ACE Adventure Resort lodging

Cabins, cabin tents and campsites at ACE, with prices

The resort spreads across 1,500 acres, and its FAQ counts "more than 40 Deluxe Cabins with hot tubs," 25 cabin tents and 5 bunkhouses. The lodging page sorts them four ways: premium cabins, rustic lodging (cabin tents, group tents and bunkhouses), camping, and "affordable large group options." Think hot-tub cabins tucked into the trees, an A-frame right on the resort lake, and log homes big enough for the whole reunion.

A tip on those cabin prices: the four log homes and the Blackwater Getaway cabins are marked "Cozy Season Discount," which makes them fall and winter rates, so expect summer and Gauley weekends to cost more. The Laurel Cabins, two bedrooms with a kitchenette, don't show a price online, and ACE says they "book fast, especially in Gauley Season." Call early if you want one.

Good to know before you book: weekends and pets

From "Memorial Day Weekend through Halloween," ACE's chalet page sets a two-night minimum on Friday-Saturday stays. That covers every Gauley release weekend and Bridge Day on October 17, so plan a full weekend rather than a single Saturday night. One night here rarely feels like enough anyway.

Bringing the dog? Pets stay only in designated units, with a one-time, nonrefundable $50 cleaning fee per cabin for up to two animals, under ACE's pet policy. None of the featured log homes or Blackwater Getaway cabins takes pets, so ask for a pet-friendly unit by name. The mountaintop campground, which the county visitor bureau lists as pet-friendly, is the easy choice with a dog.

The resort's address is 1 Concho Road, Oak Hill, WV 25901, in the little community of Minden. Call 800-787-3982 to book; ACE's contact page also lists 877-787-3982.

Things to do at ACE: the lake, rafting and food

ACE has been running rivers since 1979, bought its present land in 1988 (its story is here), and 251 acres of the property lie inside the national park. In summer the resort lake turns into a water park, open May 24 to September 2, daily 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., so fall visitors get the quiet water without the slides. When you're hungry, there's The Lost Paddle Bar & Grill, Tree Tops Cafe and Woody's Grill.

The river is the main event. A full-day Lower New trip starts at $119 (ages 12 and up). The full-day Upper New starts at $129 for adults and takes kids from age 6, and one child aged 6 to 11 rafts free with each full-paying adult, except on Saturdays and some holidays. Age rules across the companies are on visiting with kids. Weighing ACE against the other outfitters? See which rafting company.

What guests say about the cabins

Guests on TripAdvisor often call the cabins cozy and clean, and families and groups like having everything in one place. The gripes are about dead bugs, uneven housekeeping and charges for late checkout or unwashed dishes. One rafter regretted buying the prepaid meal plan and would rather have eaten out in Fayetteville, which is worth knowing given how good the town's restaurants are. Read all this as a pattern in other people's reviews rather than a verdict.

ACE or Adventures on the Gorge?

ACE sits off Concho Road on the south, Oak Hill side of the river, while Adventures on the Gorge is up on the north rim at Lansing. Choose ACE for the cheapest ways in (cabin tents and per-person camping) and the lake; choose Adventures on the Gorge to be near Canyon Rim, with glamping tents and hotel-style cabins in the mix. The side of the river matters on Bridge Day, when US 19 over the bridge closes from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; from ACE you'll use the south-side shuttle lots at Fayette Landing and Oak Hill High School. Still deciding on a base? See where to stay.