Cruise to Harpers Ferry, WV

Event Host: Pete Klein

Event Details: Corvette Annapolis Cruise to Harpers Ferry

Here is our plan for cruising to Harpers Ferry, WV, on Saturday, 18 May. Depart from the Wells Fargo Bank Parking lot. The route will be: Rt 50 to Int 97, Rt 32, Int 70, Rt 15, Rt 340. The destination is the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (Nat’l Park Service) visitor center and parking lot, 171 Shoreline Dr, Harpers Ferry, WV, which is about 2 miles outside of the town.

Traveling there:

• RADIOS – Yes, please bring your FRS (walkie talkie) radios set to Channel 15
• Meeting Place: Wells Fargo Bank parking lot, 171 Jennifer Rd, Annapolis
• Meeting Time: 8:30. Please be on time to sign waivers, and have a very short drivers meeting.
• Departure Time: 8:45. Depending on the number of Corvettes, we will break the caravan up into multiple groups.
• Arrival Time: Approximately 10:15 (no stops on the way)
• When we get there - we will have to pay the $20 admission to enter the parking lot (if you do not have an annual NPS pass). Obviously, this may take several minutes.

At the Visitors Center:

• Parking at the small Visitors Center is wide open and plenty of it. There are bathrooms. (Parking “downtown” on a Saturday is very limited, and an empty street parking spot might be a very long and hilly walk).
• Rangers are helpful and happy to answer questions about visiting the historic town (“Lower Town”). NPS sightseeing brochures are available.
• Best way to get to the town: ride the free shuttle bus, which runs about every 15 minutes. Alternate: walk the 1.5 mile wooded trail.

What to do?

• At 11:00 AM attend the “Story Behind the Scenery” talk at the plaza in front of the Visitor Center (where we park). (schedule subject to change)
• 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM visit the living history reenactments of Victorian life in Harpers Ferry on The Green, across from the book store (Lower Town). (schedule subject to change / may not be happening).
• Explore the Historic Civil War era buildings and displays, and the old industrial sites along the Shenandoah River.
• Visit the walkway across the railroad bridge to view the rivers, and maybe continue to the C&O Canal Towpath on the opposite side. You will be officially walking the Appalachian Trail!
• Visit the NPS Book and Souvenir store in the Lower Town.
• Stamp your NPS “Passport” at the bookstore (lots of official stamps).
• Explore the upper parts of the town. Multiple shops, eateries, and ice cream.
• Walk up to Jefferson Rock for a great view.

Heading back to Annapolis

• Return to the Visitor Center via the shuttle bus
• Departure Time: TBD / no set time
• Cruise back individually or in groups. And if you want, we can pick a time for a group departure.

ADDITIONAL INFO: · Website: https://www.nps.gov/hafe/index.htm

• If you have an NPS Golden Age Pass (the old kind), or the newer Senior Lifetime Pass, or one of the annual passes, you will not have to pay the $20 entry fee. (Visit the NPS website to see how to obtain an annual or lifetime pass (age 62 and up).
• If exploring the town, be prepared for some hills.
• Bring some water, a hat, and sun block.

NOTE: This is a fair-weather event for Corvette Annapolis. If significant rain is predicted we will shift to the designated rain date of 13 October.