D&GVR

The West Virginia
Railroad Museum

Community Arts Center

AROUND THE TOWN

The gateway to the Monongahela National Forest, Elkins is an excellent base camp from which you can explore the 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 also boasts the Old Brick Playhouse which was recently given the Coming Up Taller Award by First Lady Obama for its outstanding youth programs. Elkins is also the home of the Mountain State Forest Festival and soon, the West Virginia Railroad Museum.

HISTORY

  It's no accident that Elkins serves as the transportation, shopping and social center for residents and visitors of the Appalachian Mountains in east-central West Virginia.  At the end of the 19th century, when U.S. Senators Henry Gassaway Davis and Stephen B. Elkins needed a headquarters for their vast timber, coal, and railroad empire, Elkins, incorporated in 1890 and named after the junior Senator was their choice.  The town served as the hub of their empire with a vast railroad operation that allowed the two industrialists to ship their products around the country.
Elkins, with its cool mountain climate, also served as a retreat from the summer heat of Washington D.C..  Each summer the two politicians would load a passenger train full of guests and leave the nation's capital for a vacation at their homes in Elkins.  Today those two incredible mansions are part of the campus of Davis and Elkins college and offer visitors to the college and the community an excellent glimpse of the lifestyle these two industrial barons created in the middle of West Virginia.