Wheeling

When folks park their cars in Center Wheeling and get out to pay, they may notice the city's colorful parking meters, which are each indivudually designed and painted by a different member of Wheeling's community. From underwater mermaids to vibrant animal patterns, the meters reflect both West Virginia's natural beauty and the sense of small-town community that Wheeling is known for. "We lost a lot of business here from the closing of the steel mills and other industries, but we've really tried to make art a new focus to help bring more people to the city," says Bobbi Priebe, a local resident and artist at Artworks Around Town. Public art like this is just one way the City of Wheeling encourages people to come out and support its community of small businesses, many of which are locally-owned and have been open for decades. With relatively affordable homes and access to the Ohio River nearby, living in Center Wheeling combines the walkability of a city with the community and natural landscape of a rural area. Set in old factory and office buildings along the river, Center Wheeling is known for its community of small businesses and mom-and-pop shops. First built in 1853, Centre Market is a historic, Classical Revival building that used to be an open air market for produce and meat. Today, it's bustling with a variety of estaurants, stores and an art gallery, and is also surrounded by a selection of nearby specialty shops. On Saturdays, folks can listen to live music while grabbing some coffee from The Market Café or checking out local artists at Artworks Around Town, a local gallery and makerspace that highlights talent from around the city. In the surrounding area, folks can meet up with some friends to eat lunch outdoors at Later Alligator or pick up some fresh fish to cook at home from Coleman's Fish Market. Since 1914, this market has been a staple in the community, serving fresh filets set on ice and warm dishes like clam chowder or their famous fish sandwhiches. For produce and other groceries to take home, residents can also visit Jebbia's Market, or head about 10 miles east to find a larger selection at Walmart. When looking for fun community activities, folks in Center Wheeling don't have to go any farther than Heritage Port. Located right along the Ohio River, the park's open-air amphitheater hosts the city’s annual Fourth of July fireworks, the annual Italian Festival, as well as weekly concerts and movies that folks from across the area attend. Another fun event is the Festival of Lights at Oglebay Park. Attracting more than a million visitors each holiday season, this display of rainbow-colored lights spread across a six-mile drive is one of the park's most popular events. "I live here and still go through it all the time, even as a local," says Priebe. Cradled between the Ohio River and West Virginia State Route 2, homes in Center Wheeling are mostly two-story townhouses arranged along a collection of gridded city streets. Dated to the early 1900s, many properties feature ornate Victorian and Classical Revival designs, while others offer traditional wooden-sided exteriors and wide front balconies for folks to hang out together outdoors. Walking through the neighborhood, buyers will notice architectural details from large bay windows and turrets to decorative cornice work on the fronts of homes. "Some properties here need tons of work and some have been totally revamped-It just depends what you're looking for, but that also means there's a lot of opportunity," says Denise Pavlik, a Realtor with Paull Associates Real Estate. Depending on upkeep and square footage, prices range from as low as $40,000 to as high as $150,000 dollars. When it comes time to head outdoors, the Wheeling Heritage Trail is one popular option within walking distance from most homes that offers an easy and accessible option for exercise. Built along the path of old railroad tracks, folks can walk, run or bike along this paved trail to see the Ohio River while learning about the city's past from signs that provide a self-guided tour. The trail also connects to Heritage Port, a riverfront park that provides open greenspace, an open-air amphitheater and a playground. Built in 2016 by the Junior League of Wheeling, this wooden playground is designed with sensory stimulation in mind. It includes plenty of elements for kids to touch, play with or listen to, as well as a platform swing for children in wheelchairs. To find more open space, Oglebay Park is about 5 miles east of Wheeling, offering a zoo, four golf courses and miles of hiking trails that traverse the park's mountainous landscape. Center Wheeling is less than a mile from Downtown Wheeling, making access into the city readily accessible. Though public transportation isn't available, most residents can walk or take a short drive anywhere within the city in just a few minutes. West Virginia State Route 2 also provides a shortcut through the area, connecting folks in Center Wheeling to Downtown and other parts of the city. In the case of a medical emergency, WVU Wheeling Hospital is the closest option and is located just 3 miles east near Pleasant Valley. To reach the closest big city, residents can take Interstate 70 about 60 miles east, all the way to Pittsburgh. When traveling out of state or abroad, Pittsburgh International Airport is located about 20 miles outside the city. Students living in Center Wheeling can attend school within walking distance at Ritchie Elementary, which is located just south of the neighborhood and earns an A-rating on Niche. In sixth grade, students move on to Wheeling Middle, which is also just south of the neighborhood and earns a B from Niche. Highschoolers attend Wheeling Park High, which is located about 8 miles east of the city and receives a B-plus rating on Niche. One unique opportunity that the school offers is the History of Wheeling Course. The class is led one Saturday a month by Ryan Stanton, who won 2023 Teacher of the Year, and is open for anyone to learn about Wheeling's unique history. Center Wheeling receives a CAP index score of 6, which is slightly higher than the national average of 4.

Just over 5 miles east of Downtown Wheeling, Elm Grove is a family-friendly community that combines a historic atmosphere with new amenities, parks and organizations in the neighborhood. Folks can drive across the Elm Grove Stone Arch Bridge, which is the oldest surviving bridge in West Virginia, or visit Monument place, which was built by Moses Shepherd in 1798. Today, State Route 40, which is also known as National Road and connects to the city, passes right by the mansion because "Back in the day, Shepherd's wife Lydia wanted to be able to sit on her porch and watch as the horse-drawn carriages went by," says Jeff Hawkins, potentate of the Osiris Shriners. Nowadays, Monument Place still functions as a center for Elm Grove's community with the Shriners hosting regular events like Elm Grove's Fall Fest and Christmas Tree Lighting on the property. "Elm Grove has a lot of community pride. You can see it with their local sports teams or at the YMCA, which is very active. It's grown into a place where there are really a lot of family-friendly things to do," says Hawkins. Though many homes in Elm Grove are built with close spacing along the neighborhood's residential streets, Wheeling Creek runs right through the middle of the neighborhood and helps to offer a more natural atmosphere. "At night, you can hear the frogs and crickets peeping from the creek," says says Bob Kennen, Broker with Kennen & Kennen Realtors. Other properties are built higher up in the neighborhood and offer sweeping views of the area's rolling, forested hills. In the warmer months, long sidewalks and mature trees make walking around the neighborhood more pleasant, while, in the colder months, twinkling lights and holiday decorations make each home a spectacle. "It's very popular to decorate your home with Christmas lights here-it's a real show," says Hawkins. Some properties date as far back as 1900, though many were built as recently as 1955. While older designs are likely to feature wood siding and wide front porches, more recent builds showcase midcentury brick construction. Styles vary throughout the neighborhood, though cottage, American Foursquare and traditional designs are all common. In price, most homes vary from as low as $70,000 to about $215,000 dollars. Students living in Elm Grove can attend school right in the neighborhood at Elm Grove Elementary, which is located about a mile south of the neighborhood along Mils Acres Drive. Elm Grove earns a B-plus rating on Niche. Older students move on to Bridge Street Middle School, which is within walking distance from many homes and earns a B rating from Niche. Highschoolers attend Wheeling Park High, which is located about 4 miles north of Elm Grove and also receives a B-plus rating on Niche. One unique feature of this school is its course "The History of Wheeling." This class occurs one Saturday a month and is taught by Ryan Stanton, the Recipient of Wheeling Park High's 2023 Teacher of the Year award. Unlike most classes, this course is open for any member of the community who's interested to come in and learn about Wheeling's unique history. When it comes to getting outside, Patterson Ballfield is a go-to option. Located right in the middle of the neighborhood, the ballfield is close enough for folks in the area to walk to and and offers a playground as well as outdoor tennis courts. In addition to local little leagues, the baseball fields here also welcome larger tournaments like the Beast of the East. For some more open greenspace, folks can also visit Wheeling Park. In addition to a large, rubberized playground for kids to play on, the park features an indoor roller/ice-skating facility, a manmade lake that folks can take pedal boats out on as well as an Olympic sized swimming pool. Another popular choice in the neighborhood is the Wheeling YMCA, which offers a full summer day camp, youth sports programs like flag football and soccer, as well as senior exercise programs. In addition to an indoor gym, folks can also get some exercise by swimming or taking an aerobics class in the six-lane swimming pool. When it comes to shopping and dining, Elm Grove has several nearby options and access to a larger selection just a drive away. For groceries and everyday supplies, Riesbeck's is a supermarket located right in the neighborhood. Folks can also shop next door at Family Dollar or find something to eat from local take-out spots like Hotheads Carryout & Hotspot, which serves hot pizza, hotdogs and milkshakes. For a sit-down meal, residents can head over to China Wok for staples like egg rolls and chicken lo mein, or visit Uncle Pete's, which is located right along Wheeling Creek. Uncle Pete's is known for its cozy, brick-walled atmosphere and American classics like mashed potatoes, mac and cheese and burgers. For more options, folks can take Interstate 70 about 6 miles east to find The Highlands shopping mall. The Highlands is filled with national stores and retailers, ranging from Menards and Walmart to JCPenney and Kohl's. For something to eat, patrons can also dine at chain locations like Olive Garden or Chipotle Mexican Grill. For another family-friendly activity in the neighborhood, residents can visit the Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum. Located in a historic building which used to house the Elm Grove Public School, this museum has been providing a fun way to get out of the house for over 25 years. Housing over half a million items, kids can explore the real-life train caboose or take a look at antique toy collections that range from model and display trains to pinball machines or even figures from the Peanut Gang. All exhibit in the museum offer hands-on displays for children to play with. Just over 5 miles, or about a 9-minute drive from Downtown Wheeling, Elm Grove offers a desirable location without the bustle of the city right outside the house. "You can hop on the Interstate and get downtown in just a few minutes if you're working there, and big employers like WVU Wheeling Hospital and Sledd Co are also right in the area," says Kennen. In the case of a medical emergency, WVU Wheeling Hospital is located about 4 miles northwest near Pleasant Valley. To get to the closest big city, drivers can take Interstate 70 about 60 miles east, towards Pittsburgh. When heading out of the state or overseas, Pittsburgh International Airport is also about 20 miles outside of Pittsburgh. Elm Grove receives a CAP index score of 2, which is slightly lower than the national average of 4.