It is difficult to count the number of times I have heard people complain about the dullness of Fairmont.
“There’s nothing to do here.”
“What a boring town.”
“Is there anything worthwhile to do in this town?”
In a town filled with adventurers, there is actually much more excitement than most people think— it just depends on how you define ‘adventure’.
Some define it as exploring nature and its beauty, others say it's discovering local food spots--heck, some may even dare to say it involves going below ground level (we’ll get to that). However you may define it, Fairmont offers many spots that meet any curious-minded adventurer's criteria.
Honorable Mentions:
Muriale’s — West Virginia’s favorite Italian restaurant!
Yann’s Hotdogs — a million hot dogs made and a million stories told. My favorite is of a 5-year old kid who stayed in the car while his mom went inside to get a hot dog. Minutes later, the kid heard a knock on his window, only to see Mr. Yann himself screaming at him for his decision to ask for ketchup. Moral of the story: Never ask for ketchup!
The 5
5. The Mystery Machine
This one is not a spot or a place, but rather a golden opportunity to hear your friends say, “Did we just pass the Mystery Machine? Turn the car around!”
Located on East Side — going towards Prickett’s Fort after getting off the I-79 exit —sits a spot-on replica of the Mystery Machine from the “Scooby Doo” series. Painted the exact shade of light blue and green, this is a perfect chance for a photo-op with the Scooby gang's transportation method.
Side note: If the owner is reading this, I apologize for the number of people about to swarm your house.
4. Coal Country Mini Golf
When mini golfing is on a list of the most exciting things to do, you either live in a town with little to do or you live at the beach.
Coal Country is a must for anyone who loves competition and a fun-filled night. With 18 holes of zig-zagged courses, greens with 3 holes, and a 40-foot coal miner standing in your way, how could this not be an adventure?
3. Dairy Creme Corner
Recently named the best ice cream shop in West Virginia by SpoonUniversity (which sounds credible enough to me), it is impossible to not enjoy your time at this sweet and savory spot. Known for their giant ice cream cones and ridiculous funnel cake sundaes, this is surely a treat for anyone with a sweet tooth that’s three scoops large.
2. Prickett’s Fort
This state park welcomes any West Virginian history buffs the opportunity to learn about a large piece of the state’s history, or--more importantly--an opportunity to fish, bike ride, and explore the great outdoors West Virginia has to offer. Whether you decide to walk the trails to a terrifyingly chilly tunnel, or climb the abandoned railroad high above the water (Warning: this is most likely illegal and undoubtedly dangerous), you will find enjoyment on a piece of history that dates back nearly 250 years.
1. The Cave
Let me be honest for a second — I literally wrote this article for the purpose of sharing this hidden gem.
Fairmont boasts a lot of cool spots — ice cream shops, state parks and even a hot dog stand that literally refuses your order of ketchup — but nothing is more adventurous than visiting ‘the cave’.
Very few people know about this gem hidden in the side of a hill in a very busy part of town, but the few who do know understand how awesome this site truly is.
Located off the new(er) Downtown exit of Fairmont lies a simple opening in the side of the hill. The inside, however, will satisfy every explorer’s desire and every geocatcher’s search. I will not elaborate too much on this cave, mostly because it’s probably illegal to enter (and if not, it should be illegal for being so fun!...), and can end up being highly dangerous if one does not proceed with caution. I will not tell you to go explore it, but I will tell you that it is there.
Do what you will with that information.
Author’s note: Some of the information in this article (like the railroad and cave) are probably illegal. I do not encourage any one to proceed in doing these things, but simply state that they are there. I digress.
