Beech Fork State Park, located on the border of Cabell and Wayne counties, opened in 1979 after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created a 720-acre lake by constructing Beech Fork Dam near Lavalette.

In 1979, Governor Rockefeller recommended a $5.1 million appropriation in the state budget to build a lodge in the park. The amount was cut to $200,000 because legislators representing Cabell and Wayne counties said plans were not yet ready. After a 1992 study concluded that a $23 million plan for a lodge, cottages, and a golf course could not pay for itself, the 1994 legislature and Governor Caperton approved $92,761 for a study of more modest developments. In 1999, the park received funds for construction of six luxury cabins, a 50-meter swimming pool with bathhouse, and a snack stand. These facilities opened in 2000. The park consists of 3,144 acres and offers 275 campsites with electric hookups. A visitors center and the park headquarters are located at the Bowen entrance to the park, accessible from State Route 10 in Cabell County south of Huntington. The marina, a swimming beach, and other picnic and recreational facilities are located at the Lavalette entrance via State Route 152 in Wayne County.