10 West Virginia Towns With Unforgettable Main Streets

From community to community, main streets speak a lot about a town. While some are lacking imagination, creativity, or are poorly used, others are bursting with life and possibilities. They become central hubs for thriving communities, public displays of art, and a mixture of culture, all accentuated by wide sidewalks or even pedestrian-only streets. We expect a lot from main streets, and they take a lot of time to build up and invest in, but the payoff is worth it for everyone involved. For a lot of us, it creates these unforgettable main streets that we love to visit. West Virginia, for example, contains 10 towns with unforgettable main streets. Let's take a look!

Hinton

Resting just on the shores of the New River rests the small town of Hinton. Its Historic District and main streets run along both sides of the New River, making it highly accessible and scenic to walk through. Beyond the scenic view, there are plenty of options for what to do. Grandma's House is an antique store filled with old yet charming items. If you've got a craving for pastries, Lucky Rivers Cafe & Catering offers a unique culinary experience to its customers. Hinton also has a city pool and waterslide called the Wildwater Express. Curious about the railroad? You could finish your trip off with a visit to the Hinton Railroad Museum, which contains historical artifacts of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad.

Berkeley Springs

Situated near Baltimore, Berkeley Springs is quite known for its spas and culture, but there is more to this place than that. Berkeley Springs plans several community events every month, giving tourists different experiences beyond spas.

Their main street is also appealing in its own way. The BlackCat Music Shop & Studio is the town's local source for anything music-related. Beyond vintage instruments and music accessories, you could get a chance to see a live jam session there. For something more unique, visiting Inspired Chaos could give you some quirky and fun gifts to bring back home.

Alternatively, you could visit Heavenly Harvest Boutique, which offers West Virginia and American-made craft beers, chocolates, spa items, and gifts for any occasion. The Ice House Co-op Gallery is also a hot spot for art exhibits, as the gallery features local artists and rotates art exhibits.

White Sulphur Springs

Another great historical town in West Virginia is White Sulphur Springs. The small town offers a mixture of diverse activities and takes a point of pride in making their main street not just central for business, but for the community as a whole. Scattered throughout the area are colorful awnings, benches, flowers, and people. The main street is also where many community events take place, giving visitors an opportunity to experience the town's culture often.

The Greenbrier Falconry is featured as part of the Greenbrier resort's 11,000 acres, allowing you to see animals up close in natural habitats. For history buffs, check out the historic Greenbrier Government Relocation Facility, a Cold War bunker that was built between 1958 and 1961, which shares a unique aspect of American history.

The main street is also home to a variety of cafes and unique stores too. Tootsie's Place is a quaint store with unique options like cinnamon sugar and lemon curd donuts. Then there is MerryWeather's, a boutique for women's fashion, jewelry, and accessories.

Kingwood

Known for its rich history and several historic sites, Kingwood offers a lot of unique surprises for those strolling through Main Street. Overall, they keep the historic feel of the town on their Main Street with brick stores offering antiques, dry goods, unique gifts, and other items. You can easily take yourself on a historical tour through the downtown area. The various historical houses, like the McGrew and Bonafield Houses, send you back in time with historical furniture and old-school living. You can also experience waves of nostalgia and understand more history through the Kingwood Academy and the Old Gas Station. And after that nice walk, feel free to take a dip in the Kingwood City Pool, which offers swimming lessons and even nighttime swimming.

Ripley

A balance of historical town and Western culture, Ripley is a unique town in that their main street is publicly funded. With residents volunteering their time, their efforts are clearly seen in what their main street has become: a gathering place of many events, thriving businesses, and home to the largest small-town Independence Day celebration.

A must-visit on this main street is the Alpine Theatre, an attraction of the town ever since its founding in 1936. Its modern look provides a refreshing contrast to modern theatre designs. Afterwards, visit The Downtowner for locally famous comfort foods and specials.

For shopping options, there is the West Virginia Artisan Market, which houses over 100 artists' work. Alternatively, you can look through Farmhouse Market Finds, which has old and modern items.

Point Pleasant

Serving as an important hub of transportation, Point Pleasant is more likely to be recognized by its local and national lore as the Mothman's home. And the community has really leaned into that. Their Main Street offers a variety of Mothman-themed attractions. There's the statue and the museum; however, there's also a mini-golf area and escape room. Aside from Mothman-themed attractions, you can grab some ice cream at What's the Scoop Ice Cream or visit Coffee Grinder, a local cafe that also serves breakfast and lunch.

Elkins

Elkins is a slow-paced town with a lot of historical charm. Its Victorian-era buildings pop due to the red brick, and its Main Street, Davis Avenue, has a clash of that historical feel and modern art. No doubt walking through Main Street, you'll find a lot of artwork adorning the walls. Grab a bite to eat at Beander's Restaurant & Tavern, where they offer Italian entrees, Mexican options, and an assortment of sandwiches, salads, and appetizers for everyone. Elkins also has a historical walking tour that takes you through Railroad Avenue, Third Street, and Davis Avenue. Most notable are the Western Maryland Railroad Depot, the Ralph Darden House, and the Grand Theatre.

Moundsville

With nearly 8,000 people living here, Moundsville is the 17th largest city in West Virginia. As such, it's brimming with possibilities while still offering that small-town charm. The Strand Theatre on Fifth Street has been restored and maintained since 2002 and is a place to see various performing arts. Just off the main street also rests the Grave Creek Mound Historical Site on Eighth Street. This site also serves as West Virginia's Archaeological Collection. If you have an interest in glass art, Fostoria Glass Museum is on the corner of Sixth Street, which features a variety of glasswork and routinely does glass shows. Or you could grab a bite to eat at the Acapulco Mexican Restaurant. Regardless, there is a mixture of culture, history, and landscapes to enjoy here.

Charles Town

Only an hour away from the Washington, DC, Metro area, this main street is award-winning. Charles Town has that mixture of past and present that many of these towns offer, but they blend it so well. Historical buildings meet locally owned shops and restaurants, vibrant casinos, theatrical productions, and more. Checking out their Main Street, their entertainment consists of the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races as well as The Old Opera House. For shopping, you can check out Needful Things Emporium, which has a mixture of jewelry, vintage items, and more. And if that's not enough, check out The Jefferson County Museum, which talks about Charles Town's rich American history.

Lewisburg

With only a handful of streets being its main streets, Lewisburg still has a lot to show off and pack into that area. There's a relatively new store in A New Chapter, an independent bookstore offering regional and national best-selling books. For the gourmand of the group, Bella The Corner Gourmet has high-quality cooking gear and ingredients. For other options, consider Bodies In Motion, a safe, effective, and enjoyable fitness studio that offers private sessions. Or take a historical tour through the Greenbrier Historical Society's museum, complete with rotating exhibits and historic programs.

Want a historical feel with a modern look? Many small towns in West Virginia offer a mixture of both and do so very well. But even outside of that, these main streets are all unique in their own way. There's the unique lore around Point Pleasant's Mothman exhibits and themes. Alternatively, you can take things slow with White Sulphur Springs or Berkeley Springs Main Streets. Nevertheless, there is a variety to experience and explore.