Distinguished by spectacular river valleys and rugged mountainous terrain, West Virginia has heritage that runs as deeply as the seams of its mighty coal (and once, salt) industry. The state’s defining moment came in 1863 when it split from Virginia, joining Nevada as the only two states born of the Civil War.
This seminal moment is presented via a permanent exhibit at the group-friendly West Virginia Independence Hall in historic Wheeling, one of many National Historic Landmark and heritage venues around the state.
“West Virginia offers a range of historic meeting facilities to fit any need,” says Betty Carver, commissioner of West Virginia’s division of tourism. “From vintage hotels to state park structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, guests can enjoy the comfort of modern amenities while experiencing life as it was in the days of old.”
As the following seven choices around the state reveal, West Virginian heritage venues provide evocative settings for memorable gatherings while telling unforgettable stories of their own.
1. THE BLENNERHASSETT HOTEL, PARKERSBURG
www.theblennerhassett.com
Situated on the Ohio River about an hour north of the state capital of Charleston, Parkersburg is rich with historical options for groups, with this Historic Hotels of America member property serving as an ideal base. Opened in 1889, the 89-room boutique hotel mixes Old World grandeur with modern amenities, its flexible meeting space includes the spacious Charleston Ballroom & Promenade.
“Historic properties are experiential by definition, and we are exceptional in providing groups with special experiences,” says Cecil Childress, general manager.
Around Parkersburg, these can include trips aboard a vintage sternwheeler to Blennerhassett Island Historic State Park, shows at the historic Smoot Theatre and visits to the Oil and Gas Museum, commemorating Parkersburg’s 1800s boom era.
On-site, customized activities include wine dinners and culinary classes, with fondues and gingerbread houses part of an eclectic and always entertaining menu.
2. MOUNTAINSIDE CONFERENCE CENTER, BETHANY
www.mountainsidecc.com
Nestled in the Allegheny Mountain foothills in the state’s northern panhandle, Bethany College, established in 1840, is the oldest private college in West Virginia. Together, the picturesque 1,300-acre campus and historic Bethany are home to five sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Of these, Old Main, which was built in 1858 and is the Gothic centerpiece of the campus, and the Alexander Campbell Mansion, home of Bethany College’s founder, are National Historic Landmarks.
Set amid these treasures, Mountainside Conference Center, owned and operated by the college, combines the 40-room Gresham House Inn with over 7,000 square feet of flexible space. The Millsop Leadership Center includes eight conference rooms and an impressive circular amphitheater seating 100 people, while the Harder Dining Room can be used for buffets, sit-down meals, private parties or special events.
“Comfortable accommodations, high-tech Internet and videoconferencing services, affordable meeting packages and the unique energy surrounding a university campus make Mountainside an ideal choice for professional planners,” says Donna White, conference center manager.
3. WVU JACKSON’S MILL, WESTON
www.jacksonsmill.ext.wvu.edu
Located in the heart of the state and within driving distance of Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh and other mid-Atlantic metros, this rustic jewel enjoys several historical distinctions. Settled and established as a milling center in the early 1800s, the homestead was the boyhood home of legendary Confederate general Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. Entrusted to West Virginia University (WVU) in 1921, it then became the first state 4-H Camp in the nation, serving as a naval aviation training facility during World War II.
Today, the multifaceted property, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is an ideal spot for a diversity of gatherings, from historic encampments and livestock events to camps, meetings and more.
“With housing options ranging from luxury suites to historic communal-style cabins and meal service for up to 350 guests in beautiful Mount Vernon Dining Hall, WVU Jackson’s Mill provides endless options to fit your group’s needs and budget,” says David Smith, assistant director for operations.
Nearby is the AAA Four Diamond Stonewall Resort. The lakeside resort and conference center is a group favorite.
4. THE GREENBRIER,
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS
www.greenbrier.com
Dating to 1778, this National Historic Landmark is an American treasure and one of the world’s finest hotels. Set on 6,500 acres in the Allegheny Mountains, the 710-room property’s supreme group credentials include more than 40 meeting rooms and a complete conference center facility. Impressive, too, are the amenities, including two world-class golf courses, the world’s only Forbes Five-Star Mineral Spa, a 103,000-square-foot gaming and entertainment venue and some 50 recreational programs. During the Cold War, the hotel’s underground bunker was a top secret relocation facility for Congress in the event of nuclear war.
If those assets were not enough, the Greenbrier, through its Lifestyle Asset Division, has pioneered what it calls a “paradigm shift” within the meetings industry.
“The Greenbrier provides its clients with the opportunity to increase top and bottom line results by giving them the opportunity to market and sell their products and or services to qualified C-level executive decision makers in many key industries,” says Stuart Williams, president of the division. “We know of no other venue that can help its clients turn the expense of a corporate meeting into an opportunity to generate new business.”
5. OGLEBAY RESORT & CONFERENCE CENTER, WHEELING
www.oglebay-resort.com
Set on 1,700 acres outside historic Wheeling, this picturesque property, once the summer estate of Cleveland industrialist Earl W. Oglebay, combines modern conference facilities with an extensive range of amenities. Recently transformed by the addition of a new spa and 59 new premium guest rooms, the 271-room Wilson Lodge, also featuring a completely renovated lobby and main dining room, offers 22,000 square feet of flexible space for groups from 10 to 400. In addition, the resort offers 54 cottages, including three eight-bedroom cottages and four estate houses ideal for executive retreats.
With golf, tennis, horseback riding, the Good Zoo and miles of walking trails among the activities available, the property also uniquely offers two on-site heritage draws.
“Surrounded by recreated gardens, Oglebay’s former home is now the Mansion Museum, featuring period rooms and antiques,” says Caren Knoyer, marketing director. “At the adjacent Glass Museum, groups can enjoy glass-blowing demonstrations and workshops and a dazzling collection that includes the Victorian-era Sweeney Punch Bowl, the largest piece of cut lead crystal ever made.”
6. SHEPHERDSTOWN
www.shepherdstownvisitorscenter.com
Nestled in the lower Shenandoah Valley along the Potomac River in West Virginia’s scenic Eastern Panhandle region, Shepherdstown, chartered in 1762 as Mecklenburg, is the state’s oldest town. Only 90 minutes from the Washington/Baltimore metro areas, this charming locale, which is celebrating its 250th birthday this year, offers planners a wealth of agenda-building historical options.
With the 168-room Clarion Hotel and Conference Center and 72-room Bavarian Inn providing meeting and banquet facilities, the attractions start with the shops and cafes lining the town’s main thoroughfare, German Street, part of the National Register of Historic Places-listed Shepherdstown Historic District. With a portion of the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal, built in 1830, running nearby, Shepherdstown is close to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, where West Virginia converges with Maryland and Virginia, and where John Brown’s 1859 raid was an early Civil War flashpoint.
7. BECKLEY EXHIBITION COAL MINE, BECKLEY
www.beckleymine.com
Paramount in the development of its own and the nation’s industrial economies, West Virginia’s clean-burning bituminous coal, first discovered around 1742, is considered to be the world’s finest. Covering most of southern West Virginia, the state’s National Coal Heritage Area includes attractions such as the abandoned Nuttallburg mines in the New River Gorge area, now administered by the National Park Service.
In nearby Beckley, the Exhibition Coal Mine is the region’s largest and most popular coal heritage destination, where veteran miners take groups 1,500 feet beneath the Earth in authentic “man cars” on unforgettable coal seam tours. Visitors can also explore the historical coal camp on the complex, which also includes a museum, visitor center, store and gathering space for 60 people at the New River Shelter #3. Nearby, the Tamarack Conference Center provides 12,000 square feet of flexible space for meetings and events.
Regular Meetings Focus South contributor Jeff Heilman’s favorite place in West Virginia? Seneca Rocks, where the heroes of Normandy and other World War II battles learned how to climb.
