Valley Falls State Park In West Virginia

Valley Falls State Park is located about near Fairmont, West Virginia. This park is a hikers dream! It has several hikes available on every level of the the valley and for every skill level. As you enter the park, you go down into the valley. The road is steep with the tree coverage ensuring that you will not see the valley below until you arrive.

As you drop down into the valley, you can see picnic areas, playgrounds, a waterfall, and some times a train. The park has a lot of parking available to spend the day or a few hours.

As you cross a bridge over the railroad tracks on foot. You get a great view of the Waterfall. You can walk right out to it but be warned that swimming is not allowed. This area is breath taking but there is a sadness about the place. Peaceful but sad. Almost like something or someone is crying out that you must respect this place as well as enjoy the wonderful sites.

During the 1830’s, a lumber mill was built and later a grist mill, a mill for grinding grain. There are still remains of the mill that once stood on the site.

This is a great place to visit after going to Prickett Fort which is about 20 minutes away. Click to see more information.

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During the summer months, the park includes a small country store with food available.

There is the main falls and then a second falls as you walk along the river area. The waterfall is more then a half of a mile long.

Above the creek, the water is so clear that you can see leafs that have floated to the bottom. It is incredible to see that clear water falling over the falls. You can see the rocks behind the water as it comes crashing down.

Brief History

Evil Spirit Falls! The Cherokees who once lived in this valley believed the falls were evil. This valley was once a large community of Native Americas. The history has largely been forgotten but the name still lives on in the memory of the place.

European explorers called the falls, “Hard Around Falls” which as you walk up above the falls you can see this calm water so clear that you can see leafs, fish, and other objects clearly. Then you turn the bend and the falls await you. The falls where again renamed “Falls of the Big Muddy” and now Valley Falls.

This waterfall seems to have no sound above the river. You can even have a conversation without yelling when you stand next to it. I wonder how many people died because there is no roar to warning that it was coming up and then a second falls.

I can just imagine rafting down the middle of this calm river enjoying the clear water as I viewed the fish swim by, seeing the wild life on the banks, and hearing the birds then suddenly fighting for my life to get to shore as the waterfall comes up around the bend.

The history of the valley is very scattered and lost to history. Around the 1730’s, it is believed that there was a trading post here. The area was visited by many notable people but no one really took a clam to it until 1837.

In 1837, W.W. Fetterman bought the property and build his summer house and a saw mill. The mill produced lumber for most of the surrounding areas.

The B&O Railroad was scooting areas for a route from Baltimore, MD to Wheeling, WV. The saw mill became one of the stops. In addition, knowing that the railroad was going to be through two men started a grist mill in 1850.

The grist mill highest production produced 70 barrels of flour a day and with the train coming through in 1852, lumber started to be ship to Pittsburgh.

A town of over 100 house was built around the area to keep the mills running and the town was full of activity with a post office, a Wells Fargo station, schools, and other factories and mills around the area.

During the Civil War, Valley falls was use for troops and supply movement. As Fairmont, which is about 20 minutes away was attacked.

But the end of Valley Falls came between 1886 and 1888. In 1886, a fire devastated the town. It was partial rebuilt but 2 years later, a flood wiped out most of the town. Although the grist mill operated until 1905, the town never recovered.

Valley Fall became the playground for Fairmont and Grafton with train service for people to travel down for a short time but as time went on few people visited as trains become less used for passengers and cars become the normal mode of travel.

In 1911, the falls were used as a back drop for a film with Mable Normand. Mable was the Beyonce of her time. Movie star, director, producer, screenwriter, and movie studio owner.

Valley Falls was taken over as a state park in 1964. The old town can be see in the scattered foundations, the mills, and other items through out the park. It is a ghost town that has been washed away. But it is a wonderful place to enjoy the nature and once in a while a train going by as they did in the past.