Gassaway
Dundon
Ansted
Gauley Bridge
Glen Jean
Mt. Hope
Thurmond
Chamber & Visitors Bureau
Alum Creek
Branchland
Logan
Davy
Iaeger
Kimball
Roderick
Twin Branch
War
Welch
Historic Matewan
Williamson
Dingess
Red Jacket
Itmann
Mullens
Oceana
Sabine
Wyco
Wyoming

HISTORY

ANSTED

Gauley Mountain Coal Company, Hawk's Nest Mining
Around 1872, the new Chesapeake & Ohio Railway was built along both sides of the narrow New River Valley creating a through route to the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Hawk's Nest Station, just below what was later t become known as the town of Ansted, was the site of the final spike in this portion of the C & O on January 29, 1873. more...

GAULEY BRIDGE

C & O Station of Gauley Bridge
Gauley Bridge Railroad Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 - #80004018. It is located just off WV 16/39 in Gauley Bridge, WV. The depot operated from 1875-1899 and is now privately owned. New River Train offers a ride from Huntington through the heart of West Virginia's coal country which takes one right past Gauley Bridge Railroad Station.

GLEN JEAN

C & O and KGJ&E Railways
In the early 1890s, coal magnate, Thomas G. McKell, joined with the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&0) Railway to construct a rail line through his property from Glen Jean to Thurmond. more...

MOUNT HOPE

New River and New River Smokeless Coal Companies
Mount Hope's coal industry boomed, when in 1894, the completion of the Chesapeake & Ohio's Loup Creek Branch provided a way for the region's coal to be transported nationwide. Within a few short years Mount Hope and its neighboring towns were home to four mining operations employing over 400 men. Mount Hope became the headquarters for the New River Coalfield in the early 1900s and the New River Smokeless Coal Company. more...

THURMOND

C & O Mainline and Thurmond Depot
In 1873, Thurmond was born when Captain W.D. Thurmond purchased seventy-three acres alongside the newly completed Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad's mainline. more...


For an inventory of all the tourism related offerings in Fayette County West Virginia, click here.

Fayette County is part of the NCHA*, an 11 county initiative* in West Virginia“...to preserve, protect, and interpret lands, structures, and communities with unique and significant historic and cultural value associated with the coal mining heritage of West Virginia.”   The counties of Boone, Cabell, Fayette, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Raleigh, Summers, Wayne, and Wyoming are participants in this initiative.  Go to http://www.coalheritage.org/ for more information. 

*The National Coal Heritage Area (NCHA) is one of only 22 nationally designated heritage areas in the entire United States.

Fayette County Chamber of Commerce & New River CVB
310 Oyler Ave., Oak Hill, WV 25901
304-465-5617
www.fayettecounty.com

WMTH CORPORATION PO BOX 51153 BOWLING GREEN, KY 42102 PHONE (270) 792-5300 FAX 721-0004