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5 Tips to Make Your Bridge Day Better

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

No matter if you are a first-timer or a long-time veteran of Bridge Day, there are some things you just need to know (or reminded of) to make the day better. The more you know, the fewer surprises and the more time you can spend simply enjoying the day.

Bridge Day Reminder: No Backpacks, Thanks for Your Co-Operation

Take a Look at the Rules
Law enforcement officials work many hours to ensure you have a safe day on the Bridge. Their focus is your safety.

There are not many rules to follow, but it’s important to know them beforehand so there are no surprises.

Some rules are no-brainers: no weapons, no fireworks, no drugs or alcohol. Other rules, may not make as much sense, yet they are in place to ensure your safety.   No dogs. No backpacks. We can hear you groan, but all we ask is just come have fun, and leave your dog at home (perhaps wearing your backpack full of beer and fireworks).

Plan Your Parking and Shuttles
Unlike many other large events, Bridge Day parking is aplenty. There are parking lots on either side of the Bridge, and for just $2 per person you can ride the shuttle right to the entrance. Our Bridge Day parking map can help you plan your parking location. Yes, it is that easy.

Wear (the right) Shoes and Clothes
Hopefully, we don’t have to tell you they are required. They are. As interesting as we think nude Bridge Day might be, well, let’s just say the day is extreme enough already. It’s not so much about shoes and clothing being required as it is about choosing them wisely.

You will be walking. A lot. Wear something comfortable and sturdy as nothing puts a damper on a great day like sore feet (especially if it is your kid with sore feet).

Also, come prepared for a variety of weather. Check the forecast before heading out and dress in layers. Also be sure to bring along a jacket or sweater tied around your waist just in case the weather changes. Which it is apt to do.

Bring a Camera, You Never Know What You Might See

Bring a Camera
If we had a nickel for every time we heard someone say, “I wish I had brought my camera”, we’d have a gazillion nickels. Ok, maybe not a gazillion, we don’t even know what that is as a matter of fact, but we’d have a lot of nickels. A lot.

So, bring your camera. No matter if you are a pro or simply snapping photos with your camera phone Bridge Day is a photographers dream. With so many vivid colors, so much action taking place and folks walking around in giant, pink bunny-suits, there is a photo op everywhere you look.

Be sure to tag your photos with #bridgeday and share them on the Facebook Fan Page and our Flickr group.

What Goes Down Must Come Back Up
Fayette Station Road, runs from one side of the Gorge, to the river, and up the other side. It is closed to public motor vehicle traffic on Bridge Day, yet it is open to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. You are free to walk down the road, beneath the Bridge, and enjoy a different perspective on the day’s activities.

Just remember, if you go down, you have to come back up. It is a 4 mile stretch on either side, and it’s not exactly flat, so be sure you are physically able to make the walk back.

If you aren’t sure, but would still like to venture below the Bridge, you may want to consider taking advantage of the Down Under Tours.

Stay tuned for more tips and information to make your Bridge Day great. We look forward to seeing you October 16th.

Do you have any tips to add?

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Can You Win The Bridge Day Scavenger Hunt?

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

It depends: are you going to Bridge Day (the largest 1 day event in West Virginia)?

If so, there’s a chance.

treasure map (scavenger hunt flyer by ryanrocketship on flickr creative commons)

Like this, but with the New River Gorge Bridge

Here’s the rundown- Subaru (our awesome flagship sponsor) is hosting a scavenger hunt -that’s right, a scavenger hunt- on the bridge.  It’s open to all BASE jumpers, rappellers, funnel cake eaters, official t-shirt wearers, and pretty much anybody that comes to Bridge Day.

What’s the prize, you ask?  Try $1000 cash.

Cool, huh? 2nd place gets $500. 3rd gets $250 dollars. All you have to do is make it to bridge day, have a cell phone that you can text from, and be willing and able to have a little fun.  Seriously.  That’s it.

It’s going to work like this:

  • The Subaru folks will hide 5 (and only 5) codes at different places around the bridge.
  • You’ll get a clue that describes where you’ll find the first code.
  • When you find code #1 and text it in, you’ll get a clue for code #2.
  • If you’re the first person to text in all five codes, you win.

You can sign up by going to the Official Bridge Day website and entering your name and phone number over in the sidebar.  The first clue goes out to everyone on the list at 11 a.m., Saturday, October 16th, 2010 (that’s Bridge Day, y’all).

So, what do you think?  Do you have what it takes to, um, text some stuff?  If so, Subaru and Bridge Day are ready to join you for some fun.

Come get your scavenger hunt on, everyone.  See you there.

UPDATE:  The scavenger hunt is limited to the first 2oo applicants.  Better hurry :-)

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5 Must-Do Activities For Bridge Day

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

Okay, when you come to Bridge Day in West Virginia, there are certain things that you absolutely have to do.

One of those is NOT “jump off the bridge”.  Just sayin’.  You have to be qualified to jump, first of all, and the vast majority of folks that come for bridge day are spectators (myself included).

ceviche & tropical fruit shorbread from Rezan's at the Taste Of Bridge Day

Ceviche & tropical fruit shorbread from Rezan's at the Taste Of Bridge Day

So we can go ahead and rule that out.  Also, you don’t have to rappel off the bridge.  Same thing goes here- you have to be qualified to do it, which rules most of us out.

But that’s only two things.  To use a scientific measurement, there are literally a whole bunch of other things to do.

Here are the 5 that I’m thinking are the full-on, don’t-miss, must-do, call-your-mom-about, been-there-got-the-T-shirt Bridge Day activities to put on your list:

-Taste Of Bridge Day Okay, you know there’s going to be some food at any place that has an event called “Taste-Of-Whatever”.  But here’s the thing:  this food is awesome.  Remember your favorite meal ever in your life?  Put that memory on steroids and place it next to one of the most beautiful views in the world, and that’s pretty much what you’re looking at here.  Taste Of Bridge Day is the Friday night before the actual Bridge Day festivities, so make sure you come early.

-Watch The Flags Go Up You have to get to the event early if you’d like to see it, and you would.  Like to see it, that is.  Seeing Old Glory, the WV state flag, and the US Park Service flag (a new addition last year) ascend up the entire length of space between the ground and the bridge is one of the most inspiring, patriotic sights you’ll ever see.  Be at the landing zone for the best view.

-Enjoy The Show Get as many angles as you can.  On the bridge is cool.  At the landing zone next to the river is cooler.  There are also some other spots around the rim of the gorge, like Long Point.  Jumpers leap from the bridge all day long, and rappellers slide up and down seemingly endless ropes all day long, too.  It’s one of the world’s great photo ops, so make sure you have plenty of film in your camera.  Wait, what’s “film”?

-Check Out The Vendors There’s only one place in the world where you can see a guy carve a wood duck with a chainsaw, buy a homemade quilt with a BASE jumper on it, and sign up for skydiving lessons within 100 yards of each other.  The sides of the bridge are covered with vendors from around the world, if you count the US as the world, and a walk through is definitely on the to-do list.  Also, you must eat a funnel cake (Fried oreos or elephant ears are also acceptable [barely]).

-Go To The Chili Cookoff When the jumping ends, the cookoff begins.  Right on the steps of the historic courthouse in downtown Fayetteville, you’ll find the best chili this side of wherever was formerly known for having the best chili.  Brought to you by the businesses and restaurants of the New River Gorge and the Fayetteville CVB, the chili cookoff is a great way to get to know our little (awesome) town.  Also, there’s cornbread.  And craft beer.

Okay, y’all.  Let me have it:  What did I miss?

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5 Reasons Why Subaru Rocks

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

Hey, guess what?

Subaru is the flagship sponsor for Bridge Day West Virginia 2010.

Don't try this at home.

Don't try this at home.

Right.  Subaru.  The folks that did this.  And built this.

How cool is that?  Wait, wait… I know the answer…  VERY cool.  Sorry, but Subys flat out rock.  They run forever, go anywhere, look cool, and did I mention they run forever (almost)?

It’s really a perfect fit for Bridge Day, too.  They’re not hugely popular in New York and L.A., but hey, neither are we.  That’s okay; people in the mountains know what works (I’m kind of a fan, if you haven’t guessed).

Here’s a list of 5 reasons why Subaru rocks:

1. Attitude Or really, I should say non-attitude; they’re the opposite of showing off.  Pretty good on the fuel consumption, but more than that, it’s a feeling of independence.  That’s it: Subaru drivers are independent.

2. Looks They’re cool looking, but, again, not showy.  Lots of room for kids, dogs, parachutes, rope, bikes, skis, snowboards, skateboards, inflatable pool toys, apples, and kayaks.

3. Green-i-ness Every Subaru made comes for a factory that produces ZERO landfill waste.  And the Suby plant in Indiana was named… wait for it… a wildlife habitat.  Clearly, they’re on to something that resonates with their target market (read: you).

4. Performance Did you watch those video links?  These things can climb trees.  Nothing better for winter in the Appalachian high country than a dependable four wheel drives that’s all that under the hood.

5. Community Subaru sponsors all kinds of cool organizations, like the National Ski Patrol, the Professional Ski Instructors of America, and the International Mountain Biking Association Trail Care Crew.  And, y’know, us.

Hey, looks like Bridge Day is in pretty good company.  Make sure you stop by the Subaru booth to say hi.  They’re going to have a ton of swag to give out, and some great discounts on new cars (c’mon, you know you want one).

So what about you?  Love your Subaru?  Let us know in the comments.

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Bridge Day Firsts for 2009

Saturday, October 17th, 2009
What it's all about.

What it's all about.

I’ve been living in West Virginia for a while.  I’m not from here, but I got here as soon as I could.

So I’ve adopted a lot of the state’s traditions as my own.  I hunt and fish.  I’m a big time college football fa.  I eat ramps.

I also do a lot of whitewater rafting.  Well, I did.  Before I started writing, I was a full time, dyed-in-the-rubber raft guide.  That’s how I came to WV in the first place.

As a guide, I had my share of Bridge Days.  But, for each and every one, I was down on the river.  Under the bridge itself.

So this year, my role was a bit different.  I shot video.  I did interviews.  I took notes.

Which means, everything this year, for me, was a first.  I had the access, knew the people, and covered the terrain that makes Bridge Day Run. For the first time.

I love firsts.

For instance, it was the first time I’ve been under the bridge.  Let me clarify:  it was the first time I’ve been right under the bridge.  Like, up in the girders, around the arch, on the catwalk.

I thought I’d be scared.  Usually, I’ve got this thing about heights.  But that wasn’t the case at all.  Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I was out there with the Bridge Day Rappel Safety Crew.  Totally professional and super friendly, they made my first trip on the catwalk a thrill.  It was exciting, not scary at all.

It happened to be the first time I’d ever left the bridge via rope.  No, I didn’t rappel- I didn’t have enough experience for something like Bridge Day.  But I did get on the High Line.  It was a rush, over before it began.  I could have made laps.

Also, it was the first time I ever had the chance to ride along for a river rescue on a BASE jumper.  Now that, I could have done all day.  We’ve said that they are the most experienced river rescue guys for this type of work, and they proved it.  I saw at least 10 water landings, and was up close and personal in two of them.  Let’s just say this-  even for a first timer, it was easy to tell that these guys are the real deal.

Oh, and it was my first time BASE jumping.

Not really.  But maybe next year.

How about you?  Any firsts in your Bridge Day?

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The State Of Bridge Day 2009

Saturday, October 17th, 2009
These 3 guys? They're having a blast.

These 3 guys? They're having a blast.

Well, it doesn’t get much better, y’all.

It sometimes gets a bit warmer, but not much better.

Forecasts for snow turned into a little more than intermitten mist. We reached a normal-for-late-October 42 degrees.  The people who are showing up have been having a great time.

And who is that, exactly?

Well, jumpers have come from as close as Oak Hill, WV to as far away as India.  It runs the gamut age-wise, too.  From 18 to 81, BASE jumping knows no bounds.

Rappel teams have been running up to 6 descents.  Plus, they don’t have to go back up the rope if they don’t want to (!)

Rafters are taking their paddles to the rapids of the New, and, yeah, it’s probably a bit chilly when those waves smack them in the face.  But it’s worth it.

The vendors are out in full force.  They’ve got everything from shortbread to shish-kabobs.  If you like to eat it, someone is cooking it.

The photographers, the families, the Harley Davidson folks, the leaf-peepers, the college kids, the locals, the out-of-towners, they’re all out, as well.

Everyone’s having at least as much fun as me.  Maybe more.

It’s still going on.  There’s still time. Bridge Day 2009 rolls right along…

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The Smell Of The Taste Of Bridge Day

Friday, October 16th, 2009
ceviche & tropical fruit shorbread from Rezan's

ceviche & tropical fruit shorbread from Rezan's

It’s 30 minutes until Taste of Bridge Day officially begins, and no one is letting me eat anything.

So what gives?

Well, I can understand.  This is the big dance- the chance for restaurants in and around the gorge to put up their best dishes for the world to taste.

Still, I’m pretty hungry, though.  Can’t I just get little preview?

I’m going to try to describe how it smells in this room right now:  Imagine a bakery next to a rib pit, with a mexican place across the street that shares a kitchen with an Italian restaurant.

If you’re anywhere in the area, you need to get here.

I see a lot of familiar faces from around the gorge.  Rezan’s got some awesome looking ceviche.  Wendy has some great looking white bean chicken chili and crab cake sliders.  Oscar’s got some great looking I don’t even know what (carnitas, he tells me), but I’m going to be eating it.

And there are a lot of unfamiliar folks from around WV.  Capitol Market from Charleston, Southern Red BBQ from Beckley, Spoons Cafe from Summersville (who I think used to be raft guides on the New River?).

Anyway, the food looks awesome.  The crowd is fired up.  The party is on.

Ok, they’re serving.  Gotta go :-)

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Motorcycles? Safety? Bridge Day? You Bet

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

Bridge Day 2009.  What a great day to be in Southern West Virginia.

Like this, but on the New River Gorge Bridge

Like this, but on the New River Gorge Bridge

The state’s largest one day festival is an absolute blast, and if you haven’t been to the festival, you don’t know what you’re missing. With arts, crafts, food, rappelling, high line rides, fall foliage, and plenty of BASE jumpers, the Bridge Day is not to be missed.

This is the one day during the year that you can walk on the Western Hemisphere’s largest single arch bridge, and take in the view of the New River Gorge. Fall colors are at their peak, and the bridge offers a wonderful vista over one of the world’s oldest places.

This Bridge Day is also the Second Annual West Virginia Motorcycle Safety Program Ride. This ride is to promote more awareness of motorcycles on the highways and safe interaction with other motor vehicles.

As motorcycle ridership has increased, so have accidents. There is a need to make all motorists aware of motorcycles and to watch closely for them during the riding season, which runs April through November.

The ride will be held on Saturday October 17 at 10 am (Bridge Day). Riders will meet at Songer Whitewater in Hico and travel south on Rt 19 across the bridge then, following Rt 16 North and Rt 60 East, back to Hico. This route crosses the New River and the bridge to highlight motorcycles on the highways to a large number of motorists attending Bridge Day.

The route also offers riders a scenic route through Southern West Virginia with views of the gorge and the fall colors. Riders will then have time to return to the bridge to enjoy the festivities.

While registration has closed for this year, we do want people to know that this is an ongoing event.  If you ride, but aren’t registered, you can still watch for us to come rolling across the bridge, right in the middle of all the action.

If you ride a bike and would like to participate in the ride in 2010, check the website for details. If you have not been to Bridge Day, make plans to do so. You won’t be disappointed!

Special Guest Post By:

Len Hanger over at Songer Whitewater, he helps organize the annual Bridge Day Motorcycle safety awareness ride.

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Bridge Day Chili Cookoff

Monday, October 12th, 2009

Is your chili hotter than the month of July or do you make a milder version that elicits raves instead of tears??

Regardless, the Fayetteville Convention & Visitors Bureau invites you to enter its first-ever “Bridge Day Chili Cookoff “ Saturday, October 17, 2009 from 3PM-9PM at the Courthouse Square in Fayetteville. Awards will be presented at 7:00 p.m. by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. Chili chefs from all walks of life are encouraged to enter…individuals, restaurants, businesses fire departments, rafting companies, schools, civic organizations, etc. come compete with your hot chili in a cool town.

The Chili Cookoff will award cash prizes in three categories: Red and Verde chili and People’s Choice. Preparation should be done at home for the Red and Verde chili with a minimum of 5 gallons brought for the tasting. We will provide containers for the competition. Fill with chili and bring to the judging area between 4:45 and 5:00 p.m. Entry fee is $10.00. Download your entry form and enter.

Of course, in West Virginia a pot of chili isn’t complete without a pan of cornbread, so the Chili Cookoff will award trophies and cash prizes for traditional and non-traditional cornbread prepared at home. Containers will be provided for the competition. Fill with cornbread and bring to the judging area between 5:45 and 6:00 p.m. Cornbread entry is free.

Chili will be judged on taste, consistency, aroma, color and bite/aftertaste. Red chili cash prizes are $100. first ~ $50.second ~ $25. third. The People’s Choice winner will take home $100. First place in Verde chili will be $50.~ 2nd place $25.~ 3rd place $15.. Cornbread winners in each category will receive trophies and cash awards of $30.~ $20.~ $15. respectively.

Plan to serve chili from 4 to 7 p.m. or until you run out.

This event will be a great way to turn your Bridge Day into a full day. Shuttles will be provided until 10:00 p.m. for returns to the scheduled Bridge Day shuttle stops. There will be live music throughout the afternoon and evening, a harvest celebration including the local Farmers Market, a quilt show, flower and produce exhibits and children’s’ events, broadcasting of the football game between state rivals WVU and Marshall, a beer garden, wine tasting, specials offered at the local shops and restaurants, Fun Factory Inflatable Carnival for the kids and much more. Entertainment will continue until 9:30 ish.

Watch ‘em jump off, then watch ‘em cook off! Rain or shine, the chili will be devine.

The 1st Annual Bridge Day Chili Cookoff is brought to you by the Fayetteville Convention & Visitors Bureau and the following partners: the WV Department of Agriculture, Swirl and the Fayetteville Lion’s Club.

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Bridge Day Offers Unique “One Shirt” Campaign

Monday, September 28th, 2009

Bridge Day has selected Morgantown, WV based SustainU to be the first official apparel provider for this year’s 30th Anniversary event on October 17. In conjunction with this decision, Bridge Day, SustainU, and Goodwill Industries of Kanawha Valley will be teaming up to offer a unique “One Shirt” Campaign, which will offer Bridge Day participants and spectators a unique opportunity to make an ecological and economic impact.

Sustain U One Shirt Campaign

Sustain U One Shirt Campaign

Anyone that wishes to participate can bring a clean, used shirt or item of clothing to the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce booth at either end of the Bridge and receive a $5 discount on SustainU’s official commemorative Bridge Day t-shirt. All clothing donations will be collected by Goodwill to support the mission of providing employment, education and training for people with disabilities.

SustainU, an American enterprise, focuses on social, economic and environmental sustainability of products by producing high quality apparel from 100% recycled post-consumer plastics and textile waste. Their dedication to social awareness is changing the way people view clothes. SustainU’s corporate message truly embraces Bridge Day’s “it’s all about living” philosophy.

SustainU will be taking donations and selling the commemorative 30th Anniversary Bridge Day 2009 shirts before, as well as on Bridge Day. For more information call 1-800-927-0263.

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