Fayetteville, W.Va. — What began as a search for an affordable retirement option has turned into one of southern West Virginia’s most imaginative tourism ventures.
Nate Adams and his wife, Rachel Adkins, are the founders of Appalachian Escapes, a growing collection of themed vacation rentals near the New River that combine art, storytelling, and Appalachian culture.
A cryptid-themed vacation rental, Mothmanor, includes a whole-house escape room. (Photo courtesy Appalachian Escapes)The turning point came during the COVID-19 pandemic, when cabin fever pushed the couple into a cross-country camping experiment.
“Like everyone, we got stir crazy and took a trial tent-camping trip to Yellowstone—to see if we’d kill each other,” Adams said, laughing. “We came back intact.”
The experiment expanded into a months-long road trip in 2020, funded in part by renting out their Ohio home on Airbnb. “That trip taught us that the house did alright as a short-term rental,” Adams said.
“So when we sadly lost Rachel’s grandma, and the cabin she kept in West Virginia, we thought, maybe we could find one of our own.”
They then set their sights on a single idea: find a home within 15 minutes of the 
The 48 is a renovated 1948 Spartan camper, which predates Airstream. (Photo courtesy Appalachian Escapes)[/caption]
On the drive home, doubt set in. “We questioned ourselves and freaked out a bit,” he admitted. “But we could buy a house and four acres in cash that was 15 minutes from the bridge and 10 minutes from downtown Fayetteville. It was exactly what we were looking for.”
Two days later, the deal closed while the couple was traveling again in their camper, and by May 2021, they were renovating the property and preparing it for short-term rental use. What surprised them most was the community’s reception.
“We expected to be looked at with some mistrust as outsiders,” Adams said. “Instead, we were embraced. The friendliness of our neighbors and everyone we met was overwhelming.”
On one return trip from Ohio, the realization became clear. “We crossed the Ohio River in Parkersburg and looked at each other and said, ‘I think we just moved,’” Adams said. “We changed our driver’s licenses shortly after.”
The origins of Appalachian Escapes
The creative heart of Appalachian Escapes emerged in Oak Hill, where the couple purchased two long-neglected houses on the same property. “The basement of one had water flowing out the door,” Adams said. “I joked it looked like A River Runs Through It, but without Brad Pitt.”
Try out the Battleship-themed escape room at the Game House and play life-sized Operation and Monopoly. (Photo courtesy Appalachian Escapes)From there, the themes escalated: a candy-themed house that later became a wizard-themed “mini Hogwarts,” a Mothman house, an 1980s-inspired house completed in 2025, and now a steampunk-themed property featuring what Adams believes may be the only vacation-rental time machine in the country.
“All of them have escape rooms,” Adams said. “Game and Wizard have simple ones. The other three are whole-house escape rooms, and there are only a few dozen like that in the entire country.”
The couple also experimented with themed “glamping,” including a renovated camper. “That camper paid itself off in one year,” Adams said. “That’s 100 percent ROI, which blew our minds.”
Beyond profitability, Adams says the project has allowed them to rescue properties that might otherwise be lost. “We’re taking houses that were nearing teardown and giving them new life,” he said.
Four years in, Adams says West Virginia has exceeded every expectation. “We’ve been to over 20 countries, and this is our favorite culture,” he said. “I saw a Tudor’s Biscuit World sign that said ‘Be nice and work hard,’ and that fits perfectly.”
Life, he said, simply feels different. “Things function like a village here,” Adams said. “Kids are outside more. You know your neighbors. And it’s all gorgeous—the only state entirely in the Appalachian Mountains.”
Looking ahead, Appalachian Escapes continues to grow, with new themed projects already planned. “We’ve found something magical,” Adams said. “Art that’s fun, profitable, and pays for the next round of art.”
For those considering a similar leap, his advice is simple. “If remote work is an option and you like a slower-paced place,” Adams said, “I can’t recommend West Virginia enough. We still can’t believe we moved, but the people, the culture, and the natural beauty sucked us in.”
More information about Appalachian Escapes is available at AppalachianEscapes.net.