Fairmont: River Trails, Folklore and History

Fairmont combines trails along several waterways with a tangible local and regional history. A lit tunnel, a repurposed historic barn serving as a cultural center, a former sheriff’s house and recurring festivals each add a distinctive touch. You can shape your stay around what you most want to discover: trails, history, folklore or local traditions.

Trails Along Creeks and Rivers

Three different trail descriptions can help you find your way. MCTRAIL is one of two trails within Fairmont’s city limits and is located on the East Side. It is 2.5 miles long, paved and follows Pricketts Creek; it also includes a 1,200-foot illuminated tunnel. In 2021, Fairmont also established an in-town connection from Downtown to the West Fork River Trail with sharrows—bicycle symbols painted on the road—and wayfinding signs.

At 14.5 miles, the West Fork River Trail is longer and runs along the West Fork River between Fairmont and Shinnston. The Upper Mon Water Trail begins in Fairmont and heads north along the Upper Monongahela River to Ten Mile Creek. The routes described therefore differ in both length and the waterways and endpoints mentioned. This gives you practical guidance if you want to plan your trip around a shorter paved trail, a longer route between two towns or the water trail’s northbound stretch.

History and Nature at Prickett’s Fort

Prickett’s Fort State Park is near Fairmont and features nature trails, a bird-watching platform and a boat ramp. It also has a trailhead for the MCPARC Trail to Fairmont, with a bicycle repair station. The park’s history is presented vividly, too: a reconstruction of the original Prickett’s Fort recalls life on the Virginia frontier in the late 18th century. The nature trails, bird-watching and reconstructed fort offer different ways to experience this same destination.

Folklore and the City’s History

The Frank & Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center is housed in a repurposed historic barn on the campus of Fairmont State University. The center serves the wider community with workshops, exhibits and outreach events. The historic setting and the program go hand in hand: the building tells the story of its former use, while the events share folklore with a broader audience.

The Fairmont Downtown Historic District stretches along Adams, Washington, Quincy, Cleveland and Fairmont Avenues. Another historic site is the Marion County Historical Society & Museum, housed in a former county sheriff’s residence. The building was constructed in 1912. The museum’s exhibits include a compass used to survey what is now West Virginia. Museum docents offer tours of the museum and the old jail.

Festivals and Local Traditions

The Johnnie Johnson Festival is held annually in Fairmont to honor Johnnie Johnson, who was born in Fairmont. The program includes live entertainment and food each July. If the festival is important to your trip, check the specific dates before planning.

Food and leisure activities also reflect a range of themes. Country Club Bakery is described as the home of the original pepperoni roll and has been in business since 1927. Coal Country Miniature Golf Course is themed around coal mining. Coal Country also features batting cages and an interactive coal mining museum.

When looking for a vacation rental in Fairmont, your preferred focus can be a good starting point: the festival held each July gives your trip a different seasonal focus than a stay devoted mainly to trails, cultural sites or history. Plan around whichever of these sides of Fairmont interests you most.

For the broader travel overview: Marion.