A Room with A View For Reasonable Rates

You, your family and your dog can have a great view of Canaan Valley from a large and cozy single room suite in the well-kept, AAA-approved and quiet Black Bear Resort just 4.5 miles outside of Davis, West Virginia for the total price of $75 a night during the low season and $95 a night during the high (ski) season, plus a per stay $35 cleaning fee. (All taxes, including 12% West Virginia tourism and other fees, are included in this price).

This room is perfect for couples and families. It has (1) two Queen size beds in a large bright room with a fireplace and plenty of closet space, (2) a large, bright bathroom with a full size Jacuzzi; (3) Mid-Size refrigerator, microwave, electric frying pan and toaster (it does not have a kitchen); (4) balcony with a new screen door, (5) Telephone, Cable, TV, VCR, DVD and CD/Tape player, along with tapes, CDs, books, and games, (6) wireless communication in lodge and a free and very fast internet hook up in the room; (7) ample heat and air conditioning; and (8) lodge facilities and well-kept grounds that feature a new pool, tennis court, miniature golf course, a volleyball net, a few video games and a small playground for children. There is a free internet hook up in the room and wireless internet at the Lodge. Entrance is easy with no stairs.

We take well-behaved dogs for no extra fee. Dogs are allowed on the resort grounds on leash.

The resort is just outside the Monongahela National Forrest. It is AAA-approved, and during the summer many weddings take place on its grounds. The slopes at Canaan Valley and Timberline are only minutes away, and WISP is about an hour away. It is only 3, 7 and 12 miles away from Blackwater Falls State Park, Canaan Valley State Park, and the Dolly Sods Wilderness and Scenic area. It is close to a wonderful trail system for easy to hard hiking, mountain bikes, and cross country skiing in the Valley itself and in the nearby mountains, maintained as part of the National Wildlife Refuge or in the Monongahela National Forrest. It is also has many opportunities for horseback riding; it is near an 18 hole golf course with beautiful views and very reasonable rates, as well as extreme sports activities (rock climbing, paintball) at the Canaan Valley State Park Recreation Center. It is close to two small towns (Davis and Thomas) with an increasing number of eateries and stores. The towns and what they offer prompted two Washington Post Articles, which are reprinted below. It is about 4.0 hours from the DC area and about 2.5 hours from the Pittsburgh area.

The resort itself, and its rate structure, can be seen at the link given below. Our low season rate of $75 (plus $35 per stay cleaning fee) is available on any night between March 15 and December 14. Our high season rate of $95 (plus $35 per stay cleaning fee) is only available on Sunday through Thursday nights during the peak ski season, and is not normally available for holiday weekends. The resort rates are $100 a night during the low season, plus tax, and $120 a night during the high season, plus tax. Once you decide you wish to go and pay us, we will arrange for you to have the room as our guests.

BOOKINGS AND PAYMENT: We ask for payment in full by check, cash or money order. You can use PayPal but there is an extra $10.00 service fee charge. Checks should be made out to: Bruce & Sauci Butterworth, and mailed to 5315 Wriley Road, Bethesda, MD 20816.

LAST MINUTE BOOKINGS AND PAYMENT: We do take last minute bookings as long as they are made before 4:30 the day of arrival (this is to ensure a key can be made available). In those cases, we ask for payment through PayPal, which will add $10.00 onto the cost to pay for the service fee.

CANCELLATION: (1) For week day nights, the full amount less $10 will be refunded if the reservation is cancelled within 24 hours of arrival; after that, $75 will be charged; (2) for weekend nights, cancellation must be received within 3 days of arrival otherwise $95 will be charged

What follows are (1) some pictures of the room, and the view of the grounds and the valley, including a recent wedding; (2) recent guest experiences; and (3) some news articles on the area.

Email us at the address given below or call us at 301-767-6853 (cell/blackberry) or email us at the address below. (Emailing us is the most reliable way to express an interest and to book).

Here are some pictures of the room, the building, and the area

Dear Reader. I think it is nice here. My parents like the view and I do too. My brother and I liked the snow except it went way. We made snow men snow angels and snow balls to go with that a fort. The whole family loved skiing. We also loved the snow. �AIR Bud, Golden Retriever� is a great movie. If you watch it you will love it too. The beds are comfy. I got to sleep in the same bed as my brother. My mom got to sleep with my dad. I hope you sleep well. Sincerely. Courtney

December 26, 2005: This place is the best. It has a big, big, big bathroom It has movies, games and telescope that�s very good. I want to stay here again. Austin, Matt, Mike, Lisa. Ft Lauderdale, FL

June 6, 2006: Dear Reader. This place is like no other. I�ve had a perfect time here with my new bride to which I�m in love with all of my being. She makes me complete and we had the most perfect time here. The two of us enjoyed everything this place has to offer, and it offers a lot. Hope the next occupants have as great and as perfect a time as we had and I plan to come back here every year for my anniversary. This is where it all got started for us and this is our little piece of heaven, to which we deserve. Have a great time.

July 6, 2006: My husband and I came here for a wedding and fell in love all over again. We will be back. I hope everyone will have as much fun as we did. Everything is beautiful. Kevin and Cheryl, Wayne, WV

August 9, 2006: I�ve lost count of the times I�ve come to Canaan valley, starting in 1975. It�s my favorite place on earth. Thank you for letting me bring my dog � he loves it here as much as I do. My boy friend hadn�t been here until now and he already wants to come back even though he keeps telling me how great Maine is. This trip is restoring my spirit. I think everyone feels that way after being in the mountains. Thank you for providing me the chance to spend time in my home away from home. Best wishes, Betsy, Abington, MD

October 14, 2006: Me, my husband and my two children spent a wonderful night here. We all felt very comfortable. We hope to come back and spend Christmas here. If not Christmas we will be sure to return soon. My children loved the fireplace and the huge bathtub. They also enjoyed being able to watch movies. I am so glad they were able to feel at home. Jason, Kassi, Shyanne and Walker, Beech Bottom, WV

October 17, 2006: We stayed here for our third wedding anniversary with our two kids. This time 3 years ago we were driving through the mountains, came across Black Bear and stayed. We tracked down a priest in Davis and got married so this place is special to us. Our kids love it too. We will be back as soon as we can. Michelle, Stuart, Ella and Louie; London, England

October 22, 2006: Peak Season! The leaves are bursting with fall colors. My baby Ruth (1 and a half years old) slept wonderfully last night after her first successful trek down the 29 steps to Blackwater Falls overlook. If I could only get Ruby out of that huge bathtub and we could meet up with her father who left earlier. He�s guiding a raft down the Cheat Canyon today. Cheat River Outfitters is a great rafting company if you�re looking to do some white water rafting. We want to come back when there is snow. Laura, Daniel and Rubie Coe, Philippi, WV. PS the coffee at the purple fiddle is it!

December 27-29, 2006: I�m here with my two sisters and my parents. There wasn�t a lot of snow but enough to make a 4 foot snow man! It was fun here. I hope to come back next year. Michelle, Kim, Tiffany, Woodie and Krista Colletey

December 31-January 1, 2007: We came here with our 2 children ages 2 and 4. We went to see the sights and deer at Canaan Valley Resort. I wish there had been more snow. Maybe next time . . . Our accommodations were wonderful. The bathtub was a hit. Michael, Stacey, Matthew and Max, Berkeley springs, WV

January, 2007: It's snowing!!! We had a lot of snow. My family and I went to Canaan yesterday; it was a lot of fun. This is my third year at Black bear resort. Unfortunately we�re leaving� too bad. Well, good bye, beautiful bird themed room. Good Bye. Bonnie, Age 9.

March 7, 2007: We had such a great time skiing, sledding and snow boarding. It snowed so much; and we hardly expected any snow. Some people�s cars even got stuck in the snow that�s how much it snowed. Can�t wait to come back. Adin, Age 9, Alexandria, VA

March 11, 2007: We finally had time for a quick weekend trip to our favorite place. Loved staying here. Mike went to Timberline to ski. Had a good time. Hope to return in the fall. Highly recommend it. Mike and Wendy, Given, WV

March 30-31, 2007: Our 6th anniversary. We come here every year. But this is the first year to stay in this room. We enjoyed every moment. This year we got to spend out anniversary with our kids and dog too, which was very nice. We all had a wonderful tome. We loved the room � you guys really know how to keep things on hand for the room. Movies, books, telescope, radio, microwave, toaster and utensils all came to good use. Thank you all.

August 31-September 2: Great Weather! Another return visit to room 132. Discovered a new burrito restaurant with really good green chile stew. Delicious Key Lime Pie. Great little easy walk in the valley at the national wildlife refuge. A boardwalk trail and many others. And the STARS!!! The Barrows, Washington DC

January 18, 2008: Look no further; this is by far the nicest motel room in Canaan Valley. My hastened and I have been coming here for 523nty years in summer, fall and winter. The room is cheerful, cosey, and fully equipped with enough amenities a couple, two teenage girls, and a dog happy for 4 days. The skiing, snow-boarding and air tubing at Canaan were wonderful. We also loved the Chapman brothers at the Purple Fiddle. Also checked out Hellbenders Burritos after a previous guest recommended it. Thank you Butterworths for making such a nice room available and affordable. Can�t wait to come back. Will also highly recommend this room to my sister who walks only a little and uses motorized wheelchair. It�s perfect for her and her family as well. Thanks again.

PS � also very clean and nice staff in office

The Collins family, Rick, Lisa, Olivia, and Leah, also Kathleen Melvin of Dunn Loring VA and Chantilly VA.

January 21st 2008. I had a marvelous time in Canaan valley. The pheasant-themed room was SOOOO neat. The Nordic trails took me back to my Swedish roots. I loved the Jacuzzi. We loved timer run trail and all the off-road trails. Love, Snowflake, Columbus Ohio, Go Buckeyes.

June 17, 2008: Dear Reader: This is our third year in a row for me and my wife. On our anniversary we love it here. Went to the Purple Fiddle. Took in the entertainment. This whole place is great. Hope whoever comes here after us gets this room. Hope you enjoy it as much as we have. It�s a wonderful place. Mr. and Mrs. Cassady.

July 14, 2008: God has blessed us all. What a great four days were spent here with class mates celebrating 50th from high school. Spectacular views from everywhere. God had blessed us all. May all who stay here feel the spirit of love all around you. Cleveland Ohio.

August 26, 2008: Came with my family for two days on our way to a conference in Huntington West Virginia. We really enjoyed the room and the area. Saw Backwater Falls and Smoke Hole Caverns as well as just enjoying the scenery. We played badminton and putt putt. Hope to some back sometime.
Safa Family, Dearborn Michigan

October 12, 2008: Weather couldn�t have been more perfect. Leaves are pretty but not quite at their peak. It was very quiet and peaceful this day. Most everyone else had checked out. We come to the mountains every fall but always stay at a cabin in Glady West Virginia, owned by my nephew. This day was a gift from my daughter. The view from this room is great. Canaan Valley is a beautiful place to visit.
Mrs. W Darnold, Parksburg, West Virginia.

November 29, 2008: We had a terrific stay here at black bear resort over thanksgiving. Getting here was tricky with 12 plus inches of snow but after arriving we had a terrific time. Thanks so much. Middleport, Ohio

December 27-30, 2008: Great Place. It was so nice to have our dog stay with us. Snow was to be desired but we enjoyed walking and skiing at Timberline. We will definitely be back. Thanks. Richmond, Virginia.

January 23-25, 2009: This is our fourth visit this year. Our first time in 132. It has snowed every day this trip. We stay in front of the fire and watch the snow falling outside. So peaceful here. The view of the valley is perfect. I hope there is room available in two weeks when we come up again. I love it here. I hope the next people to stay enjoy their stay as we have. Beckley, West Virginia

January 30, 2009: My husband surprised me with a 2 day vacation. I love it here. The valley was gracious enough to snow 8 more inches. Our greyhounds were not too fond of the snows but we loved it. I loved Muttleys�, Amelia�s, and we are trying Siriana� tonight. We wanted to get away to a place with snow that was peaceful. Black bear was that and more. I just wish the dog across from the inn was on a lead � kind of scared my dogs.

February 13, 2009: We stayed here on our honeymoon on Feb 14, 2003. This is the first time we have been back. It is our 6 year anniversary and we are so excited to be back. We hope to have a blast and I�m sure we will. Absolutely beautiful here. WV is one of the most beautiful states. Moorefield, WV.

February 14-16, 2009: We came to cross country ski. Alas, not enough snow, although the flurries made everything beautiful and the room cozy. We enjoyed the Purple Fiddle and the white cross caf�. Mountain top brewery is also pretty darn good. We hiked on the refuge down to the backwater river yesterday. It was lovely, thanks we�ll be back.

February 19-22, 2009: What a wonderful place. We don�t want to go home! The snow is falling outside and it is beautiful. We spent our days relaxing, eating, hiking and snow-shoeing. Our Alaskan malamute, Denver, is in his element. We have all enjoyed playing in the snow. Thank you for allowing us to bring him. Our main reason for the visit to let him see �real� snow and we have made some previous memories. We will definitely return to this peaceful place. Ashville, NC

March 20-21, 2009: Thanks so much. What a beautiful resort and condo. So cozy. We had a great one night stay and hope to be back soon. From us and our golden retriever.

April 5-6, 2009: We enjoyed our quick stay. Thanks to everyone for suggestions regarding restaurants. We enjoyed our pizza at Siriana�s. We�ll be back. (Gaithersburg, Md)

June 22-24, 2009: The ride from DC was beautiful, especially going by Mt Storm. On arrival we settled into 10 degrees lower temperatures, clear mountain air, and lovely, cool nighttime temperatures. Next day a trip to Elkins (45 minutes) with a beautiful campus was a great change of scenes. We forgot the news for moment. The swimming pool was delicious; floating up and looking up at the mountains. My husband took the dog to a trail along the valley floor. She jumped at joy at the many wild animal scents. We love it here. And of course we will return. Washington, DC

July 5, 2009: This is our first stay at Black Bear though we hail from this area. The room was great and we�ll be back here for more family reunions. Although it rained we still made the rounds to Blackwater falls and canyon and the trails. Who can get enough of these mountains? See you in two years. Columbus, Ohio

August 17, 2009: Had a great get-together with friends. Perfect weather this time�. View is wonderful. It reminds us of how great God�s creations are to enjoy. Cleveland Ohio

September 5, 2009: We came here from Pennsylvania. This is our 15th anniversary and we spent out Honeymoon in Canaan Valley. Our 6 year old added some artwork and had a great time.

September 6, 320909: We had a very enjoyable stay. It was nice of you to find a resort that allows dogs of any size Our 2 St. Bernards had a great time�It�s our first trip to Black Bear and we will be back. Hopefully, when it snows. Thanks, Bruce, for everything.

October 11, 2009: This is my husband�s and my first visit to Black Bear Resort. We are from S.C. and this is my first visit to West Virginia. I understand why they say this is God's country. Everything is so beautiful and rustic. I simply love it here. We visited Blackwater Falls today and Lindsay Point that was so amazing. Must see nature attractions. Tomorrow we are going to Smoke Hole Caverns. I also love that we are able to take our Chico (Our Chihuahua) along with us on our adventures. The room is cute and so cozy. We are having a great Time and hope to come back soon�Thanks Bruce

Recent Washington Post and Other Articles

July 19-23, 2009: This is our first stay at Black Bear and we loved it. The room is great. Dogs loved it so much. We definitely will be back. . Everyone was so friendly and your room had everything we needed. We loved it at Blackwater Falls and hope we can stay here next year when we come back. Pittsburg, PA
Get Your Craft On: A W. Va. Foundation Keeps Mountain Arts Alive
"Last year, I threw a pumpkin-carving party, painted flowerpots, sewed baby clothes and built some folk-artsy picnic benches. I admit it: I'm crafty. Throw in some painted pine cones and a little obstruction of justice, and you've got a mini-Martha here.

I blame my mother, a public school art teacher who kept plastic drawers of pipe cleaners and plastic beads in our basement. And here I am, a thirty something urbanite, still peeling Elmer's glue off my fingers.

So I liked the idea of immersion crafting when I heard about a new series of weekend workshops offered by the MountainMade foundation in West Virginia. The nonprofit organization preserves Appalachian artisanship with a gorgeous 3,000-square-foot gallery, where $975 quilts hang on the walls and brilliant pieces of blown glass are on display in the windows.

The how-to offerings include jewelry making, stained-glass work and printmaking. All those sounded fun and familiar; but "needle-felting?" Never heard of it. Turns out it's a decorative art in which you fashion wool into 3-D figures. But even if I were too cool for felt, I still liked the sound of a weekend in Thomas, a mountain town with a hippie vibe between Deep Creek Lake, Md., and Canaan Valley, W. Va. So I lined up a traveling party of friends and went a-felting.

With the foundation's new downtown studios overlooking the Blackwater River, a weekend in Thomas proved to be filled with craftsmanship, beautiful mountain scenery and live music. And a beagle made of felt.

"Don't get frustrated if you decide what you want to make and it doesn't turn out like you want," our instructor, Susie Slider, warned us on a recent Saturday morning, as three other students and I sat pondering the bundles of raw, colored fiber piled in front of us. "Wool tends to have a mind of its own."

Slider turns the stuff into cool, whimsical sculptures such as the gargoyle and granny that sat on a table. I launched into a caricature of the creature I knew best: my beagle, Darwin.

Slider showed us how to use long, notched needles to tangle and compress the fibers, then pull them into sculpted shapes. The demo took 30 seconds. Getting the hang of it took forever. I spent all morning just shaping the head of my hound.

"Is that a chew toy?" asked my friend Brandon when I took it outside during the lunch break. As I hotly defended my tricolored orb, I knew I had been sucked into felting.

We ate at the Purple Fiddle, a sort of bohemian roadhouse on the main street that is the best-known business in Thomas. Music lovers drive for miles to catch the live acts and good food there. Floral sofas and church pews sit in rows by the music stage, and the lunch counter serves sarsaparilla and huge sandwiches. (We went back that night for the band, Muskrat Family BBQ.)

Heading back to the workshop, I detoured through the other studios, vowing to return one day for glass bead making just so I could fire up that cool dual-flame torch.

The locals say the foundation is partially responsible for the revitalization of a town that hasn't seen much action (except for a lot of kayaking and mountain biking) since its coal-mining heyday in the late 1800s. It employs master craftspeople who otherwise might not have jobs and attracts out-of-towners to classes -- which were held in the local library or school until the new studios opened in November.

"There's nothing like this in the entire region," said MountainMade Executive Director Kate McComas. The foundation received a $124,000 grant from the West Virginia Commission of the Arts to build state-of-the-art studios, which now provide places for local artists to work and teach. "We have a great artists' community, and a lot of people wanted to teach."

I met my friends back at the lakefront house we had rented in Canaan Valley, about seven miles away, where we had hot chocolate before heading to dinner at the White Grass Cafe in Davis. White Grass, a ski-buff friend had told us, is the mid-Atlantic's Mecca for cross-country skiing; during the winter, its dinners trump anything in the area. As we entered the low-ceilinged ski lodge, which doubles as an ad hoc dining room, I felt as if we had stepped into Vermont. We sat at a fire-engine-red picnic table sandwiched between the ski rental area and a live band. The cafe had such a relaxed, campy feel that we expected to be called for KP duty.

The next morning, back in craft land, Slider helped me experiment with various rolled shapes until I had a couple of beagle like haunches. As a finishing touch, she showed me how a speck of white wool fiber inside the eye mimics a flicker of light. Just like that, the eyes seemed to twinkle with life.

Not even Brandon could tease my felt puppy when we met for a late lunch at Sirianni's Cafe, a rustic pizza shop in Davis that used to be an old steamship office.

And then we started our drive back to Washington, my woolly beagle on the dash, me leaving town a humbled craftster and a heart-felt convert."

Washington Post, Wednesday, March 1, 2006; C02

The Grass Is Always Bluer on the other side of the Alleghenies. At West Virginia's Purple Fiddle, at least, offbeat mountain music thrives

On this sweet, serene Saturday night, people have come from all over tarnation to the cultural epicenter of the Potomac Highlands -- Thomas, W.Va.

With a theater, a music hall that also shows classic films and a general feeling of creativity, this little village is alive with sophistication and surprise. Especially in the autumn, when the maples are the color of a bluegrass fiddle and the air as sharp as a silvered-steel E string.

At the heart of the artsiness is the Purple Fiddle. It's a magical oasis in a desert of nowheres -- first-class food emporium meets Internet hot spot meets smart-aleck country store meets family game room meets bluegrass hoedown heaven.

Hunched over a table, Adam Waddell, 20, and Kellee Gomomola, 23, both of Friendsville, Md., play Trivial Pursuit with Liz Salsbury, 23, who lives near Deep Creek Lake, Md. They sip on drinks and draw cards and ask questions and wait for the music. "We just," Salsbury says with a sweet grin, "like, you know, like, come here and, you know, we like . . . "

"The atmosphere!" Waddell says.

"And the fantastic grilled cheese!" Gomomola adds.

White-bearded Bob Reecer, 66, from Rough Run, W.Va., is here for the night's featured entertainment, Candlewyck, a four-person band from Charlotte. A retired computer specialist with the Library of Congress, Reecer has been to the Purple Fiddle before to hear the music. His wife, Norvell Jones, 59, who is retired from the National Archives, adds, "The ice cream is good, too."

As I watch from a table in the back, I remember last year when our family first found the Fiddle. It was open-mike night and two very young extended-family members, whose father is a labor organizer in New Haven, Conn., took the stage and belted out union songs, much to the delight of all the coal miners' daughters and sons in the audience.

This year, my wife, Jan, our 15-year-old son, Holt, and I drive the 22 miles south on Route 219 from Deep Creek Lake to Thomas to hear Candlewyck, enjoy the food and bask in, like, you know, like, the atmosphere of the Purple Fiddle.

A little after 8:30, Candlewyck tunes up and sails into several hard-core bluegrass numbers, such as "Whatcha Gonna Say?," "Crooked Creek Road" and two songs about dogs. They play numbers by Bill Monroe and the New Grass Revival.

People clap. Children dance. Old folks tap their toes. The Purple Fiddle rocks. Holt smiles and says he likes it, but I'm not sure he really likes it. It is stump-thumping twang music. But I'm delighted to be here, far from surveillance blimps and partisan sniping.

Getting to Thomas from Deep Creek Lake is no swift feat. The road wraps and winds around West Virginia like duct tape. Along the way - - after crossing the Maryland-West Virginia line -- we stop at "The Smallest Church in 48 States," Our Lady of the Pines in Horse Shoe Run, W.Va. It's a sure-enough minuscule, yellow-stone sanctuary with six pews. The church seats 12.

On down Highway 219 is a little offshoot road to the Fairfax Stone, one of the oldest boundary markers in America. It dates back to 1681 when Charles II of England deeded 6 million acres to Lord Hopton. Lord Fairfax inherited the land in the early 1700s, and the stone became a key landmark on the western boundary between Maryland and West Virginia. The stone also sits at the headspring of the Potomac River.

While you're in the area, you might want to check out Blackwater Falls State Park, which has 20 miles of hiking trails; Canaan Valley State Park, which has fall and winter activities; Dolly Sods National Wilderness Area; and Seneca Rocks.

But if you stay on 219, you eventually wind up in Thomas, a pretty much forgotten hamlet (pop. 813) on the banks of the Blackwater River. The Purple Fiddle, in the old DePollo General Store, stands on the riverside drag along with a few other operative enterprises, including an insurance company, Picket Patch antiques, Miners & Merchants Bank (est. 1902) and Tantrums, a frisky little shop offering "wearable art for headstrong folks." A pink purse hangs in the window.

There is also activity at the Valley Ridge Theatre, where actors are performing a Shakespeare tribute. It's that kind of hamlet.

Founded in Wisconsin in 1970, the theater moved to West Virginia in the early 1990s. The 2004 season will conclude with "A Tuna Christmas" on a couple of weekends in December.

On this night, the Purple Fiddle is high-strung.

It's a great-looking three-story joint. On one side of the building, two huge wooden bears -- each with a cub crawling up a leg -- flank church-like wood-and-stained-glass doors. On the other side, a little sign reads: "Hippies Use Side Door." Owners John and Kate Bright live on the top two floors of the Fiddle.

There is a foosball table out front where people smoke and play. There is also a huge black metal safe covered with refrigerator- magnet poetry and chalk-written announcements -- "Thursday, Movie Nite, Rashomon, 8 p.m." Step inside the swinging screen front doors and you're greeted by an eclectic range of things.

For sale: handmade soaps. Purple Fiddle lip balm. Various types of tea. Jams. Jellies. Hiking guides. Old-fashioned greeting cards. Tie-dyed shirts. And magnetic poetry.

Not for sale: Old musical instruments. Antique skis. A washboard. A beautiful quilt.

Jan and I order a beer from the more than four dozen brew choices on the menu. Holt calls for a cookies-and-cream milkshake. Jan orders a salad, I ask for a beau Thai chicken wrap and Holt goes for the special: a smoked-trout cake sandwich, made with West Virginia fish, chipotle sauce, coleslaw, lettuce and tomato. The chicken wrap and the trout sandwich are subtly outstanding. Jan's salad is reasonably priced.

Holt again says he likes the place. But I'm not sure he really likes it.

Sometime during the first set, banjoist Jon Cornatzer and guitarist Ty Bennett tell the full house that if they have come to hear bluegrass, they won't like the next song. "We might chase you away," says one of the band members.

Nobody flees. The song turns out to be a rollicking banjo-guitar- mandolin version of Boston's "Peace of Mind."

Then, later in the evening, Ty Bennett steps up to the microphone and says they want to push the bluegrass envelope even further. People start clapping and stomping as the band breaks into two of Holt's very favorite songs -- "Owner of a Lonely Heart" and "Roundabout" by Yes. On acoustic strings, the songs are challenging and oddly affective and effective.

Clapping with the beat and nodding his head, Holt turns around and smiles.

Now I know. He really likes it.

The Washington Post, October 6, 2004, pg C.02

Directions

Canaan Valley is accessible from metropolitan areas surrounding West Virginia. Here are a few suggested routes. Please have a current map with you. Unit 132 is in a 12 unit building that you see as you first drive into the resort.

From the Washington DC/Baltimore Area: We have found from long experience that Canaan Valley is about 4 to 4 and a half hours away although there are three different variations on how to get there. (Alternative 1) Take I-270, then take I-70W to Hancock, MD, take I-68W to Cumberland, MD. At Cumberland take 220S through Keyser, WV until it intersects with Rt. 50W at New Creek. Stay on Rt. 50W only a short distance until it junctions with Rt. 93W. Follow Rt. 93W to Davis, WV. At Davis, take Rt. 32S to Canaan Valley. Left unto Cortland Road, to Black Bear Resort; (Alternative 2) Same as above except stay on I-68 past Cumberland, MD to Rt. 219S. Follow 219S through Oakland, MD. To Thomas, WV at Thomas take Rt. 32S to Canaan Valley. Left onto Cortland Road, to Black Bear Resort. (Alternative 3) Take I-495 to the Dulles Greenway, take Route 9, then take Route 50 near Winchester straight through to where it intersects Route 32S, and the follow the directions for Alternative 2.

(The first alternative is probably the best and a little less miles (194 from our place in Bethesda, Md) except when it snows or there is fog; the second is fine but take the most miles and brings you around Deep Creek Lake (214 miles) ; the third takes the fewest miles (155 miles). But all take about the same amount of time, at least from where we live.)

From Northern Virginia- Follow I-66W to I-81S and Strasburg, VA. Follow I-81S only a short distance to exit for Rt. 55W. Stay on Rt. 55W through Moorefield, WV to Petersburg, WV and on to Harman, WV. At Harman, WV take Rt. 32N to Canaan Valley. Right onto 2nd. Cortland Exit

Alternate route from Northern Virginia- Take I-66W to I-81N, take Rt. 50W until it intersects with Rt. 93W. Follow Rt. 93W to Davis, WV. At Davis, take Rt. 32S to Canaan Valley. Left onto Cortland Road, to Black Bear Resort.

From Richmond Virginia- Take I-64W to I-81N. Stay on I-81N to Harrisonburg, VA. At Harrisonburg, follow Rt. 33W to Harman, WV. At Harman, take Rt. 32N to Canaan Valley. Right onto 2nd. Cortland Exit.

From Pittsburgh PA- Take I-79 to Morgantown, WV. From Morgantown, take I-68E to rt. 42S at Friendsville, MD. Follow Rt. 42S until it intersects with Rt. 219S at McHenry, MD. Follow Rt. 219S through Oakland, MD to Thomas, WV. At Thomas, WV take Rt. 32S to Canaan Valley. Left onto Cortland Road, to Black Bear Resort.

From Columbus OH- take I-70E to I-79S to Morgantown, WV. At Morgantown, WV, follow I-68E to Rt. 42S. At Friendsville, MD. Follow Rt. 42S. Until it intersects with Rt. 219S at McHenry, MD. Follow Rt. 219 S through Oakland, MD to Thomas, WV. At Thomas take Rt. 32S to Canaan Valley. Left onto Cortland Road, to Black Bear Resort.

Alternate Route from Columbus, OH- From Columbus take Rt. 33E to Athens, OH. At Athens, take Rt. 50E to Clarksburg, WV. At Clarksburg, take I-79S to Rt. 33E at Weston, WV (exit 99). Follow Rt. 33E through Elkins, WV to Harman; follow Rt. 32N to Canaan Valley. Right onto second Cortland Road, to Black Bear Resort.

From Charleston, WV - Take I-79N to rt. 33E at Weston, WV (exit 99). Follow Rt. 33E through Elkins to Harman, WV. At Harman, follow Rt. 32N to Canaan valley. Right onto 2nd. Cortland exit.

Once you turn into the entrance, the Inn building with unit 132 is just to your left. (The map below lists it as "Black Bear Inn")

bruce.butterworth@att.net
Click here for the Black Bear Woods Resort Website