West Virginia Cabin Vacations

West Virginia family vacations usually include a visit to the spectacular New River Gorge National River Park.  Located just a short drive from the area's most popular West Virginia log cabin rentals, this New River National River Park is famous for stunning views and wild areas to explore.  There are two information centers on the rim of the Gorge - one of them is the unique Sandstone Visitor Center - a building that serves not only as a source of information, but is also itself an educational tool. 

Sandstone Visitor Center was built to LEED™certification standards.  (LEED™ stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System. This voluntary point-rating system was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. The council rates sites on water efficiency, materials and resources, site sustainability, indoor environmental quality, and energy and atmosphere.)

The building was built using local materials on land that was once a quarry.  A geothermal heating and cooling system and solar sensors controlling lighting and insulation made from old newspaper make the building 60% more efficient than current standards.  The landscaping around the building is irrigated by roof runoff and has been created from native plants. 

Not only is the building an example of concious and thoughtful building, but it is actually an educational tool for visitors.  Signs and exhibits throughout the facility serve to inform visitors about the techniques used in construction and to express how the philosphy used to create Sandstone ties into the preservation of the New River Gorge as a National River.