This Marion County city was first settled in 1770 and officially established in 1820 when the city was known as Middletown and was a part of the Monongalia County. Experience a “living history” of those colonial times at Pricketts Fort State Park overlooking the confluence of Prickett's Creek and the Monongahela River. This rustic log fort is a re-creation of the original Prickett's Fort of 1774, which served as a refuge from Native American war parties on the western frontier of Colonial Virginia. Built in 1976, the new fort recreates the late 18th century lifestyle through period attire while you can observe blacksmiths, spinners, weavers and other traditional artisans at work, and there is a gun shop which features the only public demonstrations of 18th century firearm manufacturing in the state.Valley Falls State Park is a 1,145-acre facility on both banks of the Tygart Valley River, which features a half-mile long set of waterfalls that separate Marion and Taylor County and allows for challenging kayaking.
You can see the ruins of a saw mill and a gristmill along the river. Although the falls are an inviting spot, swimming is not allowed. Housed on the campus of Fairmont State University is the Snodgrass One - Room Schoolhouse Museum which at pays tribute to the original schoolhouse and a church that was built on this site in 1840. Play miniature gold with a coal mining theme and take in some history at the coal mining museum at the Coal Country Miniature Golf and Batting Cages. After that, you can traverse across a nationally registered historic place built in 1853. The Barrackville Covered Bridge spans 145 feet across Buffalo Creek near Barrackville, West Virginia. For golfing enthusiasts, Fairmont has the Fox Hill Country Club and hosts the Three Rivers Festival every year in the month of May. No matter where you go or what activities you undertake in this friendly city, you’ll have a friend waiting by to make your vacation even better when you stay at one of our Choice Hotels in Fairmont, WV. Book a room online now!