Trains Of West Virginia

DAY 1

Your day begins with meal and rest stops enroute to Elkins, West Virginia. Mid-afternoon, you will make a stop at Appalachian Glass, a working studio where high-quality mouth-blown, hand-crafted glass is a family business. Three generations of the Turner family with 75 years of experience between them keeps the tradition alive in Weston. Browse the retail shop and take home a special ornament, jewelry or beautiful decorative piece to display in your home or give as a gift. Marvel at a glass blowing demonstration during your visit. Next, you will arrive at your host hotel the Hampton Inn Elkins (304-630-7500) for a two-night stay. The hotel offers an indoor pool, fitness center, business center, and coin operated guest laundry. The guest rooms are well-appointed with a microwave, mini refrigerator, coffee maker, 32" HDTV, hair dryer, iron/ironing board and complimentary high speed internet access. After a brief time to freshen up, you have dinner included with entertainment to follow by the award-winning Bluegrass Band, Crandall Creek. After the performance, you return to the hotel for the night.

DAY 2

Breakfast is included at the hotel before you depart for downtown Elkins with your first stop of the day at the West Virginia Railroad Museum and Appalachian Forest Discovery Center both located in the historic 1902 Darden Mill once operated as a grain mill until 1943. The museum's collection includes a wide variety of artifacts and archives documenting the history of railroading. From rolling stock to uniforms and photographs, the collection is continually growing. The Appalachian Discovery Center welcomes visitors to explore the area's rich cultural and forest heritage through its engaging exhibits and knowledgeable staff. Next, you will have some free time to browse the shops in and around the Elkins Depot, followed by a relaxing and scenic train ride on the New Tygart Flyer. For those railroad enthusiasts, the New Tygart Flyer travels over tracks that were formerly part of the Western Maryland Scenic Railway and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The 4 hour, 46-mile round trip features two separate mountain grades, an "S" curve tunnel, passage into a 1,500 deep canyon with steep densely forested slopes, and the crossing of a high bridge over the rushing Shavers Fork of the Cheat River before reaching your destination at "High Falls of Cheat," an 18' high, 150' wide waterfall in one of the most remote and pristine settings in the eastern United States. The train ride is round trip and upon arrival at High Falls, you will have the opportunity to get out and experience nature and take photos. A box lunch is included while in the climate-controlled passenger coaches. Once back in Elkins, you will travel a short distance down the road to the Beverly Heritage Center. Admission is included to explore and discover four adjoining buildings including the 1900 Beverly Bank, the 1808 Randolph County Court House, 1912 Hill Building and 1856 Bushrod Crawford/McClellan's Headquarters building. Beverly was of the earliest settlements in Virginia's Allegheny Mountains. It was a key crossroads on the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike providing improved transportation across the Alleghenies and provided vital access to the vitally important B & O railroad across Northwestern Virginia making it a crucial prize in the First Campaign of the Civil War. Learn about all of this and more as you stroll through the BHC's history-filled buildings and view the exhibits that describe Beverly's significance throughout its existence. After a day of scenic beauty and captivating history, dinner and a show are included at the Gandy Dancer Theatre. The Gandy offers a down-home meal paired with a Branson-style variety show featuring impersonators, good-time comedy interludes and talented musicianship. Following the show, you return to the hotel to turn in for the night.

DAY 3

Start the day with breakfast included at the hotel before you check-out and depart for Cass. Prior to boarding the train, you have a little time to browse the shop. Enjoy a boxed lunch on board the Cass Scenic Railroad for a 2-hour eight-mile roundtrip excursion. Passing the water tower and machine shop, the train begins to climb lower slopes of the Cheat Mountain along picturesque Leatherbark Creek. The train then zig-zags through two switchbacks, the engines alternately pushing then pulling passenger cars because the grade is so steep. After passing the entrance to Cass Cave, the railroad levels off for the stop at Whittaker Station, surrounded by green meadows and fine views of the countryside. Following a brief layover, you return to Cass to disembark the train after a leisurely excursion. You then board the coach to return home with a rest stop and dinner stop at your expense enroute.

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***ALL WOLF'S TOURS - Times and Itineray are Subject to Change***

B=Breakfast, BL=Boxed Lunch, D=Dinner