Beloved Camp Kootaga scouting landmark in W.Va. saved for generations to come

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — For more than a century, Camp Kootaga stood as a summer sanctuary for generations of scouts, a place where leadership, outdoor skills, and camaraderie were passed down along the wooded bluffs of the Hughes River.

Now, thanks to a determined group of alumni and community leaders, the camp’s future is secure — and its hidden natural treasures may soon be open to the public for the first time in over 100 years.

Earlier this year, the newly formed Camp Kootaga Foundation announced the successful acquisition of the 350-acre property from the Buckskin Council, ensuring the camp’s preservation after the council’s decision to sell.

Established in 1922 by Parkersburg banker and scoutmaster Don B. Lowe, Kootaga is one of the nation’s longest-running scout camps, with an estimated 100,000 youth and leaders passing through its gates.

“Their intent is to continue to provide Camp Kootaga as a youth activity venue for local youth in the area,” said Scout Executive Jeffrey Purdy of the Buckskin Council, which supported the transfer. “We’d like to look at it as a win-win scenario.”

The foundation, led by scouting alumni and community advocates, has pledged to safeguard the camp’s rich history while expanding its role as a regional resource. Beyond traditional scouting programs, plans call for opening the property to family reunions, weddings, school trips, and corporate retreats — as well as hikers and nature enthusiasts eager to experience its most legendary feature: the Wind Caves.

A hidden wonder revealed

Perched high on a bluff overlooking the Hughes River, the Wind Caves are a striking series of rock shelters and cliffs that have long been off-limits to the public. For decades, they were known only to scouts rappelling down their sheer faces, some dropping 45 feet to the forest floor.

That may soon change. The foundation envisions opening the Wind Caves as part of a broader tourism initiative, positioning Kootaga as both a community hub and an eco-tourism destination.

“I can imagine many people being able to visit the Wind Caves now,” said foundation president James Bennon. “Individuals would be able to hike the trails at Camp Kootaga, and many others would be able to use the facilities.”

Preserving tradition, expanding purpose

Camp Kootaga today boasts 14 group campsites, a dining hall, riverfront aquatic areas, a swimming pool, shooting ranges, a climbing tower, a nature center, and even a bouldering grotto near the caves. While modern facilities have grown, the spirit of scouting that gave the camp its Kiowa-inspired name — “Kootaga,” meaning “Good Friends” — endures.

“Our mission is to preserve the camp’s rich Scouting legacy, providing a place where young people can develop leadership, character, and a deep appreciation for the outdoors,” Bennon said.

Foundation members say that mission extends beyond scouting. Forester and board member Tim Nolan believes Kootaga can help reconnect young people to the natural world. “There’s been a real disconnect with nature,” Nolan said, “but I think programs such as those we can provide at Camp Kootaga can remedy that.”

Economic ripple effects

The opening of Kootaga to the public could provide a major boost to tourism and local economies in Parkersburg and Wirt County, which has few public recreation areas. Expanded access to the Wind Caves and camp facilities is expected to draw regional visitors, increase overnight stays, and create opportunities for local businesses.

From heritage tourism celebrating Kootaga’s 103-year legacy, to new educational programs for schools and Girl Scouts, supporters believe the camp can thrive as both a historic landmark and a modern outdoor venue.

The Camp Kootaga Foundation’s purchase ensures that the beloved camp will remain, in Bennon’s words, “a thriving, year-round haven for outdoor adventure” — one where future generations of scouts and families can continue to discover the meaning of “good friends.”