ACE Adventure Resort Celebrates 20 Years in Wonderland

Oak Hill, WV, March 13, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Occupying what was once a popular hunting and fishing retreat for President Harry Truman, ACE Adventure Resort celebrates its 20th anniversary this year at this location. Truman's vision of Wonderland was acquired by the three principals of American Canadian Expeditions (ACE) in 1988, and the development of the once-abandoned strip mine and surrounding forest have been transformed into the state's largest and most comprehensive adventure resort.

Original owner Ernie Kincaid remembers his first visit to the woods that once housed the President and his entourage. "There were only three buildings on the property; the house Truman resided in, an A-frame for the Secret Service contingent and a small lodge structure near one of the properties' five lakes. We essentially started from scratch with infrastructure, roads and key buildings, including the office (which began as an office/store combination) and expansion of the lodge to a dining facility."

Contrast the early construction with the amenities the resort offers today, and it is apparent the property has come a long way in 20 years. Managing owner, Jerry Cook, explains, "We have dedicated ourselves to meeting the needs of our customers. The core customer group began with whitewater enthusiasts. As they had families, their vacation needs changed, and we have tried to change and redefine our product mix based on those needs."

Despite the downturn in total number of rafters in the state, ACE began to develop additional revenue centers, provide activities other than rafting for guests to choose as additional or alternative itineraries and made a commitment to capital development in lodging that has led to year-round utilization of the property. The full slate of activities, accommodations and amenities continues to grow from year to year and includes the 2008 addition of canopy tours, ATV excursions, more water based inflatable's and a mud obstacle course.

The metamorphosis of Wonderland to ACE Adventure Resort has resulted in a huge economic benefit to the area. As Kincaid explains, "When we purchased the property, we were one of the smallest outfitters in the state. Today we are the largest. With that extraordinary growth we have increased user days, staff and contribution to the tax base. At the time of the original acquisition, I was still working full time in Charleston and we had less than 5 employees year-round. Today, you'll find more than 48 year-round employees in marketing, administration, housekeeping, construction, reservation and maintenance."

The phenomenal growth and success may cause many to question if ACE plans on slowing down anytime soon. The answer, as Cook looks out over the two new lodges that are currently being erected, is "Where will we put the next chalet?"

For a complete listing of the resort's activities and amenities, visit them at www.aceraft.com.

(ACE Adventure Resort is West Virginia's largest adventure resort, featuring world-class whitewater rafting, kayak instruction, mountain bike rentals, on-site stables, rock-climbing and rappelling. Trails wind throughout ACE’s 1,400 acres and connect directly to the New River Gorge National River trail system for nearly endless exploration by horse, bike or foot. They also have southern West Virginia's largest campground, bunkhouses and deluxe cabins featuring all amenities. ACE headquarters includes an outfitter shop, restaurant and a fully equipped 2,200-square-foot conference facility. ACE’s Alpine Tower, low and high initiatives, canopy tours, paintball range and mud obstacle course offer spectacular team-building activities. Visit www.AceRaft.com for more info.)

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