I have stayed at other locations while riding Hatfield and McCoy trails and I would rate this head and shoulders above others. Access to trail systems and accommodations is exceptional. There are several things that need to be understood regarding Powerhouse ATV Lodge. Regarding "ATV Lodge" there are 2 completely different "buildings" I would almost say different Locations, although they are on the same property. The "Mansion" was built approximately 1900, it was built by one of the coal barrens of the time. It will give you insight into the opulence of the early 19th century. The eat in kitchen is modern; there is a quaint TV room with flat panel TV. Then there is a large dining room with fireplace, where there are entrances from both sides of the home to enter into, it has a tile floor so there are no worries of water, mud or dirt on the floor. Off the kitchen to the other side is a Large Formal Dining room with its 12-14 ft ceiling. From there you go into a large continues area, yet separated, that includes a formal tea sitting area, huge fireplace, over stuffed couch and chairs in front of the fire place with another large flat panel TV. All TV have Dish network satellite TV, there is free long distance calling, and high speed internet. Do not plan on using your cell phone, some phones will text reliably, but cell service is intermittent at best. There are other sitting and reading areas around the outside with stained glass windows. There are two bedrooms off the dining room with their own outside entrances and bathroom. There is another bathroom off the tv room. Several upstairs bedrooms have their own bathrooms, plus there is/are large shared bathrooms on the second floor with plenty of hot water. The second floor bedrooms are large with beds and furniture that go with the décor of the 1900’s home with modern conveniences. I believe the Mansion sleeps approximately 14 people with easy, you would not feel crowded at all. My last stay there was 7 people and we had to actually look for each other as there was so much room. I would consider staying here just as a get away for a weekend or a week. The ATV riding is just a bonus! Off the south porch is a large yard with a large fountain, a gazebo and terraced lawn. There are a number of things to explore outside.
While on the subject the south entrance has a large covered ground level cement deck patio with table and chairs. You can leave things outside protected from the elements. The north side is a raised porch with a roof so property left on the porch there is also protected from weather. The north porch has the driveway up to it with a high pressure water house, so you can drive your atv up each evening and wash it off.
The second lodge, I believe was the care takers home, is a brick home with 1 story at ground level, were you can drive your atv up 6 feet of the front door with covered cement porch deck, sit in the deck chairs or swing in the chain glider. High pressure water to wash off your atv, and coarse crushed stone for drainage is a nice addition. Then parking for the atv on the opposite side of the driveway again on crushed stone for water drainage. There also is lodging on the lower level of the home with walk out basement; both have their own gas grill. Bathroom is a combination tub/shower with no shortage of hot water. The ground level has two bedrooms, 3 single beds in one and a single and twin/double in the other each trip someone usually sleeps on the couch as it is so comfortable. Eat in kitchen with a/c, glass top cook range, satellite TV flat panel, couch and chairs in the living room. As mentioned in another review the coal train is in the valley below. The home is built on rock, so there is no movement or feeling of the train going past, just some sound of the train, which is just a steady noise, NO click clack associated with a traditional train. My last trip to PowerHouse ATV Lodge, I took my wife for her first trip, my son and I stayed at the care takers home, my wife remarked that after the 1st hour there she did not notice the trains. The trains are slow moving and in the evening after approximately 10 pm, they slow even more and the numbers decrease. In my week there I never had the trains interrupt anything I was doing, talking, watching TV or sleeping!
The ATV riding from the location is superb! From your front porch you have access, without transporting your atv, to Pocahontas, Indian Ridge, Pinnacle Creek and Rockhouse (Rockhouse connection is a long ride). Then there are miles and miles of outlaw trails, and uncharted trails to explore. There are numerous destination rides, to the Mexican Restaurant in Pineville, the ice cream sandwich Shoppe in the old drugstore in Bramwell, the drive in restaurant and ice cream and many others. Each trail system is a little different. Of these four I would say Pocahontas is the easiest, if there is a drawback it seems all the trail heads the first part of the trails is a climbing that might be a little challenging for a new rider, as the trails are on top of the mountains.
Judy McDaniel, the owner, is a retired school teacher, grew up in the area and lived in the house for many years. She is a wealth of information and history of the area, it is a rare opportunity to sit and talk with her in the evening hearing about the area.
If you have not been to the WV area riding, when driving to the Powerhouse ATV lodge, do not be apprehensive caused by the abandoned homes in the area caused by the shutdown of the coal mines, Powerhouse ATV Lodge is an Oasis in the desert and all the trials are diamonds. When your riding, watch for the wild animals, on our last trip we saw thousands of butterflies, large flocks of gold finches, deer Hungarian partridge with chicks that had just started to fly (be careful the partridge do not leave the road way and could be run over). My trip earlier this spring I saw 20+ individual turkeys one morning, again they allowed us to ride up to them on the trail. So far I have not seen a bear, but there some in the area.
While on the subject the south entrance has a large covered ground level cement deck patio with table and chairs. You can leave things outside protected from the elements. The north side is a raised porch with a roof so property left on the porch there is also protected from weather. The north porch has the driveway up to it with a high pressure water house, so you can drive your atv up each evening and wash it off.
The second lodge, I believe was the care takers home, is a brick home with 1 story at ground level, were you can drive your atv up 6 feet of the front door with covered cement porch deck, sit in the deck chairs or swing in the chain glider. High pressure water to wash off your atv, and coarse crushed stone for drainage is a nice addition. Then parking for the atv on the opposite side of the driveway again on crushed stone for water drainage. There also is lodging on the lower level of the home with walk out basement; both have their own gas grill. Bathroom is a combination tub/shower with no shortage of hot water. The ground level has two bedrooms, 3 single beds in one and a single and twin/double in the other each trip someone usually sleeps on the couch as it is so comfortable. Eat in kitchen with a/c, glass top cook range, satellite TV flat panel, couch and chairs in the living room. As mentioned in another review the coal train is in the valley below. The home is built on rock, so there is no movement or feeling of the train going past, just some sound of the train, which is just a steady noise, NO click clack associated with a traditional train. My last trip to PowerHouse ATV Lodge, I took my wife for her first trip, my son and I stayed at the care takers home, my wife remarked that after the 1st hour there she did not notice the trains. The trains are slow moving and in the evening after approximately 10 pm, they slow even more and the numbers decrease. In my week there I never had the trains interrupt anything I was doing, talking, watching TV or sleeping!
The ATV riding from the location is superb! From your front porch you have access, without transporting your atv, to Pocahontas, Indian Ridge, Pinnacle Creek and Rockhouse (Rockhouse connection is a long ride). Then there are miles and miles of outlaw trails, and uncharted trails to explore. There are numerous destination rides, to the Mexican Restaurant in Pineville, the ice cream sandwich Shoppe in the old drugstore in Bramwell, the drive in restaurant and ice cream and many others. Each trail system is a little different. Of these four I would say Pocahontas is the easiest, if there is a drawback it seems all the trail heads the first part of the trails is a climbing that might be a little challenging for a new rider, as the trails are on top of the mountains.
Judy McDaniel, the owner, is a retired school teacher, grew up in the area and lived in the house for many years. She is a wealth of information and history of the area, it is a rare opportunity to sit and talk with her in the evening hearing about the area.
If you have not been to the WV area riding, when driving to the Powerhouse ATV lodge, do not be apprehensive caused by the abandoned homes in the area caused by the shutdown of the coal mines, Powerhouse ATV Lodge is an Oasis in the desert and all the trials are diamonds. When your riding, watch for the wild animals, on our last trip we saw thousands of butterflies, large flocks of gold finches, deer Hungarian partridge with chicks that had just started to fly (be careful the partridge do not leave the road way and could be run over). My trip earlier this spring I saw 20+ individual turkeys one morning, again they allowed us to ride up to them on the trail. So far I have not seen a bear, but there some in the area.
