Under Moth-Lit Skies: Camping Adventures and Enigmatic Encounters

Welcome back to Adventures of an Artistic Camper, a captivating digital realm where art and camping intertwine, taking you on an exhilarating journey through breathtaking landscapes and intriguing narratives. Join me again as I share my adventures, passions, and insights, offering a unique blend of creativity and outdoor exploration.

One unforgettable odyssey that I'm thrilled to share with you is my Spring 2022 trip to the Kanawha State Park and Point Pleasant, West Virginia, accompanied by my most fabulous “down-for-anything” with her weird mom, adventurous daughter Caroline and, of course, Josey the Adventure Pup. I have been working on my notes for this one for quite a while. It is one of my favorite trips to date.

Our primary destination was the legendary Mothman Museum Home (mothmanmuseum.com), Point Pleasant itself, and the surrounding locations made famous because of the mysterious events. Places that had long fascinated us both. The intriguing stories of the Moth Man, often discovered through our shared love for paranormal and true crime podcasts, beckoned us to explore the origins of this mysterious entity.

The journey through West Virginia was a road trip that unfolded with scenic beauty and historic charm right from the beginning. As we drove through the small, historic towns of West Virginia, picturesque landscapes and quaint architecture greeted us at every turn. The roads meandered through rolling hills, adorned with vibrant bursts of early spring wildflowers, showcasing the natural splendor of the region. Amidst this idyllic backdrop, we couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation, knowing that the mysteries of Point Pleasant awaited us.

However, it was an unexpected sight that truly took our breath away—the majestic view of the New River Gorge. (I really anticipate a future road trip and camping destination to that place.) As we approached the area, the road offered us glimpses of the magnificent gorge, with its rugged cliffs and the rushing waters below. I can’t wait to explore that area. (Of course, John Denver’s magical voice and lyric were playing in our mental backgrounds.)

After we had done our due diligent online research on surrounding nearby places to make our base camp, we settled on Kanawha State Forest. Kanawha State Forest - West Virginia State Parks - West Virginia State Parks (wvstateparks.com) Nestled just an hour away from Point Pleasant, Kanawha offers a tranquil escape into nature's embrace, steeped in a rich tapestry of history. This sprawling park, spanning over 9,300 acres, showcases the region's natural beauty with its lush forests, rolling hills, and meandering streams. As we ventured into its depths, we couldn't help but feel a sense of reverence for the land that has witnessed countless stories unfold throughout the ages.

The history of Kanawha State Forest is deeply intertwined with the ancestral lands of the Native American tribes who once called this area home. Their legacy can still be felt amidst the ancient trees and quiet trails, reminding us of the enduring connection between the land and its people.

In the early 20th century, the park's land was acquired by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) as part of the New Deal initiatives. The CCC laborers, with their unwavering dedication, transformed the rugged landscape into a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, constructing trails, picnic areas, and scenic overlooks that now dot the park's expanse.

It was early April, cool and overcast, and we were among the first campers to arrive for the season, since it only re-opened April 1 from its winter closure. We set up and had a great evening. I had my tent; my girl prefers her hammock situation or the inflatable bed in the back of her Pathfinder. Snug as a bug…

Of course, a satisfying campfire, long chats in the dark, and anticipation of the next day’s pilgrimage to Point Pleasant.

I say pilgrimage- if you have even the slightest interest in the weird and “wooooo” stuff, you’ve heard this story. Whether from the movie The Mothman Prophecies, the book of the same title by journalist John Keel (1975) that inspired the movie, or from the multitude of podcasts that have covered this legendary story. It is one of the big ones. And if you’ve only seen the movie, you have barely scratched the surface of the strange goings on at that time and in that place. I mean, if you want the origin stories of the Men in Black and all related stories of WTF, it’s here.

We took off the next morning to Point Pleasant, a little over an hour drive from our camp. I admit, along our road trip I force-fed her some podcast episodes that she had not heard. Can’t help it. I had to.

We went directly to the famous Moth Man Museum. Home (mothmanmuseum.com) You can find this place and its proprietor featured on several documentaries on the subject.

I was extremely and pleasantly surprised and impressed. It was an amazingly well arranged, collected, and presented chronicle of the events, the movie, and all associated documentation of the events. It is respectful, thorough, and creative representation.

I am a grand sucker for a great gift shop. This one did not disappoint. And, fun fact, while browsing, I overheard another family group referring to the same podcast episodes that we had listened to on the way. A bonding moment. And super fun.

At the museum, they provide detailed printed directions to the infamous TNT area, now known as the McClintock Nature Preserve, where one can travel down a dirt road to the original sighting location, a limited parking area, and the notorious TNT igloos. TNT Area – Point Pleasant, West Virginia - Atlas Obscura . At least, those that are accessible to the public. Now, it is a lovely nature walk down a path that skirts the water, full of wildlife and cat tails.

The closer to the road you are, the more graffiti is covering the walls and ceilings. Farther down the path, the more “pristine” they are. Naturally aging. I am not going to speculate on the nature of the gatherings that the local youth may be conducting there on moonlit midnights. I am quite sure, however, that if I had lived there as a teenager, I would definitely have been there with my friend gang. Since I wasn’t, I was/am making up for lost time with my girl. :)

Lost time. Hmmmmm. Maybe that is why I am so very into camping and road trips now. Please indulge me as I wander mentally into the past.

I remember, when I was very young, our family (Mom, Dad, and Sis) had a pop-up camper and a boat. I distinctly remember at least one camping trip. I vividly remember being gently laid on a bed type pallet in the back of our Nash Rambler station wagon, early in the morning, to continue sleeping. (The purpose was to beat “traffic” on our trips to wherever.) The smells of the campfires. Very sensorially imprinted on my memories. The woods and trees. Running around during the day to find other kids, playing, then sleeping to the evening sounds and smells of the campground. That was the extent of my nature adventures in my youth. My dad died in a plane crash when I was 8.

My mom sold the camper and the boat. She was not an outdoorsy kind of lady. In fact, she could not swim and was notoriously protective of my sis and I at the beach. As must be natural when one is involuntarily thrust into single parenthood.

So, for many years I forgot about this magnificent option in life. Road trips and camping, barring a couple of scouting trips with my kids over the years. That is a completely different scenario. At least to me.

The autonomy of choosing destinations. Style- tent or other. The complete freedom of going where I want, when I want. This concept of freedom of choice has completely inspired me at this later stage of my life. My sister has grown up to thrive on international travel to innumerable destinations, now living in the Netherlands. Very adventurous and exciting. My personal calling is more local but to truly equally exotic locales. There is so much in our backyards. In our Southeast backyard. Beyond that, I hope eventually.

As I am writing I am not “out there”. It is early summer. The busiest season for my job. The busiest season for campgrounds. I am on my patio, sheltered beneath my lovely gazebo. At midafternoon, it is dark and menacing. The thunder is rolling by, the smells of ozone and rain are in the air and Josey is snuggled by my feet. The watery deluge is beginning, refreshing and renewing. I do love the feeling and sound of being snug in my tent as the rain beats down. (Not while setting up, mind you. Done that. Not fun.)

This account has been one of my favorite trips. I have had so many more over the last 10+ years. This is only my 5th post. I thank you for indulging me in my trip down memory lane. Please continue to come back for more stories and please share with your friends.