| South Charleston, W.Va. - Camping in September is cooler than during the hot summer months, and West Virginia State Parks are making it even more attractive by offering half-off discounts at participating campgrounds.
"When school starts, the camping season mellows, but just a little," according to Jon Teets, superintendent at Audra State Park in Barbour County. "Audra is hoppin' in the summertime, particularly on weekends. In September we find the pace a little slower and that's when park superintendents get creative and offer rate reductions to encourage campers to visit." Audra State Park campground is all first-come, first-served sites and is open from April 15 to mid-October.
"When the kids are back in school, camping decreases and the need for reservations also vanishes," according to Scott Durham, superintendent at Twin Falls Resort State Park in Wyoming County. "It would be a record day to have all 50 sites at Twin Falls full in September, so there's no waiting."
Several parks, including Twin Falls, reduce campsite fees from Sept. 6 - 30 by 50 percent. State parks and forests offer two September campsite rate reductions: areas that are Sunday-Thursday only and areas for any two consecutive days.
· Sunday through Thursday - Eight parks extend the 50 percent off camping rates for Sunday through Thursday nights only with a minimum two night stay. "These areas are still heavily used in September and weekends are still like summertime - busy," said Brad Reed, district administrator with West Virginia State Parks. "Reduced rates for mid-week camping encourage campers to use our campgrounds when demand is lower. Many campers prefer mid-week stays regardless." Parks offering 50 percent off Sunday through Thursdays from Sept. 6 - 30, 2011, include: Bluestone (Summers County), Beech Fork (Cabell County), Watoga (Pocahontas County), Pipestem Resort (Summers County) and Canaan Valley Resort and Blackwater Falls (Tucker County) state parks, and Tygart Lake (Taylor County) state parks, and Kumbrabow State Forest (Randolph County).
· Two consecutive days - Parks and forests offering 50 percent off campsite fees any two or more days from Sept. 6-30, 2011, include Plum Orchard (Fayette County) and Bluestone (Summers) wildlife management areas, Kanawha (Kanawha County), Greenbrier (Greenbrier County) and Cabwaylingo (Wayne County) state forests, Holly River (Webster County), Audra (Barbour/Upshur counties), Twin Falls (Wyoming County), and Moncove Lake (Monroe County) state parks.
"Campers will see foliage begin the color change in mid-September at some parks. If autumn color is early, it's an added bonus at Canaan Valley and Blackwater Falls, two parks that recognize the mid-week September rate," Reed advised.
"Campgrounds operated by the state park system are all first-come, first-served after Labor Day," Reed said. Reservable sites are available from Memorial - Labor Day weekends at West Virginia's state parks. Stonewall, Canaan Valley and Tygart Lake campgrounds are the exceptions, with year-round reservations available, as weather permits.
For more information about West Virginia's state parks, visit www.wvstateparks.com
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