Activate map
Specialties
Roanoke’s outdoor adventure, conference and retreat center offering customizable guided trips, team building outings, weddings, family camping, meeting spaces and more.
Founded in 1990 by retired Marine Colonel Gene Nervo, WAEL began as an outdoor backpacking program for ages 8 – 18. Over the past 25 years, the program has continued to grow and is now a year-round adventure, conference and retreat center.
Gene and his staff are dedicated to providing unique and memorable experiences, both at our 500-acre facility in New Castle, VA and the surrounding protected National Forest areas. They offer many outdoor activities such as rock climbing, kayaking, canoeing, mountain biking, high and low ropes courses, backpacking, hiking, outdoor living skill workshops, and our famous 900′ zipline! The natural landscape and rustic facilities have been home to weddings, corporate and church retreats, birthday parties, musical performances, a bar mitzvah and more. Please call for more information.