West Virginia's
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on location: south O West Virgini a’s No rthern Panhandle The Wheeling area offers countless choices for groups touring this strip of land formed by the Ohio River and Pennsylvania state line By Dave Bodle West Virginia Tourism Division hroughout 2013 Wheeling and all of West Virginia are For those with a love of architecture, a glimpse into Wheel - celebrating 150 years of statehood. The birthplace of the ing’s grand Victorian homes is a must. In a community with T only state born out of the Civil War is Wheeling’s former one of the largest per capita collections of homes from the customs house and courthouse, now recognized as West middle to late 19th century, the largest assemblage is found in Virginia Independence Hall. Victorian Old Town on North Main Street. Guided tours are If you are missing the anniversary celebration of our 35th available at many of the homes from May through December. state, do not be dismayed. Regardless of when you visit the With reservations the 1892 restored Eckhart House offers Wheeling area, there will be plenty of fun-filled choices await - tea. Allow time for a stop at its gift shop. ing you. A good introduction to downtown Wheeling would be a visit to Centre Market , West Virginia’s oldest continuously operat - ing market. Dating back more than 150 years, it’s the place to experience that old-time friendliness at small local businesses that offer an eclectic choice of collectibles, antiques, crafts and quality dining. Make sure to check out Artworks Around Town. With a little morning shopping behind you, it’s time for a visit n o i s i v to West Virginia Independence Hall Civil War Historic Site i D m s i r & Museum , just down Market Street from Centre Market. Built u o T a i n six years before Lincoln signed the proclamation declaring i g r i V t West Virginia a state, it served as the capitol for the Restored s e W Government of Virginia, which was aligned with the Union from The 1928 Capitol Theatre, once home to weekly Jamboree radio broad - 1861-1863. An audio tour and film are available. casts, has been restored and presents concerts and Broadway shows. 34 June 2013 LeisureGroupTravel.com Obtain West Virginia visitor guides and itineraries and contact group-friendly suppliers directly at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info Oglebay Resort & Conference Center has a special place in Wheeling’s history. Wealthy Cleveland industrialist Earl W. Oglebay spared little expense on his summer estate just outside Wheeling. Upon his death in 1925 he willed his property to the people of Wheeling. Today the Wheeling Park Commission operates the 1,700-acre public resort. A recent $15-million renovation to the Wilson Lodge in - cluded guest rooms and suites and The West Spa. In addition to extensive meeting and conference facilities, Oglebay offers numerous tours. The behind-the-scenes Bissonnette Gardens Tour and Oglebay Institute’s Glass Museum are very popular. River City restaurant, on the first floor of the Wheeling Artisan Center, is a downtown entertainment hub that offers a bus group menu. Since 1985 guests have traveled to Oglebay Resort & Con - ference Center for the holiday-season Festival of Lights from nities. Shop the downtown Wheeling Artisan Center for West early November through the first of the New Year. Begin the ex - Virginia glass and pottery, plus other items from local and re - perience with a tour of the mansion decked out each year with gional artists. Oglebay Institute’s Stifel Fine Arts Center & a new theme and enjoy a holiday dinner show. Visit Oglebay’s School of Dance presents programs and art exhibitions Good Zoo for Winter Fantasy’s animated music and LED light throughout the year. The kid in all of us emerges with a visit to show. Complete your day with a Festival of Lights guided tour. Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum . And the museums at the If gaming is your choice, look no further than Wheeling Oglebay Resort & Conference Center are not to be missed. Is land Hotel-Casino-Racetrack . One of America’s top grey - After full days of educational visits, it’s time for Wheeling’s hound tracks, the casino features more than 2,000 slots, table entertainment offerings to shine. With more than 80 years en - games, a 151-room hotel and six restaurants. tertaining the Ohio Valley, the Capitol Music Hall has been ren - The Ohio River city also offers a wealth of cultural opportu - ovated and reopened as the Capitol Theatre. Its season on location: south O includes everything from concerts and Broadway productions to dance and comedy. The Wheeling Jamboree has equally “long legs” with the begin - ning of the weekly radio show in 1933. The Jamboree now broad - casts regularly from the 550-seat showroom at the Wheeling Island Hotel Casino Racetrack. The Victoria Theater in downtown Wheel - ing hosts the Victoria Jamboree the first Friday of every month, with classic music from the 1940s and ’50s. On Market Street, Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre offers dozens of plays each season in this church turned theater. Although a great destination for an extended stay, Wheeling is also the perfect place for day trips to explore West Virginia’s North - ern Panhandle region. Here are a few to get you started: A trip on U.S. 40, a Historic National Highway, is a return to sim - pler times. This was the first federally funded highway. Although only 16 miles from Wheeling to the Pennsylvania state line, it’s filled with landmarks. From the crown of Wheeling Hill a bronze Mingo Indian statue has watched over Wheeling for almost 100 years. One site tells the story of Major Samuel McCulloch’s terrifying leap to save residents of Ft. Henry from approaching Indians. Near the end of the Historic National Highway (or just off I-70 at Exit 10) is The Highlands shopping complex. Anchored by an out - post of Cabela’s, the ultimate outfitters mecca, the shopping and entertainment complex has more than 60 stores. Moundsville, a 15-minute drive down the Ohio River from Wheeling, is well worth a visit, boast - ing attractions like Fostoria Glass Museum , which houses a variety of Fostoria Glass Com - pany’s product. Grave Creek Mound , con - structed between 250-150 B.C., is the largest known of its type. One of the more unusual ex - periences in the Upper Panhandle region might be a tour of the former West Virginia Peniten - DISCOVER FRIENDSHIP tiary in Moundsville. Opened in 1876 and closed in 1995, this imposing structure with its Gothic castle look has seen riots, executions and fires. Just south of Moundsville is Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold: America’s Taj Mahal . Begun Discover the Greenbrier Valley, in 1973 as a simple home for the founder of the where history, luxury and Hare Krishna movement, the structure continued entertainment meet. to rise from the hills of West Virginia and exceed Visit greenbrierwv.com/groups for all expectations. complete details and ask for our new www.greenbrierwv.com/groups There is so much to see and do in Wheeling Destination Planning Guide. 888-820-0053 and the Northern Panhandle, and we have not LEWISBURG • WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS even begun to explore all the outdoor activities. RONCEVERTE • ALDERSON • RAINELLE Could this possibly be a place where you come for a week and want to stay a lifetime? I think so. LGT 36 June 2013 LeisureGroupTravel.com JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE 150 YEARS OF STATEHOOD BY EXPLORING OUR UNIQUE CULTURE AND HERITAGE! WVTOURISM.COM | 800- 225- 5982.