As hard as we try, no one knows our West Virginia communities better than the people living in them: our dedicated WV Living readers. That’s why, each year, we ask you to nominate and vote on your favorite people, places, businesses, and more! You’ve done the work—now see the results as we proudly announce the 2024 Best of West Virginia Regional Winners.
Click here to see statewide winners.
REGIONAL WINNERS
Eastern Panhandle
BAKERY
BOLIVAR BREAD BAKERY
Harpers Ferry, bolivarbread.com
CASUAL DINING
BATTLE GROUNDS BAKERY & COFFEE
Harpers Ferry, battlegroundsbakery.com
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
CHARLES TOWN CLASSIC
Charles Town, hollywoodcasinocharlestown.com/racing
FINE DINING
BAVARIAN INN, RESORT & BREWING COMPANY
Shepherdstown, bavarianinnwv.com
RECREATION VENUE
HOLLYWOOD CASINO AT CHARLES TOWN RACES
Charles Town, hollywoodcasinocharlestown.com
PLACE TO SHOP
JORDAN & HESS CO.
Martinsburg, flowersunlimitedwv.com
PLACE TO STAY
CAMP POTOMAC PEAK
Berkeley Springs, camppotomacpeak.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
RIVER RIDERS FAMILY ADVENTURE RESORT
Harpers Ferry, riverriders.com
WATERING HOLE
MECKLENBURG INN
Shepherdstown, “Mecklenburg Inn” on FB
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Robby Blair
Robby Blair is Martinsburg’s biggest fan. As executive director at Main Street Martinsburg, he keeps his finger on the pulse of the community and helps people discover all the wonders it has to offer. Blair and his team work to protect and share downtown Martinsburg’s historic heritage while promoting its growth.
REGIONAL WINNERS
Hatfield-McCoy Mountains
BAKERY
NU ERA BAKERY
Logan, @nuerabakery on FB
CASUAL DINING
317 THE STEAK HOUSE
Logan, 317thesteakhouse.com
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
WV FIRE & ICE
Logan
FINE DINING
THE VAULT DOWNTOWN
Bluefield, thevaultdowntown.com
RECREATION VENUE
HATFIELD-McCOY TRAILS
PLACE TO SHOP
THE COLLECTIVE RETAIL & ARTISAN SHOPS
Williamson, “The Collective Retail & Artisan Shops” on FB
PLACE TO STAY
TWIN HOLLOW CAMPGROUND
Gilbert, twinhollowcampground.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
LAKE SHAWNEE ABANDONED AMUSEMENT PARK
Rock, wvlakeshawnee.com
WATERING HOLE
THE BROKEN AXLE
Logan, thebrokenaxle.com
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Randall Sanger
Randall Sanger sees the beauty in West Virginia and has an eye—and lens—for capturing it as a juried fine arts photographer for Tamarack. When he’s not out exploring the Mountain State with his camera, he serves as the executive director of the Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce.
REGIONAL WINNERS
Mid-Ohio Valley
BAKERY
JR’S DONUT CASTLE
Parkersburg, jrsdonutcastle.com
CASUAL DINING
PARKERSBURG BREWING CO.
Parkersburg, parkersburgbrewing.com
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
MOUNTAIN STATE ART AND CRAFT FAIR
Ripley, msacf.com
FINE DINING
THE BLENNERHASSETT RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
Parkersburg, theblennerhassettrestaurant.com
RECREATION VENUE
MOUNTWOOD PARK
Waverly, mountwoodpark.org
PLACE TO SHOP
CARDINAL MARKET
Vienna, @cardinalmarketwv on FB
PLACE TO STAY
THE BLENNERHASSETT HOTEL & SPA
Parkersburg, theblennerhassett.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
CALHOUN COUNTY PARK FOR STARGAZING
Mt. Zion, calhouncountyparkwv.com
WATERING HOLE
FAIRPLAIN YACHT CLUB
Ripley, fairplainyachtclub.com
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Bob Ashley
Bob Ashley was a longtime public servant, serving first in the West Virginia House of Delegates and then the West Virginia State Senate for 30 years. He was an ardent champion of his hometown of Spencer, volunteering in many capacities. He sadly passed on May 15, 2024, but he will long be remembered for his fierce dedication to the state of West Virginia and its people.
REGIONAL WINNERS
Metro Valley
BAKERY
SPRING HILL PASTRY SHOP
South Charleston, springhillpastry.com
CASUAL DINING
RIDGEVIEW BBQ
Institute, ridgeviewbbq.com
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
MOTHMAN FESTIVAL
Point Pleasant, mothmanfestival.com
FINE DINING
1010 BRIDGE RESTAURANT
Charleston, 1010bridge.com
RECREATION VENUE
HERITAGE FARM
Huntington, heritagefarmwv.com
PLACE TO SHOP
CAPITOL MARKET
Charleston, capitolmarket.net
PLACE TO STAY
HOLIDAY INN & SUITES CHARLESTON WEST
Charleston, ihg.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
J.Q. DICKINSON SALT-WORKS
Malden, jqdsalt.com
WATERING HOLE
FIFE STREET BREWING
Charleston, fifestreetbrewing.com
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Carl Lee
Carl Lee is a local legend, a former South Charleston High School and Marshall University football star turned 1983 NFL draft pick for the Minnesota Vikings. After over two decades playing and coaching football, his current season of life sees him working with the City of South Charleston to mentor and support local youth through sports.
REGIONAL WINNERS
Mid-Ohio Valley
BAKERY
JR’S DONUT CASTLE
Parkersburg, jrsdonutcastle.com
CASUAL DINING
PARKERSBURG BREWING CO.
Parkersburg, parkersburgbrewing.com
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
MOUNTAIN STATE ART AND CRAFT FAIR
Ripley, msacf.com
FINE DINING
THE BLENNERHASSETT RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
Parkersburg, theblennerhassettrestaurant.com
RECREATION VENUE
MOUNTWOOD PARK
Waverly, mountwoodpark.org
PLACE TO SHOP
CARDINAL MARKET
Vienna, @cardinalmarketwv on FB
PLACE TO STAY
THE BLENNERHASSETT HOTEL & SPA
Parkersburg, theblennerhassett.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
CALHOUN COUNTY PARK FOR STARGAZING
Mt. Zion, calhouncountyparkwv.com
WATERING HOLE
FAIRPLAIN YACHT CLUB
Ripley, fairplainyachtclub.com
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Bob Ashley
Bob Ashley was a longtime public servant, serving first in the West Virginia House of Delegates and then the West Virginia State Senate for 30 years. He was an ardent champion of his hometown of Spencer, volunteering in many capacities. He sadly passed on May 15, 2024, but he will long be remembered for his fierce dedication to the state of West Virginia and its people.
REGIONAL WINNERS
Mountain Lakes
BAKERY
HONEYBEE COFFEE & DONUT HOUSE
Summersville, “Honeybee Coffee & Donut House” on FB
CASUAL DINING
SOUTH TEXAS BARBECUE COMPANY
Weston, sotexbbqco.square.site
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
WEST VIRGINIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
Buckhannon, wvstrawberryfestival.com
FINE DINING
THE VAULT ON MAIN
Summersville, thevaultonmainwv.com
RECREATION VENUE
STONEWALL JACKSON LAKE
Weston, @stonewalljacksonlake on FB
PLACE TO SHOP
TENNILE’S BOUTIQUE AND FORMALS
Summersville, @tenniles on FB
PLACE TO STAY
SUMMERSVILLE LAKE RETREAT & LIGHTHOUSE
Mount Nebo, summersvillelakeretreat.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
ELK RIVER RAIL EXPLORERS
Clay, railexplorers.net
WATERING HOLE
WHISTLE STOP BAR & GRILL
Buckhannon, @whistlestopbarandgrill on FB
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
James Moore
James Moore has been enhancing the education of students at West Virginia Wesleyan College since 2006 when he joined as a junior faculty member. Now, as president of WVWC, Moore continues his work to build new partnerships that benefit the College, its mission, and its community.
REGIONAL WINNERS
Mountaineer Country
BAKERY
SHANA CAKES
@shanacakeswv on FB
CASUAL DINING
WINNIE’S
Bridgeport, “Winnie’s” on FB
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
PRESTON COUNTY BUCKWHEAT FESTIVAL
Kingwood, buckwheatfestival.com
FINE DINING
THE WONDER BAR STEAKHOUSE
Clarksburg, wonderbarsteakhouse.com
RECREATION VENUE
MYLAN PARK
Morgantown, mylanpark.org
PLACE TO SHOP
HOOT AND HOWL
Morgantown, shophootandhowl.com
PLACE TO STAY
HOTEL MORGAN
Morgantown, hotelmorgan.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
COOPERS ROCK STATE FOREST
Bruceton Mills, coopersrockstateforest.com
WATERING HOLE
MARIO’S FISHBOWL
Morgantown, mariosfishbowl.com
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Cassie Busdeker
Despite facing severe medical concerns that had her working from a hospital bed earlier this year, Cassie Busdeker, executive director of the Greater Bridgeport Convention & Visitors Bureau since 2019, never stopped serving her community. Under her guidance, Bridgeport continues to be a central hub for all things wild and wonderful.
REGIONAL WINNERS
New River/Greenbrier Valley
BAKERY
KENZIE’S CAKES & COFFEE
Beaver, @kenzies.kakes.coffee on FB
CASUAL DINING
SECRET SANDWICH SOCIETY
Fayetteville, secretsandwichsociety.com
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
BRIDGE DAY
New River Gorge, officialbridgeday.com
FINE DINING
THE FRENCH GOAT
Lewisburg, thefrenchgoat.com
RECREATION VENUE
ACE ADVENTURE RESORT
Oak Hill, aceraft.com
PLACE TO SHOP
YARID’S SHOES & ACCESSORIES
Lewisburg, yarids.com
PLACE TO STAY
THE SCHOOLHOUSE HOTEL
White Sulphur Springs, theschoolhousehotelwv.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
BRIDGE WALK
New River Gorge, bridgewalk.com
WATERING HOLE
GREENBRIER VALLEY BREWING COMPANY
Maxwelton, gvbc.beer
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Irma Smith Cadel
A Greenbrier County native—also an author, historian, preservationist, and creative spirit—Irma Smith Cadel returned from over four decades in the Washington, D.C., area and jumped right into numerous historical preservation projects as an instrumental figure in creating—and telling—the next chapter of their stories. Such projects include the Blue Sulphur Springs Pavilion, completed in 2023.
REGIONAL WINNERS
Northern Panhandle
BAKERY
FRANK’S PASTRY SHOP
Chester, frankspastryshop.com
CASUAL DINING
VAGABOND KITCHEN
Wheeling, thevagabondkitchen.com
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
MOUNTAINEER BREWFEST
Wheeling, mountaineerbrewfest.com
FINE DINING
TRACE CHOPHOUSE
Wheeling, “Trace Chophouse” on FB
RECREATION VENUE
GRAND VUE PARK
Moundsville, grandvuepark.com
PLACE TO SHOP
WHEELING ARTISAN CENTER SHOP
Wheeling, artisancenter.com
PLACE TO STAY
OGLEBAY
Wheeling, oglebay.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
PRABHUPADA’S PALACE OF GOLD
Moundsville, palaceofgold.com
WATERING HOLE
BARISTAS CAFE & PUB
New Martinsville, @baristascafepub on FB
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Craig White
As the general manager at Grand Vue Park, Craig White is in the business of creating remarkable fun and lasting memories for Moundsville residents and its visitors alike. You can also find him at the Moundsville Convention and Visitors Bureau, serving his community in a different way as the CVB’s executive director.
REGIONAL WINNERS
Potomac Highlands
BAKERY
MACK’S BINGO BAKERY
Wardensville, @macksbingo on FB
CASUAL DINING
MACK’S BINGO KITCHEN
Wardensville, @macksbingo on FB
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY FARM CRAWL
@hampshirefarmcrawl on FB
FINE DINING
GUESTHOUSE LOST RIVER
Lost River, guesthouselostriver.com
RECREATION VENUE
SNOWSHOE MOUNTAIN RESORT
Snowshoe, snowshoemtn.com
PLACE TO SHOP
THE WHITE HOUSE ON MAIN
Romney, “The White House on Main” on FB
PLACE TO STAY
TYGART HOTEL
Elkins, tygarthotel.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
POTOMAC EAGLE SCENIC RAILROAD
Romney, potomaceagle.com
WATERING HOLE
BIG TIMBER BREWING
Elkins, bigtimberbrewing.com
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Michele Moure-Reeves
As a former hotelier, Michele Moure-Reeves knows how to create a warm, welcoming environment. It’s only natural these skills would translate to her work as executive director of the Hardy County CVB. Her passion has helped drive tourism to Hardy County, showcasing the region and all its splendor for residents and visitors alike.
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