Facility Overview
The Roanoke Activity Plaza Parking Lot serves as a key recreational parking hub within the scenic Stonewall Resort State Park in Lewis County, West Virginia (ZIP 26452). Nestled along the picturesque shoreline of Stonewall Jackson Lake, this open-air surface parking facility provides convenient, ground-level vehicle staging for resort guests, day tourists, outdoor recreationists, and event participants. Designed as an asphalt surface lot without multi-level overhead barriers, it features wide-open headroom and generous turnaround space, ensuring completely unrestricted vertical clearance. As a result, the facility effortlessly accommodates standard passenger cars, large pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, passenger vans, roof-rack-equipped overland vehicles, and drivers pulling boat trailers, kayak haulers, or lightweight recreational camper units.
Prime Location & Nearby Attractions
Situated in the heart of Stonewall Resort State Park, this parking lot places visitors directly at the doorstep of the park's premier outdoor sports and leisure amenities, while remaining minutes from regional cultural landmarks:
- Roanoke Activity Plaza: Located right next to the parking bays, offering pickleball courts, tennis courts, outdoor basketball hoops, an open event lawn, two children's playgrounds, and a 9-hole disc golf course.
- Fitness & Nature Trails: Immediate access to the 0.4-mile fitness loop featuring 10 exercise stations, as well as connections to the broader network of over 16 miles of wooded hiking and mountain biking trails, including the Lakeside Nature Trail and Cairns Trail.
- Stonewall Resort Marina & Boat Launch: Just a short walk away, providing access to boat slips, pontoon rentals, kayak and paddleboard rentals, CraigCat excursions, and the Little Sorrel lake cruise.
- The Palmer Course & Clubhouse: Less than a 5-minute drive (approx. 1.2 miles) north, home to the premier 18-hole Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course, practice facilities, pro shop, and Lightburn's Restaurant.
- The Lakeside Lodge & Conference Center: Around a 3-minute drive or scenic stroll across the grounds, featuring Stillwaters Restaurant, TJ Muskies Bar & Grill, the Mountain Laurel Spa, and lakeside fire pits.
- Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum: Approximately 10 miles north in historic Weston, WV, a nationally renowned landmark offering historic architecture tours, heritage exhibitions, and seasonal ghost tours.
- Museum of American Glass: Situated roughly 10 miles north in downtown Weston, showcasing Appalachian glassmaking history.
- WVU Jackson's Mill Historic Area: Located about 14 miles north, featuring the historic Cummins Jackson Grist Mill and lifelong learning center.
Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity
Vehicle access to the lot is straightforward and scenic. From Interstate 79, drivers take Exit 91 (Roanoke) and proceed southwest on US Highway 19 South for roughly 2.5 miles before entering the state park via State Park Road / Resort Drive. The interior roadways are paved, gently curving, and well-marked with park navigational signage directing traffic toward the Roanoke Activity Plaza and Marina recreation areas. Egress after community events, seasonal fireworks, and weekend sports tournaments is smooth thanks to wide two-lane corridors and minimal vehicular bottlenecking.
While this rural Mountain Lakes location does not have fixed-route public subways or municipal light rail systems, Stonewall Resort operates an on-demand internal property shuttle for resort and conference guests, connecting the activity plaza to the lodge, golf course, and Briar Point Campground. Regional flyers can connect through North Central West Virginia Airport (CKB) in Bridgeport/Clarksburg, situated approximately 35 miles north along the I-79 corridor.
Facility Amenities & Key Features
- Open-Air Surface Parking: Level, paved asphalt layout featuring clearly striped standard and oversized stalls.
- Unrestricted Overhead Clearance: No height barriers or covered deck restrictions, making it suitable for lifted 4x4 trucks, camper vans, and rooftop gear boxes.
- Trailer-Friendly Maneuvering: Ample circular turning radii suited for vehicles hauling trailers, drift boats, and jet skis.
- ADA Accessible Parking: Dedicated, clearly signposted accessible stalls located closest to the plaza walkways, activity pavilions, and paved paths.
- Trailhead & Plaza Proximity: Direct pedestrian step-off onto paved sidewalks leading to sports courts, playground equipment, and rental hubs like Fat Tire Cycle & Sport.
- Lighting & Ranger Patrols: Illuminated after sunset and routinely monitored by state park law enforcement and resort safety patrols.
- Free Day-Use Parking: Complimentary on-site parking for park visitors and resort patrons during standard daily recreational hours.
Ideal For
- Outdoor Sports & Disc Golfers: Visitors coming to play the 9-hole disc golf course, shoot hoops, or utilize the tennis and pickleball courts.
- Hikers, Runners & Cyclists: An ideal staging base for morning workouts along the 10-station fitness trail or long rides on the 16+ miles of forested mountain biking routes.
- Boaters & Fishermen: Day visitors accessing Stonewall Jackson Lake for largemouth bass fishing, kayak paddling, and pontoon excursions.
- Resort & Cottage Guests: Overflow parking for family reunions, cottage gatherings, and recreation days within Stonewall Resort.
- Event & Festival Attendees: Convenient parking for annual community festivals, craft fairs, outdoor movie nights, and holiday fireworks on the plaza lawn.
Visitor & Driver Tips
- Peak Summer Mornings: During warm summer weekends and holiday holidays (Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day), parking fills early with boaters and families; aim to arrive before 10:00 AM for prime spots.
- Wildlife Awareness: Deer, wild turkeys, and other Appalachian wildlife frequently cross Resort Drive and park access lanes; drive within posted 20–25 mph speed limits, especially around dawn and dusk.
- GPS Navigation Guidance: Set navigation units directly to "Roanoke Activity Plaza" or "Stonewall Resort State Park, Roanoke, WV" rather than generic town centers to ensure routing through the main park entrance off US-19.
- Bring Gear Essentials: While bicycle rentals and seasonal gear are available at the plaza during operational hours, bring your own disc golf discs, balls, and racket gear if playing outside of staffed hours.
- Winter Weather Preparation: Mountain roads in Lewis County can experience winter snow and ice; main park drives are plowed, but caution is recommended when maneuvering during freeze cycles.