In
Behind the Scenes
Gina Stacy
Doug Prezkop and Ted and
2018.
with Jennifer at Bridge Day
There’s something magnetic about the
New River Gorge area. It’s one of those
places I’m always excited to visit, and
when I’m there, it’s like I’m seeing its
beauty for the first time. The atmosphere
is an odd combination of tranquility and
electricity. Visitors hike, rappel and raft,
trying to take in as much as they can.
Our Mountain Mama gets under your
skin and leaves you wanting to see more
and stay longer.
I’ve lived in West Virginia 32 of my 38
years, and my first visit to Bridge Day was
long overdue. People travel from all over
to partake in what has become the oldest
and largest legal BASE-jumping event
in the world. In 2017, Fayetteville played
host to 348 jumpers from 33 states. While
dark skies, cold temperatures and the
threat of wind may have kept some away
from this year’s event, attendees still
turned out in droves, spectators gasping
every time a jumper chased adrenaline
off the side of the bridge.
My husband, Doug, and I attended
this year’s event with our Columbus
friends, Ted and Gina Stacy, Gene
Bednarski and Bonnie Bailey. Doug and I
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
are always excited to share West Virginia
with our Ohio friends whose only expe-
riences in the Mountain State tend to be
driving through on the way to somewhere
warmer. We made a weekend out of it and
set up base in the RV park at Summersville
Lake Retreat, a few hundred feet from West
Virginia’s only lighthouse. On Saturday
morning, we took our friends to Tudor’s
Biscuit World for breakfast because we
wanted them to have the full West Virginia
experience. We then made our way to
Lighthouse Worship Center, one of the
designated shuttle stops for Bridge Day.
The quick shuttle ride delivered us right
to the entrance of the bridge, where we
passed a row of vendors peddling sou-
venirs, warm clothing, hot drinks and
pepperoni rolls.
Walking onto the New River Gorge
Bridge was surreal. When I drive across it,
I get pretty anxious, but standing on the
side of the bridge, staring out onto that
iconic vista, my thoughts weren’t on how
high up we were but on how lucky we are
that God blessed us with incredible beauty.
My bliss was interrupted by a crowd-sized
gasp as a jumper took the
plunge. As I leaned over
the railing, watching his
parachute open, the crowd
gasped again, and another
jumper took flight. One
after another, daredevils
stepped off the platform,
jumping out into the sky
or summersaulting through
the air.
While we had a great
time at Bridge Day, we only
caught the tip of the ice-
berg. Taste of Bridge Day, Bridge Jam,
the Into the Gorge shuttle ride and the
Bridge Day 5k are all events I hope to
experience next time.
After having recently moved back home
to West Virginia from Ohio, I’m thank-
ful to have great events like this at my
fingertips. It’s an honor to be able to
show my support for our local towns
and businesses, as well as our tourism
industry, by getting out and experiencing
more of the Mountain State. If you’ve got
West Virginia in your veins like I do—
or you’re just looking for a memorable
experience—be sure to check out the next
issue of Discover West Virginia maga-
zine, which will launch in February 2019.
It’s a useful guide for planning all your
wild and wonderful adventures in Almost
Heaven in the new year.
Jennifer Jett Prezkop
Managing Editor