Fall foliage in the valley
Hi friends,
We were up at the house this past weekend and oh, what a wonderful time of year to be there! The weather was divine, the leaves are all turning, and the fall light coming across the fields was absolutely spectacular. We also used the quiet to declutter a bit more and knock out a long list of little improvements we've been keeping, so the place is looking better than ever. Come see it for yourself — and tell us what you think when you do!
🪑 Room for the whole crew. We're a little in love with the new dining table and the refreshed living room. In this photo it's set for eight — but there are three more leaves tucked in the closet, so it expands to seat a big group with room to spare. Pull it all out for Thanksgiving and nobody eats at the kids' table unless they want to. (You can see more of the updates in the photos on our website.)
Here's what else is happening in the valley this season, plus a few new things waiting for you at the farm:
🍁 Fall color is peaking right now. The Tucker County tourism folks put the height of the color in the first days of October, and the high country — Dolly Sods, Canaan Valley, and the rim at Blackwater Falls — is lit up as we write this, with the lower elevations holding on through the month. If you can get here for a crisp fall weekend, this is the moment.
🎿 Timberline is back open — and better than ever. Just up the road, Timberline Mountain is reopening this coming weekend for its first full open weekend since its big $10M renovation, with all the dining options up and running. And there's a brand-new Canaan Valley Spa and Wellness Center nearby — massage, mineral soaks, an infrared sauna, salt (halotherapy) room, a yoga studio, and a fitness facility. A lovely way to round out a fall day on the mountain.
🎶 Live music at the Purple Fiddle. Our favorite little listening room in Thomas (about 20 minutes away), the Purple Fiddle, has a great run coming up: Brian K & The Parkway with Philip Bowen on October 17–18, Jeremy Short on October 30, Abe Partridge on November 8, and The Heavy Heavy on November 21. A show at the Fiddle followed by a soak in the hot tub back at the farm is hard to beat.
⛷️ Ski season is right around the corner. The mountains are projecting early-December openings — Timberline around December 4 and Canaan Valley Resort around December 11 (dates always depend on the snow), with White Grass's cross-country trails firing up once the first good snow settles in. We're just a few miles from all three, so a ski-week basecamp with the whole crew is an easy yes.
🔥 A few new things for your stay. We've been busy getting the farm ready for the cold months:
- Wood's all stocked. We replenished the wood supply so you'll have plenty the moment you arrive. (We do ask guests to replace any wood they use, so the next family is set too — but you won't start on empty.)
- New grill — and smoker. The charcoal grill has been replaced with a brand-new one that doubles as a smoker. There's some charcoal and fire starter at the house to get you going; please just replenish whatever you use.
- A portable fire pit. There's a fire pit in the garage you're welcome to use — carry it across the road to the spot opposite the driveway to light your fire, and please pop it back in the garage before you leave.
- Pack a fleece. It's dipping down to around 40 at night now, so bring a warm layer for those star-gazing walks down the country lane — the sky out here is something else.
📅 A gentle nudge on dates. Fall weekends and the holiday weeks fill up first, so if you've got a gathering in mind — leaf peeping now, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or a January ski trip — now's a good time to grab your dates. You can see what's open and book right from our site: wvahiddenvalleyfarm.com (straight to availability: wvahiddenvalleyfarm.com/booking.html).
As always, we'd love to welcome you back to Hidden Valley. Reach out anytime with questions — we're happy to help you plan.
Warmly,
— Kate & Sarah