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The Larry Joe Harless Community Center is a 61,500 square
foot facility sitting on five acres beside the Guyandotte River at the intersection of US 52 and Route 80 in Gilbert
WV. Access to the trail is approximately one-quarter mile from the Center. The Center offers Shower Rooms, Whirlpool,
Saunas, Indoor Pool, Indoor Walking Track, Fitness Room, Gymnasium, Outdoor Tennis & Basketball Courts, Kids
Playground & Computer Lab with Internet Access. Adjoining the Center is a 3 screen digital surround sound theater,
showing the newest releases. Tickets are $6.00 for adults and $3.50 for twelve and under. Save room for fresh, hot popcorn;
you won't be able to resist it.
R.D. Bailey is a unit in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Ohio River basin flood control system. The 19,000-acre R.D. Bailey Lake project is located in the rugged Appalachian
Mountains. The lake also provides downstream water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and many recreation opportunities.
The dam is on the Guyandotte River near the southwestern West Virginia town of Justice. The lake is in Wyoming County.
Fishing has been excellent for largemouth, smallmouth and striped bass; walleye, tiger muskie, channel catfish, crappieand
panfish since the lake was formed in 1980. West Virginia fishing licenses are required. Easy-to-reach fishing spots
are located at the Guyandotte Point Recreation Area, Big Branch Day Use Area, and below the dam. Foot trails
(Hiking) are located at the Salt River and Justice Trails. R.D. Bailey Lakes marina is located at the Guyandotte Point
Boat Ramp and Marina. It provides visitors with docking facilities, fishing, tackle, and boat rental.
Picnic shelters are located at the Big Branch Day Use Area, and the Guyandotte Campground. There are also picnic
tables at all recreation areas on the R.D. Bailey Lake. No developed swimming facilities currently exist.
The Visitors Center is perched 365 feet above the lake providing a breathtaking view of the dam, lake and surrounding
forest. Viewing telescopes are mounted on the observation deck. Visitor center exhibits show opportunities available
at the lake and provide a better understanding of the project. Tours are available of the dam and intake structure.
Twisted Gun Golf Course is located in Wharncliffe, W.Va.,
and was built as part of the reclamation for a coal strip mining site. Twisted Gun Golf Course is one the the finest
golf courses in the eastern United States. It is situated on top of Horse Pen Mountain, in Mingo County, West
Virginia.
Beckley Exhibition Coal MineLocated in the heart of New River Park, in beautiful
Beckley, West Virginia, the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine offers visitors a realistic look at coal mining as it was at the
turn of the century.
Traveling 1500 feet beneath the hillsides of New River Park, passengers are carried along
track in authentic "man cars" from the mine entrance into old working sections. Exhibits throughout explore the history
of low-seam coal mining from the hand-loading days into the era of modern
mechanization.
In addition to the underground
activity, you can tour the historical coal camp situated throughout the grounds. Lovingly restored, the Coal Company
House, Superintendent's Home, Pemberton Coal Camp Church, and the Helen Coal Camp School, give visitors a true representation
of early 20th century coal camp life.
Located about 40 minutes from Browning Fork Trailhouse, still in the heart of WV's
southern coalfields is Chief Logan State Park. It is four miles north of the town of Logan. The park and
town share the name of the Chief of the
Cayuga Tribe (also known as the Mingo tribe). Today the 4,000-acre park
is one of the most visited in the state park system. The recreation enthusiast can enjoy hiking trails, a swimming
pool with water slide, tennis, and miniature golf. Picnic shelters and playgrounds are found
throughout the park.
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