Oak Hill offers outdoor living in Fayette County
Oak Hill is a small city tucked in the mountainous region of the Beckley metropolitan area. With a population of around 8,000, the community offers country living with convenient access to outdoor recreation. Oak Hill has miles of trails that wind through the Appalachian forest, and the New River is known as a destination for water sports. “Oak Hill offers a very convenient location to the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, which is a central outdoor hub that can accommodate all kinds of recreational activities,” says Becky Sullivan, president of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce. “The city itself has numerous newly updated city parks with sports fields, basketball courts and other amenities.” Main Street is home to local restaurants and retail stores, making it easy for residents to shop and eat.
Eclectic homes from the 1900s dot Oak Hill
Houses in Oak Hill are close together in Fayette County's countryside. Neighborhood streets are narrow and wind through the hilly landscape. Home styles are diverse, including 20th-century bungalows, cottages, ranch-styles, split-levels and Colonial Revivals. Single-family properties may sell from approximately $100,000 to $300,000, with fixer-uppers starting around $20,000. A handful of larger properties over 2,500 square feet can top $350,000. Some houses can have large land parcels where multi-acre lots allow for small farms and stables. Multi-family homes and duplexes can range between $80,000 and $170,000, while mobile and manufactured homes can go from $70,000 to $180,000.
Public city and state parks around the New River Gorge
The city has several public parks, including a skate and dog parks. Collins Park has a play area and a disc golf course, and Needleseye Park has areas for bouldering, hiking and mountain biking. Connecting Summerlee to Carlisle, the White Oak Rail Trail is nearly 8 miles long and is used for recreational biking, walking and in-line skating. New River Gorge National Park offers activities like fishing, camping, birding, rock climbing, hiking, kayaking or rafting along the New River.
Main Street has many local eateries and shops
Many restaurants line Main Street, a main thoroughfare that runs through the community. El Bandido is a local chain restaurant serving Mexican fare, and Café One Ten offers classic American food. For groceries and daily essentials, people can shop at Kroger, Grant's IGA Supermarket, Big Lots and Lowe’s. “People can also go to neighboring places like Mount Hope and Beckley for more extensive or different shopping options,” Sullivan says.
Prospective schools in Fayette County Schools
The area is served by Fayette County Schools. New River Primary and New River Intermediate schools do not have Niche scores. Oak Hill Middle School rates a C-minus, and Oak Hill High School gets a C-plus. The school district plans events throughout the year, including a spelling bee, math field day, young writer recognition and a recognition banquet for staff. Fayette Institute of Technology is also in Oak Hill.
Distance to the nearby airport, hospital and Charleston
U.S. Route 19 runs through Oak Hill, and West Virginia Route 61 passes near the city. Charleston , the state capital, and Charleston West Virginia International Airport are about 50 miles north. Charleston Area Medical Center Plateau Medical Center is in Oak Hill, and New River Transit provides public bus service in the city.
Annual events in Fayette County
On the third Saturday of October, people gather at the New River Gorge Bridge to watch base jumpers while celebrating Bridge Day. The festival features local vendors, food trucks, a 5K race, a car show and a chili cookoff. The week-long Oak Leaf Festival has live entertainment, a parade, a children’s pageant, and car and motorcycle shows. “The White Oak Rail Trail Expo is a summer vendor craft show that takes place along the rail trail,” Sullivan says. “People can come out and explore the rail trail while enjoying fun activities.”
