119 THINGS TO DO ON US ROUTE 119
Mountaineer Country, WV
Visit Mountaineer Country Convention and Visitors Bureau
www.visitmountaineercountry.com
341 Chaplin Road, First Floor Morgantown, WV 26501
13 Museum St., Philippi, WV 26416
Whether you’re creating a detailed itinerary or just exploring as you go, the Visit Mountaineer Country CVB Visitors’ Center helps you make the most of every minute you spend in Mountaineer Country! Our staff really knows the area . . . where to find the hidden gems and once-in-a-lifetime experiences . . . how to get tickets for big performances and hot attractions . . . we’ll even help with tee times for local golf courses, restaurant reservations, and shopping excursions.
Tygart Lake State Park
https://www.visitmountaineercountry.com/tygart-lake-state-park/
1240 Paul E Malone Rd., Grafton, WV 26354
Tygart Lake State Park is located in Taylor County, just south of Grafton, WV. The Lake itself stretches across 10 miles, covering a total area of 1,750 acres. Tygart Lake is open to swimming, fishing, and boating in its crystal-clear waters, with the Marina open season taking place between May and September.
International Mother’s Day Shrine
https://www.visitmountaineercountry.com/business/international-mothers-day-shrine/
11 East Main St., Grafton, WV 26354
Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church, the “mother church” of Mother’s Day, was incorporated as the International Mother’s Day Shrine on May 15, 1962, as a shrine to all mothers. The Shrine was constructed in 1873 and is located along Main Street in downtown Grafton in Taylor County, West Virginia.
Mountain State Brewing Co.
https://www.visitmountaineercountry.com/business/mountain-state-brewing-company/
54 Clay St., Morgantown, WV 26501
One of West Virginia’s oldest distributing microbreweries and tap rooms, Mountain State Brewing Co. offers house-crafted beer, wood-fired artisan flatbreads, and more in a casual riverside atmosphere.
Hiking, Biking, Strolling in Morgantown
http://www.montrails.org/rail-trail-maps/
185 Garrett St., Morgantown, WV 26501
Three premier rail trails make Morgantown a popular destination for hiking and biking. Along the way, taste local flavors and find the perfect Mountaineer Country souvenirs at restaurants and shops in the Historic Wharf District or the Historic Seneca Center, both located along the trail.
The Metropolitan Theatre
371 High St., Morgantown, WV 26505
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, the Metropolitan Theatre is a central edifice and cultural anchor in the Downtown Historic District. It is one of the better surviving examples of neoclassical revival architecture in the region. The Met offers a wide array of performances from popular musical acts and touring artists to local theater and dance productions. From family movies and entertainment to concerts and live performances, here is something for everyone to see at the Met!
Coopers Rock State Forest
https://www.visitmountaineercountry.com/coopers-rock-visitors-guide/
61 County Line Dr., Bruceton Mills, WV 26525
Boasting iconic overlooks and a variety of hiking trails, this State Forest is a favorite weekend recreation spot. Looking for a thrilling adventure while you explore? Check out Adventure West Virginia’s zipline canopy tour or stay the night at nearby Mountain Creek Cabins.
Forks of Cheat Winery
https://www.visitmountaineercountry.com/business/forks-of-cheat-winery/
2811 Stewartstown Rd., Morgantown, WV 26508
Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of north central West Virginia, Forks of Cheat Winery produces a wide variety of prize-winning wines with an old-world tradition. For over twenty years Forks of Cheat Winery has become known as a premium wine production facility, producing more than 20,000 gallons of fine wines annually.
West Virginia Botanic Garden
https://www.visitmountaineercountry.com/business/west-virginia-botanic-garden/
1061 Tyrone Rd. Morgantown, WV 26508
The West Virginia Botanic Garden is the state’s flagship public garden. This historic property features a variety of habitats including wetlands, meadows, and virgin hemlock forest. Cultivated gardens, art, and interpretive signage are developed throughout the 85-acre site. Educational walks and presentations, as well as farm-to-table dinners, the annual children’s festival, workshops, and fitness classes, fill the calendar at the Garden. They also offer facilities for rent, one of those being The Terrace at Tibbs Run. This event center showcases the allure and privacy of the forest for you and your guests to enjoy during your ceremony under the covered pavilion. The Terrace at Tibbs Run features magnificent floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto 85 acres of stunning forest.
Arthurdale Heritage
https://www.visitmountaineercountry.com/business/arthurdale/
18 Q Road Arthurdale, WV 26520
Revisit the 1930s in Arthurdale, WV. Established in 1933, by the United States government, Arthurdale is the nation’s first New Deal Homestead Community. Created through President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal legislation and personally crafted through the aid of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, the community provided a new chance at life for residents who were suffering from the Great Depression.
Prickett’s Fort State Park
https://marioncvb.com/company/pricketts-fort-state-park-2/
88 State Park Road Fairmont, WV 26554
This nationally registered historic site was originally built in 1774 as a refuge fort on the western Virginia frontier. Reconstructed in 1976, today costumed interpreters recreate 18th-century lifestyles through the demonstration of colonial crafts. Visitor Center with Orientation Gallery and Museum Gift Shop is open year-round free of charge. Tours of both structures and special events are offered in season.
The Buckwheat Festival
https://kvfdwv.wixsite.com/buckwheatfest
297-299 S Price St, Kingwood, WV 26537
The time-honored tradition of the Preston County Buckwheat Festival starts the last Thursday in September every year. The festival is full of parades, arts and crafts, a car show, carnival, livestock, a pageant, and of course those delicious Buckwheat Cake dinners served all weekend long. This volunteer-driven event is the perfect way to immerse yourself in local living.
Cheat River Outfitters
https://www.visitmountaineercountry.com/business/cheat-river-outfitters/
2764 N Preston Hwy, Albright, WV 26519
Discover the best whitewater rafting on the Cheat River in Northern West Virginia! Also check out their Rock Climbing, Wild Caving, and Paintball programs. Class V whitewater rafting on the spectacular Cheat Canyon and Big Sandy, Class III whitewater rafting on the Cheat Narrows, and family-style rafting all summer long. Open seasonally from March through November!
The Seneca Center
https://www.visitmountaineercountry.com/business/seneca-center/
709 Beechurst Ave, Morgantown, WV 26505
A distinctive center for enjoyable shopping and fascinating history. Stroll through some of the shops or grab a bite to eat at The Tea Shoppe, The Brownie House, or Vanessa’s Kitchen! Constructed in 1898, the center boasts authentic glass manufacturing tools and murals of the glass-making process. The towering 100-foot glass furnace chimney still stands on the property. The red water tower, located in front of Seneca Center, is a well-known landmark.
The Greatest Generation: World War II Museum
https://www.visitmountaineercountry.com/business/the-greatest-generation-world-war-ii-museum/
Rt. 72 Rowlesburg, WV 26425
The Greatest Generation World War II Museum is a magnificent exhibit worth visiting. You will be surprised by the authentic wartime scenes with soldiers, exhibits, and many artifacts from both the Allied and Axis. Located in the Szilagyi Center (old high school).
Von Blaze
https://www.visitmountaineercountry.com/deals/von-blaze-sandwiches/
1 Wall St, Morgantown, WV 26505
Located in the heart of Downtown Morgantown, Von Blaze provides a menu of classic sandwiches with a modern touch, rich soups, fresh salads, and “sophisticated drunk food,” served in a reinvented nostalgic local space. From smoked bacon and bologna to aioli and ranch, Von Blaze pride themselves on making everything in-house, elevating their already mouthwateringly good food.
Appalachian Mercantile General Store and Café
https://www.visitmountaineercountry.com/deals/appalachian-mercantile-general-store-and-cafe/
1179 Main Street #489, Granville, WV 26534
Opened in 2021 at 1179 Main St. Granville, WV, Appalachian Mercantile General Store and Cafe is curated with the finest Appalachian goods and farm-to-table dishes. They combine a collection of foods and artisanal products in their Appalachian-inspired café. They also have a full coffee bar, serving breakfast, lunch, and early dinner, and their General Store is full of J.Q. Dickinson Salt gifts.
Morgantown Brewing Company
https://www.visitmountaineercountry.com/business/morgantown-brewing-company/
1291 University Avenue Morgantown, WV 26505
Morgantown Brewing Company is West Virginia’s oldest operating brewery located on the historic waterfront in downtown Morgantown. The brewery sells in-house beer pours, growler fills, and build-your-own can pack to-go. They focus heavily on exotic soured fruit ales, mega hoppy hazy IPAs, and traditional pub beers. Morgantown Brewing Company releases new beers in cans every week or two with locally designed label art.
The Mountaineer Country region involves seven unique, yet fascinating counties settled in North Central West Virginia. These counties include Monongalia, Preston, Taylor, Marion, Harrison, Barbour, and Doddridge. This region contains an array of outdoor adventures, shopping, dining, history, arts and culture, and entertainment attractions that are sure to surprise and delight visitors. If Highway 119 is your preferred “Country Road,” see what’s available just a short drive off the beaten path.
Mountaineer Country is no stranger to outdoor recreation. It’s your choice — land or water? On land, you have an abundance of trials to choose from, including the Mon River Rail Trail, which was inducted into the Rails-To-Trails Conservancy (RTC) Hall of Fame in 2020. The Rail-Trail system stretches 48 miles throughout Mountaineer Country, connecting Fairmont, WV, to Point Marion, PA. Along with the Rail Trail, there are several other iconic outdoor destinations to explore. With places like the West Virginia Botanic Garden, the WVU Core Arboretum, Snake Hill Wildlife Management Area, and Coopers Rock State Forest, Mountaineer Country is known for its life-enhancing activities. Enjoy a leisurely nature walk, birding, leaf-peeping, or challenge yourself with a hiking, rock-climbing, or bouldering feat. If water is more your style, a world of flatwater awaits. Float in a kayak on the Monongahela River or set sail on a boat on Cheat Lake. Rushing whitewater can also be found on the Cheat River for those seeking a thrill.
Home to West Virginia University (WVU), Arthurdale, Coopers Rock, and so much more, no trip to West Virginia is complete without a visit to Mountaineer Country! Dive into unrivaled adventures like whitewater kayaking, rock climbing, and mountain biking; sample the local culinary traditions; introduce yourself to Mountaineer Country’s unforgettable Appalachian artisans; experience history… all in Mountaineer Country!
Lodging Highlights: The Cranberry, Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place, Hotel Morgan, Courtyard by Marriott, and many more.