Parkersburg

Parkersburg is a city of 33,099 people (as of 2000) in West Virginia. Founded in 1820, the city was originally named Newport, which was changed to Parkersburg in 1810. The city is situated where the Little Kanawha River meets the Ohio river; the town of Belpre lies just across the river in Ohio. Among Parkersburg's more famous residents is Morgan Spurlock, director of the 2004 film Super Size Me; the city's film connections continued with the 2006 film Bubble, which was filmed in the area and starred local residents. The area also has a long history with oil drilling, and is arguably the home of the first documented commercial use of oil in the US.

Get in

Parkersburg is on I-77 between Charleston and Akron, Ohio. US-50 also enters the city from Athens, Ohio on the west and Clarksburg on the east, and OH-7 passes through Belpre, between the Point Pleasant area and Marietta, Ohio.

By plane

• 🌍 Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport (PKB  ^IATA) (The nearest airport, route 31 off route 2 N), ☎ [phone]. United has nonstop service to Cleveland.  

By bus

Greyhound has one daily service from the state capital Charleston.

Get around

• Easy Rider Bus System, 520 Juliana Street, [phone], . Buses run 5:50AM to 6PM Monday through Saturday; no service on Sundays. Operated by the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority, serving the Parkersburg and Vienna area. Base fare is 50 cents, with 30-day passes available for $20.
• You can also call a yellow taxi at [phone].

See

• 🌍 Blennerhassett Island, 137 Juliana St, ☎ [phone]. Island open from May to October, museum open year-round; check website for hours. An Irish aristocrat built a mansion here in 1798, before being accused of treason and briefly imprisoned. The original mansion burned down in 1811, but the foundation was rediscovered in 1973 and has been carefully reconstructed. Features a museum with an orientation video and three floors of archaeological and historical exhibits, horse-drawn wagon rides, and tours of Blennerhasset Mansion. Visitors can also go picnicking, bike riding, or take nature walks. Allow three hours for a complete tour, including the 20-minute sternwheeler ride to and from the island. Adult admission prices are $2 (museum), $8 (boat ride), $3 (mansion tour) and $5 (wagon ride).  
• 🌍 Oil and Gas Museum, 119 3rd St, ☎ [phone], [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. M-F 11AM-4PM; Sa 11AM-5PM; Su 12PM-5PM. Covering the history of the oil and gas industry in West Virginia and Ohio with videos, pictures, interactive displays and artifacts - from manufacturing and transportation, to its effects on local wealth and culture, and the resulting impact on state founding and the Civil War. (updated Nov 2016)
• Julia-Ann Square, ☎ [phone]. A district of historic homes being preserved and restored. You can take a self-guided walking tour of the area, or a guided tour in mid-October and early December. 
• Parkersburg Art Center, 725 Market St, ☎ [phone]. Art exhibits, classes and workshops, and guided tours. On-site gift shop. 
• 🌍 Smoot Theatre, 213 Fifth St, ☎ +1 304-422-PLAY (7529). A restored 1926 vaudeville house, hosting films, concerts, plays, ballets and comedy shows. Dessert tours available.  
• North Bend State Park, ☎ [phone]. Off WV-31 near Cairo. Fishing streams, swimming pool, mountain biking, horseback riding and hiking trails, including the 72-mile North Bend Rail Trail. The park has a 305-acre lake for fishing and boating, as well as carriage rides on weekends from May until October. Lodge with on-site restaurant, cabins and campground accommodations available. On-site gift shop. 

Do

• Haunted Parkersburg Ghost Tours, 320 Market St, ☎ [phone]. Operating from mid-September through Halloween. Learn about the Banshee of Marrtown, the East End Ghoul, the West Virginia Mothman, the Men in Black and the appearance of the alien Indrid Cold. Two-mile walk taking less than two hours. $8. 

Events

• Mid-Ohio Valley Multicultural Festival, city park, 304-428-4405 or 304-428-1552. Held every June. Three days of entertainment, cuisine, education and artistic expressions from many cultures.
• Parkersburg Homecoming Festival, ☎ [phone]. Second Street and Ann Street. Held every third Friday in August. A parade, arts and crafts booths, a flea market, pageants, a talent show, a wacky raft race, a rubber ducky derby and a chess tournament. 
• Harvest Moon Arts and Crafts Festival, city park, 304-424-3457. Held every September. Quality food, entertainment and approximately 200 booths displaying wares from local and regional artists and craftsmen.
• West Virginia Honey Festival, city park, 304-428-5835 or 304-428-1130. Held every September to educate the public on beekeeping, honey and the uses of honey. Baking contest and auction, entertainment, concessions, arts and crafts and a beard of live bees.
• Volcano Days Festival, ☎ [phone]. Route 50 in Waverly. Held the fourth weekend in September on the site of the extinct oil town of Volcano, West Virginia, which was once like a gold-rush town until it was utterly destroyed by fire in 1879. Historical lectures, flea market, arts and crafts, races, live entertainment and the "Almost Famous" chicken dinner. 

Learn

• The area newspaper is the Parkersburg News and Sentinel, 519 Juliana Street, 304-485-1891 or 800-642-1997, .
• Ohio Valley University, 1 Campus View Drive in Vienna, 877-446-8668, . A faith-proclaiming, regional liberal arts university chartered in 1958. 18 baccalaureate degree programs, 2 associate degree programs, special certificates and endorsements.
• West Virginia University at Parkersburg, 300 Campus Drive, 304-424-8000 or 800-WVA-WVUP. A regional campus of West Virginia University in Morgantown, founded in 1961 and offering a blend of certificate and associate programs as well as select bachelor's degrees in applied technology, elementary education, business education, bachelor of arts, nursing, criminal justice and social work.

Buy

• Berdine's Five and Dime, 106 N Court St, ☎ [phone]. In Harrisville. Closed Sundays. America's oldest operating five-and-dime store, selling tin toys, bulk candies, practical and unusual items from yesteryear since 1908. 
• Fenton Art Glass, 700 Elizabeth St, ☎ [phone]. In Williamstown. Founded in 1905, Fenton is the largest manufacturer of handmade colored glass in the United States, known for its innovative glass colors as well as hand-painted decorations on pressed and blown glassware. Gift shop and museum on-site. Free factory tours available from 8:15AM to 4PM Monday through Friday. 
• Holl's Swiss Chocolatier, 2001 Grand Central Ave. In Vienna, 304-295-6576 or 800-842-4512. Fresh, handcrafted artisan Swiss chocolates created daily in small batches using only the finest ingredients. 
• Lee Middleton Original Dolls, 1301 Washington Blvd. In Belpre, 740-423-1481 or 800-233-7479. Open 9AM to 5PM Monday through Saturday; between March and December, the store is also open Sundays from 12PM to 5PM. Producing vinyl baby dolls with realistic faces for over 25 years. Factory tours available. 
• Made in West Virginia, Main Street in Cairo, 304-628-3321. Furniture, paintings, pottery, glass, books, jewelry, homemade food, musical instruments and more, created by some of West Virginia’s best artists and artisans.
• Mulberry Lane Country Store, 4009 Emerson Ave, ☎ [phone]. Open 10AM to 6PM Monday through Friday, 10AM to 5PM on Saturday, and 12PM to 5PM on Sunday. West Virginia's largest craft store, with 5,500 square feet of unique folk art, gifts, collectibles and home furnishings. 
• R. C. Marshall Hardware Co.. US-50 near Cairo. Open 10AM to 5PM, daily from Memorial Day through October; closed Mondays and Tuesdays from November until Memorial Day. A 1902 oil-boom store with original tin ceilings and an immense array of vintage showcases filled with 1890s supplies. Offers oil lamps and parts, camping and biking supplies, cast iron ware, quality book, farm and garden supplies, railroad memorabilia, handmade baskets, hard to find quality hand tools, and other uncommon items. 
• Scenes of West Virginia, 1709-11 St. Marys Ave, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. Offers a wide Variety of items made in West Virginia, including calendars, souvenirs, books, Fenton Art Glass, and hillbilly novelties. 
• Trans Allegheny Books, 725 Green St, ☎ [phone]. West Virginia's largest used bookstore, located in the restored 1905 Carnegie Library building, with over 500,000 used books and more than 1,000 new WV titles. 
• Williamstown Antique Mall, 801 Highland Ave, ☎ [phone]. In Williamstown. Finest selection of unique antiques and collectibles in the Mid-Ohio Valley. 

Malls

• Grand Central Mall, 100 Grand Central Ave, ☎ [phone]. In Vienna. Open 10AM to 9PM Monday through Saturday, and 12PM to 6PM on Sunday. Over 90 shops and restaurants. 

Eat

• Colonnade Grille, 1 17th St, ☎ [phone]. # Vienna, WV. Open from 5PM Tuesday through Saturday. House-made pasta, seafood and steaks. Set upon the banks of the Ohio River, outside seating beautiful views. Banquet room available. 
• da Vinci's Italian Restaurant, 215 Highland Ave, ☎ [phone]. In Williamstown. Open 10:30AM to 10PM Tuesday through Thursday, 10:30AM to 11PM Friday and Saturday, and 11AM to 9PM on Sundays, in summer; closes half an hour earlier in winter. A family-owned business since 1980, serving salads, sandwiches, pasta, pizza and calzones. Specialties include the German Pizza (with corned beef, sauerkraut and horseradish sauce) and the Spaghetti Mona Lisa (baked vermicelli with meat sauce, topped with cheese, vegetables and pepperoni). $4 - $18. 
• North End Tavern One of Parkersburgs only functioning microbreweries the "NET" is famous for it's enormous NET Burgers and beer battered onion rings. Affordable prices, but bar ambiance.
• The Pizza Place Locally owned and operated the unique Sicilian style crust is a local favorite.

Drink

• J. P. Henry's, 5106 Emerson Ave, ☎ [phone]. Restaurant and pub with casual dining and sports bar. Salads, sandwiches, burgers and hot entrees. $6 - $20. 
• 🌍 North End Tavern & Brewery, 3500 Emerson Ave, ☎ [phone]. Open 8AM-12AM Monday through Saturday, and 1PM-7PM on Sunday. Ales, pilsners, porters and lagers brewed on-site. Also serving appetizers, salads and grilled items. $4 - $9. (updated Nov 2016)

Sleep

Budget

• Days Inn Williamstown, I-77 and WV-14 (exit 185), 304-375-3730 or 800-329-7466. 100 rooms. Pool, horseshoes, barbecue pit. Complimentary breakfast. On-site restaurant. $50 - $89.
• Econo Lodge, 1954 7th St, ☎ [phone]. 65 rooms. Outdoor pool, jacuzzi. Complimentary breakfast. On-site restaurant. $44 - $100, $60 - $150 (suites). 
• Knights Inn, 1/2 E. 7th St, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. 3604 / I-77 and US-50 (exit 176). 51 rooms. Continental Breakfast. Wireless Internet. $35 - $70, $175 Jacuzzi Suites. 
• Microtel Inn, 104 Nicolette Rd, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. In Mineral Wells. 53 rooms. Complimentary continental breakfast. $45 - $80. 
• Travelodge, 3604 E. 7th St, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. / I-77 and US-50 (exit 176). 95 rooms. Continental Breakfast. Micro-fridges. Exercise Room. Wireless Internet. Outdoor pool. $42 - $76, $175 Jacuzzi Suites. 
• Red Carpet Inn, 6333 Emerson Ave, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. 46 rooms. Jacuzzi. Complimentary coffee and doughnuts. $32 - $57, $72 - $99 (suites). 
• Red Roof Inn, 3714 E 7th St, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. 106 rooms. Complimentary newspaper. $47 - $63. 

Mid-range

• AmeriHost North, 401 37th St, ☎ [phone]. 78 rooms. Indoor heated pool, whirlpool, exercise room. Whirlpool suites available. Complimentary continental breakfast. $68 - $199. 
• AmeriHost South, 201 Hospitality Ln, ☎ [phone]. In Mineral Wells. 61 rooms. Indoor pool, hot tub, exercise room. Whirlpool rooms available. Complimentary expanded continental breakfast. $59 - $80, $100 - $135 (suites). 
• Comfort Suites, 167 Elizabeth Pike in Mineral Wells, [phone]. 116 rooms. Indoor and outdoor pool, jacuzzi, exercise room, sauna. Complimentary breakfast. $77 - $150.
• Hampton Inn Parkersburg, I-77 and WV-14 (exit 170) in Mineral Wells, [phone] or +1-800-HAMPTON (426-7866). 68 rooms. Outdoor pool, exercise room. Complimentary continental breakfast.
• Holiday Inn, 225 Holiday Hills Dr, ☎ [phone]. 149 rooms. Indoor pool, jacuzzi, saunas, exercise room. On-site restaurant called the Calabash. $72 - $89, $94 - $159 (suites). 
• Wingate Inn Vienna, 1502 Grand Central Ave, ☎ [phone]. In Vienna. 76 rooms. Indoor pool, hot tub, fitness center. Complimentary hot breakfast. 

Splurge

• 🌍 The Blennerhassett Hotel, 320 Market St, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. 89 rooms. A historic hotel since 1889. Fitness center, plush bathrobes. Complimentary pass to the Parkersburg YMCA, valet service, airport shuttle and daily paper. On-site restaurant called Spats Restaurant and Lounge, and a Starbucks coffee bar. 

Bed and Breakfasts

• Harnett House, 1024 Juliana St, ☎ [phone]. 5 rooms. Victorian home from 1885. Complimentary breakfast for two, and afternoon tea or lemonade service. Optional massage therapy and gift baskets. $69 - $99. 
• Log House Homestead Bed & Breakfast, ☎ [phone]. Homestead Cove Lane off route 31 in Cairo. 2-bedroom unit. Hand-hewn replica log house from the 1820s. Jacuzzi, fireplace. $95 - $125. 
• Old Carriage House Bed & Breakfast, 118 12th St, ☎ [phone]. 2 rooms and 1 family suite. Brick colonial home from 1895. 
• RiverGarden Guest Wing. On Route 7 between Marietta and Belpre, 304-210-4383. 2-bedroom unit. Private Entrance. Sleeps 6. 1000 sq.ft. $125 - $155. 
• Rose Hill Bed & Breakfast, 102 Park Dr, ☎ [phone]. In Pennsboro. 4 rooms. 
• Williams' House Bed & Breakfast, 5406 Grand Central Ave, ☎ [phone]. In Vienna. 5 rooms. Pool. Full breakfast. 

Connect

• Parkersburg Public Library. (updated Nov 2018)

Go next

• Marietta, Ohio is about 20 minutes north on OH-7.
• Point Pleasant is a little over 1 hour south on US-50 / OH-7.
• Charleston is a little over 1 hour south on I-77.
• Columbus, Ohio is a little over 2 hours northwest on I-77 / I-70.

Routes through Parkersburg

Canton ← Marietta ←	N  S	→ Jct W E → Charleston
Chillicothe ← Athens ←	W  E	→ Pennsboro → Clarksburg
Athens ← Belpre ← becomes ←	W  E	→ END