West Virginia
Explore
SUMMERS COUNTY The Official Summers County Visitor Guide
#ExploreSummersCounty
Welcome!
With appreciation to all contributing photographers: State Parks of WV, Brandy McPherson, Sarah Irvin Photography, Joe Farley, Callie Hayes, Tracy Toler, Patricia Morgan, Brandon’s BBQ & Grille, The Retreat at Pipestem, the National Park Service, Chris Weisler, Chestnut Revival, Pipestem Spa & Event Center, Barbara Burnham, John Henry Days, Michael Gill, and Culturefest. Facebook.com/newrivergatewaywv Twitter.com/exploresummers Instagram.com/exploresummerscounty Pinterest.com/exploresummers
Explore
SUMMERS COUNTY New River Gateway CVB 300 Second Avenue, Hinton, WV Hours of Operation: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm *hours subject to change
(304) 466-5420
info@exploresummerscounty.com
ExploreSummersCounty.com The New River Gateway Convention & Visitors Bureau does not warrant or guarantee the quality of the accommodations, restaurants, or other facilities listed in this guide. Graphic Design by Stallard Studios Publishing, Wytheville, Virginia 276-228-7092. Printing by Chocklett Press, 2922 Nicholas Avenue, NE, Roanoke, Virginia. 540-345-1820.
2
(304) 466-5420
Hungry? ���������� 4-5 Catch Some ZZZ’s ������ 6-7 Explore On… �������� 8-9 Arts & Entertainment ����� 10 Shop Local ��������� 11 Events & Meetings ������ 12 Fairs and Festivals ������ 13 History & Heritage ����� 14-15 Map & Transportation � Back Cover Summers County is known as the “County of Three Rivers.” We are home to the Greenbrier, New, and Bluestone Rivers. Our county serves as the gateway to the New River Gorge National River and is home to the Bluestone National Scenic River, both part of the National Parks of Southern WV. The county seat is Hinton, where you’ll find our Historic District that takes you back in time with its old brick roads, architecture dating back to 1870, and railroad remnants from Hinton’s booming days as a railroad town. But don’t assume we’re just a ghost town now. Amtrak makes stops three days per week in Hinton, making it one of the busiest rail stops in the state. Our annual Railroad Days Festival is also consecutively awarded as a Top 100 Event by the American Bus Association. Other popular spots include the famous Sandstone Falls where the rescue scene in Lassie was filmed, the legend of John Henry who raced against a steam powered drill, Pipestem Resort State Park - named the Crown Jewel of WV State Parks, Bluestone Lake - the third largest lake in the state, and two of the nine remaining drive in movie theatres in West Virginia!
Quick Facts Average Temperature January 22˚ | July 84˚ Average Annual Precipitation Rainfall 37.72” | Snowfall 25-32” ExploreSummersCounty.com 3
Hungry? Summers County boasts a variety of locally owned and unique restaurants you won’t want to miss! Chestnut Revival COFFEE/TEA/ CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN 401 Summers St. Hinton, WV (304) 466-1377 chestnutrevival.com
Big Four Drug Store ICE CREAM 300 Temple St. Hinton, WV (304) 466-2323 Bluestone Dining Room CASUAL DINING Pipestem Resort State Park 3405 Pipestem Dr. Pipestem, WV (304) 466-1800 www.pipestemresort.com/food.html Brandon’s BBQ & Grille BBQ Indian Ridge Rd. Pipestem, WV (304) 466-9110 brandonsbbq.com Canyon Rim Café SANDWICHES Pipestem Resort State Park 3405 Pipestem Dr. Pipestem, WV (304) 466-1800 www.pipestemresort.com/food.html
Dairy Queen ICE CREAM Rt. 20 Hinton By-Pass Hinton, WV (304) 466-1700 Kirk’s COUNTRY COOKING Rt. 20 Hinton By-Pass Hinton, WV (304) 466-4600 Kirks Market CASUAL DINING 320 Temple St. Hinton, WV (304) 466-4663 McDonald’s FAST FOOD 517 Stokes Dr. Hinton, WV (304) 466-0084 mcdonalds.com Mountain Creek Dining Room FINE DINING Pipestem Resort State Park 3405 Pipestem Dr. Pipestem, WV (304) 466-1800 www.pipestemresort.com/food.html Pizza Hut PIZZA 698 Stokes Dr. Hinton, WV (304) 466-0245 pizzahut.com
4
(304) 466-5420
Subway SANDWICHES Rt. 20 Hinton By-Pass Hinton, WV (304) 466-6878 subway.com Tiger’s AMERICAN 1211 New River Rd. Hinton, WV (304) 466-4199 berryscamp.com The Market on Courthouse Square CASUAL DINING 200 Ballengee St. Hinton, WV (304) 466-6626 themarketwv.com
The Oak Supper Club CASUAL DINING Pipestem Knob Pipestem, WV (304) 466-4800 oaksupperclub.com Wings & Swings PUB Pipestem Resort State Park 3405 Pipestem Dr. Pipestem, WV (304) 466-1800 www.pipestemresort.com/food.html
ExploreSummersCounty.com 5
Catch Some ZZZ’s Primitive campsites, B&B’s, cabins, vacation homes, lodges and more… you’ll find it all in Summers County. One thing you won’t find is a chain hotel.
Appalachian Back Country Expeditions CABINS 5022 New River Rd. Sandstone, WV (304) 228-7048 appalachianbackcountry.com
Chestnut Revival B&B 401 Summers St. Hinton, WV (304) 466-1377 chestnutrevival.com
Bass Lake Park CAMPING Fox Lanes Rd. Hinton, WV (304) 466-6416
The Foxwood Inn LODGE 851 Foxwood Dr. Jumping Branch, WV (304) 466-5514 foxwoodwv.com
Berry’s Campground CABINS/CAMPING 1211 New River Rd. Hinton, WV (304) 466-4199 berryscamp.com
Misty Mountain Retreat VACATION HOME 712 Teddy Wills Rd. Hinton, WV (304) 466-6788 vrbo.com/488795
Bluestone Lake Cabin Rentals CABINS 478 Fork Ridge Rd. Nimitz, WV (304) 466-1010 bluestonelakemarina.com
Greenbrier Recreation & Chalets, Inc. CABINS 84 Drayden Ln. Hinton, WV (304) 466-3536 greenbriercabins.com
Bluestone State Park CABINS/CAMPING Rt. 20 Hinton, WV (304) 466-2805 www.bluestonesp.com Crape Myrtle House & Every Once in a While B&B 201 Summers St. Hinton, WV (304) 890-0295 crapemyrtlehousewv@wordpress.com 6
Greenbrier River Escape VACATION HOME Willowwood Rd. Hinton, WV (804) 586-0002 greenbrierriverescape.com The Guest House Inn B&B 419 Second Ave. Hinton, WV (304) 466-8100 guesthousewv.com (304) 466-5420
John Henry Campground CAMPING Rt. 3/12 Pence Springs, WV (304) 860-7154 New WV Cabins CABINS 41 Pipestem Spa Way Pipestem, WV (304) 466-1767 new-wvcabins.com Nostalgia Inn B&B Indian Ridge Rd. Pipestem, WV (304) 466-0470 nostalgiainn.com Peg’s Peak VACATION HOME Bobby Meadows Rd. Hinton, WV (304) 466-0413 pegspeak.com Pipestem RV Park & Campground CAMPING Rt. 20 Pipestem, WV (304) 466-9121 pipestemcamping.com Pipestem Resort State Park CABINS/CAMPING/LODGE 3405 Pipestem Dr. Pipestem, WV (304) 466-1800 www.pipestemresort.com The Retreat at Pipestem & Pipestem Place CABINS/VACATION HOME The Retreat Loop Pipestem, WV (877) 672-2958 gopipestem.com
Richmond’s Meadow Creek Hideaway CABINS/VACATION HOME 71 N. Riverside Rd. Meadow Creek, WV (304) 466-2201 meadowcreekhideaway.com Riverchase Campground CAMPING/CABINS 159 Riverchase Way Meadow Creek, WV (304) 466-1856 riverchasecampground.com Riverview Rental VACATION HOME 7541 S. Rt. 3/12, Talcott, WV (304) 660-8000 vrbo.com/701467 Rock Ridge Rentals CABINS 113 Rock Ridge Resort Pipestem, WV (304) 960-0800 Sandman Motel MOTEL Rt. 20 Hinton By-Pass Hinton, WV (304) 466-1700 Star Song & Star Song 2 CABINS 4755 Lockbridge Rd. Meadow Bridge, WV (304) 484-7711 cabinwestvirginia.com Up On The Hill VACATION HOME Rt. 3/12, Talcott, WV (954) 661-2326
ExploreSummersCounty.com 7
Explore on… If water’s your thing, you’ve come to the right place. Enjoy a laid back float trip, cast a line, take a guided rafting trip, or lace up your hiking boots for some great trail and waterfall hunting. We also have some of the best golfing around.
Bellepoint Park PUBLIC PARK 701 Miller Ave. Hinton, WV (304) 466-1234 Bluestone Dam Fishing Pier FISHING Rt. 20 Hinton, WV (304) 466-5420 Bluestone Lake FISHING/WATER RECREATION Rt. 20 Hinton, WV (304) 466-5420 Bluestone Lake Marina RENTALS 661 Marina Ln. Hinton, WV (304) 466-1010 bluestonelakemarina.com Bluestone State Park POOL/OUTDOOR RECREATION Rt. 20 Hinton, WV (304) 466-2805 www.bluestonesp.com
8
Bluestone Wildlife Management Area HUNTING/WATER RECREATION Indian Mills Rd. Forest Hill, WV (304) 466-5420 Brooks Falls SCENIC OVERLOOK New River Rd. Hinton, WV (304) 466-0417 nps.gov/neri Camp Brookside HIKING/WATER REC 309 N. Mullens Rd. Hinton, WV (304) 466-0417 nps.gov/neri Cantrell Ultimate Rafting RENTALS/GUIDED TRIPS Rt. 20 Hinton By-Pass Hinton, WV (304) 228-4285 Catfish Hole FISHING Rt. 3/12 Pence Springs, WV (304) 860-7154 catfishholewv.com
(304) 466-5420
City Sidetrack Park WATERSLIDE/POOL 400 Front St. Hinton, WV (304) 466-1600 hintonwva.com/tourism
Pipestem Resort State Park GOLF/OUTDOOR REC/POOL 3405 Pipestem Dr. Pipestem, WV (304) 466-1800 www.pipestemresort.com
John Henry Historical Park HIKING/OUTDOOR REC Rt. 3/12 Talcott, WV (304) 466-7113 johnhenryhistoricalpark.com
Sandstone Falls HIKING/SCENIC OVERLOOK New River Rd. Sandstone, WV (304) 466-0417 nps.gov/neri
New River Trophy Outfitters GUIDED FISHING TRIPS Riverside Dr. Sandstone, WV (304) 575-5363 newrivertrophyoutfitters.com
Sandstone Visitor Center EDUCATIONAL/INTERPRETIVE 330 Meadow Creek Rd. Meadow Creek, WV (304) 466-0417 nps.gov/neri
Otter and Oak Outfitters and More SUP/BIKE RENTALS 302 Second Ave. Hinton, WV (304) 466-4870 otterandoak.com
Willowwood Country Club GOLF Willowwood Rd. Hinton, WV (304) 466-3220
Pipestem Falls SCENIC OVERLOOK Rt. 20 Pipestem, WV (304) 466-5420
Visit our website to download free area trail maps, waterfall locations and geocaching spots!
ExploreSummersCounty.com 9
Arts & Entertainment Watch a movie under the stars or in our restored 1929 movie theater, check out our galleries, have a spa day, or take the family to our unique avian center.
Chestnut Revival SATURDAY OPEN MIC 401 Summers St., Hinton, WV (304) 466-1377 chestnutrevival.com Meadow Bridge Drive-In OUTDOOR MOVIE THEATER Rt. 20, Meadow Bridge, WV (304) 484-7878, mbdrivein.com Pipestem Drive-In OUTDOOR MOVIE THEATER Rt. 20, Pipestem, WV (304) 384-7382 Pipestem Spa & Event Center EVENTS/MASSAGE/SPA 41 Pipestem Spa Way Pipestem, WV (304) 466-1767 pipestemspa.com 10
Rivertown Gallery ART GALLERY 302 Second Ave., Hinton, WV (304) 466-4870 The Ritz Theatre & Performing Arts Center MOVIE THEATER 211 Ballengee St., Hinton,WV (304) 466-6700, ritzwv.com Three Rivers Avian Center EDUCATIONAL / REHAB CENTER 2583 Brooks Mountain Rd. Brooks, WV (304) 466-4683, tracwv.org Wake Robin Galley POTTERY GALLERY Rt. 12, Forest Hill, WV (304) 466-2227 (304) 466-5420
Shop Local
You won’t find a shopping mall here. Instead, you’ll find locally owned boutiques and shops.
Big Four Drug Store & Gift Shop GIFT SHOP 300 Temple St., Hinton, WV (304) 466-2323 Bluestone State Park GIFT SHOP Rt. 20, Hinton, WV (304) 466-2805 www.bluestonesp.com
Otter & Oak Outfitters and More OUTFITTER 302 Second Ave., Hinton, WV (304) 466-4870 otterandoak.com
PC Outdoors FISHING/HUNTING 250 Greenbrier Dr., Hinton, WV (304) 466-1444
Eclectic Corner CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORE 200 James St., Hinton, WV (304) 466-8206 eclecticcornerwv.com
Pipestem Resort State Park GIFT SHOPS 3405 Pipestem Dr., Pipestem, WV (304) 466-1800 www.pipestemresort.com
Grandma’s House Antiques ANTIQUES 407 Second Ave., Hinton, WV (304) 466-1011 grandmashouseantiqueswv.com
Riverside Floral & Monument Co. FLORAL SHOP/GARDEN Rt. 20 Hinton By-Pass, Hinton, WV (304) 466-2279
Hinton Floral & Gifts Inc. FLORAL SHOP/GIFTS 209 Ballengee St., Hinton, WV (304) 466-3282
Vicky’s Boutique BOUTIQUE 304 Second Ave., Hinton, WV (304) 890-0514
Lavender & Lockets UNIQUE GIFTS 213 Temple St., Hinton, WV (304) 575-0516 New River Antiques ANTIQUES Rt. 20 Hinton By-Pass, Hinton, WV (304) 660-7388
ExploreSummersCounty.com 11
Events & Meetings
Planning a birthday party, family reunion or trying to find the perfect spot for your special day? Check out our great venues! Appalachian South Folklife Center Pipestem Knob, Pipestem, WV (304) 466-0626, folklifecenter.org Bluestone Camp Retreat Bertha, WV (304) 466-0660, bluestonecamp.com Bluestone State Park Rt. 20, Hinton, WV (304) 466-2805, www.bluestonesp.com Brandon’s BBQ & Grille Indian Ridge Rd., Pipestem, WV (304) 466-9110, brandonsbbq.com Camp Brookside 309 N. Mullens Rd., Hinton, WV (304) 466-0417, nps.gov/neri Camp Summers 711 4-H Camp Rd., Forest Hill, WV (304) 466-7113, campsummerswv.com
The Foxwood Inn Ellison Ridge Rd., Jumping Branch, WV (304) 466-5514, foxwoodwv.com The Magnolia Room 419 Second Ave., Hinton, WV (304) 466-8100, guesthousewv.com The Ritz Theatre & Performing Arts Center 211 Ballengee St., Hinton, WV (304) 466-6700 ritzwv.com Summers County Memorial Building 451 1st Ave., Hinton, WV (304) 466-7113 Willowwood Country Club Willowwood Rd., Hinton, WV (304) 466-3220
Freight Depot 509 Commercial Ave., Hinton, WV (304) 46-3255 McCreery Conference & Event Center 320 Second Ave., Hinton, WV (304) 466-8100, guesthousewv.com Pipestem Spa & Event Center 41 Pipestem Spa Way, Pipestem, WV (304) 466-1767, pipestemspa.com Pipestem Resort State Park 3405 Pipestem Dr., Pipestem, WV (304) 466-1800, pipestemresort.com 12
(304) 466-5420
Fairs & Festivals Annual Fairs & Festivals
July
Culturefest Culturefest showcases creative John Henry Days Kick off our festival season during arts on a magical mountaintop in WV. Events include world the second weekend of July and music, dance, performance art, celebrate the legend of John workshops, artisan vendors, drum Henry. Events include live music by the Great Bend Tunnel, a 4 mile circles, Kids’ Village, healing arts, run, grand parade, craft and food camping, community art projects, parade, after hours cabaret and vendors, fireworks, car show, a more. rubber ducky race and more! culturefestwv.com johnhenryhistoricalpark.com
August
October
September
December
WV State Water Festival The Water Festival is our oldest running festival. Events include a pretty baby contest, dog show, car show, quilt show, arts and crafts events, fishing contest, charity walk, fireman’s parade, grand parade, Little Miss Mermaid event, Coronation of the Queen Mermaid, rubber ducky race, fireworks, street dance and more! wvstatewaterfestival.wix.com/ wvstatewaterfestival Festival of the Rivers Held on Labor Day weekend, this music festival features grassroots Appalachian music in celebration of our rivers and railroad culture. Blues, Roots, and Traditional musicians join us to showcase the influence Appalachian music has had on the world. cfm-fmh.org
Railroad Days Railroad Days is held the last two weekends in October. Patrons of the New River Train Excursion wind through the “Grand Canyon of the East” and arrive in Hinton. Patrons and visitors enjoy streets filled with a variety of vendors, great food, and live entertainment. Visitors also enjoy the Hinton Railroad Museum an carriage rides through our Historic District. hintonwva.com/railroaddays Christmas Bazaar & Parade Held the first Saturday in December, the Christmas Bazaar rings in the holiday season through live music, great local vendors, a Christmas parade, Santa Claus, and more. hintonwva.com
ExploreSummersCounty.com 13
History
History & Heritage The city of Hinton is registered as a Historic District by the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, which encompasses over 200 contributing buildings. Our county was a booming railway center in its heyday. We are also home to the Legend of John Henry. Cooper’s Mill HISTORIC SITE Rt. 27, Jumping Branch, WV Cooper’s Mill is a historic gristmill that was originally built in 1869. Open by appointment. (304) 466-1888 Courtesy of Callie Hayes
Campbell Flannagan Murrell House MUSEUM 422 Summers St., Hinton, WV The CFM House is the oldest residence still standing in the Hinton Historic District. The CFM House Museum is filled with Railroad remnants of the past. Seasonal Hours of Operation/Open by Appointment (304) 466-1401, cfm-fmh.org Confederate Monument MONUMENT 120 Ballengee St., Hinton, WV The Confederate Monument was dedicated in 1914 to honor Confederate soldiers, women, and others that supported the Southern cause from Summers, Greenbrier, Monroe, Mercer, and Raleigh counties. (304) 466-5420
The Graham House MUSEUM Rt. 3/12, Lowell, WV The Graham House is the oldest 2-story log home in Summers County. It was build in 1770 as a home for Col. James Graham and his wife, Florence, the first settlers of Lowell. It was later the site of a Shawnee Indian attack on the Graham family in 1777. Seasonal Hours of Operation/Open by Appointment (304) 716-6430 Hinton Depot TRAIN STATION 100 Second Ave., Hinton, WV Chesapeake and Ohio Railway built the station in 1905. Amtrak makes stops in Hinton three times per week, making it one of the busiest train stations in the state. (304) 466-6100 Hinton Railroad Museum MUSEUM 206 Temple St., Hinton, WV The railroad museum contains historical artifacts of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. The museum in filled with model train exhibits along with a woodcarving of John Henry. Seasonal Hours of Operation/Open by Appointment (304) 466-6100
Courtesy of Callie Hayes
14
(304) 466-5420
Heritage
Historic Hinton Walking Tour SELF GUIDED TOUR 300 Second Ave., Hinton, WV Pick up one of our Historic Hinton Walking Tour guides at the Visitor Center to learn about our history and see a variety of different architecture styles. John Henry Museum & Historical Park MUSEUM/MONUMENT Rt. 3/12, Talcott, WV John Henry is an African American Folk hero known as the “Steel Drivin’ Man” His statue stands in front of the Great Bend Tunnel. Museum: Seasonal Hours of Operation. (304) 466-7113 johnhenryhistoricalpark.com Jordan’s Chapel HISTORIC SITE True Rd., Pipestem, WV Jordan’s Chapel was the first church in the region. It is a Methodist rectangular framebuilt chapel. The chapel has been used as a one-room schoolhouse and hospital during the Civil War. Open to the public. (304) 466-5420
Summers County Courthouse HISTORIC SITE 120 Ballengee St., Hinton, WV Built circa 1875, the courthouse is Romanesque Revival in style and has served as the seat of county government since its construction. Open to the public. (304) 466-7100 Veterans Memorial Museum MUSEUM 419 Ballengee St., Hinton, WV A tribute to those who served our Country throughout its history. Displays and artifacts showcased date back to the Early Frontier battles and include all wars and present conflicts. General Douglas MacArthur’s footlocker and a vintage 151A2 Jeep are also on display. Seasonal Hours of Operation/ Open by Appointment. (304) 466-4443
Veterans Memorial Wall MONUMENT Second Ave. & James St., Hinton, WV Saunders One Room Schoolhouse An impressive stone wall dedicated to our MUSEUM county’s veterans. (304) 466-5420 Rt. 3/12, Lowell, WV A historic museum filled with artifacts of days gone by, such as the hickory stick, pot-bellied stove, antique school desk, and more. Seasonal Hours of Operation/Open by Appointment (304) 466-3334 ExploreSummersCounty.com 15
n
ille
Getting Here… OHIO
PENNSYLVANIA
Pittsburgh
Columbus Cincinnati
WEST VIRGINIA
Lexington
Charleston Richmond
KENTUCKY
TENNESSEE Knoxville
VIRGINIA
Asheville
Greensboro
Durham NORTH CAROLINA
(travel distance by car) Distance from major cities: Cincinnati, OH: 4hr 45min • Columbus, OH: 4hr 7min Pittsburgh, PA: 4hr 17min • Baltimore, MD: 5hr 14min Richmond, VA: 3hr 42min • Roanoke, VA: 1hr 57min Bristol, VA/TN: 2hr 15min • Knoxville, TN: 3hr 48min Louisville, KY: 5hr 6min • Lexington, KY: 4hr 11min Charlotte, NC: 3hr 15min • Asheville, NC: 3hr 41 min Road: I-64 Exit 139: Sandstone/Hinton – 20 mins I-77 Exit 9: Princeton – 40 mins I-77 Exit 14: Athens – 35 mins Rail: Amtrak: Hinton Depot – 1 min 1(800) 872-7245 Bus: Greyhound Bus Beckly Station – 40 mins Bluefield Station – 57 mins Air: Raleigh County Memorial Airport, Beckley, WV – 32 mins Greenbrier Valley Airport, Lewisburg, WV – 50 mins Yeager Airport, Charleston, WV – 1 hr 33 mins Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport, Roanoke, VA – 1 hr 54 mins
Explore
SUMMERS COUNTY
Explore Summers County is powered by the New River Gateway CVB, 300 Second Ave., Hinton, WV (304) 466-5420 info@exploresummerscounty.com
ExploreSummersCounty.com