The West Virginia Department of Tourism on Monday announced Monongalia County’s Mason-Dixon Historical Park has been selected for the placement of an Almost Heaven swing.
The swings have become popular attractions across West Virginia, drawing visitors eager to capture photos at some of the state’s most-picturesque locations.
There are currently 18 swings statewide. This will be the second swing placed in the seven-county Mountaineer Country tourism region. The other is at Coopers Rock State Forest, also in Monongalia County.
Primarily located in state parks, Marshall County’s Grand Vue Park is currently the only county park with a swing.
Other locations include the state capitol, Wheeling Heritage Port, Hatfield McCoy Trails and Philippi Covered Bridge
Monongalia County Director of Parks and Recreation J.R. Petsko said he and Mason-Dixon Historical Park Superintendent Angela Hinerman have been working with the state and the Visit Mountaineer Country CVB for several months to secure the swing and select the perfect site.
He said the location will highlight the historical significance of the Mason-Dixon Line as well as the beauty of Tucker Falls, a natural water feature included as one of 43 stops on the West Virginia Waterfall Trail.
The swing will be found a short distance down the park’s user-friendly Green Trail.
“It will be located at the Dunkard Third Crossing. That is a monument that we built at the park on the Mason-Dixon Line for folks who could not climb all the way to the top of Brown Hill to see the actual last survey spot of Mason and Dixon,” Petsko said.
The swing will be provided by the state. The only expense to the county will be installation.
Petsko said he’s awaiting details on delivery.
“If we could get it in the ground before the leaves are done changing, it would be a fantastic way to announce that, with all the foliage changing in the background.”
Additional information about the swings and waterfall trail can be found at wvtourism.com
The announcement comes less than a week after Monongalia County Parks and Recreation celebrated a ribbon cutting at the newly rebuilt Casey Cabin, in Chestnut Ridge Park.
Now fully ADA compliant, the cabin was the first of the park’s seven cabins to be updated using $60,000 provided through the county’s parks and trails levy.
The work was all done in-house by the county’s facilities department.
Casey Cabin was named in honor of Mabel S. Casey, who donated 100 acres of land to the park in the 1930s.
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