Begin your Two Towns and a Story Teller tour by reserving a room in one of Beckley’s hotels or B & B’s. Have lunch at TAMARACK “The Best of West Virginia” in the taste of the Greenbrier food court. Visit the home of Gereral Alfred Beckley, the “Wildwood” House Museum, built 1835-36. Beckley has also been referred to as Beckleyville and its nickname was the “Smokeless Coal Capital”. See for yourself the “Smokless Coal” seams of the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine a National Historic Site where visitors can experience a unique underground tour in an authentic “man car” conducted by veteran coal miners. Tour a historical coal camp. Take a few steps back in time and discover what it was like living in the coal camps of Southern West Virginia. Located just steps away from the coal mine are the Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia and the Mountain Homestead. Here trained interpreters will take you through a late 19th century two-story log house, one room school house, barn, blacksmith shop, weaver’s shed and general store. After visiting the exhibition coal mine travel to Fayette County via Rt 19 to the New River Gorge Bridge the longest steel arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere with a 1,700’ span. After crossing the bridge stop at the Canyon Rim Visitor’s Center located immediately on your right. The visitor’s center has a small theatre where groups can watch a 15 min. film explaining the history of the gorge and coal mining in the Fayette County Area. There is also a small museum, an indoor overlook, an outdoor overlook with a view above the bridge, and a 175 step walk below the bridge. After leaving the visitor’s center continue traveling north on Rt 19 to Rt 60 also referred to as the Midland Trail. Travel east on Rt 60 to the most photographed place in West Virginia Babcock State Park. The Grist Mill is made from several working parts of other mills around the state. Visitors will receive a demonstration and a speech on flour and cornmeal making. Once you leave the park travel back west on Rt 60 to Blue Smoke Salsa where you can watch an international award winning salsa being made right on the premises and try each flavor at a salsa buffet. Tours are $5 per person and include a jar of salsa (prices subject to change). Next proceed west to Hawk’s Nest State Park and purchase tickets for a tram ride down into the gorge and ride Miss M. Rock’s the New River Jetboat up the New River under the New River Gorge Bridge. The ride lasts approximately 15 minutes and is senior friendly.

For evening entertainment Karen Vuranch owner of WV Enterprises and interpretive story teller will take you on a journey with Mary Ingles, Pearl Buck or a variety of other characters. Karen performs at several locations around our nine county region also offering great dining opportunities.

Begin the mystery by reserving a room at one of the many cabins, hotels or Bed & Breakfasts in the area. Have dinner at one of the locally owned restaurants in Fayetteville. After dinner take a walk around the historic town of Fayetteville. The town is full of civil war history and you can pick up a copy of the walking tour at the local visitor’s bureau located next to the Janutolo (Jan-u-toe-low) Park. The well located in the park served as the only source of water for both the Union and the Confederate armies. As a result the fighting would often come to a stand still when each side needed to refill their water buckets. Two union soldiers who would later be elected to presidency, Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley also served in battle in the town of Fayetteville and described the town as a fine village with comfortable homes surrounded with beautiful trees and shrubs. It was also in Fayetteville where the use of indirect firing of artillery was used for the first time in military warfare. After your walking tour be sure and get a good night sleep, tomorrow you are going to meet Miss M. Rock.

Have breakfast at Cathedral Café a restaurant located in what was once a quaint 100-year old church. After breakfast travel across Route 19 also know as the Coal Heritage Trail. Along the trail you will cross the New River Gorge Bridge the longest steel arch bridge in the western hemisphere. After crossing the bridge stop at the Canyon Rim Visitor’s Center for a bird’s eye view of the bridge or walk 175 steps below to admire the construction of the bridge. You can also watch a 15 minute video which describes the history of coal mining and the gorge as well as browse the coal mine museum.

Keep traveling north along the trail until you reach the entrance to route 60 this is the Midland Trail. Turn right towards Ansted and Hawk’s Nest State Park. Once you reach the park purchase tickets and hop on the tram. Are you ready to meet Miss M. Rock’s? All Aboard! Sit back and relax to enjoy the best view of the New River Gorge. Miss M. Rocks the New River Jetboat will take you up the New River for spectacular views of the gorge and an up close view of the bridge. After your ride be sure and stop in Blue Smoke Salsa an award winning salsa making company located five minutes from Hawk’s Nest. Robin Hildebrand has enclosed her kitchen in glass so that you can watch her staff make their award winning salsa right on the premises. Be sure to check out the sample bar for a taste. A jar of this unique salsa makes a great gift to take home to family and friends. Across the street from Blue Smoke is the new Ansted Culture and Heritage Museum, which houses 2 collections, one of which tells the history of the Midland Trail from pre-pioneer days to the modern industrial era of the 1940’s, the other is a collection of Civil War weapons and items.

Start your Hatfield and McCoy family adventure with an Appalachian themed dinner at TAMARACK “The Best of West Virginia”. Try the Appalachian Mountain Burger with Red Eye Country Ham, Fried Green Tomatoes, Swiss Cheese, and Real McCoy Mustard Sauce. Another local favorite is the Pan-Fried West Virginia Rainbow Trout with Lemon Brown Butter, Skillet Fried Potatoes and seasonal greens. Leave room for dessert! There is Bread Pudding with Cinnamon Sauce. The show starts at 8:15 pm so travel south on Interstate 77 and merge onto Interstate 64 towards Lewisburg. Take exit 129B onto Grandview Road and travel five minutes to Grandview. As the sun sets on the Cliffside Amphitheatre allow yourself to be taken back in time to the 1800’s. Some say it started with a dispute over ownership of a hog. Others say the ill-fated love of Roseanne McCoy and Johnse Hatfield caused it. Whatever the reason, there was bad blood between the Hatfields of West Virginia and the McCoys of Kentucky. This historical drama chronicles the battles and bloodshed spurred by pride and politics. The story of the Hatfields and McCoys has been told and retold until the real men and women diffuse into myth, but they did exist. After the smoke clears in the morning get the day started with a hearty breakfast at the Cracker Barrel located on exit 44. Now that you’ve seen the tale, take a road trip to visit The Hatfield Cemetery in Logan county. The Hatfield Cemetery is the resting place for several key participants in the Hatfield-McCoy feud. Buried here are the leader of the Hatfield clan, Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield; his son , Johnse, whose affair with Roseanna McCoy was a crucial turning point in the feud; French Ellis, who married into the family and was an active participant in many feud events; Devil Anse’s wife, Levicy; and several more of the Hatfield children. Begin your trip by taking exit 42 from Interstate 77 onto state route 16 also referred to as the “Coal Heritage Trail”. This portion of the trail takes you deep into coal country passing through what were once thriving coal camps including the towns of Stotesburg, Tams, Helen, Amigo and Allen Junction. The trip from Mullens to Pineville takes you through Itmann, named for coal baron, I.T. Mann, and along the scenic Guyandotte River. Follow WV-16 straight onto WV-10, straight onto WV-97. Turn onto US-52 and turn right onto WV-44 ending in the town of Sarah Ann. (Plan at least one extra day during the Annual Hatfield- McCoy Reunion Festival held in June).

Beckley was named in honor of John J. Beckley, who was the first Clerk of the House of Representatives and the first Librarian of Congress. It was founded by his son Alfred Beckley (US Army general and confederate militia commander). Begin your Smokeless Coal Tour by reserving a room in one of Beckley’s hotels or B & B’s. Visit the home of Gereral Alfred Beckley, the “Wildwood” House Museum, built 1835-36 and the Raleigh County Veterans Museum. Beckley has also been referred to as Beckleyville and its nickname was the “Smokeless Coal Capital”. See for yourself the “Smokless Coal” seams of the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine a National Historic Site where visitors can experience a unique underground tour in an authentic “man car” conducted by veteran coal miners. Tour a historical coal camp. Take a few steps back in time and discover what it was like living in the coal camps of Southern West Virginia. Located just steps away from the coal mine are the Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia and the Mountain Homestead. Here trained interpreters will take you through a late 19th century two-story log house, one room school house, barn, blacksmith shop, weaver’s shed and general store. Adjacent to the Coal Mine and Youth Museum is the New River Park and campground complete with outdoor pool, waterslide, tennis courts and playground. After learning about Beckley’s smokeless coal visit one of our several Antique Malls where you can find treasures such as lunch pails or carbide lights you were shown on your tour. After so much exploring and shopping we are sure you have worked up an appetite. Take advantage of our many restaurants on Harper Road conveniently located on exit 44. After dinner stretch and relax with a leisurely game of miniature golf at “Mountain State Miniature Golf” course where the holes have themes such as a Coal Mine, the New River Gorge Bridge, and Hatfield & McCoy Feud also located on exit 44.