Fayetteville offers peaceful living in Fayette County
Fayetteville is a small town near the New River Gorge National Park & Preserve and the New River Gorge Bridge. It's the seat of Fayette County and has a population of about 3,000, offering small-town living with easy access to outdoor recreation. Residents are minutes away from the national park and the New River, both of which are popular destinations for hikers, boaters and fishers alike. The small town also has a lively dining scene, featuring eclectic restaurants, cafes and breweries. “Fayetteville has both small-town charms and exciting outdoor activities,” says Karen Douglas, associate of the town’s visitor center. “We have lots of trails and watersports. You can’t go wrong eating here. Plus, we have lots of locally-owned shops and fun community events.” The community has a CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10, which is below the national average of 4.
Fayetteville has a diverse housing stock
Fayetteville’s pastoral landscape has single-family homes on winding roads across hillsides, as well as some homes near the town center. Properties farther out are scattered in the countryside, whereas houses near downtown sit close together along narrow streets. Smaller 20th-century cottages, raised ranches and shotgun homes are typically between $130,000 and $370,000. Larger or newer, sometimes from the 21st century, farmhouses, Cape Cods and Colonial Revivals can go from $370,000 to over $600,000. Depending on size, lots are between $10,000 and over $200,000 for investors and homeowners who want to build their own property.
Parks and rivers throughout Fayetteville
Outdoor recreation is a big deal in the area. Charlie McCoy Town Park has multiple sports fields, basketball courts, a splash pad, two dog parks and a paved pump track for biking. The park is also connected to the Park Look Trailhead, which leads to the Fayetteville Trail. People can lodge or camp at one of the nearby campgrounds, enjoy watersports like fishing and rafting along the New River, or go hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing at New River Gorge National Park & Preserve. “The Gauley River in fall opens up for whitewater rafting,” Douglas says. “We also have many local places for regular hiking and biking. There’s the Wolf Creek Trail and trails that go through Arrowhead Bike Farm.”
Local shops and eateries off Route 16
Many restaurants and shops are off West Virginia state Route 16, including New River Antique Mall and Very Rare Vintage. Repurposed from an old church building with stained-glass windows, Cathedral Café is a laid-back local spot for pastries, coffee and light bites. Secret Sandwich Society serves signature sandwiches named after this country’s presidents, offering classic American fare in a casual tavern setting. Walmart and Lowe’s are a bit south on Route 19, and Kroger is farther south in Oak Hill, although all of those stores are within 5 miles of downtown Fayetteville. In the summer season, locals can shop for fresh produce, dairy and meat at the Fayette County farmers market, which is held on Saturdays from May to October.
Quirky events that bring together the community
The town celebrates Independence Day with the annual Fayetteville Heritage Festival, featuring fun events like a hot dog eating contest and hula hoop competitions, live entertainment, a balloon toss, vendors and a fireworks show. Bridge Day, an extreme sporting event held in October, kicks off fall with a chili cookoff while spectators gather at the New River Gorge Bridge to watch base jumpers leap into the gorge. “We also have quite a lot of events that celebrate wizardry,” Douglas says. “Fayetteville's Wizard Weekend is a Harry Potter-themed event with costume contests, magic shows and feasts and parties. We have the Witches and Warlocks Paddle for Halloween, where people stand up in costumes and paddleboard, and there’s a gnome scavenger hunt with cash prizes.” Art enthusiasts can catch a performance at Historic Fayette Theater or see an exhibit at New Festival Love Hope Center for the Arts.
Prospective schools in the Fayette County Schools district
The community is served by Fayette County Schools. Students may attend Fayetteville PK-8, which does not have a grade on Niche. Oak Hill High School gets a C-plus rating from Niche and has career pathway courses like aerospace engineering and education. The school also offers sports programs for soccer, volleyball and football.
Distance to major airport and Beckley
The town is accessible via U.S. Route 19 and West Virginia state Route 16. Beckley is about 20 miles away, and West Virginia International Yeager Airport is approximately 50 miles northwest. New River Health-Oak Hill is less than 5 miles south, providing urgent care and many other health services.
