Snowshoe Mountain Plan Your Visit WV Rail Excursions Area

Plan Your Visit
Area Attractions
Your group can experience even more outstanding scenic attractions nearby. Here’s a sample!
For more information contact the Pocahontas County Convention & Visitors Bureau at
www.pocahontascountywv.com or 800-336-7009.
Before you come to Green Bank:
• Contact us to set the date.
• Determine your anticipated arrival and departure
time, as well as group size.
• Plan for your meals. Group meals can be provided
by reservation for groups of 20 or more.
Pocahontas County Opera House • Marlington, WV, 30 min. west of NRAO.
• Pocahontas County’s premier performing arts center, built in 1909
• Intimate venue, with seating for about 250, part of the West Virginia Historic Theatre Trail.
304-799-6645 • www.pocahontasoperahouse.org
Cranberry Mountain Nature Center and Cranberry Glades Botanical Area
• Near Hillsboro, WV, 50 min. from NRAO.
• Educational exhibits. • Unique habitat, plants and animals. • Half mile handicap accessible boardwalk through
an Arctic Tundra bog. • Open spring through fall.
304-653-4826 • www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/sp/naturecenter.html
Our Tour Program Director will design a custom tour for
your group ranging from a 90-minute visit to 3 hours.
Contact us at gbt-tours@nrao.edu or
304-456-2164
Beartown State Park • Near Droop, WV, 1 hr. from NRAO.
• Unique natural area featuring massive boulders, overhanging cliffs and unusual rock formations. • Self guided
with interpretive signs or guided tours through advanced arrangements. • Open April through October.
304-653-4254 • www.beartownstatepark.com
Snowshoe Mountain
Once you arrive at Snowshoe Mountain, you will know why you came
here. With just one look around you will see why this place can be
described with a single word, “wow.” With breathtaking mountaintop views,
fantastic events, cool summertime temperatures and sprawling wilderness
waiting to be explored; you will enjoy a feeling of escape... exactly what
you wanted. To learn move about Snowshoe Mountain’s Motor Coach
offerings, please call our Sales office toll free at 877-536-9757.
Edray State Trout Hatchery • Edray , WV 50 min. from NRAO.
• Tour an operating fish farm. • Learn about and see live rainbow, brook and brown trout. • Free tours.
• Reservations are necessary.
304-799-6461
Greenbrier Resort Bunker Tours • White Sulphur Springs, WV, 1 hour from NRAO
• Visit the former U.S. Government Relocation Facility located in the prestigious 4-star Greenbrier Resort
• Reservations required
800.642.6070 or 304.536.7810 • http://www.greenbrier.com/Activities/The-Bunker.aspx
Group Services
Droop Mountain State Park • Droop , WV 55 min. from NRAO.
• Official Civil War Discovery Trail site.
• Free tours. • Guided tours available with advance arrangements.
• Open year round.
304-653-4254 • www.droopmountainbattlefield.com
Relax and let our experts plan your memorable
vacation or getaway to the mountains of
Pocahontas County. Whether you are with a large
or small group, the Pocahontas County CVB offers
expertise, knowledge and connections to make
your next meeting or group travel experience and
unforgettable one.
Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Museum • Near Hillsboro, WV 50 min. from NRAO.
• Tour the preserved birthplace of the Pulitzer Prize and Nobel Laureate author.
• See hundreds of period artifacts.
• Open Mon. – Sat., May – Oct. • Fee applies and reservations are suggested.
304-653-4430 www.pearlsbuckbirthplace.com
The beauty of Pocahontas County and its many
recreational opportunities, natural wonders
and historic treasures make this an ideal place
to hold your next meeting, conference or
Seneca Rocks Discovery Center • Seneca Rocks, WV, 1 hour north of NRAO.
• One of the best known landmarks in West Virginia. • Self-guided interpretive hiking trail open year round.
• Discovery Center (open Apr. – Oct.) features free exhibits, films and gift shop.
304-567-2827 www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/sp /srdc.html
Snowshoe Mountain, with its unique village of
shops and restaurants, offers the new 15,400
square foot Expo Center and a total of 40,000
square feet of meeting space. Snowshoe
can provide overnight accommodations for
10,000 people and has exciting activities and
adventures on the 11,000 acre mountain all
times of the year.
For smaller groups, there are several
other lodging and meeting options in the
country including Mountain Quest Institute,
Ambassadors for Christ, the Marlinton Motor
Inn, and the Hermitage. The region offers
modes to rigorous recreational options for
active adult groups such as skiing and float
trips. Call us for customized information. GPS
coordinates available for many attractions.
Seneca Caverns • Riverton, WV 1 hr. northeast of NRAO.
WV Rail Excursions
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park
800-CALL-WVA, www.cassrailroad.com
The historic Cass Railroad transports passengers back in time for
a memorable adventure along the turn-of-the-century logging
railway. The railroad is the center of the relatively unchanged and
restored town of Cass. Don’t miss the company store gift shop and
restaurant.
• 2 – 4 hour rides
• Group pricing is available.
retreat. When it comes time to play, your group
can explore more than 900 square miles of
mountains and forests.
Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad
(877) MTN-RAIL, www.mountainrail.com
Departing from different small mountain towns,
these trains transport you into some of the best
scenery this side of the Rockies. This premier
tourist rail operation offers a host of excursions
to meet every group itinerary need.
• 2 hour – all day train rides
• Group reservations, meals & pricing available.
• West Virginia’s largest caverns. • Explore 1 mile of trails 165 feet underground.
• Lesson Plan guides available upon request. • Gemstone mining. • Fee applies, reservations suggested.
304-567-2691 • www.senecacaverns.com
Green Bank Gallery • Green Bank, WV, 2 min. from NRAO
• Features local artisans, unique handcrafted gifts.
• Open year-round, call for large groups
304-456-9900 • www.greenbankgallery.org
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For a consultation with our Group Sales
Specialist, call us at (800) 336-7009 or
email: groups@pocahontascountywv.com
800
- 22 5 - 5 9 8 2
4 DAY SAMPLE ITINERARY
Visit the Green Bank Telescope
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
oe Mountain Resort
Featuring NRAO, Railways and Snowsh
U R ISM.CO
M
Space Place
’s
West Virginia
National Radio
Astronomy
Observatory
Day 2
7:30 am.Breakfast at the Inn at Snowshoe
l S. Buck
8:30 a.m.Depart Snowshoe for tour of the Pear
Birthplace Museum.
ric “Little Levels”
9:30 a.m.Located in the beautiful and histo
e of Pearl S.
plac
birth
the
ty,
of Pocahontas Coun
woman who
the
of
ory
mem
g
Buck, stands in lovin
her writing.
gh
throu
ury
cent
20th
helped shape the
um with
muse
a
as
s
serve
e
Built in 1857, the hous
onal
pers
r
othe
and
ture
furni
the original family
t you
mee
will
es
guid
e
eabl
ledg
belongings. Know
tour.
ugh
and give you a thoro
nomy
11:00 am.Depart for the National Radio Astro
WV.
,
Bank
n
Observatory in Gree
er is a new,
12:30 am.NRAO’s Green Bank Science Cent
and expand
m
infor
to
ned
modern facility desig
nomy. The
astro
radio
of
ding
guest’s understan
Day 4
ral options
seve
s
offer
er
Cent
ce
Marlinton, WV
Green Bank Scien
7:00 am.Depart for the Greenbrier Grille in
lop
a beautiful view
for groups to enhance their tour, and can deve
and
kfast
brea
y
where you will enjo
and
an itinerary to suit any group size, interest level
.
River
r
of the Greenbrie
ight
time frame. The tour includes lunch at the Starl
Depart Nature’s Mountain Playground for a fun
am.
8:30
Sam
Café located in the Green Bank Science Center.
filled day at The Greenbrier, including lunch at
er leaving for
er.
bunk
war
cold
us
famo
the
2:30 pm.Depart the Green Bank Science Cent
of
Snead’s and a tour
Durbin, WV.
your group will
3:00 pm.Arrive in historic Durbin, WV where
rience one
expe
and
ride
to
ty
have the opportuni
ence. The
exist
in
ves
moti
loco
of the rarest steam
by a
red
powe
is
Train
rsion
Durbin Rocket Excu
three
only
of
one
#3,
Old
ve;
rare steam locomoti
ves
moti
loco
ing
logg
ed
gear
operating Climax
on earth. Ride in the authentic 1920-era coach
and vintage wooden cabooses behind #3 as she
ng
puffs and whistles her way along the free-flowi
in 2
miles
10.5
r
cove
will
ride
your
Greenbrier River,
ntain
mou
and
river
tiful
beau
y
man
hours and offers
views in the Monongahela National Forest.
Snowshoe
5:30 pm.Depart Durbin, WV for dinner atop
Mountain.
ntain Playground
6:30 pm.Your final evening in Nature’s Mou
, enjoying a
ntain
Mou
shoe
Snow
will be spent atop
a train theme
with
t
uran
resta
a
tion,
meal at The Junc
will
to continue the excitement from Durbin, dinner
p.
grou
s
gras
blue
l
loca
a
from
c
be followed by musi
VTO
Day 3
included in room
8:00 am.Breakfast at the Inn at Snowshoe,
rate.
Park for a
9:00 am.Depart for Cass Scenic Railroad State
p back in
grou
your
port
trans
will
rail excursion that
driven
steam
of
era
the
relive
time… and let them
a
with
filled
be
will
Cass
to
trip
locomotives. The
r
unte
enco
-up
close
a
and
,
past
rich history of the
en
-driv
steam
nal
origi
of
ds
soun
with the sights and
ed
lunch
bag
a
de
inclu
will
trip
locomotives. The
re
which will be enjoyed at Whittaker Station befo
.
Cass
to
ning
retur
and
re-boarding the train
y the relatively
2:00 pm.Return to the town of Cass and enjo
add to the
that
ings
build
red
unchanged and resto
any store
comp
the
ding
inclu
re,
charm and atmosphe
gift shop.
Co-op for a live
3:00 pm.Visit the Pocahontas County Artisan
County’s very
as
hont
Poca
of
one
demonstration by
own artisans.
Pocahontas County
4:30 pm.Depart for Marlinton, WV and the
Opera House.
as County Opera
5:00 pm.Dinner and a show at the Pocahont
t will take place
men
rtain
ente
ing’s
House. This even
ty Opera House
Coun
as
hont
Poca
in the refurbished
erful
wond
a
ides
prov
e
venu
built in 1909. The
filled
fun
a
from
es
relax
p
grou
atmosphere as the
day.
7:00 pm.Return to the Inn at Snowshoe.
W
Day 1
ing standard
3:00 p.m.Check into The Inn at Snowshoe offer
shoe
Snow
of
base
the
at
double units located
Mountain.
ntain and enjoy
4:00 p.m.Head to the top of Snowshoe Mou
ntain Lodge,
Mou
the
of
de
outsi
an open air dinner
mountain
tiful
beau
be
will
where your backdrop
scenery.
of Snowshoe
7:00 pm.Enjoy live entertainment at the top
is always
there
jazz
to
s
gras
Mountain. From blue
p.
grou
your
ting
awai
t
exciting entertainmen
GREEN BANK SCIENCE CENTER • GREEN BANK, WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia’s
Space Place
explore
Tour W V ande while
the Univers it!
you are at
Custom Tours from 1½
Hours to ½ Day
w w w.visitgbt.org
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation
operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.
Check out the Gre Ba
nk Science Ce er
on Facebook for upen
dated events & specnt
ials!
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in Green Bank,
West Virginia is a national facility devoted to radio astronomy, and
home to the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope - the
Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope. Nestled in the West Virginia
mountains, this technological marvel rises from the valley floor to a
height of 485 feet, weighs 17 million pounds and sports a reflector
2.3 acres in area. Astronomers from around the world use the Green
Bank Telescope (GBT) to investigate the cosmos. Open to the public
year round, the Green Bank Science Center is the NRAO’s learning
center for casual visitors, motor coach groups and student field trips.
Adding the NRAO to your itinerary offers a great way to enrich fall
foliage tours and train excursion packages. The Green Bank Science
Center staff will custom design tours from 1.5 hours to half a day to
fit, any itinerary.
Green Bank Science Center Group Tour includes:
• Introduction to Radio Astronomy & Site Tour - including a stop at
the GBT! $3 fee per person to guarantee motor coach tours plus
2 comps per coach
• Enrichment Activities
• Hands-On Exhibit Hall
• Galaxy Gift Shop and Starlight Cafe - group meals available
• Large modern restrooms
Complimenting your NRAO experience is the natural wonder
surrounding the site, Pocahontas County, WV. Explore the unique
variety of nearby educational, historical, and natural attractions,
to round out your enrichment tour itinerary. Lifelong learners,
active adults, multi-generational, and students groups will have
lasting memories of the quality time spent visiting the mountains of
Pocahontas County.
To book your NRAO group tour contact:
Sherry McCarty, phone: 304-456-2164,
or email: smccarty@nrao.edu