“The Windwood Fly-In Resort Airport (WV62) is a 3,000-foot-long asphalt strip with pilot lighting that was recently resurfaced,” said John Hambrick, who owns a hangar at the resort with his wife Lydia . “The track has been around since the 1970s and was originally a dirt track. At some point it was paved over and houses added. The community now has more than 35 homes with the potential to build 30 more within the homeowners association. Being able to live with your plane is a unique experience.

“We’ve lived here full time for 10 years and just put our house on Airbnb,” Lydia Hambrick said. “It’s exciting to have other drivers come here and rent the house and hangar, since you can ride here right from the track. ‘Airplane mode‘ is the name of our Airbnb. This is a large, comfortable and versatile log home, whether you have a group of two or 20 people. It can accommodate up to 22 people and we have a car to hire which can be reserved for pilots arriving and needing a vehicle during their stay. stay. There are also bicycles on site and kayaks available to guests.

The airport is located at an elevation of 3,200 feet above sea level, with surrounding ridges rising to nearly 4,000 feet. The spectacular landscape lends itself to an abundance of recreational offerings.

“We have three ski resorts as well as several state parks nearby and are surrounded by public refuge lands, more than 900,000 acres of national forest,” she said. “So, Windwood is in a very rural area, but we are a bedroom community in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. It’s about a two hour and fifteen minute drive, or about a half hour flight to Dulles (KAID).

Within short distance of a significant portion of the U.S. population, the Canaan Valley region of West Virginia has become a well-known destination with a variety of points of interest.

“We obviously became very popular during COVID, but it’s always been a tourist area,” she said. “Many events attract visitors throughout the year. For example, this weekend there are mountain bike events. And the leaves are at their peak now (in September) – so we’re going to have “leaf watchers” coming from all over to observe the foliage.

John Hambrick said the ski season would start soon.

“…It lasts about four months, a period in which we average about 180 inches of snow,” he said. “And we keep the trail plowed. I’ve never flown here. Now if we get 3 feet of snow overnight, which happens from time to time, that will definitely slow me down. But we have heavy equipment, we remove the snow and continue.

No matter the weather or time of year, almost everyone can find something they enjoy doing near the airport.

“What draws people here is the outdoors,” Lydia Hambrick said. “We have several good restaurants, but we don’t come here to dine. We offer fishing, hiking (including trails with multiple waterfalls), horseback riding and much more. The area has really evolved as a four-season destination that contrasts so much with DC, Baltimore, and other large surrounding cities where people come from to enjoy privacy, quiet, and nature. And our night sky is analogous to Montana’s. We have some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, and it has been documented as one of the darkest night skies on the East Coast.

With wildlife, crosswinds, and trees, pilots must consider these elements when landing and taking off at WV62. Prior authorization is required to land, which can be obtained by contacting the airport manager.

Destination flights seem to be on the rise, and spending the night or a few days in an airpark allows visitors to experience what it means to live with their plane.

“Our airport is private and isolated; we’re in a valley surrounded by mountains,” Lydia Hambrick said. “The juice is worth it!” We have beautiful scenery, no stoplights, no fast food (restaurants) and are truly a quiet, rural retreat.