Originally known as Vandalia, Fayetteville was founded by the Revolutionary War veteran Abraham Vandal in the late 18th century. It flourished in the 19th century with the discovery of coal and features beautifully preserved buildings, while it’s also located on the doorstep of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
Things to do in Fayetteville
If you want to explore the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, begin your visit at the informative Canyon Rim Visitor Center. Its exhibits detail the natural and cultural history of the region, as well as its recreational highlights. Constructed from sandstone and red oak, the building is an attraction in itself and blends in perfectly with its surrounding landscape.
From the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, you can follow the boardwalk trail that descends into the gorge for unobstructed views of the New River Gorge Bridge. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this 924-metre-long steel arch bridge is one of the highest in the world, with the New River more than 260 metres below. For an up-close view of this engineering feat, join a guided tour along the catwalk that runs beneath the bridge’s roadway.
One of the most thrilling ways to experience the New River is while whitewater rafting, with several outfitters offering guided trips on its upper and lower sections. While the Upper New River features gentle rapids and rock jumps that make it ideal for families with kids, the Lower New River boasts mighty rapids interspersed with calm pools where you can swim.
Getting around Fayetteville
Fayetteville is just over an hour’s drive from Charleston and 35 minutes from Raleigh County Memorial Airport, which has regular flights to Charlotte and Parkersburg. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting to Fayetteville and exploring the surrounding region.