You’re driving through the winding, green-soaked roads of Wayne County, West Virginia, and suddenly, there it is. Camp Mad Anthony Wayne. It doesn’t scream for attention. It doesn't have a neon sign or a high-tech visitor center. Instead, you get a sense of history that feels heavy in the humid Appalachian air. Honestly, it's the kind of place that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back into 1941, mostly because the architecture hasn’t changed much since the Works Progress Administration (WPA) finished their work there.
Most people today just see a public park. They see a spot for a family reunion or a place to take the kids for a hike. But there is a lot more to the story of this land than just picnic tables. Named after the Revolutionary War General "Mad" Anthony Wayne, the camp serves as a living monument to both the New Deal era and the rugged survival of the West Virginia spirit.
What You're Actually Seeing at Camp Mad Anthony Wayne
The camp sits on roughly 80 acres of land. It’s managed by the Huntington Board of Park Commissioners. If you walk toward the main lodge, you’re looking at something special. This isn't just a building. It's a massive, hand-cut stone structure that was built by men who were desperate for work during the Great Depression. The WPA built hundreds of these across America, but the craftsmanship at Camp Mad Anthony Wayne is particularly sharp.
The lodge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. That’s a big deal. It means the federal government recognizes that this specific pile of stone and timber matters to the story of America.
Inside, the rafters are huge. The stone fireplaces are big enough to stand in. You can almost hear the echoes of the thousands of Boy Scouts and 4-H members who have slept under that roof over the last eighty years. It’s rustic. It's honest. It isn't trying to be a luxury resort, and that's exactly why people in the Tri-State area love it.
The "Mad" Anthony Wayne Connection
Why name a quiet woods in West Virginia after a guy nicknamed "Mad"?
General Anthony Wayne was a firebrand. He was a hero of the American Revolution, but his real legacy in this part of the country comes from the Northwest Indian War. He led the Legion of the United States to victory at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794. That victory basically opened up the Ohio Valley—including what would become the border of West Virginia—to American settlement.
He was known for a "mad" or reckless courage. He didn't just lead from the back; he was in the thick of it.
The naming of the camp reflects a certain 1930s-era obsession with the American frontier. Back then, the country was looking for heroes. They found them in guys like Wayne. It’s a bit ironic, really. A place designed for peace, quiet, and youth development is named after a man who spent his life in the chaos of bayonet charges and frontier warfare.
The WPA Legacy and the "New Deal" Aesthetic
The Works Progress Administration had a very specific "look."
Historians call it WPA Rustic. It involves using native materials—stone from nearby hills, timber from local forests—so that the buildings look like they sprouted out of the ground. When you visit Camp Mad Anthony Wayne, pay attention to the masonry. The stones aren't perfectly uniform. They are organic.
- The lodge was built between 1938 and 1941.
- It was originally intended to provide a permanent camping facility for the Huntington area.
- It survived the decline of many other New Deal projects because the local community refused to let it rot.
It's amazing when you think about it. These guys were working for pennies during the Depression, and they built something that is still hosting weddings and summer camps in 2026. That is quality.
What Can You Actually Do There?
If you're planning a trip, don't expect a theme park. This is for people who like the smell of woodsmoke and the sound of crickets.
- Hiking and Nature Trails: The trails aren't grueling, but they’re beautiful. They wind through typical Appalachian hardwood forests. Keep an eye out for white-tailed deer and the occasional wild turkey.
- Disc Golf: This is a big draw now. The park has a professional-grade 18-hole disc golf course. It’s hilly. It’s wooded. It’s frustrating in all the right ways.
- The Fairground Proximity: The camp is right next to the Wayne County Fairgrounds. If you time your visit for August, you can get the best of both worlds: the quiet of the camp and the deep-fried chaos of the county fair.
A quick tip for the disc golfers: The course at Camp Mad Anthony Wayne is notoriously difficult because of the elevation changes. Bring extra water. Your calves will feel it the next morning.
Why the Community Keeps Coming Back
There’s a nostalgia factor here that you can't buy.
I’ve talked to people who went to camp here in the 1960s, and they describe it almost exactly the same way a teenager would today. The creek is still there. The hills are still steep. The lodge still smells like old wood and memories.
But it’s also functional. It’s one of the few places where a large group can rent a historic facility for a price that doesn't break the bank. In a world where everything is getting digitized and "monetized," Camp Mad Anthony Wayne feels like a holdout. It’s a place where the signal on your phone might drop, and honestly, you won't even care.
Addressing the "Ghost" Stories
You can't have a historic camp in the woods of West Virginia without some ghost stories.
Locals sometimes whisper about strange lights or the feeling of being watched near the old lodge at night. Is it haunted? Probably not. Is it spooky when the fog rolls off the hills and the moon is thin? Absolutely. Most of these "hauntings" are just the natural creaks of a building that has settled over eight decades. But hey, it adds to the atmosphere.
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The real "ghosts" are the history of the WPA workers and the early pioneers who moved through this valley. That’s the real energy you feel.
Navigating Your Visit
Getting there is pretty straightforward, but the roads are narrow.
If you're coming from Huntington, you'll head south on WV-152. It’s about a 15-minute drive from the city. It’s close enough for a quick afternoon trip but far enough that you feel like you’ve escaped the noise of the Ohio River industrial corridor.
Things to bring:
- A solid pair of hiking boots (it gets muddy).
- Disc golf frisbees (if that’s your thing).
- Bug spray. This is West Virginia; the mosquitoes are basically the state bird.
- A camera. The way the light hits the stone lodge in the late afternoon is a photographer's dream.
The Future of the Camp
Maintenance on these old WPA structures is expensive.
The Huntington Board of Park Commissioners has a tough job. They have to balance the historical integrity of the site with modern safety codes. Over the years, there have been various renovations to the roofing and the plumbing, but the core of the camp remains unchanged.
We’re seeing a resurgence in "heritage tourism." People are tired of sterile hotels. They want places with a soul. Camp Mad Anthony Wayne has soul in spades. As long as the community keeps valuing the "slow life" and the history of the New Deal, the camp will be just fine.
Planning Your Next Step
If you're a history buff, a nature lover, or just someone who needs a break from the screen, you should go.
- Check the schedule: Visit the Huntington Parks and Recreation website to see if the lodge is rented out for a private event before you head up there.
- Map the trails: Grab a digital map of the hiking trails or the disc golf course before you lose cell service near the creek.
- Respect the site: Remember that this is a National Historic Place. Take your trash with you and leave the stones where they are.
Camp Mad Anthony Wayne isn't just a park. It’s a piece of the 1930s that forgot to leave. It’s a testament to the idea that if you build something with local stone and honest labor, it can last for a century. Go see it before the rest of the world finds out about it.
To get started, call the Huntington Park Board at (304) 696-5954 to check lodge availability or to inquire about seasonal hours for the specific facilities. If you are a disc golf enthusiast, download the UDisc app to see real-time course conditions and player reviews for the Mad Anthony Wayne course. Finally, if you're interested in the architecture, look up the WPA National Archives online to compare the Wayne lodge with other "Park Architecture" projects from that era.