West Virginia is located in the Eastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Pennsylvania to its North, and Virginia to its East. The population of the state currently is 1,766,107 residents. Its most populous cities are Charleston, with 48,864 residents, and Huntington, with 46,842. The state is composed of 55 counties, with the current state capitol of Charleston in Kanawha County.
June 20th, 1863 was the date West Virginia became the thirty-fifth state to join the American Union. This date was the culmination of a several decades-long effort to secede from the state of Virginia. The legitimacy of this secession effort would be recognized by the American Supreme Court in 1870, in the case Virginia v. West Virginia.
All across West Virginia are locales that tell their unique story. There are many attractions across the state, from historical monuments to natural scenic wonders. As the summer months approach the calendar here are the seven best towns in West Virginia that you need to visit in 2024.
Berkeley Springs
Apple Butter Festival Booths in Historic Downtown Berkeley Springs, Morgan County, West Virginia.
Berkeley Springs is situated in Morgan County, in the Northeastern corner of the state. It was officially established on December 6, 1776, through the authority of Lord Fairfax. Today, Berkely Springs is a town of beauty and history.
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Berkely Springs State Park dates back to the early 18th century. It was here that the early European settlers noticed the appeal of the local springs. Today visitors can take advantage of the multiple bathouses on the premises, with waters as warm as 74.3 degrees.
Rocks-N-Glass is a local shop that specializes in handcrafted items. The shop owner, Khosrow Javid, has spent decades working on his craft. Javid’s creations are well worth exploring, as they were inspired by his time in the Middle East.
The Morgan County Observatory is local to Berkeley Springs. With its Celestron telescope and interactive exhibits, visitors are entertained for an evening. The observatory’s purpose is to foster an interest in the stars. Upcoming events at the observatory include Public Star Gazing Evenings on May 11th, 2024, and June 15th, 2024.
Prospect Peak is a local overlook. Visitors arrive at this point following a trail from Cacapon State Park. Its view captures the Potomac and Great Cacapon valleys and is widely recognized for its natural beauty.
Berkeley Castle is a 9,300-square-foot property built by businessman Samuel Taylor Suit. The historic structure consists of a grand staircase, a secret passageway, and a breathtaking view. After centuries of different ownership, today, the castle has become a premiere local landmark.
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White Sulphur Springs
Greenbrier Resort, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
White Sulpher Springs sits inside Greenbrier County in the southeastern region of West Virginia. The name was inspired by the mineral springs reported to be within the region in the late 18th century. The town was once a battleground for the American Civil War. In August 1863, Confederate troops attempted to stop a marching Union force. Today visitors to White Sulphur Springs are greeted with a lovely experience featuring generations of history and great places for cuisine.
The Greenbrier Resort is a crown jewel in White Sulphur Springs. For over two centuries, the premises have been a perfect place for visitors. The resort is stuffed with modern amenities, from an adventure course to a gaming arcade, and is set in a beautiful region of the state.
There are several restaurants in West Sulphur Springs that provide a long list of dining options. One such place is the Local Cafe. Having opened recently, the establishment has already become popular amongst the locals. Visitors can enjoy a nice cup of coffee, and a variety of dessert options, including Ice Cream. A second local dining establishment is The Lunch Box. For over a decade, they have provided all patrons with a lovely selection of sandwiches, and salads. Guests come for a lovely natural atmosphere and enjoy the delicious handcrafted selections. The Lodge Outdoor Pool Cafe is a popular dining establishment. Visitors can relax with a great view of the nearby Snead Golf Course. While enjoying the outdoors they can sample from a diverse menu of options, including the Pool Burger. It features applewood-smoked bacon, lettuce, and pickles.
There are several ways to enjoy the outdoors in White Sulphur Springs. At Lynch Field Park guests can spend the day accessing the two available pickleball courts. There are multiple local pools to enjoy as well. The White Sulphur Springs community pool is new to the neighborhood, as visitors can spend a day enjoying the cool water, and slide. The Summit Swimming Pool is another location, providing a cool relaxing experience within the scenic beauty of the Allegheny Mountains. The Snead Course is the premiere Golf Course within the region. The 18-hole course is named after local PGA alumnus Samuel Snead. It is a lovely scenic course, with each hole providing a unique challenge for those who play.
Shepherdstown
A scene from Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Editorial credit: Alizada Studios / Shutterstock.com
Shepherdstown is located in Jefferson County, along the Potomac River, in the northeast corner of the state. It is widely considered the oldest town in the state. The first local settlements date back to the early 18th century. More would follow when the founder of the town, Thomas Cochran Shepherd acquired 222 acres of land. Over the centuries Shepherdstown has witnessed many chapters of American History, developing a reputation as the “Most haunted town in America” in the process.
Seated in Shepherdstown is a momument to James Rumsey. The inventor made history on December 3, 1787, when he showcased his hydraulic-propelled steamship. Many historical figures attended the event, including George Washington. Today, a 75-foot monument stands above the Potomac River, commemorating Rumsey’s legacy.
The Contemporary American Theater Festival is an annual local event. Started in 1991, the festival occurs over a four week period at the local university. Over the years, many writers have had their works shown at the festival, from Joyce Carolyn Oates to Cherylene Lee. So be ready for July, as a new list of highly acclaimed plays comes out for 2024.
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The Shepherdstown Opera House was built back in 1910 and commissioned by the mayor at the time, Upton Scott Martin. For its first few years of operation, the theatre primarily showed silent moving pictures. Following a change of ownership, the theatre embraced the rise of motion entertainment and became a public staple for several decades afterward. Today, after having undergone recent renovations the theatre is open to the public for a night of entertainment.
Harpers Ferry
View of Harpers Ferry and Potomac River from Maryland Heights.
The town of Harpers Ferry is located in Jefferson County in the Eastern corner of the state. Its founder, Robert Harper, established It in the mid-18th century. The town has been the setting for many chapters in history. In October 1859, abolitionist John Brown led an unsuccessful raid on the armory. Today, Harpers Ferry still stands, awaiting visitors looking to learn about the local history.
John Brown’s fort is a historic monument first constructed in 1848. In 1859, the structure served as a final defensive stand for John Brown and his men during their infamous attempted raid. Following the raid, the fort served as a prison during the American Civil War. Today, it stands tall, 150 feet from its historic location.
St. John’s Episcopal Church was completed in 1852. The building served as a hospital and military barracks during the Civil War. Subsequent damages to the church were later fixed in future rebuilding efforts. By 1907, the structure had begun to deteriorate. In 1961, the National Park Service began stabilizing the existing structure to maintain what still stands today.
True Treats is a unique local candy store. Established in 2010, the store celebrates the universal love for candy. They do this by serving treats dated throughout world history. For example, visitors can order authentic Turkish Delight and learn that it was first designated as medicine before becoming the treat many people love.
Lewisburg
Historic Lewisburg, West Virginia along US Route 60
Lewisburg, West Virginia, is located in Greenbrier County to the west of White Sulphur Springs. The town was named after eighteenth-century surveyor Andrew Lewis. It was officially incorporated in 1782 and subsequently became the county seat of Greenbrier County. On May 23, 1862, Lewisburg was the setting of a twenty-seven-minute Civil War skirmish. Today, Lewisburg is a nationally recognized town with plenty of history.
The Confederate Cemetery is a historic local landmark. It is here that the bodies of more than 90 soldiers were buried following the bloody Civil War battle. Union General George Crook refused to let the deceased Confederate soldiers be buried in a region known for being sympathetic to the Confederates. The Mass grave would be created after the war; now, the cemetery is a piece of American history and can be accessed via a walking trail near the Greenbrier County Public Library.
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For over a century, the Lewisburg Carnegie Hall has entertained local residents with live art performances. The building is named after philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Today Visitors can book tickets for a variety of live entertainment. Upcoming on the schedule is a live showing of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, from July 25th to July 27th 2024.
Lost World Caverns was founded officially in 1942. Situated 120 feet below the ground, visitors can explore the beauty found underneath the surface of the earth. The Caverns are known for their unique stalactite and stalagmite formations. One of the stalagmites, known as the “War Club,” is infamous in history. In 1971, Mr. Bob Addis earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records by sitting on the stalagmite for 16 days.
Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant, West Virginia Riverfront Amphitheater with the Point Pleasant-Kanauga Railroad Bridge over the Ohio River.
Point Pleasant is located in Mason County along the Ohio River. The region was first surveyed by Pierre-Joseph Celoron de Blainville. This was through an expedition that he led, down the Ohio River. Settlers began moving into the region, and by 1833 Point Pleasant was officially incorporated. Today visitors can explore a lovely town, with its own unique local culture featuring a popular urban legend.
The Mothman Museum is dedicated to the story of the local urban legend. During the 1960s, there were many sightings of a unique insect-looking figure. The museum is the only place with all the details about this period in local history. From eyewitness testimonials to an adjoining gift shop for enthusiasts, this museum features many things.
Tu-Endei-Wei State Park is home to an 84-foot granite monument commemorating the October 10, 1774 skirmish. Historians consider this battle a key moment at the start of the American Revolution. Today, visitors can observe the monument and learn about this chapter in early American history.
Located just outside of Point Pleasant is the TNT Area. An 8,000-acre region of land, it was used during the Second World War to build ammunition. By the 1980s, the region (now known as the McClintic Wildlife Management Area) was rediscovered. Today, visitors are drawn to the region to witness the destructive nature of human warfare.
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Hinton
Downtown Hinton, West Virginia. Image credit Tim Kiser (w:User: Malepheasant), CC BY-SA 3.0 US, via Wikimedia Commons
Hinton lies within Summers County. The town is named after John Hinton, a lawyer from the region. Hinton began as simple farmland before the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway purchased the land in the 1870s. The town has had a history in Hollywood Entertainment. It was one of the locations for the 1994 film “Lassie.”
The Hinton Railroad Museum is the place to explore a chapter in the history of the town. Visitors can walk across the premises and browse exhibits that date back to the early days of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. These exhibits include model trains and tools from that period in history.
For nearly a century, the Ritz has entertained people. With a 310-seat hall, the Theatre is the perfect location for a night out at the movies. Upcoming features at the Ritz include the movie “IF.” Showcases occur from May 24th to 27th, 2024.
Wild Water Express is the perfect spot in Hinton for those wanting to enjoy a lovely warm day outdoors. The park includes a public swimming pool and multiple water slides! For those not interested in the water, volleyball, and basketball courts are located on the premises. Wild Water Express opens to the public for another summer season on May 25th, 2024.
The state of West Virginia is filled with adventure. There are countless towns within the state’s borders, each providing its unique history and culture. A special adventure is guaranteed so plan your visit now!
CHARLESTON, W.Va (WCHS) — As the conversation around two large transmission lines being built through parts West Virginia continues, the biggest question remaining is, will ratepayers be impacted?
The Valley North project is on the table and it would span from Putnam County to Frederick County, Maryland, totaling to 260 miles. Two new substations would also be built, one in Hardy County and the other in Frederick County Maryland.
According to the project website, these lines would strengthen the grid to deliver more reliable and affordable electricity to homes, hospitals, schools and businesses.
Energy Efficent West Virginia policy director, Emmett Pepper said, building these lines will not strengthen the power that we get at home.
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“We have some of the least reliable electricity in the country here in West Virginia. That’s not because of the large transmission lines that we see their tower above us. It’s because of the local distribution lines, the ones that come close to our homes. While there can be some small amount of benefit potentially from the big transmission lines going in, it is the local lines that are the problem and that is not being addressed by this,” he said.
Lawmakers we spoke with earlier this month said between both transmission line projects, West Virginia could have to front the bill for anywhere between $440 million to $900 million.
“This is going to be more cost for rate payers and will not fix our problems here. There are other places in the region that have issues with transmission, but that’s not our issue,” Pepper said.
He said he’d like to see state leaders take action to ensure these costs don’t fall back on ratepayers.
“I think we need to have a rate payers’ bill of rights that would actually protect people and have a plan for how we’re going to deal with this so that it has less of an impact on rate payers,” he said.
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Multiple open houses are scheduled for this project in West Virginia:
-Berkeley County, WV: July 7, 2026 | 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. Holiday Inn Martinsburg Foxcroft Ballroom
– Hampshire County, WV: July 8, 2026 | 4:00 – 7:30 p.m Bottling Works Event Center
– Tucker County, WV:July 8, 2026 | 4:00 – 7:30 p.m.Tucker County High School
– Hardy County, WV: July 9, 2026 | 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. Misty Mountain Event Barn
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– Barbour County, WV: July 15, 2026 | 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. Philippi Middle School
– Lewis County, WV: July 16, 2026 | 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. Robert L. Bland Middle School
– Upshur County, WV: July 16, 2026 | 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. The Event Center at Brushy Fork
– Harrison County, WV: July 21, 2026 | 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. South Harrison High School
– Preston County, WV: July 21, 2026 | 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. Craig Civic Center
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– Calhoun County, WV: July 22, 2026 | 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. Calhoun County Middle-High School
– Gilmer County, WV: July 22, 2026 | 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. Glenville State University Waco Center
– Braxton County, WV: July 23, 2026 | 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. Days Inn Flatwood Conference Center
– Grant County, WV: July 23, 2026 | 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. Landes Arts Center
– Kanawha County, WV: July 28, 2026 | 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. Sissonville Middle School
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– Roane County, WV: July 28, 2026 | 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. Spencer Armory
– Jackson County, WV: July 29, 2026 | 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. Greene Center
– Putnam County, WV: July 29, 2026 | 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. Poca High School
The grim discovery was made on the morning of June 14 on Cabin Creek Road in Kanawha County. PHOTO: WCHS TV
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Putnam County man has been identified as the victim in a homicide from two weeks ago.
The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday afternoon that the victim was Joseph Lovett, 28, of Hurricane. Human remains were discovered near a burning vehicle in the 300 block of Cabin Creek Road on June 14. Those remains were sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to be identified.
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Harold Patterson
A man was already in custody in connection to Lovett’s death. A coordinated law enforcement effort from Kanawha and Putnam counties, in addition to North Carolina authorities, led to the arrest of Harold Patterson, 27, of Laurinburg, North Carolina, on June 16.
Patterson was charged with first-degree murder.
He’s being held in the Scotland County Detention Center in North Carolina, pending extradition back to West Virginia.
The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is ongoing.
by Jasmine Milbourne, Mountain State Spotlight June 30, 2026
HUNDRED, W.Va, — Every day, Austin Hayes drives with his mom through the mountains of West Virginia’s northern corridor heading east to school. A once proud Hundred High School Hornet, Hayes is now an incoming junior at North Marion High School in Farmington.
After the consolidation of his high school in Wetzel County, Hayes decided to attend school in another county. His commute is about 20 minutes, but that’s only a fifth of the time some of his former classmates travel to their new school, Valley High.
“There’s a lot of kids that have to sit on the bus, that was the main complaint,” he said. “The bus times.”
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In November 2024, the Wetzel County Board of Education voted to consolidate four of the county’s high schools into two. Students at Paden City High School would go to Magnolia High School and those at Hundred High School would go to Valley High School. By 2029, all students would go to one school.
Students in Wetzel County are hardly alone. Across West Virginia, public schools are rapidly closing. Political leaders are cutting taxes and funneling hundreds of millions of taxpayer money into a school voucher program, while wringing their hands about local school financial struggles.
Meanwhile students, parents and community members in Wetzel County want change. They’d like elected officials and bureaucrats to listen more to the people, fix the school funding formula and try to protect other communities from losing their schools.
Before the Wetzel County school board voted to consolidate, board members held public meetings at multiple schools in the county to hear the community’s concerns.
Hayes, then a student at Hundred High School, joined the teachers, staff and other community members who came out. He participated in football, basketball and track.
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Austin Hayes, began attending school in Marion county after his previous school, Hundred High, in Wetzel County, consolidated with Valley High at the end of the 2024 – 2025 school year. Courtesy Photo
“A lot of Hundred students that go to Valley now, sit on the bus for at least an hour every day, just going one way, and it’s just unfeasible for a lot of Hundred students to have the same opportunities for after-school sports and stuff,” he said.
A mother of three, Abby Tennant’s youngest child attended Paden City High School before it shut down. “I loved Paden City,” Tennant said. “Everybody knew my daughter, they knew what was going on with her. She needed help. It was freely given.”
Tennant went to multiple board meetings, asking questions and raising concerns about what this would mean for the students. After the consolidation decision, she opted to put her daughter in school in another county.
Wetzel County school board member Jimmy Glasscock was the only member to vote against both consolidations. He said he was disappointed that the board didn’t listen to the voters in the county.
“We’ve lost our students, we’ve lost our communities, we’ve lost our teachers, we’ve lost our service personnel, we just continue losing, and we will continue losing,” he said.
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Following the county school board’s vote to consolidate, the West Virginia Board of Education met and voted to approve the consolidation.
“I went to the state board meeting and spoke out against it as well, and honestly, that disappointed me just as much,” Hayes said. He said that neither the county nor the state school boards had adequately addressed concerns the community shared.
Since attending North Marion, Hayes doesn’t participate in as many extracurriculars or sports.
In this year’s legislative session, Sen. Jay Taylor, R-Taylor, sponsored a bill that would have required a county vote before closing schools. Although Taylor is a member of the Senate Education Committee, he said he doesn’t know why the bill didn’t come up for a vote.
“I wanted to protect rural schools,” Taylor said. He believes more money should be going to the students and that part of that change is fixing the funding formula.
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School funding formula ‘outdated and convoluted’
Schools around West Virginia are hemorrhaging enrollment. State school board President Paul Hardesty warned in January that financial hardship and closures they were seeing in Hancock County were only the beginning. This month, he said up to 20 schools could close in the coming year.
Since 2019, 70 public schools have closed and over 30,000 students have left the West Virginia public school system. In the last year, Wetzel County Public Schools have lost over 150 students, dipping below 2,000 students in the county.
At the beginning of this year’s legislative session, House legislators heard from consultants they had hired to study the state’s public education system. The consultants told them they needed to rework the state’s school funding formula and cap the Hope Scholarship. Lawmakers made no changes to either.
Wetzel County is the biggest producer of oil and gas in the state, but the drilling boom hasn’t brought the prosperity that advocates predicted, as the school funding formula bases pay for teachers on enrollment. And the county’s enrollment doesn’t support the number of teachers on the payroll.
Del. Bill Bell, a fifth-grade teacher in Wetzel County, said, “The formula itself is outdated and convoluted.”
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Bell campaigned during the Republican primary on strengthening public schools and ensuring that teachers and service personnel were compensated competitively. He lost.
Sen. Charles Clements, R-Wetzel, served as the vice chair of the Senate Education Committee. He sponsored a bill this year that would have updated the school aid formula mandating funding for 1,200 students per county even if enrollment falls below that. The education committee never put the bill on the agenda.
“We have a constitutional obligation to provide an education to the students in West Virginia,” Clements said. He is not running for reelection.
Clements’ bill was among several proposed changes to the formula. Other proposals included one by Del. Joe Ellington, R-Mercer, that would have created a block grant for all counties and a supplemental account for special needs students. Ellington introduced the legislation in February, and the clock ran out on the session while lawmakers were still talking about it. He did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Beyond the classroom
Jessup Higgins, a 2026 graduate of Magnolia High School, is hoping to go to community college for electrical work. He was originally a student at Paden City before it closed.
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“It was definitely a nerve-wracking transfer to Magnolia, because I didn’t know anybody there, and I had no idea what it was going to be like, because it’s probably three times the [size] school that I went to,” Higgins said.
He attended the Wetzel County Technical Education Center during his high school career. He said that aside from his family, he doesn’t plan to stay in Wetzel to explore other opportunities.
“[I’d] like to leave my hometown and go, you know, see what the world has to offer,” Higgins said. “And also, there isn’t a whole lot of money around here.”
Lisa Stillion, a retired nurse who taught in both Wetzel and Ohio counties believes the state needs to invest in broadband, infrastructure and technical education programs to keep its students.
“Our state just keeps losing people, and there’s nothing you can do to replace them, because the industry is just not here,” she said.
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The Paden City High School building now houses a few small businesses.
In November 2025, the Wetzel County school board purchased land in Porters Falls to build a new campus that will include a new career and technical center. Part of pulling their resources together is making sure they have qualified teachers including those for technical education.
“I think these kids need to be better prepared for what’s going to be their career and their way of supporting themselves as they graduate,” Stillion said. “Not every kid’s going to college, and that mindset needs to be looked at.”
Born and raised in Paden City, Rodney McWilliams is a 1984 graduate of Paden City High School. He is a distinguished alumni award winner. McWilliams believes part of keeping people in the communities is making sure their schools stay open and investing in their students.
He said there aren’t many business or work opportunities in Paden City that would make people stay in the community otherwise. McWilliams is the president of the Paden City Foundation, a philanthropic organization that gives scholarships to Paden City High School alumni and supports various civic projects around the city.
He opposed the decision to consolidate the schools because he said the school was the main hub of the town.
“My interest is basically sentimental for myself and for people that hold the school near and dear, historical reasons,” he said. “And, also, to keep the town on the map.”
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This <a target=”_blank” href=”https://mountainstatespotlight.org/2026/06/30/school-closures-impact-communities/”>article</a> first appeared on <a target=”_blank” href=”https://mountainstatespotlight.org”>Mountain State Spotlight</a> and is republished here under a <a target=”_blank” href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/”>Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src=”https://i0.wp.com/mountainstatespotlight.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/cropped-MountainStateSpotlight-Icon.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1″ style=”width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;”>
