City of Shinnston

Recreation and Activities in the Region

Located as it is in the North Central part of West Virginia, Shinnston provides its residents and visitors with easy access to a full range of recreational, cultural, and historical activities. Within an easy commute of one to two hours one can find outdoor activities for all tastes, professional theatre, festivals on all kinds, and if shopping is your passion, retail stores of every kind.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES:
West Virginia is known for its outdoor recreation and if camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, tennis, or golf appeals, Shinnston has easy access to all of these and more!

NEARBY STATE PARKS:
Popular camping and vacation parks include:

Day use only parks:

Valley Falls

Regional Historic Parks:

Jackson's Mill--the boyhood home of General "Stonewall" Jackson
Prickett's Fort--a reproduction of an early frontier fort
Watters Smith--a working reproduction of early frontier farm

State Forests:

Coopers Rock--a view of the Cheat River gorge that must be seen

State Resort Parks:

Other Regional Parks and Historical Points of Interest:

Fort New Salem--historical reproduction of Frontier community located in Salem, WV
Lakeview Resort--full service convention and recreation resort on Cheat Lake near Morgantown, WV
Levi Shinn Log House--the first residence in Shinnston, this log home was built in 1778 and is maintained as a living history project.
Anna Jarvis House--the home of the founder of Mother's Day is located outside of Grafton, WV in the community of Webster.

SHINNSTON PARK AND POOL:

The Ferguson Memorial Park on North Street is the home of the Shinnston Pool. The Community is enjoying the third season at the pool with the addition of a new water slide. An active swim team provides a competive alternative to area youth. Bathhouse provides necessary facilities as well as a concession area. The pool is open 7 days a week during the summer season from noon to 6:00 p.m. The pool is also available for parties and has several special family nights scheduled throughout the season. Season passes for individuals or families provide a savings over daily admission and make a great gift. For more information call the pool at 304-592-0915 or city offices at 304-592-2126. The park provides a lovely natural backdrop to the pool activities. Still in development stages, the park will offer more recreational amenities in the near future. Select pavilions are now open for rent at a cost of $80 for a large pavilion and $40 for the smaller ones.

GOLF COURSES:
There are over 33 public and private golf courses within the North Central West Virginia region and easily reached by interstate or local highways. Among them is the newly opened Pete Dye Golf Club located some 5 miles from Shinnston. Other quality challenges of your golfing skill include:

HUNTING AND FISHING:
      West Virginia is known as a choice spot for these outdoor activities. The link to the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources is provided for more information about the rules and regulations governing these activities within the state.

RAILS AND TRAILS:
      Shinnston has a very active group of dedicated volunteers who are developing the West Fork River trail between Shinnston and Fairmont, WV. This 16 mile trail follows along side the West Fork River and will be linked to the American Discovery Trail near Clarksburg. The trail will link with the Mon River Trail in Fairmont and when that section is complete, link with the Pennsylvania border. The West Fork River Trail is ideally suited for both hiking and bike riding.
      The 16-mile West Fork River Rail Trail leads the adventurous traveler from Shinnston to near Fairmont, passing through several small communities and stretches of secluded back-country. Hikers, bicyclists, equestrians, and cross-country skiers are invited to explore this area rich in the heritage of our mining and industrial past. At present, the easiest access is under the Rt. 19 bridge in downtown Shinnston, with parking available along City streets. The smooth Trail surface is ideal for hiking or riding. A series of benches between Shinnston and Enterprise, and a covered bench in the village or Enterprose make pleasant rest areas.
      Interesting features of the Trail include the "Viropa washout", coke ovens between the Enterprise bridge and the Marion County line, and colorful rock formations uncovered during construction of the B&O Railroad. The Trail follows the West Fork River between the two cities and in every season, beautiful River views add to the pleasure of the Trail experience. Visit www.wvrtc.org for information on local trails.
Just outside of Clarksburg at Wilsonburg, one finds the beginning of the North Bend Trail which runs for 77 miles to Walker (near Parkersburg, WV on the Ohio river). This trail is much favored by bike riders and hikers alike.

COVERED BRIDGES WITHIN THE REGION:
      Four of the 17 remaining covered bridges in West Virginia are located within 35 miles of Shinnston. They include:

the famous Philippi Covered Bridge at Philippi, WV, the site of the first land engagement of the Civil War,
the Simpson Creek Bridge at Bridgeport, WV,
the Barrackville Covered Bridge at Barrackville, WV, and
the Marshville Covered Bridge located off US Rt. 50 east of Clarksburg, WV.

OTHER FAMILY RECREATION:

Regional Craft Fairs and Festivals:
West Virginia is nationally known for its many festivals and craft shows that showcase the talents of it skilled artisans. Four celebrations within the region are:

the Jackson Mill Jubilee held every labor day weekend at nearby Jackson's Mill State Park and 4-H Center,
the Italian Heritage Festival held each labor day weekend in Clarksburg, WV,
the Mountaineer Week Celebration of Appalachian Culture at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV, and
the Mountain State Forest Festival held each October in Elkins, WV.

Horseshoe Pitching:
Horseshoe pitching remains a popular family activity within the state. There are three different leagues open to the public in the region. They hold 4-5 tournaments annually at Worthington, Fairmont, and Clarksburg. The local leagues compete across the state.

INDOOR ACTIVITIES
If your tastes run to quieter levels of activity such as shopping and looking for crafts and antiques, north central West Virginia will not disappoint. Within 40 miles of Shinnston one will find over 20 distinct antique shops in addition to four regional shopping malls and numerous locally owned craft and gift shops. All are easily accessed by automobile and staffed by knowledgeable and friendly staff eager to serve your needs or interests.

YOUTH ACTIVITIES

Little League
Babe Ruth Baseball
Jerry West Basketball
Pop Warner Football
Girls Softball

THE CITY OF SHINNSTON
40 Main Street ~ Shinnston, WV 26431 ~ Ph: 304-592-5631
E-mail: city@shinnstonwv.com