It was renovated after lying in waste following the demise of the Civil War aristocracy. The pools now offer bathers the most highly carbonated mineral water in the world. Locals swear by the water's healing powers and many either take a dip or drink its water daily. Outdoorsy fun awaits at several other Alleghany County sites. Twelve miles of water entice visitors to Lake Moomaw, a relatively new lake formed for power generation 19 miles from Covington.
Signs point the way.
Residents and visitors have taken advantage of water-skiing, boating, fishing and swimming. Douthat State Park's 50-acre lake also offers a beach, bathhouse, boating and excellent trout fishing. Other facilities include a visitors center, restaurant and lodge as well as cabins, campgrounds and miles of hiking trails. And the world's largest pump storage facility in the world, Virginia Power's Back Creek Pump Storage Station, is also worth seeing. Va. Route 311 an interesting place to visit.