Bluestone State Park

American Indians called the Bluestone River “Momongosenka” (Big Stone River). Settlers named the river Bluestone for the color of the blue limestone in the river bed. One of the settlements established where the Bluestone River and Little Bluestone River meets was called Lilly. It was one of the first Appalachian settlements in what is now West Virginia. Lilly was settled by Robert and Frances Lilly and Josiah Meador along with their families in the 1700s. The community was condemned and removed prior to the construction of the Bluestone Dam. The dam flooded the area and created Bluestone Lake, the third largest lake in West Virginia. The lake has a 2,040 acre surface area.

The Bluestone Dam was authorized in 1935 by executive order by President Franklin Roosevelt. Construction began in 1942 but work was suspended in 1943 because of World War II. Work resumed in January 1946, and the dam was completed for operational purposes in 1949. It was totally completed in 1952.

The Bluestone Dam is in Summers County about one and one-half miles upstream from the City of Hinton. It is a conventional concrete gravity dam measuring nearly 0.5 miles long and 165 feet tall. ---wvencyclopedia.org 

Bluestone State Park opened in 1950. It covers about 2,100 acres of heavily wooded, rugged mountainous terrain. It is adjacent to Bluestone Lake and offers many recreational opportunities. There are 21 cabins for rent. It also has 77 campsites, some with electricity. There are two boat ramps providing access to the lake. There are three small waterfalls that you can get to from the boat ramp. In addition there is a marina with boat and canoe rental. There is a swimming pool and a picnic area.