North Fork Blog

Welcome to the new North Fork Mountain Inn blog! We’ll be using this blog to inform you of recent happening around the Inn as well as special events and features. Please come back often for more.

Grand Opening for New Cabin Suites

After consulting with our construction team, Lawrence Eby & Associates, Cabins, WV, we have estimated that the newest Log Cabin Suites will be available for occupancy starting on October 24th. Enjoy the peak season view of Smoke Hole Canyon as you enjoy a glass of fine wine while rocking away your worries on our wraparound decks. The names for these new rooms are the Potomac Suite and the Monongahela Suite. We are very excited to see the finishing touches being completed.

If you ever decide to build your own log cabin, you should get on the Eby Construction list. They are craftsmen, doing excellent work with many helpful suggestions. It was a real pleasure having them as builders. They were also very instrumental in coordinating with the other vendors involved with this project. Don't hesitate to contact them if you are interested, as they are very much in demand. Their last project before starting our addition, was for WV Governor, Joe Manchin's vacation home in Canaan Valley. As we were meeting with suppliers at the beginning of this project, when they found out our builder was Lawrence Eby, they were full of praise for his ethics, workmanship, and quality of his team. After working with them since June, I would say they were modest in their praise of his quality of work.

Last week we buried the powerlines which were obstructing the view from the Log Cabin Suites. What an improvement that made. Now you can enjoy the "Million Dollar View" from the front porch without any obstructions.

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The Leaves Are Turning...

We took a trip through Dolly Sods on our way to the Apple Festival in Burlington. I was amazed at the beautiful array of colors on display. You could tell that Canaan Valley and Blackwater Falls are in their peak. We spoke with friends today that rode the chair lift in Canaan Valley on Saturday, and they commented that this view exceeded their previous notion that Wisconsin was the perfect location for viewing the changing of the seasons.

The Apple Festival is one of the largest festivals in the area. It is a fundraiser for the Childrens Home in Burlington. We went to restock our supply of the "world famous" apple butter. We enjoyed the wide array of vendors, including the Watkins booth where we restocked on Almond Extract, the secret ingredient in our fresh fruit topping, served daily at the Inn.

We are already booked on the weekends for the month of October, but if you are still interested in coming, please call as we expect to have our newest addition completed and ready for guests on October 17th. It is not officially in our inventory and added to the website as we are busy with all of the last minute preparations getting the new units ready. So don't forget to ask Carol about the new rooms when you call to book your romantic getaway.

We are also very excited to announce that we have received our wine license. So now you can enjoy our "world class wines" every day at the Inn either by the glass with meals or by the bottle. So if you are a wine lover, don't forget to ask Ed for a complimentary wine tasting and he will gladly share his insights as Master Sommelier.

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North Fork Mountain Inn now serves Wine

We passed the final test and after two years of waiting, we will soon be offering fine wine by the glass or by the bottle. Ed is a Master Sommelier as is very excited about the release of 6 new wines we will be featuring at the Inn. Unlike other fine dining establishments that mark up their wines 200-300%, we will be offering our wines at normal retail prices. If you find wines at the Inn you enjoy and are in a legal state to ship to, we can arrange shipment of these same wines by the case. We feature wines that are grown organically, and made naturally, from small family held estates. These premium wines are not available commercially, as we take the middle man out of the equation, and bring you some of the finest wines from around the world.

Here a sample of some of the wines we will be featuring

2006 Chateau Cantelaudette-Graves de Vayres-Deemed an official appellation in 1931, Graves de Vayres provides white wines typically made from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. They are epitomized by their round, balanced appeal, floral bouquets and crisp palates. Château Cantelaudette whose name in fact means, "song of the lark," expresses rich gooseberry aroma and pleasing lemony flavors. Ready to drink now or still provides great aging potential, well up to 2 more years. This is the essence of what a white Bordeaux should be. Great as an aperitif with olives or anchovies or serve with fresh, sautéed seafood or creamy pasta dishes.

2006 Hermit's View Chardonnay-South Eastern Australia-Winemaking is as much about people as it is about practices. We at Berton Vineyards are still young enough to be awed by the tradition but also to feel the need to challenge ourselves by testing the boundaries of winemaking." So says the dynamic winemaker Bob Berton who knows exactly what it takes to produce excellence. The palate is well balanced with grapefruit and fig tones rounded by creamy notes of oak and vanilla. Perfect with seafood dishes or creamy pasta.

2005 Le Lion d' Or-Vin de Pays des Coteaux de l'Ardeche- A real specialty of the region. The "Lion of Gold" is a fruity, semi-dry red wine blended from the finest grape varieties of the rugged hillsides around the Mediterranean city of Narbonne. One of our most popular wines for years ... you will love this even if you don't normally enjoy red wines.

2005 La Cour Pavillon-Bordeaux Superieur-Wineries from all over the world aspire to create wine in a Bordeaux style by blending there grapes to induce complexity. Right bank vintners believe in substantiating this history but when a vintage like 2005 comes around, Merlot was their ultimate performer. Robert Parker hailed it as an "extraordinary year," awarding 95+ points to Bordeaux for this vintage. With scents of raspberry and dark cherry, this wine exhibits ripe elegant fruit met with a powerful body and fullness. Ripe silky tannins flow over your palate as hints of chocolate and dark spices melt into your tongue. This wine is showing its full fruit now and with no oak aging, the 100% Merlot will peak in 2 to 3 years. Excellent to match with steak, pasta or soft cheeses. Try whipping up fettuccine pasta with asiago cheese and artichoke pesto topped with grilled sirloin cuts.

2004 Lushof Signet Red-Stellenbosch South Africa-The family run Lushof Estate is situated high on the slopes of Helderberg Mountain overlooking False Bay in the Western Cape of South Africa. Cooling sea breezes and Antarctic currents contribute to the near perfect growing conditions at such an elevated site, allowing for their eclectic new-age range of wines. All of the wines are handcrafted, nurtured, bottled and matured on the estate. The 2004 Signet Red is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz which shows firm tannins and spicy aromas of fresh concentrated raspberry and mocha. The Merlot in the blend presents mulberry fruits combined with ripe plum temptations. Its a delicious, juicy and fine textured wine perfect for hearty meats and cheeses.

2005 Lions Peak Cabernet Sauvignon-Paso Robles California-Lion's Peak is a family owned winery in the Paso Robles appellation. The vines are planted exclusively with premium Cabernet on southern slopes with gravelly soils. This premier wine is 100% Cab and was hand harvested at 24.6 Brix ... very ripe. It has been aged 28 months in French and American oak barriques. The deep rich color is a prelude to a luscious, velvety wine with great aroma and complex flavor

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Making Good Progress with New Construction

The weather has been great and as a result, we are making good progress on our new luxury cabin suites. Today, they are finishing the field stone application on the basement. This basement will when finishe be a conference center, perfect for that corporate team building retreat. We will be able to do audio, web, and video conferencing. We will also be able to cater food and wine customized to your specific requirements. This will also serve as a perfect place to serve family reunions and small weddings. Ed is working on becoming an "officiant" so we can be your one stop shop for getting married and celebrating your honeymoon. Even if you are renewing your vows, our Inn provides the perfect setting for creating an event of a lifetime. You can see from this picture, that we are very close to being able to take reservations for our new suites. Check the website often as we will let you know when they are ready for you to come and enjoy our latest luxury cabin suites.

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Autumn is in the air

Today is the official first day of the Fall season. It is our favorite time of the year here at the Inn. This is reflected in both the wines we feature and the fine dining specialties. Here is a sample of a typical autumn fine dining menu.

Appetizer: Bruschetta with fresh Mozzarella served on toasted artisan bread and topped with Feta Cheese. Wine: Lobster Bay Sauvignon Blanc-Marlborough, New Zealand

Soup: Tuscan Stew with Mushrooms, Carrots, Sweet Corn, Onions, Garlic, Chicken, and Fresh Herbs. Wine: Hospices De Nuits-Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru, Burgandy, France

Entree: Roasted Pork Tenderloin served with Marsala and Wild Mushroom sauce, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and fresh Asparagus Wine: Smith Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon-Napa, California

Dessert: Chocolate Souffle served with Vanilla Ice Cream Wine: Bernkasteler Docktor, Auslese, Mosel, Germany

Along with the changes in the menu, we expect to see a brilliant cornicopia of colors as our "Million Dollar View" of Smoke Hole Canyon turns amazing shades of red and orange. It is a spectacular array of color. Come and see why the North Fork Mountain Inn is a favorite destination for "Leaf Peepers". But don't wait too long as the best days are already filling up. Even though the peak last year was Mid-October, we see beautiful colors from the end of September to Mid-November.

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We're Expanding New Construction

We are very excited about our new expansion project. Construction on our new Log Cabin Suites is expected to be completed in early October in time for peak foilage season. This new structure will include two identical suites with the following amenities:

King Size Bed

Wet Bar with Refrigerator, Coffee Maker, Microwave

King Sized Jacuzzi Tub

Private Bath with Oversized Shower

42" HD Plasma TV's with Direct TV Premium Channels and the NFL Package

Fireplace

Wrap around decks

Beautiful Mountain View of Smoke Hole Canyon

Fine Wine Service

Loft Sitting Area with Queen Sleeper Sofa

These beautifully decorated suites will sleep up to 4 people or are perfect for those couples that have a partner that snores.

These rooms are very near the Inn and guests have access to all of the other amenities associated with the Inn including Ed and Carol's Award Winning Fine Dining and Baking. Enjoy your favorite wine along with our Chef inspired meals as you enjoy the beautiful fall foilage season.

We will also be building a new owner's cabin upon completion of our log suites. At that point we will have a total of 10 guest rooms available. We are also adding a new conference center so we will be offering several new venues including team retreats, small weddings, executive leadership conferences, and special interest weekends such as Gourmet Dining and Fine Wine pairings. We will also be creating special events such as family reunions, birdwatching, murder mysteries, film and book reviews.

With world class fishing, hiking, and technical climbing nearby, we offer an upscale experience, in a quiet and secluded setting. There are many nearby activities to enjoy. You will find our scenic driving tours of the area to be the perfect way to enjoy the changing seasons.

Check back to our website often as we will add the room information for online booking as soon as they are available. Come and celebrate our Second Anniversary of ownership and see why we are one of only 3 Select Registry Inn's in all of West Virginia.

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Spring Mountain Festival

The Spring Mountain Festival is one of the most exciting local events held in the Petersburg Park the last weekend in April. It is a beautiful time of the year at the Inn as the Red Bud trees are a spectacular color of purple. It is refreshing to see the canyon come to life as trees shoot forth their leaves after a long and beautiful winter.

We were fortunate to host Josh Oldaker at the Inn during this festival. Josh was the Country and Gospel Headliner, singing both Saturday evening and kicking off the Community Gospel Sing on Sunday afternoon. Guests at the Inn were treated to their own private concert on Saturday evening as Josh sang some of their favorite choices. Josh is a rising star and is in big demand in West Virginia.

The weekend event brought crowds from several nearby states and regional communities. The Spring Mountain festival was considered a huge success by the Grant County Chamber of Commerce, host for the weekend event. Ed was selected as emcee for the event and enjoyed keeping the crowd entertained and informed throughout the weekend.

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