19 Monongahela River Mapping Marion County s Downtown Fairmont R ' Hamilton Round Barn Follow Route 250 Top Attractions toward Mannington c L E C 7979 Table GH 250 J K I B FairmontFairmont of Contents H J 19 I GF A 4 Outdoor Recreation 6 Local Flavor White Hall C 8 A Treasured Past 250 Pleasant Valley 10 Create & Rejuvenate 310 12 Italy in Appalachia 14 Civil War 16 Family Fun M o 18 Heritage non gahela River 21 Relax and Unwind 79 D 22 Entertainment 24 Play 27 Golfing 250 Places to go 27 Craft Beverages 28 Places to Shop A VISITOR CENTER / KOREAN F COUNTRY CLUB BAKERY K MARION COUNTY HISTORICAL {31 Travel Resources WAR MEMORIAL FLAG Taste the original pepperoni roll. SOCIETY MUSEUM Your gateway to Marion County! Share Marion County’s deep roots and step 32 Places to Eat G BARRACKVILLE B DOWNTOWN FAIRMONT COVERED BRIDGE into the old jail cells. 36 Places to Stay Discover historic architecture, quaint shops, Stroll the rustic, old-timey bridge, tucked HAMILTON ROUND BARN IN and small-town charm. in a scenic setting. MANNINGTON (not pictured) CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU OF 38 Places to Gather Browse the history of agriculture through C PRICKETTS FORT STATE PARK H FRANK & JANE GABOR MARION COUNTY Meet 18th century reenactors and learn WV FOLKLIFE CENTER farming tools. Leisha Elliott - Executive Director about heritage crafting. Explore our Appalachian heritage PHOTO CREDITS: Ben Amend, D VALLEY FALLS STATE PARK and history. Marion County CVB, Molly Wolff. Watch the pounding falls, go fishing, or I SAGEBRUSH ROUND-UP The information contained in this Visitors explore the mountains. Enjoy country, bluegrass, and roots music Guide has been gathered from numerous E RAIL TRAIL every Saturday! sources and is believed to be accurate. The Bureau cannot be responsible for changes, Wind through rolling hills, old train J FIDO’S BACKYARD and we recommend checking in advance to tracks, and riverbeds. Let your pooch stretch and play at this off- confirm specific details. the-interstate stop. Valley Falls State Park Outdoor Recreation et ready. Family parks, outdoor games, and wilderness escapes are right around the corner. After all, you’re in Marion County — the center of all that’s wild, wonderful, and fun. Welcome to our backyard. Let’s play! GAnybody up for waves and whitewater? East Marion Veterans Memorial Park has a playground, game courts, trails, and best of all, a wave pool and slide! For something wilder, head to Valley Falls State Park for an afternoon of powerful whitewater on the Tygart Valley River. Marion County also has games ashore. There’s disc golf at Morris Park in Pleasant Valley, putt-putt at the quirky Coal Country Miniature Golf in Fairmont, and an outdoor shooting range at Dents Run Wildlife Management Area in Mannington. You can hunt and fish there, too. Other highlights include hikes and camping at Curtisville Lake and Campground in Mannington. That’s just a preview. Convenient and accessible, Marion also makes the perfect basecamp! We’re the middle of everywhere. Davis, a prime destination for Nordic and downhill skiing, is just two hours away. We’re also close to Tygart Lake State Park in Grafton and Coopers Rock State Forest in Bruceton Mills. Or, spend the day on the Monongahela River, which flows through Marion and surrounding counties. Scan the code for a look at scenic Valley Falls State Park. 4 5 Colasessano’s ood and unique places to dine are at the center of everything in Marion County. From gigantic ice cream cones to authentic Local F Italian meatballs, discover food that’s delicious and fun. Start with Muriale’s Italian Kitchen in Fairmont. Italian family recipes make every dish pop with flavor, whether it’s Aunt Mary’s meat lasagna or the house gnocchi. Dairy Creme Corner is another sure-fire hit, though for different reasons. The Fairmont favorite serves Flavor mind-boggling cones, including nine swirls of soft serve, plus lots of flavors and toppings. Another mainstay is DJ’s 50s and 60s Diner. Sink into the booths and experience nostalgic delights like banana splits and jukebox tunes. For artisanal fare, visit The Rambling Root. The restaurant/brewery serves innovative sandwiches, pasta, and craft brews. The Poky Dot is especially popular with families. Expect gigantic desserts, towering burgers, and whimsical decor to boot. Taste it all in Marion County! While you’re staying in town, consider exploring the region. The cities of Morgantown, Bridgeport, Clarksburg, Weston, and Buckhannon are within reach with plenty more unique dining options. Buon appetito, and welcome to the Middle of Everywhere! Scan the code to learn more about the iconic pepperoni roll. 6 7 Past tep through an open gateway to the past. Journey to Marion County, where heritage is a natural resource! You’re invited to share the wealth, here and throughout our “middle of everywhere” region. SPricketts Fort State Park in Fairmont is a great place to start. The recreated encampment conjures the 18th century with costumed interpreters, historic trades, and colorful events. Prefer a later era? The Barrackville Covered Bridge is the site of an 1863 Civil War skirmish. Hamilton Round Barn in Mannington is another treasure. Built in 1911, the landmark originally served as a dairy barn and was home to the first electric milking machine in Marion County. The West Augusta Historical Society now owns the barn and operates it as a museum; visit to see a collection of antique farm equipment, early mining tools, and other West Virginia artifacts. There’s so much more to explore, too. Heritage overflows our borders to places like Arthurdale, America’s first New Deal settlement, and Philippi, where you can see real mummies. And see The Robinson Grand — a fully restored 1913 theater — in Clarksburg. Marion County really is the middle of everywhere! Enjoy your travels through time, both here and beyond. Pricketts Fort State Park 8 9 Joe N' Throw Itineraries JOE N’ THROW Grab a coffee, craft beer or bite to eat or try your hand at making pottery at this unique spot. Walk-in or sign up for one of Joe N’ Throw’s many ceramics classes. Learn how to throw clay on a wheel as you sip a brew and take home a one-of-a-kind handcrafted souvenir created by you. MAIN STREET YOGA Find your flow at Fairmont’s first yoga studio. From beginners to postnatal classes, Main Street Yoga aims Create & to make yoga accessible to everyone. Drop in for one of the ten different offerings or schedule a private session for your specific needs. Group yoga is also available. Rejuvenate MOUNTAIN CREATIVE Tap into your inner artist. Mountain Creative is an inspiring environment for all. Paint your own pottery or wooden sign, make a mosaic, take a clay hand building class or lessons on the wheel or shop for some local, handmade pieces. The Mountain Mess Room is available to rent for private events. TUSCAN SUN SPA AND SALON Experience ultimate relaxation at Tuscan Sun Spa and Salon. Tuscan Sun combines the finest treatments and Gather your friends for a Marion County products, with the most innovative equipment, provided by highly skilled experts, to help achieve your desired getaway! While youre here, let your creativity results. Schedule a full spa experience or shop in their flow with DIY art projects and relax with yoga boutique where you can find all the latest spa products. classes and spa treatments.’ 10 11 Itineraries MURIALE’S ITALIAN KITCHEN Italy in At this cozy restaurant, authentic family recipes brighten every dish. Order specialties like homemade meatballs, manicotti, and Aunt Mary’s meat lasagna — a favorite since 1969. Appalachia COLASESSANO’S There’s pizza, and then there’s Italian pizza. Taste the Fairmont s authentic difference at Colasessano’s. Ingredients like house-made ’ sauce and specials like pepperoni buns crank up the flavor. Italian heritage is yours You won’t want to miss their gelato, either. to taste, savor, and COUNTRY CLUB BAKERY experience. Buon appetito! Ever tried a pepperoni roll? It’s a West Virginia staple invented by Country Club Bakery. Try the original recipe or pick another snack from their assortment of pies and cookies. our itine Add these to y rary in Decem if you visit us ber. FEAST OF THE SEVEN FESTIVAL CUCINA FISHES FESTIVAL Cook like a native. Held the At this Christmas festival, Italian evening before the Feast of heritage rules the day with the Seven Fishes Festival, this authentic cuisine, lively music, and cooking school event is your wine. This festival is held on the chance to experience cooking second Saturday in December. demonstrations of traditional Italian holiday dishes. Muriale's Italian Kitchen 12 13 Itineraries BARRACKVILLE COVERED BRIDGE This 1853 gem is the second oldest covered bridge in West Virginia. It was almost destroyed by a Confederate general in 1863. Fortunately, locals convinced him to spare it. WOODLAWN CEMETERY Fairmont’s historic burial ground has several Civil War figures and veterans, including Frances Pierpont, the Civil “Father of West Virginia.” War FAIRMONT SUSPENSION BRIDGE When Confederate General Jones’ men attacked the city (and its railroad) in 1863, they left behind bullet holes in the piers. Look for the marker on Madison Street. Marion County saw lots of action during the 1860s. What historic finds will you THE FLEMING HOUSE discover in the middle of everywhere? Aretas Brooks Fleming was the eighth governor of West Virginia and the prosecuting attorney for Marion County Learn more about the role Marion County during the Civil War. His home is located on Jefferson played in the Civil War and West Virginia’s Street in downtown Fairmont.