Mike Moore
Here in Pocahontas County, tradition plays a big role in who we are. Our music, food, and outlook on life, is a reflection of our heritage and many of the traditions we grew up with. And one of those traditions has turned into a great excuse for you to make plans for a long weekend trip to Nature’s Mountain Playground – Mountain State Maple Days 2023. That’s right, with February well underway, we’ve come to that time of year to celebrate West Virginia maple syrup. Tapping maple trees for their sap has been a significant part of our culture here in West Virginia dating back over multiple generations. The colder months of winter have always been the best time of year to tap the maple trees; collecting the sap to then be rendered into maple syrup.
So, how does one celebrate maple syrup, you ask? By joining us right here in Pocahontas County for Mountain State Maple Days 2023 – a maple festival celebrating maple syrup in just about every form and function imaginable. And since everyone knows you can never get enough of that delicious, sweet, maple goodness, our maple syrup festival has not one, but two dates for you to choose from. That’s right, take your pick and join us on either February 18, 2023, or March 18, 2023, for a family-fun maple festival that is both educational and delicious! So, if the idea of a wintertime West Virginia festival full of sugar camp visits, maple-themed meals and treats, not to mention all the fresh, ooey-gooey maple syrup you can stand, sounds like a good weekend getaway to you; come join us for Mountain State Maple Days. Here’s a quick preview of Mountain State Maple Days 2023 in Nature’s Mountain Playground.
Sugar Camps
Sugar camps are the heart and soul of maple syrup production. And if you’re looking to take your maple festival attendance to the next level, you owe it to yourself to check out any one of five operating sugar camps in Pocahontas County during Mountain State Maple Days. You’ll tour the camp and learn how sap is collected, refined, and then bottled or in some cases further processed into maple candy. Here’s a short rundown of the sugar camps in Nature’s Mountain Playground.
Hillsboro Maple Works
Located near the town of Hillsboro, Hillsboro Maple Works will offer tours featuring sap collection, wood-fired boiling, filtering, finishing, and bottling syrup. Finished syrup will be available for sampling and sale. For further information and directions, call 304-288-6604 or visit hillsboromaple.com.
Fort Warwick Farm
Near Green Bank, just off route 92, you’ll find Fort Warwick Farm. Fort Warwick was a militia fort built in 1774 and served as a militia training ground as well as a point of refuge for those living on the frontier during the Revolutionary War. Today, amid ongoing archeological digs, Fort Warwick Farm also produces pure West Virginia maple syrup using methods dating back several generations. For tour and sample information visit fortwarwick.com.
Frostmore Farm
Located on route 92, north of Frost and south of Dunmore, Frostmore Farm will offer free tours and have delicious maple products for sale. And if you happen to miss the Maple Days dates, don’t worry, Frostmore Farm maintains a year-round roadside stand! Visit their Facebook page (link)
Yew Mountain Center
You’ll find Yew Mountain Center south of Hillsboro, just off U.S. Route 219, on Lobelia Road. Sugar bush tours, savory & sweet maple delights and kids’ educational activities will all be featured during this year’s Maple Days celebration. For directions and further information visit yewmountain.org.
Starry Night Farm
When it comes to Maple Days festivities, Starry Night Farm may be the new kid on the block but with nearly 100 trees to tap (just outside of Marlinton), they mean business. On both February 18th and March 18th, Starry Farm’s Maple Days activities will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Both days will feature tours of the sugar camp as well as opportunities to purchase maple syrup, candy, and cinnamon rolls. For directions to Starry Night Farm call 304-799-4816.
Dining Specials
The maple celebration doesn’t end at the sugar camps. Once you’ve toured the camp and sampled the treats, head out to one of the many restaurants throughout Pocahontas County and enjoy their maple inspired meals. Or visit them before your sugar camp tour and fuel up on some hearty pancakes smothered in maple syrup. Here’s a quick list of local eateries highlighting maple syrup this year.
Dirtbean Café in Marlinton will feature maple syrup from Frostmore Farm. Reservations are requested. Call 304-799-4038 for more information.
Station 2 Restaurant in Durbin will host an all-day maple breakfast, featuring all-you-can eat pancakes or buckwheat cakes. Call 304-456-4509 for more details.
Snowshoe Mountain Village restaurants will offer special menu items featuring locally made maple syrup. Call 304-572-1000 for more information.
Snowshoe Hare Coffee Shop in Slaty Fork, at the base of Snowshoe on Route 66, will be serving maple-inspired coffee/espresso, featuring local, Sunrise Farm maple syrup. Call 304-572-1200 for more information and directions.
Mountain State Cakes Bakery in Dunmore, located at the intersection of Rt 28 and 92, will be offering maple glazed donuts, maple glazed cinnamon rolls and maple cookies, featuring Sunrise Farm maple syrup. Open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. both February 18th and March 18th.
Greenbrier Grille in Marlinton will be serving freshly made, maple flavored donuts as well as serving Frostmore Farm syrup. Call 304-799-7233 for further information.
Fort Warwick Farm in Green Bank, MARCH 18th ONLY, will host a Maple Days Brunch prepared by Pocahontas County Farmer’s Market. Served from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., come out and enjoy locally sourced eggs, sausage, Bev’s Best pancakes, home fries, fruit, muffins, breads, jellies and jams. Advance tickets $18/adults; Kids 5 to12, $10. Contact Melia Thompson, 304-456-4239 or Anne Walker, 304-646-2491 (call or text) for more information.
Special Events
We’ll round out this preview with a couple specials to keep in mind that promise to add a little extra fun to your maple celebrations.
Maple Magic Workshop at Fort Warwick Farm, Green Bank, MARCH 18 ONLY, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., presented by High Rocks Academy, High Rocks personnel provide educational kids’ activities based around maple syrup production and products.
Pocahontas County Opera House in Marlinton, presents “Opry Night” February 18th at 7:30 p.m. After a day full of maple tours, treats, and temptations, come join us at the Opera House for a night of old-fashion, Bluegrass music. What better way to wrap your Maple Days’ festivities? Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door (if available). Go to pocahontasoperahouse.org for further details.
Lodging Specials
Station 2 Lodging in Durbin will be offering a one-night stay, two queen beds for $99.68 or a one night stay, one queen bed for $77.28. Pricing includes taxes, breakfast and a small maple gift. Call 304-456-4509for further information and room availability.
How does one celebrate maple syrup? You can start by attending the best maple weekend West Virginia has to offer – Mountain State Maple Days 2023, right here in Pocahontas County. Come join us as we tap into our Appalachian heritage (and a few maple trees) for a celebration of all-things maple. Whether you come for the sugar camp tours, the maple inspired meals, or the sweet maple treats, Mountain State Maple Days is a family-fun way to get out and learn a little something about where we get one of the best things to ever come from a maple tree. So, mark your calendar, either February 18th or March 18th, and come join us for Mountain State Maple Days 2023 here in Nature’s Mountain Playground.