to 4pm. In other news, the Elkins Depot Welcome Center CVB, Inc. was awarded the 2020 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice award, meaning that travelers’ reviews have placed us in the top 10% worldwide for attractions.
While the Welcome Center is open, we are currently operating from a window. In order to best protect our staff, volunteers, and visitors, we are unfortunately not able to have our doors open. We are also following CDC and WV State Mandate guidelines as we welcome you with smiling faces under our masks. We want to continue to provide service to our visitors, so please stop by our window, call, or visit our websites at elkinsdepot.com and elkinsrandolphwv.com.
Catching the Fall Foliage
If you’ve never experienced Randolph County in the fall, then you are in for a real special treat. Randolph County is home to some incredible scenic drives and rides. Our mountains range in elevation from 900 feet to 4,800 feet which ends up being that perfect equation for a longer fall leaf season.
In early fall during the last week of September through the first week of October, drive to the high elevations over 4,000 feet like Spruce Knob Lake, Mower Tract on Cheat Mountain (pictured above), Gaudineer Scenic Area, Dolly Sods Wilderness, and Roaring Plains Wilderness.
In mid-fall around the second week of October, check out the elevations in the 3,000 to 4,000-foot range like Bickle Knob Observation Tower, Kumbrabow State Forest, the small towns of Helvetia and Pickens, or Rich Mountain Battlefield.
During the third week of October through the end of October, the lower elevations are your best bet to see fall foliage such as the city of Elkins, town of Beverly, Stuart Recreation Area, Allegheny Highlands Trail or the West Fork Rail Trail.
Whether you are in a car, SUV, on a motorcycle, or relaxing on one of our passenger excursion trains, a ride through the curvy mountains are exactly what is calling your name. For a fall foliage map of all of West Virginia, visit wvtourism.com/fall-map.
Featured Blogs:
History of the Mountain State Forest Festival
Fall Flavors Found in Randolph County
Upcoming Events:
Beverly Historic Lantern Tours – Oct. 9, 10, 16, 17
Scarecrow Days – Oct. 10-24
Scarecrows on display in downtown Elkins
Gandy Dancer Murder Mystery Show – Oct. 30 & 31
|
