Fairmont (West Virginia)

Fairmont, nicknamed the "Friendly City", is a city of 19,097 people (as of 2000) in West Virginia. It was established in 1820 as Middletown, and changed in 1843 to Fairmont, short for "Fair Mountain". Mary Lou Retton — a gold-medalist gymnast in the 1984 Olympics, who was highly popular around the country and particularly in West Virginia — came from Fairmont.

Fairmont is part of the High-Technology Corridor along I-79, home to companies such as Allegheny Energy, the FBI Identification Facility, and numerous software-oriented businesses.

Get in

By car

Fairmont sits at the intersection of US-19, between Morgantown and Clarksburg, and US-250, between Wheeling and Elkins. It's also adjacent to I-79 (exits 132 through 139), which runs largely parallel to US-19 in the region.

Get around

See

• Downtown Fairmont, [phone]. Walking tours available for the historic section of town.
• Nine of the seventeen covered bridges in West Virginia are within easy access of Fairmont. Kathleen Panek, owner of the Gillum House B&B in Shinnston, has route information if you want to visit all of them.

• Barrackville Covered Bridge, junction of WV-21 and US-250. A 148-foot single-lane historic covered bridge.

• West Virginia Folklife Center, 1201 Locust Avenue, ☎ [phone], [phone]. At Fairmont State. Dedicated to the identification, preservation, and perpetuation of the region's rich cultural heritage, through academic studies, educational programs, festivals and performances, and publications. 

Parks

• Curtisville Lake (Curtisville Pike). WV-7 past Logansport. 695 acres and a 30-acre lake. Hiking trails, fishing. 
• East Marion Park. State Street Extension. 32 acres. Tennis, basketball, softball, horseshoes, mini-golf, hiking and jogging trails, playground, wave pool and waterslide. Mini-golf open from 11AM to 8PM daily; admission $2. 
• Mary Lou Retton Park. Mary Lou Retton Drive and Old Monongah Road. 25 acres. Four baseball fields, one football field, tennis courts with practice wall, playgrounds, West Virginia Miner's Memorial. 
• 🌍 Pricketts Fork State Park, ☎ [phone]. WV-3 off I-79 (exit 139). Features a recreation of the rustic log Pickett's Fort from 1774. Guides in period costume recreate late 18th-century life and demonstrate colonial crafts. The park includes Pricketts Creek and Bay, the Monongahela River, an interpretive nature trail, hiking, walking, jogging, cycling, boating, fishing, and a 400-seat amphitheatre.  
• Valley Falls State Park, WV-310 off I-79 (exit 137), 304-367-2719. 1,145 acres for fishing, horseshoes, whitewater rafting, 18 miles of hiking and biking trails. Foaming waterfalls and the remains of a sawmill and grist mill.
• Worthington Park. US-19 in Worthington. 10 acres. Waterfall, softball, horsheshoes, fishing, West Fork River Trail. 

Do

• Coal Country Miniature Golf, 3 Hollen Circle, ☎ [phone]. Miniature golf and batting cages with a coal-mining theme. 18 holes. $5-8. 
• Valley World of Fun, 2017 Pleasant Valley Road, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. Su-Th 10AM-10PM, F Sa 10AM-11PM. Miniature golf, 24 bowling lanes, lasertron, bumper cars, bumper boats, indoor and outdoor climbing walls, 5,000-square-foot maze, 90-foot slide, indoor midway, Himalaya mini-coaster, gyro, whirly bird, rock-n-roll cage, Twister, soft play area, arcade, snack bar and cafe. Day passes $14-20. 

Movies

• Sunset Ellis Drive-in, south of Shinnston, [phone]. Open Friday through Monday, May until Labor Day. $6.
• Tygart Valley Cinemas, 7 Tygart Valley Mall, ☎ [phone]. 9 screens. $4.50-6. 

Events

• West Virginia Day and Gazing Back in Time Festival, 211 Adams Street, ☎ [phone]. Held in late June. Bake sale, Palace Restaurant fruit bowl and pecan roll luncheon, activities, games and music. 
• Mountain State Juried Art Exhibit, 830 Walnut Avenue, ☎ [phone]. Held in October. Juried, fine art exhibit of paintings, photos and three-dimensional works of art. 

Buy

• Friendly Furniture Galleries, 205 Adams Street, ☎ [phone]. Quality home furnishings in a five-story historic building in downtown Fairmont. Consultation, design, accessories, giftware, fine coffee and tea. 
• Rider Pharmacy, 303 Merchant Street, ☎ [phone]. M-F 8:30AM-8PM, Sa 9AM-5PM. Family-owned and -operated since 1967, offering floral arrangements, gift baskets, Boyds Bears, WVU souvenirs, Department 56 and other gifts. 
• Sew Chic, Old WV-73 off I-79 (exit 39), ☎ [phone], toll-free: +1-. M-F 10AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-2PM. Fabrics, threads, books, repair service, heirloom supplies, cabinets, magazines, and sewing and quilting classes. 
• Squirrel Nutkin's Shoppe, 213 Morgantown Avenue, ☎ [phone]. Antiques, collectibles, pottery, candles, food, and products made in West Virginia. 
• The Tin Man, 235 Locust Avenue, ☎ [phone]. Tu-F 10AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-3PM. Antiques, artistic, vintage and all-natural items, and fine gifts. 
• Tracy's Creations, 1547 Fairmont Avenue, ☎ [phone]. M-F 10AM-5:30PM, Sa 10AM-3PM. Wreaths, swags, floral arrangements, flags, candles, Boyds Bears, primitives and Victorian home décor, linens, heritage lace and braided rugs. 
• Vittoria & Banks, 232 Adams Street, ☎ [phone]. M Tu It F 10AM-6PM, W Sa 10AM-1PM. Fingerprint jewelry, school jewelry, name bracelets and fine jewelry. Classes offered. 
• The Wright Stuff Works, 215 Pike Street, Shinnston, ☎ [phone]. A family-based business of wood, glass and metal artisans. Classes offered in stained glass, pen turning and basic woodwork. 

Malls

• Middletown Mall, 2500 Fairmont Avenue, ☎ [phone]. The first mall in West Virginia, opened in 1969. Over 30 shops and restaurants. 

Learn

• The local newspaper is the Times West Virginian, [phone].
• Fairmont State, 1201 Locust Avenue, [phone]. Community and technical college founded in 1974, and state university founded in 1865, offering 90 baccalaureate and 50 associate degrees.

Eat

Fairmont is the "Home of the Original Pepperoni Roll". If you want to get them fresh, rather than pre-wrapped in a convenience mart, your best bets are the traditional variety at the Country Club Bakery, or the giant variety at Colasessano's.

• Aquarium Lounge, 620 Gaston Avenue, ☎ [phone]. M-F 11AM-10PM, Sa 5PM-10PM. Salads, pasta, chicken, pork, seafood and hand-cut steaks. 
• Backwoods Grill, 1602 Locust Avenue, ☎ [phone]. M-Th 11AM-10PM, F 11AM-11PM, Sa 4PM-11PM. Soups, salads, sandwiches, steaks, seafood, and Cajun classics like jambalaya, gumbo, Louisiana dirty rice and lobster bisque. 
• Classics Cafe, 236 Adams Street, ☎ [phone]. M-F 8AM-3PM. Homemade soups and sandwiches. 
• Colasessano's, 506 Pennsylvania Avenue, ☎ [phone]. Tu-Th 8AM-8PM, F Sa 8AM-9PM. A local favorite since the 1960s, serving pizzas, salads, sandwiches, chicken wings, and large pepperoni rolls for $3.50. Freshly-baked bread and cookies daily. $2.50-10.50. 
• Country Club Bakery, 1211 Country Club Road, ☎ [phone]. M Tu Th F 7AM-6PM, Sa 7AM-3PM. Bakery supplying pepperoni rolls to grocery stores and convenience stores around Fairmont; try them hot and fresh for just $1. They also carry Italian breads, rolls and cookies. 
• Dairy Creme Corner, 187 Homewood Avenue, ☎ [phone]. M-Sa 10AM-10PM, Su 1-10PM. Self-proclaimed purveyors of "the biggest cones in town!" which, depending on your age or ego, may actually be bigger than your head. Along with their FlavorBurst ice cream (used for sundaes, shakes and malts), they offer fried appetizers, salads, sandwiches, barbecue, pepperoni rolls and funnel cakes. Try their peanut butter milkshakes. $1.37-2.59. 
• DJ's 50s & 60s Diner, 1181 Airport Road, ☎ [phone]. Su-Th 7AM-10PM, F Sa 7AM-midnight. 1950s-style diner with waitresses in poodle skirts. Classic American favorites, milkshakes and ice cream floats. 
• Dutchman's Daughter Restaurant, 2612 Fairmont Avenue, ☎ [phone]. Su-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM. Home-cooked meals. 
• Jimmy's Diner, 1501 Hood Avenue, Shinnston, ☎ [phone]. Sa-Th 8AM-8PM, F Sa 8AM-9PM. Italian-American food; Thursday nights are all-you-can-eat spaghetti nights for $5. 
• Mi Pueblo, 2500 Fairmont Avenue (in Middletown Mall), ☎ [phone]. Daily 11AM-midnight. Family-owned Mexican restaurant. 
• Muriales Italian Family Restaurant, 1742 Fairmont Avenue, ☎ [phone]. M-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 11AM-8PM. Fine Italian food and home-cooked meals. 
• The Poky Dot, 1111 Fairmont Avenue, ☎ [phone]. A nostalgic 1950s restaurant which began as a barbecue stand in the late 1940s and turned into a sit-down diner in the 1950s. Munchies, breakfast foods, soups, salads, wraps, sandwiches, steak, chicken, cheesecake, pie, cobblers, milkshakes, malts, sundaes and ice cream floats. Try the appetizer-laden Dot Combo Platter. 
• Say-Boy Steak House Restaurant, 905 Country Club Road, ☎ [phone]. Open 8AM to 9PM Monday through Saturday, and 8AM to 8:30PM on Sunday. A local favorite for 45 years. Steaks, chicken and Italian specialties. 
• TJ's Sports Garden Restaurant, 2500 Fairmont Avenue. 
• Village Bistro at Westchester Village, 1825 Locust Avenue, ☎ [phone]. Open for dinner Monday through Saturday. Gourmet dishes and an extensive wine list. 
• Wings Olé, 1486 Locust Avenue, ☎ [phone]. M-Th 11AM-midnight, F Sa 11AM-2AM, Su noon-midnight. Chicken wings, salads, side dishes, sandwiches, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, fajitas. 
• Yann's Hotdogs, 300 Washington Street, ☎ [phone]. varied hours. A Fairmont tradition and proud of it. The best hotdogs in the state. No special order; comes with everything or plain only. Mr. Yann is the "hotdog Nazi" of WV but respected and loved by all. 

Drink

• Book-n-Bean Coffee House. M-W 7AM-10PM, Th 7AM-11PM, F Sa 7AM-midnight, Su 11AM-6PM. Coffee, tea, milkshakes, soups, sandwiches, wraps and desserts. New, used and antique books. Live music on Thursday through Saturday nights, art on display. $3 - 6. 
• Wright Dawgs, 540 East Park Avenue, ☎ [phone]. Great hotdogs (mild, medium, hot) and many other wonderful menu items. Low prices for exceptional food. A second location has now opened in Belleview. 

Sleep

Budget

• Avenue Motel, 816 Fairmont Avenue, ☎ [phone]. $31. 
• Budget Motel & Apartments, 1101 Fairmont Avenue, ☎ [phone]. 
• Country Club Motor Lodge, 19 and Country Club Road, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. 30 rooms. Fitness center, health spa, jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, methol inhalation room, personal trainers, tanning, aerobics classes. $31 - $41. 
• Travelodge, 1117 Fairmont Avenue, ☎ [phone]. 49 rooms. Seasonal outdoor heated pool, hot tub. On-site 50s diner. Jacuzzi suites and in-room fireplace available. Complimentary deluxe continental breakfast. $35. 

Mid-range

• Comfort Inn and Suites, 1185 Airport Road, ☎ [phone]. 85 rooms. Fitness center, outdoor pool. Complimentary continental breakfast. $80 - 120. 
• Days Inn, 228 Middletown Road, ☎ [phone]. 46 rooms. On-site barber/beauty shop and restaurant. Free access to nearby fitness center. $74 - 90. 
• Holiday Inn. I-79 and 930 East Old Grafton Road, 304-366-5500. 106 rooms. Outdoor pool. On-site restaurant (Simmering Pot Family Restaurant) and bar (Franny's Lounge). Complimentary newspaper. $65 - 85. 
• Red Roof Inn, 50 Middletown Road, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. 108 rooms. Complimentary newspaper. $55 - 80. 
• Super 8 Motel, 2208 Pleasant Valley Road, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. 54 rooms. Whirlpool rooms available. Complimentary continental breakfast and newspaper. $77. 

Splurge

• Fairfield Inn and Suites, 27 Southland Drive, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. 80 rooms. Exercise room, heated indoor pool, whirlpool. Complimentary deluxe continental breakfast. $139 - 179. 

Bed and Breakfasts

• Gillum House Bed & Breakfast, 35 Walnut Street, toll-free: [phone]. In Shinnston. 3 rooms. Front porch, rail trail for walking or biking. Full breakfast with muffins, fruit, juices, entrees, fresh-roasted coffee (nightly) and a selection of over 100 teas. Breakfast served 4AM-10AM Overnight stabling, off-street parking for motorcycles. Children welcome. Pet-free and smoke-free. $95 - 149. 

Go next

• Morgantown is about 30 minutes north on I-79.
• Clarksburg and Bridgeport are about 30 minutes south on I-79.
• Grafton is about 30 minutes southeast on I-79 and US-250.

Routes through Fairmont

Washington ← Morgantown ←	N  S	→ Bridgeport → Charleston
Wheeling ← Moundsville ←	N  S	→ Grafton → Staunton