No matter the time of year you visit White Sulphur Springs, there are plenty of activities you’re sure to enjoy. We’ve compiled a list of our top activities at White Sulphur Springs. There’s also plenty to see and do in and around the Bedford area. Scroll down to see our favorite attractions in the area.
Horseback Riding
Weather permitting, we offer guided trail rides so guests ages 8 and older can explore our 1,000+ acres from horseback. For the little ones under 8, we offer “Pony Tails,” during which kids can enjoy a corral ride and groom our miniature horses. To learn more about our horses, click here.
(Horseback riding requires reservation)
Disc Golf Course
Check out our nine-hole disc golf course! Built by volunteers as an Eagle Scout project in Sept. 2020, this feature takes players throughout the woods near our Chapel Path hiking trail. Make sure you pick up discs and a scorecard at the front office.
Indoor Climbing Loft
We have a climbing loft above our barn that includes a 4-lane climbing wall and different levels of difficulty to provide a range of challenge and fun. Inquire about rates to open the climbing loft for your group during your visit.
(Indoor climbing loft requires reservation)
Sports
Buckingham Field is perfect for team sports like soccer, softball, football or ultimate frisbee. The field also features a basketball court. Try your hand at one of our many sport activities: horseshoes, volleyball, corn hole, or ping-pong. During the winter seasons we have skates for ice-skating on the ponds and sleds for sledding on the hills around the property.
Fish and Canoe
Our three ponds are stocked with fish just big enough to put a grin on your face. We’ve got bass, bluegill, and even some catfish. Catch and release, please. While you are at it, grab a canoe or kayak (aka “fun-yak”) and paddle around. Or do both simultaneously. We also have canoes available at Shawnee Lake for guests visiting between April and October, paddles and life vests provided.
(Reservation required for canoes at Shawnee)
Hiking
Get outside while you’re here, and enjoy God’s beautiful creation. Explore our nearly 1,000 acres of hills, fields, streams, ponds, trails, barns and trees—all in the peaceful outdoors. Our nearly 14 miles of trails are marked and of various lengths and difficulty levels. Shorter trails require about 30 minutes to complete and our longer trails provide up to 2 ½ hours of hiking adventure.
High & Low Ropes Course
Looking for high adventure? Let’s play at treetop level! Our high ropes challenge courses is a great way to challenge yourself in overcoming fears and building camaraderie within your group. Our low ropes course provides another great opportunity for fun team-building as well. Inquire for more information about the specific elements on each of our courses and about our rates to open up the high or low ropes course (or both!) for your group event.
(High and Low Ropes require reservation)
Outdoor Climbing Wall & Zip-Line
Want to have a little bit of fun zipping through the trees? Then you need to try our zip-line! It’s the perfect height, speed and length to provide kids up through junior high with plenty of fun…and is a great activity for parents to do with their kids. The zip-line can be combined with the nearby outdoor climbing wall for guests attending group retreats.
(Reservation required for Climbing Wall and Zip-Line)
Pamper Pole & Cargo Net
Feeling especially adventurous? Add one or both of these two add-ons to your high ropes challenge course and/or climbing wall and zip-line experience! Our pamper pole allows one or two guests to climb the pole and attempt to stand on top, finishing the challenge with a trust fall off of the pole. Our cargo net provides guests an alternative start to the high ropes challenge course as guests can climb the net instead of starting the challenge course from the tower.
(Pamper Pole and Cargo Net require reservation)
Swimming
Seasonally and as weather permits, we use the Promise Pond as our swimming pond. Complete with a shallow play area for the little ones, a dock that’s great for epic jumps, and a floating dock in the middle of the pond to rest on, the swimming pond is a family favorite while the weather is warm.
Front Porch Rocking
Of course, you could always pull up a rocker at either the Harrison House or the Heritage House’s wrap around porches. Take time to listen and hear from God or spend the afternoon chatting away with friends and family.
Campfire
Almost nothing beats fellowship around a campfire…except fellowship around a campfire while eating s’mores! Enjoy a wonderful evening under the stars at one of our several campfire sites. Campfires are available free of charge, and your retreat group is welcome to request s’mores from our kitchen for a small fee.
Shooting at the Quarry
Try your hand at our shooting range, located at our quarry. A variety of targets make for a fun afternoon of honing your shooting skills. Firearms and ammunition not provided, and we ask that guests clean up their brass upon completing their time at the range.
(Reservation required to use shooting range)
Archery
Take a shot at our archery range near the Outdoor Chapel. Bows and arrows are provided at the range; all you need to do is pick up the key at the front office before setting out to shoot the afternoon away.
(Reservation required for large groups to use the archery range)
Line Dancing
One of our most popular events during our summer programming, line dancing is available year round to our retreat groups as well! Spend the night dancing under the Heritage House portico or in our cozy Fort Cochran log building with a professional caller leading you through a range of line and square dances.
(Line dancing event requires reservation)
Things to do in and around Bedford
Bedford County has many historic sites as well as plenty of shops and places to go “antiqueing.” There are also several options for skiing and golfing in the area. The town of Bedford, only 15 minutes away, has plenty of attractions, too. Originally called Raystown, Bedford was settled about 1751 and laid out in 1766. Bedford was incorporated on March 13, 1795. For many years it was an important frontier military post. The Espy House in Bedford is notable for having been the headquarters of George Washington and his force of 13,000 while putting down the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794, which had started around the Jean Bonnet Tavern.
Within Bedford Area (15 miles)
- More information at the Bedford County Visitors Bureau.
- Shawnee State Park. A great place for canoeing, hiking, swimming, biking, picnics. WSS has several canoes at the lake. Please see the front desk personnel and ask about the combo, Spring/Summer/Fall Only.
- Old Bedford Village (closed on Wednesdays). Living museum showing what life was like in colonial times.
- Omni Bedford Springs Resort
- Coral Caverns. Explore the caves! Call to make a reservation.
- Downtown Historic Bedford. Visit this charming old town and enjoy life in small-town America.
- Gravity Hill
- National Museum of the American Coverlet
- Fort Bedford Museum. Learn about the rich American history of the Bedford region.
- Bedford County Fairgrounds
- Bedford Video Tour (smart phone required).
- Covered Bridges of Bedford County. A 90-minute driving tour of the many area covered bridges.
- Bedford County Critter Tour. Check out the local wildlife…you might be surprised at what you’ll find—we’ve got bison!
Points West (toward Somerset, ½-1 hour away)
- Flight 93 Memorial
- Heritage Discovery Center
- Johnstown Children’s Museum
- Johnstown Flood Museum
- Seven Springs Mountain Resort
Points North (toward Altoona, ½-1 hour away)
- DelGrosso’s Amusement Park
- Lakemont Park Amusement Park ($5 admission Wed-Fri)
- Holiday Bowl
- Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark
- Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum
- Slinky Action Zone
- Indian Caverns
Within 1.5-3 hours
- Fort Ligonier
- Raystown Lake and Resort
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water
- Rafting the Youghiogheny River
- Gettysburg
- Lancaster County
- Sight and Sound Theater
Skiing Nearby (within 1½ hours):
Golf (15-45 minutes away)
- Bedford Elks Country Club ($18 for 9 holes!)
- Down River Golf Course
- Blue Knob All Seasons Resort
- Iron Masters
- Bedford Springs Golf Course
- King Valley Golf Club
- Scotch Valley
Spa
Dining
- Historic Jean Bonnet Tavern
- HeBrews Coffee Company
- Next Door
- Bedford Tavern
- Golden Eagle
- Bad Boyz Bistro
- Union Hotel
- Olde Bedford Brewing Co.
- Founder’s Crossing
- Tavern at Bedford Omni Springs
- Clara’s Place
- Tillies at the Club House
- Black Valley Provender
Shopping
- Backstage Alpaca Shop
- Peppercorn Market
- Bedford Candies/Everything Tea
- Cove Creek Outfitters
- Deepwood Gallery
- Fat Jimmy’s Outfitters
- Julie’s Wearable Art
- Eleanor’s Shoppe
- Fisher’s Country Store
- Keystone Candies
- Little Barn Grocery
Antiques
- Lin’s Touch of Elegance
- Thirteen Pines
- Cabin Fever Gallery
- Founder’s Crossing
- Doug’s Antiques
- Sheppheard’s Antiques
- Spring Meadow Antiques & Folk Art
- Amazing Grace Antiques