Beckley
Around Beckley
Illustration made for Popchat
Metro area · West Virginia · 110k people
Beckley
Locals say New River Gorge
Where the hills are steep and the welcome is warm
Old GoldForest GreenCoal Black
Welcome to the New River Gorge country! Whether you're here for the rapids, the trails, or the small-town charm, you'll find a community that loves the outdoors. Grab a pepperoni roll and make yourself at home.
Clubs for Beckley
No clubs for Beckley yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Beckley. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Beckley. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- New River Gorge National Park and Preserve The nation's newest national park, protecting the gorge and river
- New River Gorge Bridge One of the longest steel arch bridges in the world, with a viewing platform
- Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine A historic mine offering underground tours
- Babcock State Park Famous for the Glade Creek Grist Mill and scenic trails
- Summersville Lake The largest lake in West Virginia, popular for boating and swimming
- Grandview Overlook A dramatic view of the New River Gorge from the rim
- Outdoors Whitewater rafting on the New River
- Outdoors Hiking the Endless Wall Trail
- With kids Tour the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine
- With kids Visit the Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
- Evenings Live music at Beckley bars
- Evenings Craft beer in Fayetteville
- Locals love Whitewater rafting outfitters
- Locals love Rock climbing crags
Through the year
- Bridge Day October Base jumping and festivities on the New River Gorge Bridge
- New River Gorge Half Marathon April Scenic road race through the gorge
- Appalachian String Band Festival August Old-time and bluegrass music at Camp Washington Carver
- Hinton Railroad Days September Celebrates the town's railroad heritage with trains and vendors
- Fayettescape Music Festival June Local and regional bands in downtown Fayetteville
The climate has four distinct seasons with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. Best: Spring and fall offer the most comfortable temperatures and scenic beauty.
Talk like a local
- “holler”
- A small valley or hollow
- “crick”
- A creek or stream
- “fixin' to”
- About to do something
- “y'all”
- You all
Getaways
- Bluefield Historic downtown and the East River Mountain overlook
- Charleston State capital with the Capitol building and culture
- Blacksburg College town with Virginia Tech and the Cascades
- Roanoke Mountain city with the Roanoke Star and farmers market
Local flavour
Rooting for West Virginia Mountaineers (NCAA), Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL)
Eat and drink
- Pepperoni rolls A West Virginia staple, often eaten as a snack or lunch
- West Virginia hot dogs with coleslaw Hot dogs topped with chili, mustard, onion, and a mound of sweet coleslaw
- Ramps (wild leeks) Foraged in spring, celebrated in local festivals
- Biscuits and gravy from Tudor's Biscuit World A beloved regional chain known for oversized biscuits
Where people go
- New River Gorge National Park and Preserve A rugged canyon with world-class rafting, hiking, and climbing
- New River Gorge Bridge One of the longest steel arch bridges in the world, an engineering marvel
- Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine
- Whitewater rafting rivers The Gauley and New Rivers are famous for their rapids
- Historic small-town main streets Charming downtowns like Fayetteville and Hinton with local shops and diners
Heritage and traditions
This region is proud of its Appalachian heritage, coal mining roots, and the stunning natural beauty of the New River Gorge, where outdoor adventure meets deep history.
This time of year in Beckley
- Fall foliage October The gorge blazes with color, drawing leaf-peepers.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — about to
Festivals
- Appalachian Festival September Celebrates mountain crafts, music, and food at the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine.
- Fayette County Fair July A classic county fair with livestock, rides, and local food in Oak Hill.
- Raleigh County Fair August Held in Beckley, featuring farm exhibits, demolition derbies, and carnival rides.
Landmarks with a story
- Nuttallburg A preserved coal mining town in the New River Gorge, with a historic tipple and coke ovens.
- Kaymoor Another abandoned mine site with remnants of a coal camp, accessible by trail.
- Raleigh County Courthouse A classic courthouse in Beckley, built in 1937, with WPA murals.
- Wildwood House Museum A restored 1920s home in Beckley showcasing early 20th-century life.
Food traditions
- Soup beans and cornbread A hearty Appalachian staple of pinto beans slow-cooked with ham hock, served with a slice of cornbread.
- Apple butter Community apple butter stirs in the fall, where families gather to cook down apples in copper kettles.
- Buckwheat pancakes Often served with sausage and molasses, a breakfast tradition in the mountains.
Music and arts
- Old-time and bluegrass music The region is a hub for traditional Appalachian music, with fiddling and banjo picking.
- Quilting Mountain quilting traditions, often featuring geometric patterns, are passed down generations.
- Coal mining songs Folk songs about mining life, like 'Sixteen Tons', resonate with local history.
A little history
- 1880s-1920s Coal boom
- 1977 New River Gorge Bridge construction
- 1870s Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
- 1862 Civil War in Fayetteville
- 2020 National park designation
Rivalries
- WVU vs Marshall In-state bragging rights in football and basketball
- WVU vs Virginia Tech Border rivalry that often goes down to the wire
- Steelers vs Bengals AFC North clash with a passionate fan base
- WVU vs Pitt The Backyard Brawl, a classic college football rivalry
- Game day Friday night lights
- Game day Whitewater races
- Outdoors Mountain biking
- Outdoors Ziplining
- With kids Visiting the New River Gorge Bridge overlook
- With kids Playing in the creeks
Appalachian English is common, with a Southern-influenced drawl and unique vocabulary. Locals might say 'y'all' and pronounce 'creek' as 'crick'.
Only here
- Bridge Day is the only day BASE jumping is legal from the New River Gorge Bridge.
- The New River is one of the oldest rivers on Earth, estimated at 300 million years.
- Summersville Lake is the largest lake in West Virginia.
- The Exhibition Coal Mine lets visitors tour an actual underground coal mine.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to navigate the winding mountain roads; GPS can be unreliable in the hollows.
- Try a pepperoni roll from a local bakery; it's the official state food.
- The weather is changeable; pack layers even in summer.
- Locals say 'crick' for creek and 'holler' for hollow.
- Get outdoors early; the gorge is best experienced in the morning light.
Make this page better
Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.
Sign in and join a club here to suggest.
Nearby
Every areaWelchWest VirginiaWhere the mountains hold the stories of coalBluefieldWest VirginiaTwo states, one mountain home.SummersvilleWest VirginiaBig mountains, wild rivers, small‑town heart.Greenbrier ValleyWest VirginiaWhere the mountains meet the river.LoganWest VirginiaWhere the mountains hold you close.CharlestonWest VirginiaFriendly faces and rolling hillsBlacksburg–ChristiansburgVirginiaWhere the mountains meet the Hokie spirit.PikevilleKentuckyWhere the mountains hold the music
Beckley, WV. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.