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Harpers Ferry Hangout

May 4, 2023 - May 11, 2023

Harpers Ferry Hangout 1

Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA Holiday • Harpers Ferry, WV

This Hangout is currently sold out, but join the waiting list and we’ll let you know if a spot opens up!

Step back in time in the Shenandoah River Valley

Located at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, directly across from Maryland and Virginia, the West Virginia town of Harpers Ferry is rich in history and stunning scenery. During the seven-night Harpers Ferry Hangout, hosted by Lifetime Members Amanda & Jesse Hess SKP# 148418, you’ll learn about the town’s role as a strategic transportation hub during the Civil War and explore the area’s rugged topography and beautiful rivers.

Harpers Ferry Hangout 2

It’s one thing to read about the area’s history, but it’s another thing to walk it. On a 2 1/2 hour walking tour of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, led by a certified guide from the Harpers Ferry Park Association, you’ll visit many significant historical locations that tell the story of geography and natural history, the John Brown Raid–a flash point that ignited the Civil War, Meriwether Lewis at Harpers Ferry, Storer College, the Niagara Movement, transportation, waterpower, and industry.

You’ll visit the Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland, the site of the bloodiest day in American history, when 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after 12 hours of savage combat on September 17, 1862. The Battle of Antietam ended the Confederacy’s first invasion into the North and led Abraham Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

During your visit to the 50th Annual Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival–one of the largest festivals of its kind, celebrating all things sheep from hoof to handwoven–you’ll get to witness the Sheep to Shawl Competition and other contests, attend fiber arts and crafts workshops, shop more than 250 vendors of wool yarn and other fibers, watch a parade of breeds and border collie demonstrations, enjoy live music, dine on delicious lamb dishes, and view lamb cooking contests and demonstrations.

C&O Canal Towpath

The Shenandoah Valley teems with outdoor recreational opportunities. You’ll get to take advantage of several of them during this Hangout, including hiking the Murphy-Chambers Farm Trail in Harpers Ferry NHP and a section of the Appalachian Trail that passes through the area, and bicycling on the historic C&O Canal Towpath near Shepherdstown, where mules once towed canal boats along the scenic 184-mile waterway (bike rentals are available in the area if you don’t have your own).

After your bicycle ride, you’ll have time to explore Shepherdstown, West Virginia’s oldest town and “one of America’s coolest small towns”. Here, you’ll be treated to a private blacksmithing history talk and demonstration by veteran blacksmith and metalsmith Dan Tokar, followed by an included farewell dinner and an evening Ghost Tour of the historic town.

You and your Escapees friends will also celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a salsa throwdown (benefitting Escapees CARE) and taco potluck dinner, share everyone’s personal favorite craft beers from around the country during a “pub-luck” tasting, enjoy some of the local breweries, socialize around the campfire, and much more, all during the Harpers Ferry Hangout!

Optional activity

Add this optional activity to your Hangout registration for a nominal additional cost. This activity must be purchased in advance no later than April 4, 2023, and will not be available for purchase on-site.

Guided Whitewater Rafting Adventure – $69/person

Spring rafting trips in Harpers Ferry offer an exciting, heart-pounding whitewater experience. This 5-7 mile guided river excursion, starting on the Shenandoah River and ending on the Potomac, features two to three hours on the water and is perfect for beginner to intermediate paddlers looking to enjoy Class I – III whitewater rapids and breathtaking scenery.

This trip is generally suitable for anyone ages 6-8 years (50 lbs) and up. Rafts accommodate 4-6 guests plus a guide, although the number of participants in each raft may vary due to water levels and the weight of group members.

Harpers Ferry Hangout 6

Your river outfitter will provide personal floatation devices, helmets, paddles, transportation to and from the river, and experienced raft guides. You may want to bring your own splash bag and water shoes, or you can purchase these and other retail items at the outfitter’s retail store. 

Your optional activity fee includes a group discount, a mandatory river user fee and sales tax. Gratuities for your raft guide are not included and are at your discretion at the end of your experience.

Hangout location

Harpers Ferry Hangout 7Camping for the Harpers Ferry Hangout will be at the Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA Holiday. This high-end park features an on-site specialty coffee and wine store, a junior Olympic-size swimming pool, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, volleyball, corn-hole, a game room, and a dog park. All of the sites for the Hangout will be full hookup pull-throughs, available with your choice of 30-amp or 50-amp electrical service. Campground wifi is available. 

If you want to arrive before the Hangout or stay afterward, you can make a reservation for the additional days directly with the park once you are registered for the Hangout. Extra nights are subject to availability at the time you make your reservation, and will be paid to the park directly at the park’s regular daily rates.

This Hangout is limited to only 30 RVs and tickets will go quickly—so don’t wait to register

Is this event right for me?

Harpers Ferry Hangout 8Every member is welcome at all Escapees RV Club events. With that said, the Harpers Ferry Hangout is best suited for members who:

  • enjoy walking, hiking and bicycling
  • can participate in activities during weekdays (traditional working/business hours)

For events designed specifically for working-age RVers, with most activities in the evenings and on weekends, try an Xscapers Convergence. Or for more of an all-inclusive, guided-tour experience, you may prefer one of our Head-Out Programs (HOPs).

Schedule

Activities and schedule are subject to change. Activities marked with an *asterisk are not included in your Hangout fee.

Thursday 5/4

Arrive at Harpers Ferry KOA

Welcome gathering & introductions

Friday 5/5

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Guided Tour

Murphy-Chambers Farm Trail hike

Cinco de Mayo Salsa Throwdown and Taco Potluck Dinner

Saturday 5/6

Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival ($5 admission*)

Pub-Luck Social 

Campfire

Sunday 5/7

Potluck brunch

Hike on the Appalachian Trail to Jefferson Rock 

Happy hour at Harpers Ferry Brewing Company*

Evening karaoke/sing-along

Monday 5/8

Volunteer service project in Harpers Ferry NHP or Antietam National Battlefield

Exploring Antietam National Battlefield

Stop at Nutter’s Ice Cream*

Hangout dinner, followed by games or trivia

Tuesday 5/9

Guided Whitewater Rafting Adventure (optional activity)*

Group lunch out at restaurant*

Grill-out dinner at campground

Movie night: October Sky

Wednesday 5/10

C&O Towpath bike ride or hike 

Picnic lunch and exploring Shepherdstown

Blacksmithing presentation and demo by Dan Tokar

Dinner at Alma Bea’s

Shepherdstown Ghost Tour 

Thursday 5/11

GTHO breakfast

Departure

Price & registration

Registration includes:

  • 7 nights RV camping in a full hookup pull-thru site
  • Harpers Ferry NHP guided walking tour
  • Blacksmithing presentation & demonstration
  • Dinner at Alma Bea’s in Shepherdstown
  • Shepherdstown Ghost Tour
  • Hiking & biking
  • Social activities
  • GTHO departure day breakfast
  • Hangout hosts

Additional costs to consider: meals out, entrance passes to National Park sites, bicycle rental if needed

All activities listed for this event are subject to change.

Hangout price

You must be an Escapees RV Club member to attend this event. If you are not currently a member, you will be able to add a new membership during the registration process.

  • You are physically capable of participating in the event.
  • Your recreational vehicle, other vehicles, and any other equipment you may use to participate in the event will be in working condition.
  • You will observe all applicable laws (including obtaining relevant licenses) and event rules, and will conduct yourself in a safe and prudent manner while participating in the event. 
  • That although volunteers may be directing and assisting you to your parking area, it is the driver of the vehicle who is ultimately responsible for avoiding obstacles or dangerous situations and is solely responsible for any damage to your property or the property of others.
  • You accept and assume all risks arising from participation in the event, and waive and release all claims against Escapees or its affiliates relating to such participation. 
  • You consent to receive medical treatment deemed necessary if you are injured or require medical attention during your participation in the event, and agree that you are solely responsible for all related costs.
  • You grant your permission to be filmed, videotaped, audio taped or photographed, and grant to Escapees full use thereof without compensation.
  • You will receive occasional email notifications of future Escapees events; however, you can opt-out of these notifications at any time.

The above is only a summary. Please carefully read the full the terms and conditions, assumption of risk, and waiver of claims agreement that will be provided to you during the registration process.

How to register

To register, click the button below and follow the instructions on your screen. If you need assistance with your registration, please call Escapees Event Registration at ‭(936) 329-6499‬‬.

Registration opens Wednesday, December 21, 2022
at 10:00 a.m. Central Time.

After you register

Watch for an email from registration@escapees.com for a confirmation of your registration. If you don’t receive it, call Escapees Event Registration at ‭(936) 329-6499‬ to be sure that your registration was processed correctly.

After you register, please join the private Hangout group on Facebook (a link to this group will be in your confirmation email). We will use this group to communicate with Hangout attendees before and during the event. You will also receive one or more emails before the Hangout with more information as needed.

Cancellations & travel insurance

Should you need to cancel your registration, call Escapees Event Registration at ‭(936) 329-6499‬ between 8 am and 4 pm Central Time, Monday through Friday, or email registration@escapees.com. You may be entitled to a partial refund of your registration fees, depending on when we receive your cancellation:

  • On or before Friday, March 3, 2023: $50 cancellation fee, remainder of payment refunded
  • Saturday, March 4 through Tuesday, April 4, 2023: 50% refund of full event cost
  • After Tuesday, April 4, 2023: no refund

We recommend that you purchase travel insurance after registering to protect your investment in the Hangout if you must cancel due to unexpected illness, death, or certain other contingencies. Travel insurance can also help to cover medical and trip interruption expenses for emergencies that occur during the Hangout. Pre-existing medical conditions are waived as long as you purchased your insurance within 15 days after your Hangout registration fee payment. Get a personalized online travel insurance quote now.

Waiting list

If this Hangout is sold out when you try to register, please join the waiting list by completing the form below. There are usually several cancellations before a Hangout…so if a spot opens up and you’re the next one on the waiting list, you’ll get another shot at registration! (Note: please don’t join the waiting list unless and until the Hangout sells out. Entries received before that time will be ignored.)

Details

Start:
May 4, 2023
End:
May 11, 2023
Event Category:
Event Tags:
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Website:
escapees.com/hangouts

Venue

Harpers Ferry KOA
343 Campground Road
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 United States
+ Google Map
Phone
(304) 535-6895
View Venue Website