Celebrate freedom at the Summit Bechtel Reserve during the Adventure ON! Freedom Festival

For years, Scouts from around the country have enjoyed the many fun activities at the Summit Bechtel Reserve — ziplining, mountain biking and climbing, to name a few. Next month, the public will be invited to the property to experience the same fun, plus a whole lot more.

For the first time in its history, the Summit Bechtel Reserve will be open to the public for the Adventure ON! Freedom Festival, slated for Sept. 10-12.

With the purchase of a parking pass, visitors can tour the more than 10,000-acre West Virginia property, which will be home that weekend to Grand National Cross Country Mountaineer racing, the West Virginia Jeep Club’s Off-Road and Overland Experience, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources’ National Hunting and Fishing Days and a 9/11 remembrance concert featuring the country band Lonestar.

The festival isn’t a Scouting event, but it will offer fun for the whole family, and attendees can try some of the activities Scouts enjoy when they camp at the Summit.

Festival fun

This inaugural event combines decades-old favorites, like the National Hunting and Fishing Days, with exciting fast-paced events, like the Mountaineer races, which will include off-road motorcycle and ATV races. The Adventure ON! Freedom Festival aims to be a premier outdoor adventure festival. And what better place to have it than at the Summit Bechtel Reserve?

“This is truly an amazing, amazing place. It’s a real tribute to the state, and I couldn’t be any more proud,” Gov. Jim Justice says of the Summit.

Attendees can camp in tents, park their RVs or stay in the VIP glamping village. They’ll have the chance to fly down the ziplines, conquer the mountain bike trails, try skateboarding or archery in the “X-Zone,” navigate the C.O.P.E. course, go climbing, and jump in a canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard. Or they can get an all-access adventure pass to do it all.

For answers to questions on booking, the schedule and more, check out this page.

AOFF_promo_v41_1080p-FINAL from Summit Bechtel on Vimeo.


About Michael Freeman 438 Articles
Michael Freeman, an Eagle Scout, is an associate editor of Scout Life and Scouting magazines.