For a bucolic mountain meeting experience, the Stonewall Resort could be just the right choice. Situated in the West Virginia countryside, it combines the features of an expansive state park with a modern hotel and conference center.
Located in the small town of Roanoke — not to be confused with the larger Roanoke, Virginia, some 200 miles to the southeast — the resort rests three miles off Interstate 79 within a few hours’ travel from the Pittsburgh; Charleston, West Virginia; and Columbus, Ohio, airports, and an easy drive from much of the East Coast.
The park itself covers 1,900 acres and 26 miles of lake shoreline. Its centerpiece is an Adirondack-style lodge that is complemented by saltbox-style cottages fronting the lake. Many of the lodge’s 191 rooms offer lakefront views, and others look out at nearby mountains or the Arnold Palmer signature golf course.
Along with its attractive setting, the resort offers a wealth of activities, according to sales manager Shelley Gutta.
“There are so many things to do,” she said, noting that guests often bring their families along to enjoy a vacation while they’re attending a conference. “There are golf, kayaking and other water activities, 16 miles of hiking trails and much more.”
She said guests especially enjoy outings on the Little Sorrel, the resort’s 100-passenger boat. It offers a daily “fun in the sun” cruise from April through October, along with special team-building exercises for conference attendees.
The area’s natural beauty is a particular strength, Gutta said. Each season has something special, from cool lake breezes in the summer to the splendor of fall foliage. The chance to spot local wildlife is also a plus. “I’ve personally glimpsed golden eagles and seen deer swimming in the lake,” she said.
The resort has a full staff dedicated to working with meeting planners. “They take care of all the details that make a great meeting,” Gutta said. “You’re never alone during the planning process.”
Event Space
The hotel’s 15,000 feet of conference space, occupying both a lobby and a terrace level, includes a 4,200-square-foot ballroom that holds up to 300 people for banquets or 350 in theater seating. It can be divided into two smaller sections of 2,726 and 1,363 square feet of space. Two midsize rooms, 1,848 square feet each, seat up to 100 guests. Other rooms range from 460 to 896 square feet and seat from 15 to 50, depending on the function.
Attractive outside space includes three patios of from 1,080 to 2,700 square feet, along with three lawn spaces that each accommodate from 250 to 400 people.
Time for Team Building
Meeting services include customized team-building activities. With a culinary adventure dubbed Fired Up, groups of 16 to 24 prepare their own meal. Resort staff set the tables and provide the ingredients, and then participants divide into teams and do the cooking.
With Lakeside Murder Mystery, guests take the resort’s excursion boat for a cruise on the lake and try to solve a murder mystery. The exercise of detective skills is bolstered with beer, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.
For a more altruistic event, participants band together in a charity bike-building workshop where they assemble bikes for deserving kids in the local community.
