D&GVR

The West Virginia
Railroad Museum

Davis and Elkins 
College

This website is currently under construction.

Situated on a bend of the Tygart Valley River, the city of Elkins was incorporated in 1890 by Senators Henry Gassaway Davis and Stephen B. Elkins, due to the men's much-needed headquarters for the their vast timber, coal and railroad empire. Named after the junior Senator, the city of Elkins served as the Senators summer retreat from Washington, D.C. Both men built permanent places of residence, known as Halliehurst and Graceland; these Victorian-era mansions are now part of the Davis & Elkins College and are listed on the National Register for Historic Places.

In 1899, Elkins became the county seat. Davis and Elkins were developing railroad lines, coal mines and timbering. Together, they built the WV Central and Pittsburg Railway into Elkins and opened a vast territory to industrial development in the late 1890s. With those developments, Elkins started a building boom. By 1906, as described in "The Coming Metropolis of the State," the town boasted of "European-style" hotels, opera houses, banks, a YMCA, brickworks, tannery and brewery. Davis Memorial Hospital and Davis & Elkins College had already been founded. The city was attracting hundreds of rail and timbering workers as well as business entrepreneurs, all looking to call Elkins their home.

As the railroad expanded, Elkins experienced the luxury of passenger train service. By 1930, 18 passenger trains were arriving and leaving Elkins daily, filling the air with the coal dust of steam locomotives. But, by the late 1950s, passenger service was discontinued; and, by the end of the 1980s, all rail service ended. However, at the turn of the 21st century, the rail yard began to be vibrant again, thanks to the Randolph County Development Authority. The construction of a new bridge at the south end of the old Western Maryland rail yard was completed in May 2007. This gave the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad the opportunity to lease the depot for their excursion trains, the New Tygart Flyer and the Cheat Mountain Salamander, to handle passengers there, as well as for use as their new dispatching center and retail store. Behind the depot is a town square that is used as a central gathering spot for local events, as well as the seasonal Elkins Farmers Market. And, of course, the Elkins Depot Welcome Center, the central location for tourist information about the whole area, calls the depot home!

The existing train station was built circa 1908 by the Western Maryland Railway Company. It replaced two previous depots: a wood fram passenger depot just north of the current station which had been built in 1889, and a larger freight depot partially on the site of the current station and slightly to the south of it. The station is a good example of turn-of-the-century railroad architecture. Historically, the train station is perhaps the most significant and pivotal structure in Elkins since it serves as a tangible representation of the interrelated transportation and extraction industries which were responsible for the founding of Elkins originally and which provided the primary source for the subsequent development of the region for the next 75 years.

        AROUND THE TOWN

The gateway to the Monongahela National Forest, Elkins is an excellent base camp from which you can explore the myriad wonders of West Virginia. Hiking, biking, and skiing abound for the outdoor enthusiast, a number of glass shops and wineries are located to the west, and a wealth of Civil War History and museums are in nearby Beverly and Philippi. Elkins has several unique shops, including Artists at Work, Ceramics with Class, and the Sewing Center. The Kissel Stop, across from the depot, with their train decor and excellent sandwiches, is a great place to grab a latte. Elkins is also a great place to stay, from the breathtaking views and luxury cabins of The Lodge at Kelly Mountain to The Watergap Retreat, where art and lodging combine. Come explore the Wild Heart of West Virginia with us.

       AREA ATTRACTIONS

Elkins is a growing community which is in the process of revitalizing its downtown area. The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad offers several different excursion trains from the historic Western Maryland Depot in the heart of the downtown area. Next door you will find the American Mountain Theatre, offering their Branson style shows. The Community Arts Center always has something of interest, from presentations of local artists work to traveling Smithsonian exhibits. Elkins  boasts The Old Brick Playhouse which was recently given the Coming Up Taller Award for their outstanding youth programs. Elkins is also the home of the Mountain State Forest Festival and soon, the West Virginia Railroad Museum.

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Elkins Links

 City of Elkins - Information about city government, statistics, and services.   http://www.cityofelkinswv.com/

Randolph Co. Convention and Visitors Bureau - Links to Area Attractions.  http://www.randolphcountywv.com/

The Inter-Mountain -  The local newspaper with classifieds. http://theintermountain.com/

Elkins Randolph Co Chamber of Commerce - Helpful information for individuals and businesses considering relocating to the area.                                            http://www.erccc.com

Randolph County Development Authority - Revitalizing the community through economic development, education, and local sustainability.
http://www.rcdawv.net/

Randolph County Extention Office - Solving public needs with college or university resources through local programs.  http://randolph.ext.wvu.edu/ 

Davis and Elkins College - preparing and inspiring students for success and for thoughtful engagement in the world. http://www.davisandelkins.edu/

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