[ discover wv ]
Photo by Jay Young/
Adventures on the Gorge.
An Insider’s Guide
to Bridge Day
SAMANTHA CART
Every year on the third Saturday in
October, BASE jumpers from around the
world gather at the historic New River
Gorge Bridge as they prepare to fling
themselves from the top and parachute
an impressive 876 feet to the bottom of
the gorge.
The oldest and largest organized BASE
jumping event in the world, 2018 marks
the 39th annual Bridge Day celebration.
However, what began as one day dedicat-
ed to this extreme sport has grown into a
weekend-long festival that attracts more
than 100,000 spectators to West Virgin-
ia. In addition to rappelling and BASE
jumping, Bridge Day weekend now in-
cludes a variety of events, including Taste
of Bridge Day, Bridge Jam, the Active
Southern West Virginia Bridge Day 5k
and the Bridge Day Chili Cook Off. West
Virginia Executive spoke with Official
Bridge Day’s full-time staff and Bridge
Day weekend alumni to get the best tips
and tricks for experiencing this unfor-
gettable event. Here they offer an inside
look at how to navigate lodging, park-
ing, traffic and crowds for a truly wild
and wonderful weekend.
Securing Lodging
The first step to a successful Bridge
Day weekend is having somewhere to
104
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
stay. BASE jumper registration opens on
July 1, and this is typically when most
people start making reservations. While
the New River Gorge area has a variety
of lodging to choose from, rooms fill up
quickly, so planning ahead is a must.
“In 2017, lodging was booked solid as
far north as Wheeling and as far south as
Virginia,” says Mandy Wriston, tourism
specialist for the Fayette County Chamber
of Commerce, New River Gorge Conven-
tion & Visitors Bureau and Official Bridge
Day. “If you decide to attend Bridge Day,
book as far in advance as you can. The
region offers hotels, bed and breakfasts,
cabins and camping.”
Attendees who cannot find a room
in Fayetteville may also choose to stay
in surrounding areas such as Oak Hill,
Glen Ferris and Hawks Nest.
Packing for Bridge Day
Once the room is secure, knowing
what to pack—and what not to pack—
for Bridge Day can be the next biggest
challenge.
“Dress in layers, and wear comfortable
shoes,” says Sharon Cruikshank, Bridge
Day chair and president of the Fayette
County Chamber of Commerce. “Also,
backpacks are not allowed, and if you have
a diaper bag or a purse, it may be searched.”
Cruikshank, who works year-round
with the Bridge Day Commission and the
more than 40 volunteers it takes to pull
off such a large event, also recommends
leaving all pets at home.
Taking on Traffic and Parking
Bridge Day weekend’s jam-packed
schedule means visitors have the oppor-
tunity to explore the entire New River
Gorge area. This also presents additional
challenges in the way of traffic and park-
ing. With up to 100,000 spectators, the
traffic can be a bit overwhelming.
The 2018 Bridge Day weekend kicks
off on Friday, October 20, with Taste of
Bridge Day from 5-9 p.m. at Adventures
on the Gorge (AOTG), Bridge Jam from
7 p.m. to midnight at the Cascade Fes-
tival Grounds and a performance by the
Groundhog Gravy band at AOTG’s Ren-
dezvous Lodge from 8-11 p.m. On Sat-
urday, Route 19 will close at 7 a.m., and
shuttles will begin running at 8:30 a.m.
from the Kroger in Oak Hill, Fayetteville
Walmart, Fayetteville High School, Fayette
County Courthouse, Smales Branch Road
and Midland Trail High School. Bridge
Day officially begins at 9 a.m. with BASE
jumping and a 5k at 9:15. During the on-
going festivities, there will also be the
Bridge Day Car Show at the New River