Discover Barbour County: River, History and Culture
Accommodation in Barbour County
Barbour County combines river landscapes, historic buildings and a variety of opportunities for days spent in nature. Audra State Park on the Middle Fork River in the southwest of the county is particularly impressive. The park also extends partly into Upshur County and offers a range of travel ideas: the Middle Fork River is suitable for floating, while two designated trails offer mountain biking. Anyone looking for a base for a holiday apartment with varied day plans can combine nature experiences and cultural attractions here.
Nature Experiences by the River and Outdoors
Audra State Park represents a stay by the water without requiring you to commit to just one activity. Floating on the Middle Fork River appeals to travelers who want to experience the river up close. The two designated mountain biking trails provide an active alternative. Barbour County also offers opportunities for public hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreational activities in the Teter Creek Wildlife Management Area. This allows you to plan your trip around your own interests: a day by the river, a bike excursion or time fishing and in nature.
Philippi and the History of the Region
An important cultural point of reference is Philippi. The Philippi Covered Bridge continues to serve as an important traffic link on US 250. At the same time, it recalls a turbulent past: During the first land battle of the American Civil War, Union troops used the bridge as a barracks.
The Philippi Historic District is a significant ensemble of buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries. The buildings are grouped around a distinctive town square. The historic district is roughly bounded by Pike, High, Walnut, Wolfe, Main and Wilson streets, as well as the Tygart Valley River. For your visit, this creates a clearly defined historic focus that you can include in your plans regardless of whether your trip is geared more toward culture or landscape experiences.
Museums, Estates and Covered Bridges
The Barbour County Historical Museum is housed in a former B&O railway station. Its significant exhibits range from 1635 through the Civil War and the early 20th century to the present day. Another historic destination is Valley Furnace, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 21, 2023.
Adaland Mansion is a Greek Revival-style house built in 1870 with 23 rooms. The property has been carefully restored while preserving its authenticity and invites visitors to teas. The Carrollton Covered Bridge is the second-longest covered bridge in West Virginia. Destinations like these give a trip to Barbour County a historic and architectural dimension that can be combined well with days spent in nature.
Choose Accommodation to Suit Your Travel Plans
Barbour County lies on the border of the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can therefore first consider which experiences should be the focus. Travelers who place particular importance on the Middle Fork River, mountain biking or the Teter Creek Wildlife Management Area will plan differently from those primarily interested in Philippi, museums, historic buildings and bridges. The annual Blue and Gray Reunion, held on the first weekend of June and commemorating the Philippi Races, also adds a distinctive cultural element. Choosing suitable accommodation is therefore above all a matter of the travel theme and pace at which you want to discover Barbour County.
For the overarching travel overview: West Virginia.
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