Ronceverte’s roots run deep along the Greenbrier River
Ronceverte is a former railroad town that sits at the edge of the Greenbrier River in the Appalachian Mountains. The town’s founders named it Ronceverte, which means “briar green” in French, for the thick vines that grew along the riverbank. Today, it’s home to about 1,500 residents, a lumber mill, a small downtown district and a historic train depot. It’s surrounded by mountains, forests and streams, making it a haven for outdoor lovers. “It’s a small town without a whole lot of hustle and bustle. People move there who want to be close to Lewisburg or White Sulphur Springs but don’t want to live right in the middle of everything,” says Kaye Thornton, a staffer at Coldwell Banker Stuart and Watts Real Estate and a longtime area resident.
Traditional and historic styles line Ronceverte’s quiet streets
Homes in Ronceverte are typically older, with most dating back to the early and mid-20th century. Traditional homes, cottages, bungalows and ranch-style homes make up the bulk of the town’s housing stock, but some Craftsman, Colonial Revival and Victorian homes are also found here. The streets are set on low inclines, and the sparse traffic makes walking and biking easier. Prices range from around $140,000 to $250,000.
Flooding in 2016 highlights need for caution near river
Ronceverte is at risk of flooding because of its proximity to the river. In 2016, a major storm in the region brought the Greenbrier River to near-record highs, causing flooding in many towns that sit along its banks. Residents who live closest to the water may want to consider flood insurance.
Island Park and nearby trails offer year-round outdoor fun
Outdoor recreation is a big draw for the region. Residents are within walking distance of Island Park, a 20-acre park on the banks of the Greenbrier River. It features a skate park, ballfields, tennis courts, walking paths and Greenbrier Valley’s only dog park. “It’s a popular park. A lot of people go there for floating, or to put their canoe in the water,” Thornton says. Right next door, the Lewisburg and Ronceverte Trail stretches for about a mile along a former rail bed and will eventually extend all the way to Lewisburg. For more outdoor adventures, locals head to nearby Greenbrier State Forest, a 5,100-acre forest with 13 miles of trails that climb up into the mountains outside town. There’s also the Greenbrier River for fishing, kayaking and canoeing. The Monongahela National Forest and New River Gorge National Park are within an hour’s drive.
River Festival draws crowds with parades, races and fireworks
The Ronceverte River Festival is a two-day summer celebration held every June at Island Park. The festival hosts a parade, followed by a car show, a rubber ducky race and more than a dozen other events. It’s topped off by a fireworks finale on Saturday evening. “It brings out a ton of people from all over the area,” Thornton says.
A small downtown with historic charm and local staples
Ronceverte has a small downtown district centered around Edgar Avenue with a handful of restaurants, a general store, a grocer and a hardware store. Historical buildings line the streets, including old brick storefronts, a coal tower, several Gothic-style churches and the C&O Railway Depot, a towering example of early 20th-century Craftsman architecture. The Sportsman Tavern is the town’s go-to for pub fare and live music, while Chico’s is a local standby for Mexican food. For everyday essentials, there’s Tri-County Wholesale Produce and Primitive Goods, a market that sells locally made groceries and wares. Big-box stores and major grocery chains are found in Fairlea and Lewisburg, just a few miles away.
Local schools earn average marks, with a senator on the sidelines
Students start at Ronceverte Elementary School and Eastern Greenbrier Middle School, both of which get C ratings from Niche. The last four years are spent at Greenbrier East High School, which gets a B-minus. U.S. senator and former West Virginia governor Jim Justice is a past and current basketball coach at Greenbrier East High. In 2025, he coached a girls' basketball game just hours before returning to Washington, D.C., for a Senate vote.
A bit of a drive to the closest cities
Ronceverte is a long drive from the nearest midsized cities — it’s about 55 miles from Beckley and 80 miles from Roanoke, Virginia. The town is served by the Mountain Transit Authority, which offers bus service around the county and beyond. Those in need of health care can head to Greenbrier Valley Medical Center, a 66-bed hospital with an emergency room, about 2 miles away. The Greenbrier Valley Airport is about 10 miles north.
