Site Rules: All OTR attendees are encouraged to have a safe, harmonious OTR, and therefore must adhere to West Virginia laws. In addition, NO firearms are allowed, NO underage alcohol consumption, NO unauthorized fireworks or sky (Chinese) lanterns, NO pets, NO glass at the sauna or river, NO cameras in Sauna area, NO unauthorized drones or aerial devices, NO parking where posted, NO trash (including recyclables) left behind. I.D. badges and wristbands must be worn and on display at all times, NO I.D. or wristband? No beer! Be considerate with respect to noise and conduct after 11 pm.
Bicycle Safety: OTR welcomes attendees to use human-powered and electric-assist bicycles, scooters, and mobility devices around the site. For the safety of all attendees, please observe the site-wide speed limit of 5 mph and refrain from riding while intoxicated. Bicycles and scooters MUST be walked on Vendor’s Row; riding is NOT permitted on Vendor’s Row. Children and youth aged 14 and under MUST wear a helmet while riding on the property.
Camper Hookups: Electricity and water hookups are not available to OTR attendees, and there are no septic facilities on site. Please make arrangements to fill and dump your tanks elsewhere.
Campfires: Campfires are permited at your campsite but MUST be contained in fire rings or containers and must be extinguished and cleaned up before you leave. Please practice fire safety and leave your campsite as clean as you found it.
Charging Station: A Charging Station with lockers is available for all attendees to charge electronic devices; bring a lock if you plan to leave your device for a while. Due to our limited electrical resources, OTR does not allow charging of electric vehicles.
COVID-19: By attending OTR, you and your guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19. Mask wearing and social distancing are completely at the discretion of attendees. Harassment of others regarding vaccination status, mask wearing, or social distancing will not be tolerated and is subject to expulsion.
Carts: Use of Golf carts, motor scooters, ATVs, or anything resembling these, is permitted ONLY at the behest of the Chair. NO wheeled traffic is allowed on Vendors Row (bicycles and scooters must be walked, not ridden). Attendees with mobility impariment who are wanting to reach the showers may drive behind the First Aid Station to get there.
Caving at OTR: You can find the OTR Off-Site Activities Guide at Registration (insurance coverage prohibits us from officially offering OTR cave trips). Please also check the Activity Board near the Event Tent for posted trips. If you go caving, please fill out a CAVER ALERT INFORMATION SHEET (CAIS) and leave it with an Emergency Contact before you head off on your trip. Your Emergency Contact should be someone reliable who is not going on the trip. Clothing and equipment must be decontaminated before and after use, due to WNS. In any case, be a good Caver, use the CAIS, and cave responsibly!
Common Sense: The definition of ‘common sense’ is “sound and prudent judgment.” We ask that you please use Common Sense while on the site this weekend at OTR (and in life, for that matter).
Drones: No unauthorized drones are permitted to be flown over the OTR site.
Electricity: Electricity is not available to OTR attendees, with the exception of device charging available at the Charging Station. Any exceptions to electrical usage are ONLY by permission of the OTR chair. If you have a medical reason to access electricity, please see First Aid Crew Chief Phil Goldman or his designee to request permission. Approval is required for all power cords connected to OTR power sources. Unapproved power cords will be unplugged, and a warning will be issued. Repeated use of unapproved power cords may result in you being asked to leave.
Entertainment: Any amplified live event NOT scheduled in the OTR Guidebook must be approved prior to OTR by the OTR Chair as a courtesy to our scheduled performers and to ensure the enjoyment and safety of ALL fellow OTR attendees. If you would like to be considered to perform at OTR in the future, please contact the OTR Chair to express your interest.
Firearms, and so on and so forth: ALL firearms, explosives, Chinese lanterns, and fireworks are strictly prohibited at OTR.
First Aid: Located at the end of Vendors Row, the OTR First Aid Station is staffed by experienced and dedicated volunteers from a variety of medical disciplines. Anyone in medical distress or in need of first aid assistance should be brought to the First Aid Station (or contact Security). You can also purchase ice at the First Aid Station.
Generators: Generators may be operated only between 9:00 am and 9:00 pm. Please notify Security if you notice that someone is using a generator outside of this 12-hour period.
Harrassment: Harrassment of any form will not be tolerated. The OTR staff is actively working to create safer experiences for our attendees through consent and anti-harassment initiatives and by creating open and judgment-free reporting avenues. Care Connection, OTR’s own harm-reduction and accountability platform, started in 2024 to bring greater awareness to OTR’s efforts to create and maintain a safe atmosphere for all attendees.
Legal Drinking Age: It’s 21 in West Virginia. Even though we’re private event on private property, NO ONE under age 21 is allowed to purchase or consume alcohol at OTR. All attendees are carded, and strict adherence to State Law is enforced on premises. Parents or sponsors are responsible for their children and guests. As with any situation involving such liability, do not offer alcoholic beverages to minors (see ‘Common Sense’, above) –it’s against the law to do so, and you risk adverse action or possible expulsion from OTR.
Medical Devices: Access to electrical service may be available for those who require electricity for approved medical devices, such as CPAPs. To request permission, bring your medical device to First Aid for verification and complete the Medical Device Electricity Usage form agreeing to the terms of medical electricity usage. ONLY First Aid Crew Chief Phil Goldman or his designee may grant permission.
Nametag: You are required to wear your official registration Nametag at all times while at OTR. Your tag also is required at the Gate to enter or exit OTR. If you travel into Elkins, wearing your tag reminds the community of OTR’s ongoing support from our organization and from you, the cavers, doing business with them. Wear your OTR Nametag proudly!
Parking & Car Tag: Please honor ‘No Parking’ signs and be considerate to not park where other vehicles cannot pass by. State law requires our roadways to be kept open for emergency vehicles. Stop at the Gate for a Car Tag, which should be placed on your car’s rear-view mirror for the Gate staff to see.
Photos & Videos: OTR is a private event on private property, but common sense and a reasonable expectation of privacy should be considered if you take photographs and videos of people at our fest. Do NOT take photos in the Sauna. If you plan to post on Facebook and other social media outlets, please get permission from the subject person.
Porta-Potties: We have an important rule regarding our Porta-Potties. Numero Uno is to not affix fliers or tape to them. Do not write or draw on them. Do not mistreat your Porta-Potties. They are your friends. We care for them so much that our contract calls for them to be cleaned several times daily during OTR. Cheer for the Porta-Potty upkeep crew when they arrive! Keep access clear so they can complete their duties. Porta-Potties are our biggest OTR expense, and any damage carries a heavy fine. So please, treat the Porta-Potties with respect, and we’ll make sure there are enough of them and that they are kept clean and fresh for you. Thank you!
Registration: Registration is open Thursday from 12:00 noon to 11:00 PM, Friday 9:00 AM–11:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM–9:00 PM, and Sunday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM. OTR closes completely to new registrants and guests at 4:00 PM on Sunday unless other arrangements have been made. Note that guests may NOT check in onsite until their sponsor has checked in. Whenever the Registration building is closed, new arrivals shuld proceed to the Gate for assistance.
Trash: Refuse and recycling always are significant at large gatherings like OTR. We recommend that you maintain a large trash bag at your campsite and deposit it in the dumpsters along Old Timers Road as you leave the site. For smaller quantities of detritus, there are trash receptacles along Vendors Row. Please take home any recyclable items; resist the urge to just throw recyclables in the Dumpster! Be a responsible caver and leave your campsite the way you found it or better. Leave behind nothing but excess steam. The Dirty Deeds crew also will appreciate this… give the guys your thanks!
SECURITY: Perhaps the most important element of any large gathering is the Security Team. We all want to have fun at OTR, and our Security Team is there to make us all feel safe. Their job is to worry about everyone’s safety so we can enjoy ourselves. Remember, we’re all on the same team here! Our Security staff is here to help in your time of need, whether it be escorting you back to your tent for some shut-eye, assisting with some unforeseen emergency or settling trivial arguments. Tim Ayers is our Security Chief. Tim, his deputies and the rest of his Security Team all do a fantastic job for all of us. Keep in mind that our Security Team is all-volunteer. Be sure to thank them, and maybe even offer to volunteer for a Security shift or two. Lastly, just like at a ballgame, the mall, or the airport, “if you see something, say something”! If you see someone without an ID badge who might be crashing our party, notify Security rather than confront the person.
Wristbands: If you want to consume alcohol at OTR, you must have a wristband, which will be given only to those who are 21 years of age or older. Underage drinking has very serious consequences; the drinker AND sponsor may be expelled from the event, law enforcement may be alerted, and OTR could lose its alcohol license. Servers and Security may at any time request an ID or ask to inspect wristbands that look loose or tampered with. Any switching or sharing of wristbands will result in serious, immediate disciplinary action for all parties (expulsion).