West Virginia’s ACE Adventure Resort Celebrates Halloween with Two Weekends of Zombies & Fun

A Haunted Halloween in the Hills of West Virginia offers two weekends of spooky fun: Oct. 19-20 and Oct. 26-27, 2019.
Photo by: Free-Photos

On1,500 acres in West Virginia’s southern hills, ACE Adventure Resort turns its attention to ghosts and goblins during A Haunted Halloween in the Hills of West Virginia over two weekends of spooky fun: Oct. 19-20 and Oct. 26-27, 2019.

The spine-tingling mischief includes Nightmare on the Gorge Haunted Hike held both weekends. Adults pay $13 and youth $10 for the privilege of exploring an abandoned resort while possibly stirring up some of the ghosts and creatures who lurk in the shadows. Is that banjo music drifting up from the holler?

West Virginia’s New River Gorge becomes a blur as shadows lengthen and people begin to soar like bats on a Night Sky Zip Line Tour through the treetops and moving shadows. Senses leap into overdrive over seven zips and a sky bridge that keeps participants enthralled for over two hours. Adventurers must be 13 years or older and weigh at least 100 pounds (but not over 200). Combine the Haunted Hike with Night Zip Lining for $99 (adults) and $89 (youth).

This late October celebration of ghosts and ghouls culminates in the Oct. 31, 2015, Zombie Run, a fun 5k obstacle course with the undead ready to attack and turn runners into one of their own. The goal is to avoid becoming a zombie by escaping the feeding frenzy and finishing the race.

There are prizes for the top finishers who survive the course and for zombies who claim the most victims. Just like many competitive 5k runs, this event will be professionally timed and everyone will start the race together. Each runner will be equipped with a belt containing three flags. Along the way they will encounter zombies who will try to remove their flags. The goal is to not lose all three but those who do will then become a zombie and cannot finish the race. Those who keep at least one flag and make it to the end have survived. Runners can pre-register for $35 (late registration $40) and zombies are mandated to pre-register at $30. A Halloween Party with live music follows.

ACE Adventure Resort invites guests to come for the whole weekend and offers a Combo Pass with admission to the Zombie Run, access to the Haunted Trail and Night Zip Line Tour for $129 (adults) and $119 (youth). A variety of lodging and restaurant options are also available.

Fall colors at ACE Adventure Resort peak mid to late October depending on the weather. However, the protected depths of the New River Gorge can keep colors longer than usual along the river bottom. Prime foliage viewing is best from secluded overlooks which include the Endless Wall Trail, named the best national park hike in the United States by the readers of USA Today. ACE’s popular New River Bridge Catwalk Tour that takes adventurers under the longest single arch bridge in the western hemisphere spans 1.5 miles on a 24-inch wide catwalk (with railings). The fall colors can be truly spectacular with the right timing (this can be coupled with a raft trip).

Most of the activities that have made ACE Adventure Resort the #1 Outfitter in West Virginia continue through fall as well. The adjacent 70,000-acre New River Gorge National River is an option for miles of wilderness exploring afoot and on horseback or fat tire bike. Guests may also enjoy world class fishing on the New River for small mouth bass. Conditions for rock climbing and mountain biking are usually optimal this time of year.

For more information and to make trip and lodging reservations, visit the website at www.aceraft.com.