As the classic John Denver song says, country roads, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Shenandoah River make West Virginia “almost heaven.” The Mountain State offers planners many opportunities for outdoor adventures, including along the Appalachian Trail and Hatfield-McCoy Trails. Numerous parts of the state are near major metropolitan areas: the Eastern Panhandle borders Maryland and Virginia and is part of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area; Wheeling is about an hour south of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and Huntington is part of a seven-county metropolitan area that includes cities in the neighboring states of Kentucky and Ohio.
Eastern Panhandle
Berkeley County/Martinsburg
TravelWV.com; @MartinsburgWV
Mark Jordan, executive director of Visit Martinsburg, says the city and Berkeley County are great for meeting and event attendees who want to bring their families along.
“We’re just 90 minutes from the D.C. metro area and right at the gateway to the Shenandoah Valley, with a rich history that predates our nation’s founding, going back to primitive mound builders of 2,000 years ago. Outdoor adventurers can explore the 23,000-acre Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area, with hiking, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking, and our two nature preserves,” Jordan says. “In Martinsburg, shoppers will find a quaint Norman Rockwell-like downtown with artisan décor, unique finds, antiques, and locally owned restaurants. Black Draft Distillery is a new agritourism destination specializing
in creative moonshine, aged bourbon, and other spirits.”
The Martinsburg Roundhouse complex is a unique event location for planners. “Built in 1848 and known for its iron support structure … the West Roundhouse is a 23,000-square-foot, 16-sided building that can easily accommodate 500 people,” Jordan says. “The complex is on the National Register of Historic Places and has been refurbished and maintained in the original state, making
a blank canvas waiting to be utilized for any event.”
Other meeting and event facilities include a 111-room Hilton Garden Inn, with a 5,000-
square-foot ballroom to accommodate 300 in theater-style seating, and a 120-room Holiday Inn, with a newly renovated 3,872-square-foot ballroom that can seat 325 people for dinners and six smaller meeting spaces.
Jefferson County
Just a short distance from Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Md., Jefferson County, including Charles Town, Harpers Ferry, and Shepherdstown, is steeped in history and rich in recreational opportunities.
The county has many historic homes with ties to George Washington and his family and was home to historic Storer College, one of the first post-Civil War institutions of higher learning for African Americans in the former Confederacy. The area is where abolitionist John Brown led a raid on the U.S. Armory and Arsenal at Harpers Ferry. The town is at the meeting of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers and the midpoint of the 2,178-mile Appalachian Trail.
In Shepherdstown, the AAA Four Diamond Bavarian Inn Resort & Brewing Company is an 11-acre resort on the Potomac River. The property has 72 guest rooms and event space for 150 guests in 7,500 square feet of indoor event space plus garden and terrace spaces. The Inn at Charles Town has 152 guest rooms plus 18 suites overlooking the thoroughbred racetrack at Charles Town Races. The Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
has reception, meeting, banquet, and conference spaces to host 300 guests.
In Charles Town, the Claymont Society for Continuous Education offers retreat and meeting facilities with several options. Spots include Claymont Mansion, which can accommodate 40 guests and features a grand ballroom, library, music room, and other indoor and outdoor venues; and the Great Barn, which can accommodate 80 guests in individual and dorm-style rooms and has indoor meeting space for 100.
In Shepherdstown, the National Conservation Training Center offers an auditorium, library, science labs, and conference rooms. The 400-acre facility is a federally approved training and conference center for conservation professionals.
Additional lodging and event spaces include Clarion Inn Harpers Ferry, with 100 guest rooms and 10,000 square feet of meeting space, and the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center Shepherdstown, with 168 guest rooms and 6,000 square feet of event space.
Metro Valley
Charleston
CharlestonWV.com; @CharlestonWV
Located at the convergence of three interstates, Charleston is a day’s drive away from two-thirds of the U.S. population, says Leslie Smithson, communications director for the Charleston CVB. “We are served by Amtrak’s Cardinal route, providing great service for travelers from Chicago to Washington, D.C., and our West Virginia International Yeager Airport is enjoying new air services, facility upgrades, and expansions,” Smithson says.
A new addition to the city is Brewers Row, a collaboration between the CVB and three local craft breweries.
Event planners will find many ways to create a unique event with ample outdoor adventure opportunities, a walkable downtown and riverfront, and annual events. Live on the Levee offers free Friday night concerts from Memorial Day through mid-August, and the new national park, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, is about an hour from the city.
J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works is a family-run operation, now in its seventh generation of producing rare, small-batch salt harvested from an ancient ocean trapped beneath the mountains of Appalachia. The facility is available for events, ranging from a casual dinner to a reception event for 200 guests, as well as meetings and corporate retreats.
Charleston has approximately 3,500 guest rooms citywide, with more than 1,600 within walking distance of the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center. The convention center features 150,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 25,000-square-foot ballroom, 31 breakout meeting rooms, a 13,000-seat arena, and a 730-seat performing arts venue. Full-service hotels in the area include Embassy Suites, with 253 guest rooms and 23 meeting rooms in 13,090 square feet of event space; the Charleston Marriott, with 358 guest rooms and 17,406 square feet of function space, including 16 breakout rooms; and Four Points Charleston by Sheraton, with 152 guest rooms and 9,043 square feet of meeting space.
Huntington
VisitHuntingtonWV.org; @VisitHuntingtonWV; @VisitHuntington
The Huntington area is accessible, affordable, and welcoming to both event planners and attendees, says Anna Adkins, director of sales and marketing for the Huntington Area CVB.
“We welcome everyone with open arms, with activities for all ages for those who want to bring their families to an event. Families love spending the day at Heritage Farm learning about Appalachia and testing their bravery on one of the many adrenaline-pumping adventure options,” Adkins says. “Camden Park, West Virginia’s only amusement park and one of the oldest in the country, offers more than 30 rides and attractions including thrill rides, games, kiddie land, and miniature golf; and at Beech Fork State Park, only minutes from downtown, visitors can enjoy camping, hiking, or getting
on the water with a rental pontoon boat, kayak, or paddleboard.”
The area has more than 1,400 guest rooms and ample event space with some renovated and expanded offerings. Mountain Health Arena and Convention Center recently expanded an outdoor plaza and features a 9,000-seat arena and 15,000 square feet of meeting and conference space. Double Tree by Hilton Downtown has 187 guest rooms and 20,000 square feet of events space, while Delta Hotels by Marriott Huntington Downtown has 135 guest rooms and is across from the convention center. Both properties recently completed renovations.
The Memorial Student Center at Marshall University has completed a $5 million renovation. Event spaces at the university include a 123,000-square-foot recreation center with indoor and outdoor tracks and courts, a climbing wall, a pool, and 15 meeting rooms. Planners looking for unique local attractions will want to check out the Heritage Farm Museum & Village living history museum. “They highlight Appalachia’s cultural heritage with teambuilding opportunities catered to your needs,” Adkins says. “[It offers] meeting and events paces, including The Barn Retreat Center, an original 1800s dairy barn with over 9,000 square feet of event space and seven meeting rooms. Heritage Farm has two additional indoor meeting spaces: Pioneer Hall, which can hold 64 people, and Heritage Hall, which can accommodate 150.”
Mid-Ohio Valley
Parkersburg
GreaterParkersburg.com; @VisitPKB
Parkersburg offers planners history and heritage; cultural attractions; arts and entertainment venues; and ample opportunities to explore the outdoors, including hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking along the Little Kanawha and Ohio rivers.
The North Bend Rail Trail is a multiuse recreational trail operated by West Virginia State Parks and is part of the approximately 5,000-mile coast-to-coast American Discovery Trail. Locally, the trail stretches 72 miles and passes through 13 tunnels and over 36 bridges.
The area’s petroleum history, which dates to the mid-1800s and made Parkersburg a boom town in the early 20th century, can be explored at the Oil and Gas Museum. Julia-Ann Square, West Virginia’s oldest and largest historic district, offers a self-guided walking tour.
Blennerhassett Island, in the middle of the Ohio River, is where Aaron Burr sought refuge and hatched an ill-fated insurrection plot after he shot and killed Alexander Hamilton in their infamous duel in 1804. The 381-acre island is now a state park with guided tours, wagon rides, and outdoor gathering areas.
Mark Lewis, president and CEO of Visit Greater Parkersburg, says event attendees who bring their family along will appreciate Discovery World on Market, a new children’s experience museum that opened this spring. The facility has a community room for meetings or training sessions, which is suitable for 60 guests.
Lodging and event facilities in Parkersburg include the historic Blennerhassett Hotel, with 89 guest rooms, a ballroom accommodating 250 dinner guests, three meeting rooms, and additional outdoor event space. Comfort Suites Parkersburg South has 116 guest rooms and seven meeting spaces ranging from 416 to 2,523 square feet. The area’s newest and biggest event facility is the Grand Pointe Conference Center, with more than 12,000 square feet of space to seat 400 guests banquet style.
Mountaineer Country
Clarksburg
GreaterParkersburg.com; @ExploreClarksburg
Clarksburg offers planners a centralized location in the state, a fascinating history to explore, hundreds of hotel rooms, and venues for events of any size.
One of the notable proprieties in the city
is the Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center, a fully restored and historically preserved theater from 1913 with a 1,000-seat theater, a ballroom seating 200 for dinners, and a 3,000-square-foot multipurpose room. Jackson Square is a unique facility combining a parking garage with an open-air venue that can accommodate 500 people for concerts or events. The Morris is a 10,000-square-foot venue that can seat 350 people for dinners. The largest event space in the city is Village Square Conference Center, which has six event rooms and includes a ballroom that can accommodate 1,000 people.
Clarksburg has three historic districts, many commercial downtown buildings from an industrial past predating the Civil War, and multiple homes and churches listed on the National Register of Historic Places built from the early 1800s to the mid-1900s.
Hotels with smaller event spaces include the 112-room Hilton Garden Inn Clarksburg and the Days Inn & Suites in Bridgeport.
Marion County
MarionCVB.com; @MarionCVB
In Marion County and county seat Fairmont, planners will find a state park for outdoor excursions and teambuilding activities, music venues, local restaurants, and breweries.
“Fairmont’s Main Street program plans many activities and events throughout the year, from its monthly Hometown Markets to the Feast of the Seven Fishes Festival that celebrates the Italian heritage prevalent in north-central West Virginia, to Palatine Park and its summer outdoor concert series,” says Leisha Elliott, executive director of the Marion County CVB.
According to Elliott, the area is in “the middle of everywhere,” making it easy to get to. “Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and other major metro areas are just a short drive away,” she adds.
The pepperoni roll, a West Virginia staple served across the region, is said to have been invented by Italian immigrant coal miners in Marion County. Event attendees can sample the local treat at Country Club Bakery, Colasessano’s, and several other local restaurants. Visitors can learn more about the area’s culture and heritage at the West Virginia Folklife Center, located on the campus of Fairmont State University.
A newer event facility in the county is historic Senator’s Mansion, which is available for parties and receptions, with a 75-person capacity. Other venues include the 23,000-square-foot Falcon Conference Center and 650-seat Colebank Hall on the campus of Fairmont State University; Camp Mar-Mac, which has a 200-seat dining hall and other indoor and outdoor spaces; Stone House Lavender Farm & Barn, with a 5,680-square-foot barn that seats 160 people; and High Gate Carriage House, with indoor event capacity of 140 plus a tented outdoor area for 250 guests. The Robert H. Mollohan Research Center at I-79 Technology Park features an 8,500-square-foot exhibit hall that seats 500, a 150-seat auditorium, and five meeting rooms. A Holiday Inn Express and Hampton Inn both have small meeting rooms.
Morgantown
VisitMountaineerCountry.com; @VisitMountaineerCountry; @VisitMtnrCtry
Amid the state’s north-central Mountaineer Country, Morgantown is a lively college town that is home to West Virginia University. The city offers unique meeting spaces with indoor-outdoor flexibility; many opportunities for teambuilding and group excursions; and an exciting dining scene, nightlife, and other attractions. “West Virginia University’s student population represents every county of the state, every state in the United States, and 107 different countries from around the world,” says Tami Wood, group sales manager for Visit Mountaineer Country CVB. “Our downtown has an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants to explore, and yet you’re just minutes away from great outdoor experiences.”
Planners looking to include local adventures in their event could consider rock climbing, ziplining, or even skydiving. “Coopers Rock State Forest has an iconic scenic sunset overlook, the West Virginia Botanic Garden is lovely for an afternoon walk, and the Monongahela River Trail has several restaurants with outdoor dining options,” Wood says.
Morgantown has approximately 2,500 guest rooms. The city’s most notable event space is the Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place, with 207 guest rooms and 73,449 square feet of event space with a capacity of 2,500 people. Other hotels include the historic Hotel Morgan, with 83 guest rooms and more than 5,000 square feet of event space; Holiday Inn University, with 191 guest rooms and 4,200 square feet of meeting space to accommodate 250 guests; and The Cranberry, a Choice Ascend Hotel at nearby Cheat Lake, with 80 guest rooms and five meeting and event spaces to accommodate 190 people for banquets.
Other event facilities include the Hazel & J.W. Ruby Community Center at Mylan Park, which has more than one acre of indoor exhibit and activity space; the Loft Conference Centers, with facilities in Morgantown and SouthPointe, each with partner hotels next door; and the Terrace at Tibbs Run, part of the West Virginia Botanic Garden, with 3,550 square feet of indoor event space and a wrap-around deck that can accommodate 170 guests.
Mountain Lakes & New River-Greenbrier Valley
Greenbrier County
GreenbrierWV.com; @GbrValleyWV
West Virginia’s Greenbrier Valley has attracted visitors for nearly 250 years, thanks to natural mineral springs that made the area a draw, which continues to this day. “Our beautiful outdoor recreation, arts, and amazing dining scene are all reasons planners love us and why event attendees might bring their families along and make a vacation,” says Brian Belcher, director of destination development for Greenbrier Valley CVB. “We are home to ‘America’s Resort,’ The Greenbrier, nestled in the heart of the Allegheny Mountains.”
Dating from 1778, The Greenbrier has hosted U.S. presidents, royalty, celebrities, and business leaders. The 11,000-acre resort has 710 guest rooms plus 96 estate homes and 200,000 square feet of event space, a 16,500-square-foot exhibit hall, and more than 40 meeting and breakout rooms. The resort features championship golf, a full-service spa, a 103,000-square-foot casino gaming and entertainment venue, and more than 55 indoor and outdoor activities for teambuilding or after-meeting entertainment.
Greenbrier Valley’s small towns, including Lewisburg and White Sulfur Springs, offer walkable downtowns; parks; and communities full of artists, musicians, foodies, and antique lovers.
Event facilities in the Greenbrier Valley include the Conference Center at West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg, with 10,600 square feet of event space to accommodate 900 people for theater-style presentations or 480 for banquets, and historic Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg, with a 388-seat auditorium, a gallery with a reception capacity of 330, and other classroom and studio space plus an outdoor terrace. The boutique Schoolhouse Hotel in White Sulfur Springs has 30 guest rooms, a rooftop bar and event space, and a ballroom that can host 300 guests. The Quality Inn Conference Center in Lewisburg has 15,000 square feet of function space with nine event rooms.
Southern West Virginia
VisitWV.com; @VisitWV
Nine counties with unique histories and small-town charm make up the area known as Southern West Virginia. In Raleigh County, visitors can explore the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine or browse fine arts and crafts at Tamarack Marketplace. Fayette County is home to the New River and the New River Gorge Bridge, the longest single-span steel arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere. Meanwhile, Mercer County is home to Bramwell, once the richest town per capita in the United States. Across the region, there are trails, caves, parks, lakes, and history to explore.
According to Visit Southern West Virginia, the region has lodging, venues, and attractions to meet any group’s needs, offering more than 2,700 rooms and a variety of conference and meeting facilities. The Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center has a 15,000-square-foot arena to seat 1,100 people and additional meeting rooms; The Conference and Events Center at Tamarack Marketplace offers boardrooms, ballrooms, theaters, and outdoor event areas with 80,000 square feet of gallery space; and The Resort at Glade Springs has 201 guest rooms and a 12,000-square-foot conference center with a capacity of 350. The Chuck Mathena Center for the Performing Arts in Princeton has a 934-seat theater, a grand hall that seats 300 for dinners, and a gazebo that can accommodate receptions of 150 guests.
Northern Panhandle
Wheeling
WheelingCVB.com; @WheelingVisitor
Wheeling is the birthplace of West Virginia, the site of a gathering of delegates in 1861 that led to the state breaking away from Virginia during the Civil War. Explore this history at West Virginia Independence Hall, a building dating from 1859 that hosts exhibits, lectures, tours, and programs.
The city’s largest event facility is Oglebay, a 2,000-acre full-service resort and conference center featuring a lodge with 258 guest rooms and 55 two- to eight-bedroom cottages and estate homes. Event space at Oglebay totals more than 30,000 square feet of flexible indoor areas to accommodate groups of 500, plus several outdoor venues. In addition to championship golf, tennis, and a full-service spa, the resort has multiple unique amenities, including a museum, public gardens, and lakes. The property includes the Good Zoo, home to 68 species of animals, 20 of which are rare or endangered.
Other event facilities in Wheeling include The Highlands Event Center, a 4,000-square-foot venue with flexible options for social functions and meetings, and downtown’s restored Capitol Theatre, with a ballroom that seats 250 guests. Hotels with function space include McLure House, with 150 guest rooms and an 8,000-square-foot ballroom and additional spaces; Wheeling Island hotel, casino, and racetrack, with 151 guest rooms and multiple multipurpose venues that can seat 450 people for dinners; and Hampton Inn & Suites The Highlands, with 123 guest rooms and two small meeting rooms.
