Why Hinton?

If you visit this Summers County sleeping beauty, you just might want to stay.

written by KARIN FULLER
photographed by NIKKI BOWMAN MILLS

The old railroad town of Hinton seems on the cusp of a boom as the Southern gateway to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. The homes are charming, yet affordable. There’s a picturesque historic district, fantastic fishing, and an abundance of natural beauty. Not only that, but, according to Hinton Mayor Jack Scott, the town is located within a five-hour drive of two-thirds of the nation’s population. Hinton is more than simply somewhere to visit. It’s a place a growing number of people feel compelled to call home. “I was just driving the back roads, seeing the sights,” says former Floridian Scott Smith. “That was last November. I haven’t left.” Lauren and Kevin Braybon moved to Hinton by way of England and New Jersey. Vicky and Terry McIntyre came from Michigan. Don Patton moved north from Georgia. But why? The answer most often heard is simple: the people.

“The beauty of the area definitely attracted us, but it was the people who made us want to stay,” says Patton. “Neighbors stop by to introduce themselves, have brought over dinner, loaned tools, invited us to the local trivia night—it’s like traveling back to a time when people didn’t only talk to each other online, but in person. “This friendly little Summers County town, home to approximately 2,200 people, is easily reached from the east and west via Interstate 64 and from the north and south by I-77, and it’s also a stop on Amtrak’s Cardinal Line. “Hinton has such natural beauty coming into town from all directions,” Hinton native and entrepreneur Ken Allman told WV Living magazine in 2022. “I think there’s a chance that we are a phoenix rising.” It seems he may have been right.

What’s Here

Many outdoor enthusiasts are drawn to Hinton because of its proximity to the New River’s world-class whitewater rafting, but the area has calmer waters as well. The Greenbrier River and Bluestone National Scenic River offer peaceful kayaking and tubing through a lush landscape, which is also idyllic for fly fishing. The shallow waters of these two rivers are great for families, with easy-to-navigate, mostly calm water—the exceptions are Bacon’s Falls, a class III rapid, and Lindsey Slide, both on the southern part of the river. A visit to the area would be incomplete without a stop at Sandstone Falls, a beautifully wide cascade about 10 minutes from town. The falls can be viewed from the boardwalk, and a number of foot trails navigate the woods and take hikers to places to scramble over boulders along the water’s edge.

Bluestone Lake and Bluestone State Park are also just minutes away, offering camping and cabins, hiking trails, fishing, public boat launches, and boat rentals. Hinton also has its own water park with two waterslides and a pool. Downtown Hinton is its own historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. Multiple historic buildings serve as gracious shopping, dining, office, or lodging spaces. Shopping downtown includes Botany Tropicals, a unique plant and gift shop; Hinton Outfitters, offering custom apparel; and Otter and Oak, which sells quality clothing, footwear, and gift items. For dining, there are three riverside restaurants with incredible views and outdoor seating, and, in town, there’s no such thing as a bad menu selection at Lucky Rivers or The Market. Hinton’s largest festival, Railroad Days, takes place each October and features vendors, live music, a car show, and food trucks. This year’s event, scheduled for October 13–15, will be bigger than ever, as it doubles as Hinton’s 150th anniversary celebration. The town also holds Second Saturdays each month from May through September, with free live music, art and crafts, and vendors.

What’s Near

One of the area’s biggest draws is New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, which became the nation’s 63rd national park in 2020 and encompasses 70,000 acres along 53 miles of the New River, starting from just below the Bluestone Dam in Hinton. Pipestem Resort State Park, 20 minutes away, sits along the rim of the Bluestone Gorge. The park has two lodges, campsites, and cabins and offers golf, swimming, horseback riding, putt-putt, a splash pad, hiking trails, and the Pipestem Peaks zipline tour.

Why Stay?

Hinton is moving in an exciting direction. The town secured funding enabling it to remove dilapidated structures, with more than 40 demolitions completed in the past year and others scheduled. New senior and low-income housing units have been constructed, with additional units planned. “Creating affordable housing for families is essential for Hinton’s future,” says Mayor Scott, who hopes to create an assisted living facility in town as well. Hinton is pursuing funding to renovate its historic stone bridge to allow pedestrian access to Batteau Beach waterfront park, now under construction. This new park, made possible by a $500,000 Congressional grant, will provide a boat and kayak launch, a beach and swimming area, a playground, picnic shelters, and space for the city to host events. “Hinton is going to be the more laid-back area of the national park, with multiple river access points so people can get in and out of the water easily,” says Scott. “This is an enormous opportunity for us to create a family-oriented niche here.”Although there is no single large employer in the area, Hinton is the Summers County seat and hosts a number of government offices. Summers County ARH Hospital and the railroad are also significant employers. Allman operates the national headquarters for his online physician job platform, PracticeLink, out of Hinton, too. The Greenbrier Resort in nearby White Sulphur Springs employs many area residents, and rapidly growing tourism promises growth in hospitality and service-providing businesses.

Hinton area schools are highly regarded with strong community support—including annual scholarships from the Hinton Area Foundation, which awarded a little over $73,000 last year alone. Despite all this momentum, real estate remains affordable. So, visit for the historical charm, the natural beauty and outdoor recreation, and the small-town neighborliness, but pack well—you just might find you want to stay.

READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S SUMMER 2023 ISSUE