Berwind Lake Renovations Aim to Revive Recreation, Tourism Near War

When Jennifer Justice, executive director of the McDowell County Convention and Visitors Bureau, calls Berwind Lake "a hidden gem," she is describing a site that cost the county more than $600,000 to develop, drew a nearly $35,000 fine from the state Department of Environmental Protection during that construction work, and then absorbed flood damage before the investment could fully prove itself. Renovations are now underway to stabilize the 20-acre reservoir near War in southern McDowell County, and local officials are betting that a refocused stewardship effort, paired with a concrete calendar of visitor events, can finally turn the lake into the durable economic anchor it was designed to be.

What visitors can do now

The site at 4180 Warriormine Road in Warriormine is open year-round for cabin rentals (phone: 304-436-3833). Cabin check-in begins at noon; check-out is by 10:00 a.m. The seasonal swimming pool runs Memorial Day through Labor Day, with hours from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Boating on the reservoir is permitted, but only with electric motors. Open swimming in the lake itself is prohibited; the pool is the designated swimming area. Eight primitive campsites are also available, each equipped with a picnic table, lantern post, and charcoal grill. The fishing pier is accessible during daylight hours, and kayak access makes it easy to cover the lake's 20 acres without a motorized craft.

Who paid and what got fixed

Berwind Lake sits within an 85-acre Wildlife Management Area managed by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. The lake was built in 1959 and for decades operated as a state-run recreational site, at one point anchoring a WMA that spanned more than 18,000 acres before a company land lease expired and the footprint shrank dramatically. In January 2016, state budget cuts closed all WMA facilities not directly tied to fishing and hunting, effectively mothballing the hiking, picnic, and pool infrastructure. The McDowell County Commission and the county Economic Development Authority subsequently acquired the property from the state and invested in new cabin infrastructure, a project that ultimately cost approximately $600,000. During excavation and installation of those cabins, the EDA committed repeated violations and was fined nearly $35,000 by the DEP. Flooding then compounded the site's challenges, prompting the current wave of repairs and the renewed promotional push now being led by Justice and the CVB.

The long-term question: who's responsible if it slips again

The governance split at Berwind Lake is straightforward on paper but carries real risk in practice. The DNR retains responsibility for fish and wildlife habitat, including the regular stocking that keeps the reservoir fishable. The McDowell County EDA manages cabin operations, pool maintenance, and site infrastructure through Berwind Lake Cabins and Recreation. What is less clear is whether cabin rental revenue is structured to cover the next round of flood repairs without another infusion of public capital. County officials have not publicly detailed a reserve or maintenance fund. The history of the site, including the 2016 closures and the construction violations, suggests that Berwind Lake has been more reactive than proactive in its stewardship. The renovations now underway represent a third significant investment cycle. Whether a recurring draw like the Kids Fishing Day can generate the visitor volume needed to sustain operations between those cycles is the accountability question the county has yet to answer on the record.

Fishing: the Gold Rush, Kids Fishing Day, and what the lake holds

The fishing case for Berwind Lake is legitimate. The DNR stocks the reservoir regularly, and in 2026 Berwind was among the 69 water bodies across West Virginia selected for the Gold Rush, the state's ninth annual golden rainbow trout stocking event that ran March 30 through April 11 and distributed 50,000 fish statewide. A Class-Q fishing pier provides accessible bank fishing without requiring a boat. Each May, Berwind hosts a Kids Fishing Day that draws hundreds of young anglers, making it one of the most visible family fishing events in McDowell County's calendar and a proven, recurring reason for families to make the drive to southern McDowell County.

Cabins, camping, and the ATV connection

Berwind Lake Cabins operates 12 short-stay rental units on-site, plus a three-bedroom trailer suited for larger family groups or reunions. The Hatfield-McCoy Warrior Trail Head sits approximately five miles away, positioning the lake as a practical basecamp for ATV riders working that system. For visitors who are not riders, the cabins still offer a quieter alternative to busier trail-adjacent lodging elsewhere in the county, with the pool, pier, and picnic areas providing enough on-site activity for a full weekend stay.

Trails, dark skies, and what draws visitors outside fishing season

The Berwind Lake Trail provides an easy loop around the reservoir, accessible for families with young children and casual hikers who want movement without technical terrain. The area's distance from commercial corridors keeps light pollution low, making Berwind one of the more accessible stargazing spots in southern West Virginia. Birdwatching along the lake edges extends the site's appeal through shoulder seasons when the pool is closed and fishing pressure is lighter. WV Living describes the overall character as "easy, welcoming, and family-friendly," which is an accurate reflection of the site's pitch: a managed recreational area with small-park amenities, not a backcountry destination.

The local economic argument

The town of War sits a few miles from the lake, and local businesses including The Owl Drive-Up Restaurant and Josie's Ice Cream and More stand to benefit directly when cabin guests and day-trippers circulate through town. That economic circulation is the central argument McDowell County officials are making for continued investment: a lake generating overnight stays and repeat visits creates predictable, low-infrastructure revenue for small businesses that otherwise have limited foot traffic. In a county working to build economic activity beyond extractive industries, every reliable tourism draw is worth defending, and if necessary, funding again. The renovations at Berwind Lake show that the county understands this. The unresolved question is whether the institutions responsible for the site have finally built a maintenance structure capable of outlasting the next flood.