There’s a certain feeling in Boone on an App State Football Saturday. By Friday afternoon, you can feel the energy building around town. Mountaineer gear starts showing up everywhere, King Street gets a little busier, and somewhere near Kidd Brewer Stadium, the first tailgates are already underway.
For a home game weekend, you don’t really need to plan every minute. The best parts tend to happen in between. Coffee downtown in the morning, a few hours outside with friends before kickoff, the walk toward the stadium as the crowd grows louder, and eventually, a comfortable room waiting for you when the day is done.
Staying at The 1850 puts you right in the middle of it, with King Street just outside your door and Kidd Brewer Stadium close enough to make the weekend feel easy.
Start the Day Slowly
Game day doesn't have to start with a rush.
Take your time over coffee on King Street before heading toward the stadium. Grab what you need for the tailgate, put on your black and gold, and let the morning unfold.
The closer you get to kickoff, the more Boone begins to change. The streets fill in. Music carries through the parking lots. Friends find one another. What started as an ordinary Saturday starts to feel like something worth being part of.
And because you’re staying downtown, there’s no need to spend the morning worrying about where you’ll park later or how you’ll get back to the hotel.
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Make an Afternoon of the Tailgate
The best tailgates aren't really about the few minutes before the game. They're about the hours leading up to it.
Bring a grill and a cooler, find a place to settle in, and make yourself comfortable. A canopy helps when the mountain weather does what it does best — change its mind. Bring chairs, cornhole, a speaker, and plenty of layers, because a Boone afternoon can feel very different by the time the fourth quarter arrives.
There’s something nice about having nowhere else you need to be.
You can stay awhile. Catch up with friends. Listen to the music coming from the next lot over. Watch the crowd make its way toward the stadium.
Then, when it’s time, you walk to the game.
Walk to Kidd Brewer Stadium
One of the best parts of staying on King Street for an App State game is not having to make the game about your car.
Leave it parked at the hotel and walk.
As kickoff gets closer, the walk toward Kidd Brewer becomes part of the experience itself. You'll be surrounded by fellow fans, black and gold everywhere you look, with that unmistakable feeling that something is about to happen.
No shuttle to catch. No last-minute search for a parking space. No worrying about getting back to your car after the final whistle.
Just the game, the crowd, and Boone on a fall Saturday.
Let the Weekend Continue After the Final Whistle
When the game ends, you don't have to decide whether to fight traffic out of town.
You can walk back toward King Street and let the evening take its own shape.
Maybe that means finding a table downtown and talking through every play of the game. Maybe it means settling into a bar for another drink while the town stays lively around you. Or maybe, after a full day outside, you're ready to head back to The 1850 and call it a night.
There’s no wrong answer.
And if you're hungry after the game, it's worth thinking about dinner before kickoff. Boone restaurants can fill quickly on game days, especially when the Mountaineers bring home a win — view our local restaurant guide to find the best experience for you and your group.
Come Back to Something Comfortable
After a full day of tailgating, walking, cheering, and being outside, coming back to a comfortable room feels like part of the weekend, too. At The 1850, you can trade the layers and stadium noise for a hot shower, a comfortable bed, and a little quiet.
If you still have some energy, the fitness center is there. Your car can stay parked for the weekend in our on-site lot (included in your stay), and you can enjoy Boone without having to get behind the wheel.
Game day traditions are unique as those celebrating the few fabled Saturday's we all get to cherish every fall. We encourage you to indulge in the ceremony and season as these are truly special times — Go 'Neers!
