Fun Things to Do in the Bluefield Area
Photo provided by Rampage student photographer Nathan LePere.
Located in the Appalachian Mountains and on the boarder of the two Virginias, Bluefield is credited with being Virginia’s tallest town, and it has a rich history that dates back hundreds of years. Within the Bluefield area, there are many exciting activities for students to get into as there are many different opportunities that are unique to the area.
One example of this is the outstanding views that can be seen throughout the region. The Bluefield East River Mountain Overlook is a great place to start if you are trying to take in a nice sunset. The same can be said for Pinnacle Rock, which is located just a little more than 10 minutes from Bluefield University on U.S. Route 52 North.
If you keep driving past Pinnacle Rock State Park to what appears to be the middle of nowhere, you will find the small town of Bramwell. Bramwell has a rich history in the area as it was a coal mining town that was booming back in the 1900s. It has tons of historical call backs, a corner store, and a beautiful main street that will make the entire town fun to explore.
If you are not into history but still love nature, Bluefield is the perfect place for you. There are many hiking trails in the area that are exciting to explore and will lead you to places that you would never know existed. Brush Creek Falls is a great place to go if you are looking for swimming to go with a nice easy hike on the trail. If you are looking for something that is closer to campus, though, you might try the Bluefield City Park trails. There is beautiful scenery that one would never think was right there in the backyard of the BU campus, and the wonderful scenery makes it one of the most peaceful places to visit in Bluefield.
Bluefield City Park has a number of other features that make it enjoyable. There are multiple picnic shelters for gatherings, a volleyball net, basketball courts, tennis courts, a playground, and much more.
Greater Bluefield offers a number of activities that are more seasonal specific, as well. If you are looking for some Halloween/fall themed activities to get into during the next couple of weeks, you might try the Crab Orchard Corn Maze in Tazewell, which is about 20 minutes from BU on U.S. Route 460 West. Along with the Corn Maze are Punkin’ Chunkin’ and wagon rides that add to the fun.
Another more Halloween themed activity, but much further away from Bluefield, is the Haunted Graham Mansion located in Max Meadows, Virginia. Every year, tons of teens and adults alike from the area make the drive to go through the haunted house, and if you are not considered a local student, then it is a must at some point in your four years at BU.
If Christmas is more your season, then you’ll want to visit the lights that the City of Bluefield puts up in City Park every December for Christmas. The lights are a must-see if you are in the area during that time of year. Christmas time as a whole is an amazing time to be in the area as Bluefield will be celebrating its third year as West Virginia’s Christmas City in a couple of months. Some of the related events include, a 5K race, live music, a Christmas village, and other activities throughout the month of December before the New Year’s celebration in downtown Bluefield, West Virginia, on December 31.
Another seasonal specific activity is the Bluefield Ridge Runners at Bowen Field located just outside of City Park. The Ridge Runners are a freshman and sophomore collegiate baseball team that competes in the Appalachian League. During the summer months, there are tons of fun events that go on at the ballpark during games as promotions for local businesses, and it is also a great opportunity to see quality baseball right here in Bluefield.
If baseball isn’t your thing, but you would consider yourself more comfortable hitting a different type of ball, check out Fincastle Country Club for a round of golf. The beautiful greens and the mountainous backdrop make it one of the most scenic places to visit in the area. Fincastle also has an awesome restaurant that hosts special events for local residents quite often.
If sports do not interest you, but shopping and food do, then check out Mercer Mall. The mall has a variety of different stores, such as Hibbett’s, Belk, Books-a-Million, Roses, FYE, American Eagle, Claire’s, Bath & Body Works, and many more. There are also great places to eat, including Chick-fil-A, Great American Cookies, Portabella and others.
A go-to for many Bluefield University students is Mountaineer Bowling Lanes. It is always a great time to get out on a weekend to go bowling with friends. The facility also features pool tables and a few arcade games, as well.
Although, these are just some suggestions, there are many other exciting activities to get into in the Bluefield area. These are just some highlights. Though not considered traditional, there are many different opportunities to have unique experiences in Bluefield that are not possible anywhere else in the nation nor the world.
Other exciting opportunities/activities include:
- ACE Adventures (Oak Hill, WV)
- Disc Golf (Bluefield, VA, and Princeton, WV)
- Glenwood Recreational Park (Princeton, WV)
- Lincolnshire Park (Tazewell, VA)
- Mercer Street (Princeton, WV)
- New River Gorge National Park and Preserve (Fayette County, WV)
- Skate Shack LLC (Princeton, WV)
- Winterplace Ski Resort (Ghent, WV).