Babcock State Park

About Babcock State Park

Babcock State Park offers guests access to fast-flowing trout streams, boulders, scattered canyons and mountainous views that can be viewed from multiple vantage points. The variety is found in Gorges Gorge, the largest and most scenic section of the park, south of Babcock Lake.

The Grist Mill at Glade Creek is a new mill completed in 1976 at Babcock, the first of its kind in the state. The mill, known as Cooper's Mill, stood in what is now the parking lot of the park's administrative building. A fully functioning mill was built on the site of a mill that had been grinding grain for several years before Babock became a state park in the mid-19th century.

The basic structure of the mill comes from Grist Mill at Stoney Creek, which dates back to the 1890s. Of particular interest is the fact that this mill was the first of three that once covered the state. Sites in Campbelltown and Pocahontas County were dismantled and brought to Babcock bit by bit.

Visitors to the mill can go back to a time when grinding grain in a rushing stream was a way of life and moaning mill wheels were the music in the ears of the millers. The living memorial to one of the more than 500 mills that flourished in West Virginia at the turn of the century offers freshly ground corn and buckwheat flour that park guests can buy. Other parts come from the original Grist Mill at Stoney Creek, the first mill in Babcock State Park. Only the overturned waterwheel was saved from an accidental fire that destroyed the entire structure and a large part of its roof.

Holidaymakers at Babcock can choose from a variety of cabins, each with its own 65 required steps. Each cabin has electric lighting and modern appliances and is fully equipped for home use, including a stove, hob, oven, refrigerator, microwave, washing machine and dishwasher.

The standard cabin had a fully equipped kitchen with a stove and sink, as well as a bathtub and shower.

The Deluxe cabins were very modern and had heating, air conditioning and a fireplace, and double beds were fitted. The cabin was a two-room cabin with a covered veranda, kitchen and bathroom, as well as a bathtub and shower.

Pets were not allowed in the cabins and in the cabin area, and alcoholic beverages were not allowed in any cabin or on any campsite.

Babcock has a coin operated washer and dryer, and only one tent or trailer is allowed per pitch.

Available campers and motorhomes are camped in various locations such as the main campsite, the cabin area or the cabins and campsites.

Pedal boats, rowing boats and canoes can be rented on the 19 hectare lake, where there are many good fishing opportunities. Babcock State Park is located in Fayette County in southern West Virginia and is easily accessible from Beckley. The main car park is located 3 miles south of Clifftop, and the Bab Cockers campsite is located there, as is the main entrance to the park.

Coming from the east, follow I-64 to Beckley, then US Rt. From the north, take US-19 to US-RT and follow it to the west side of the park and then US-RT to I / 64.