Even if you don't fish, there are plenty of ways to relax in nature. Take a steam-powered ride straight out of the past on this Appalachian rail line. Its a wonderful place that one should visit and its one of the best secret places in west Virginia. Ric Griffith, the former mayor, owns the Queen Ann style home on Beech Street, Kenova, and every year, he spends three weeks before Halloween to adorn his house with pumpkins. It is said that West Virginians are great at keeping secrets, so much so that for three decades they managed to hide a two-story bunker which can be used to hide and survive if there is ever a nuclear attack. The Hidden Park That's West Virginia's Best Kept Secret Tomlinson Run State Park Tomlinson Run State Park is the perfect place for a weekend away. The term knob is primarily used to denote the highest point on a ridge in the southern Appalachians. The development of the mine started in 1905 and it was first put to use in 1906 for shipping coal. No fee or donation is required to visit the house which has been a popular attraction in the area for nearly three decades. An abandoned coal mine reached by a steep hike. Samuel Taylor Suit was lucky in a lot of things (politics, business, whiskey distillery), but love wasnt one of them. Green Bank, West Virginia is a rustic town perched on the rolling hills of Appalachia which is designed for those who suffer from Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity. In other words, the town provides respite to all those who wish to stay away from the all-consuming social world that surrounds us all day, every day. Home Travel Guides United States West Virginia (WV) 25 Amazing Hidden Gems in West Virginia. Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Until 1921, there were no roads in and out of Thurmond, but only a single rail line that connected the outside world to the thriving coal depot of Thurmond. This Fallout Shelter has been a secret to the public until 1992 and this shelter is located underneath the Greenbrier Resort. Kanawha State Forest. Attracted by the embalming procedure, the Smithsonian Institution offered to put his mummies on display, on the condition that Hamrick will have to share his secret procedure with the institution. The teapot went out of business around 1980, was restored by the Chester City Council in 1990, and has sat at the junction of U.S. Route 30 and State Route 2 ever since. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. One day a year it is legal to jump off of this astoundingly tall bridge that spans an Appalachian gorge. Go 120 feet underground to explore stalagmites (some of which measure up to 80 feet tall) and stalactites at Lost World Caverns, one of the top things to do in West Virginia. Calvary Chapel Morgantown owns this beautiful, 3,400-square-foot castle on Tyrone Road in Morgantown, and they're restoring it to its former glory. The ultimate experience in West Virginia, Adventures on the Gorge, is an award-winning adventure outfitter and resort on the rim of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Bring lots of water and a ready attitude. Kerry Sanders and Today Show crews were granted access to portions of the bunker where no other cameras have gone! In 1883, he married Rosa Pelham and decided to build his beloved wife a castle. Funnily, West Virginia is the southernmost state in the northern part of America and the northernmost state in the southern part so you could never tell up from down! In a period where education was limited to a privileged few, the school was a huge success but only for a short period of time since free public schools soon began to emerge. Though the Swami in-charge was charged with fraud and racketeering and was sentenced to 20 years of jail time in 1996, the current residents still continue to preserve their culture and religious beliefs as best as they can. West Virginia has lots of popular outdoor spots that draw crowds, but we also have some amazing play spots off-the-beaten-track. But theres also a lot to be said for those hidden gems throughout our state. Here is the most interesting part - the stalactites used by the organ are spread over 3.5 acres, and due to the enclosed nature of the location, the music can be heard all around the caves - all 64 acres of it. You can take a two-hour round trip to Whittaker station, a five-hour round trip to Bald Knob, or a five-hour round trip to Spruce Ghost Town. To seek revenge, Clay killed several Native Americans. Love West Virginia? Today, the castle is available to rent as an event space. However, the town is remarkably well preserved by the National Park Service, and you can visit. She enjoys nature walks, photography, and discovering new restaurants all around the state. Dont worry, we wont tell anyone . He was patient, engaging, authentic, and provided an overflowing wealth of true stories and a lifetime of experiences. Blackwater Falls is a unique and beautiful park. 82 miles of shoreline give you plenty of recreation opportunities, and you'll never want to leave this beautiful spot. This is a fascinating tour IF you're interest in history, especially mid-20th C and the Cold War. America's post-nuclear-attack chambers of Congress. If you're road-tripping through West Virginia, consider making a stop at this quirky attraction, which measures 12 feet high and 44 feet wide. The creature distinctively resembled a moth, and hence, came to be known as the Mothman.. WV Museum of History rivals the best in our nation. Originally, I tried to visit an art gallery but they were nowhere to be found. Spend a day at the waterpark, and don't forget to enjoy the Nature Zone, miniature golf and go-karts. The water is warm, but comfortable even for kiddos. Unfortunately, Rumsey passed away during a fundraising campaign for his newfound technology and everybody forgot about the actual creator. Speaking of secrets, let us explore some of the hidden gems in West Virginia. Located smack in the middle of the Appalachian mining country, Whipping Company Store is an unusual storehouse, built in 1890 by a coal company as their headquarters for all their social, financial, and logistical activities. Wonderment Puppet Theatre is a MUST SEE!! Secret places in West Virginia-The wonderful Mountain State or West Virginia is a state where there are lots of hidden gems throughout the state. We did several of the easy trails and all of them were beautiful! During its Eisenhower-Era use, the bunker provided the following: Over the 30 years that it was an active facility, technology was constantly updated so that the bunker was always ready in case of emergency. Today, the state parks railroad consists of heritage converted log cars that operate on the same trail as that from 1901. If you're passionate about hiking, then West Virginia is the perfect place for you. Get credit for your contribution by submitting a complete place entry with photos. The museum is looking a little bit dated, but still well maintained and informative. 8. Experience a one-of-a-kind, behind-the-scenes tour of the bunker that walks you through a fascinating period in the resorts history. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The Raven Room, Charlottesville Source: JoshBerglund19 / Wikimedia The Raven Room Dubbed as the National Museum of the Paranormal, Archive of the Afterlife is filled with artifacts related to history, and in certain cases, paranormal or the afterlife (of course!). Here are 25 places to see yetis, sea monsters, Sasquatch, and other cryptids. Inside the chambers, balls and water seem to roll uphill, humans stand at a slant, and furniture stands atop impossible surfaces. Some travelers also suggest a visit in the fall to enjoy the colorful foliage. Including Hippodrome Cinema, Tampa Theatre, and Kinema in the Woods, Including Huanglong Travertine Pools, Socotra Island, and Morin-ji Temple. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Watch the Today Shows visit to the Greenbrier to learn more. Highest rated attractions on Tripadvisor, based on traveler reviews. Escape to Twin Falls Resort State Park, a destination resort with more than 25 miles of hiking and biking trails (where you can see the park's namesake waterfalls), an indoor swimming pool, an 18-hole golf course, a restaurant, and overnight lodging options that include camping (tents or RVs), cabins and hotel rooms. 2023 Atlas Obscura. A behind the scenes look at the bunker beneath the Greenbrier Resort with The 'Today' Show on NBC. Tucked away in the Appalachian Mountains, New Vrindaban is a religious community and an unincorporated village owned and managed by the Hare Krishna group. Men and women had separate bath times and privacy was maintained. Looking to explore more of the Mountain State? was by far our favorite thing to do while staying at the Greenbrier. As the third most forested state, our country roads are vibrant with color and a sight to behold in the fall. The tannic acid of fallen hemlock and red spruce needles tints the water of Blackwater Falls, hence the name of this 57-foot cascade and state park in Tucker County. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. seeing the river for the first time in real life it was super fun experience to see for your self it, I liked hearing the stories that the guide told about the prison.The tour was not too long or too short. Learn how top attractions and experiences are selected. One of the best parts of visiting a new area is finding all the surprisingly little spots that dont always make it into the guidebooks. Address: 3328 Germany Valley Rd, Riverton, WV 26814 Website: www.senecacaverns.com Also Read: Top 10 Most Amazing Caves & Caverns in the USA 5: New River Gorge Bridge Adobe Stock/Patrick Jennings 28, 2023, Holly Johnson and Ann HensonFeb. The Fine Dining Restaurant Hidden Under A Bowling Alley West Virginia is a surprising place filled with awesome natural adventures, affordable sleeping places and quirky one-of-a-kind restaurants. (Courtesy of West Virginia Department of Tourism), Almost heaven, West Virginia. Thanks Google maps! However, it still struggled to function. A 20-feet table rock formation in Spencer, West Virginia has been confusing onlookers for ages some say it is a geological formation while others claim that it could be an ancient Native American totem. Bluefield: School with Most Multi-Level Entrances Bramwell: Home of the Millionaires Bridgeport: Front Lawn Giraffe Buckhannon: Tiny Church Bunker Hill: Silo Missile Cameron: Archive of the Afterlife Charleston: Shoney's Big Boy Museum Charleston: West Virginia Lincoln Melancholia Chester: Mini-B-52 on a Pole Chester: World's Largest Teapot