Located in the highest valley east of the Mississippi River, the park contains the second-largest inland wetland area in the United States.

The club began slope development in the early 1950s,[7] signing a ten year operational lease with local landowners in 1954.

[6] Their slope, named Cabin Mountain Ski Area, featured two rope tows on 40 acres (0.16 km2) of terrain stretching from route 32 to a height of 3,600 feet (1,100 m).

[11] The park has been very successful and several private ski operations have opened nearby and in other parts of the state as well.

A chairlift and magic carpet give access to the resort's beginner skiing area, located on the right of the mountain (facing up the slope).

Canaan Valley Resort State Park features a 160 room lodge, plus 23 cabins & cottages, and 34 campsites.

[13] On Sunday, February 14, 1988, a mid-day explosion and fire in a maintenance building killed three men who were attending an air compressor for the snowmaking system.