Located on the Ohio River, Parkersburg is a “charming riverside town,” says Mark Lewis, president and CEO of Greater Parkersburg CVB. “Our niche is our area’s rich history. Visiting Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park is a three-hour excursion providing a great break activity or add-on for groups planning a multi-day conference,” he says. “Visitors board the beautiful Island Belle sternwheeler for a 20-minute trip down the river and back in time. On the island, visitors hear the fascinating, tragic story of Harman and Margaret Blennerhassett, and can explore their reconstructed mansion and take a narrated horse-drawn covered wagon ride.”
The city also has a thriving arts community, Lewis notes. “Our local actors’ guild always puts on amazing shows, and Parkersburg Art Center, with galleries, a market for regional art vendors, and educational spaces, is West Virginia’s oldest continuously operating arts organization. Conferences here may include a performance at one of our several arts venues,” he adds.
The recently opened Discovery World on Market is the local STEM children’s museum and a great attraction for event attendees who want to bring their families to the city. The facility also has a small meeting room for 60 guests.
Grand Pointe Conference & Reception Center is the area’s largest event venue, with two meeting rooms in 12,000 total square feet of function space. Parkersburg Art Center can host 500 people theater style or 300 for banquets.
Hotels with event space include the historic Blennerhassett Hotel, with 82 guest rooms and four meeting spaces to host 250 guests, and Comfort Suites, with 115 guest rooms and a meeting capacity of 400. There are 1,084 guest rooms in Parkersburg.
