Two hours north of the state capital of Charleston, a half hour south of Morgantown, and approximately three hours from the Washington D.C. area, Marion County is home to nearly 60,000 people in 11 communities, including the county seat and largest town, Fairmont. The region is famous for the pepperoni roll, invented long ago by Italian immigrant coal miners and first produced commercially in Fairmont’s Country Club Bakery, where it still can be purchased today.
The area’s Italian heritage is still strong and can be celebrated at the annual Feast of the Seven Fishes, held every December. Visitors can learn more about the area’s culture and heritage at West Virginia Folklife Center, located on the campus of Fairmont State University (FSU).
Robert Mollohan Research Center, located in the I-79 Technology Park, features an 8,500-square-foot exhibit hall seating 500 theater style, a 5,000-square-foot auditorium seating 150, and five additional meeting rooms. Other venues include the 23,000-square-foot Falcon Conference Center and 650-seat Colebank Hall on the FSU campus; Fairmont Field Club, with indoor seating for 120 and tented outdoor space for 250; historic High Gate Carriage House, with indoor event capacity of 140 and a tented outdoor area for 250 guests; and historic Senator’s Mansion, which is available for parties and receptions with a 75-person event capacity. A Holiday Inn Express and Hampton Inn both have small meeting rooms.
