Start in Beckley by touring the Exhibition Coal Mine for the Morning. Go and Grab some lunch at Tamarack, and observe all they have to offer before you head down the Coal Heritage Trail through Sophia and into Mullens. Take the walking tour or Mullens and then head down to Twin Falls State Park for some hiking, dining, and lodging for the night. In the morning Twin Falls Restaurant serves breakfast, and then make your way south through Welch and into Bramwell. In Bramwell be sure to check out the museum in the Depot as well as all the historic buildings throughout town. After Bramwell, make your way further south into historic Bluefield. Explore this area and grab a bite for lunch at one of the local joints. For your afternoon head up to Princeton and check out the Railroad Museum up there. After the Museum you can head back up to Beckley to see the Eccles Mine Disaster Memorial to round out your trip.
Another Option is to start off your day in Beckley with the Exhibition Mine and Tamarack as before, but then head up to Fayetteville for the afternoon evening. Check out the Canyon Rim Visitor Center and then head into Fayetteville proper to explore and grab some dinner at one of the unique restaurants. After dinner, head down route 16 to Ansted and Hawks Nest State Park and spend your night at the Hawks Nest Lodge. In the morning grab some breakfast at the Hawks Nest Restaurant and then spend some time at the attractions around Ansted. Trek back up to Fayetteville and grab some lunch at the Cathedral Café before you head south down to the town of Thurmond. Explore the town of Thurmond and the depot museum before you cruise back to Beckley to round out your trip.
Millionaires and Miners
(The homes are open for tours to the public the 2nd Saturday in May and the 2nd Saturday in December. Private group tours may be arranged prior to arrival are available upon request contact Betty Goins at 304-248-8381)
Begin your tour by reserving a room in one of the areas hotels or motels Bluefield and Princeton have a variety of options. For a more romantic setting try the Perry House B & B located in Bramwell. On the first day of your journey recapture the Gilded Age by visiting the historic town of Bramwell. Bramwell was home to as many as nineteen millionaires and their families who made their fortunes from the Pocahontas coalfields. The tour begins at the Presbyterian Church where you will hear the general history of Bramwell. As you visit each home you are greeted by a costumed guide who will tell you the story of the original home owner and their families. After visiting the Bank of Bramwell stop in to the Masonic Temple for light refreshments. There are several unique boutiques located on Main Street to browse through. Be sure to visit the Coal Heritage Trail Interpretive Center where the locals have donated memorabilia that depicts the history of the town from its beginning all the way through to present day. Once you have visited the millionaire’s town, travel a short distance to the Pocahontas Mine & Museum for a walking tour. The Pocahontas Mine was the first world wide exhibition mine. (To extend this tour add a day for the Bramwell Theatre Festival in the summer or the Bramwell Octoberfest in the fall).
Day two have a hearty breakfast at a local restaurant. Today you will begin to travel the Coal Heritage Trail. You have seen how the Millionaires lived in Bramwell now see the towns where the miners worked and lived. The trail will begin on US route 52 in Bramwell. Along the way you will see sites where coal was king and still reins today. As you reach the town of Welch that grew from the railroad as a result of the rapid expansion of the mining industry you will merge onto state route 16. Between Mullens and Pineville you will pass the Itmann Company Store. Named for I. T. Mann who resided in the town of Bramwell and started the Bank of Bramwell. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. Continue traveling north to the town of MacArthur where you will take Interstate 77 to exit 45. A must see along the trail is Tamarak “The Best of West Virginia”. Tamarak is a great lunch or dinner stop as well as a shopping destination. Visitors get a chance to see one of a kind arts and crafts made by West Virginians around the state and the Greenbrier food court provides a taste of art at an affordable price. (To extend this drive continue on Interstate 77 and take US route 19 towards Summersville the trail will end in Ansted on route 60 the Midland Trail.)
Return to Princeton south on Interstate 77 take exit 14 through Athens into Pipestem State Park. Stretch your legs on a trail or enjoy a horse back ride before dinner. Stay long enough to enjoy a meal at the Oak Supper Club under an 800 year old oak tree before returning to your hotel for the evening.
If you are bringing a group contact the Mercer County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau 1-800-221-3206 or the Town of Bramwell 304-248-7114 for their personal touches on this tour.
VIP Motorcoach
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 located on exit 44. 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 in the 1800’s. 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 last approx. 15min and is senior friendly.
For dinner we recommend two locally owned restaurants Pasquale’s or The Char. And 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.
Contact Info List for Attractions and Restaurants:
TAMARACK – Andrea Akers – 1-88-TAMARACK – tamarackwv.com or [email protected]
Exhibition Coal Mine, Youth Museum, & Wildwood House – Donna – 304-256-1747 – beckleymine.com or [email protected]
Canyon Rim Visitor’s Center – 304-574-2115 – nps.gov/neri
Midland Trail Association – 1-866-ROUTE60 – midlandtrail.com
Babcock State Park – 1-800-225-5982 – babcocksp.com
Blue Smoke Salsa – 1-888-SALSAWV – bluesmokesalsa.com
Hawk’s Nest State Park – 1-800-225-5982 – hawksnestsp.com
New River Jetboat – Call 1-800-CALL-WVA and ask for Hawk’s Nest newriverjetboats.com
WV Enterprises – Karen Vuranch – Phone: (304) 574-4840, Cell: (304) 575-3636 – [email protected] – wventerprises.com