There’s something so charming about Fayetteville, West Virginia, the small town that sits on the rim of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. At its center is the historic Fayette County Courthouse, which is surrounded by great public art, shops, music venues, a yoga studio, pubs, restaurants, and of course, Lafayette Flats Boutique Vacation Rentals.
In every one of these places, you’ll find the smiling faces of the people that are lucky enough to call Fayetteville home. And that is precisely why we love this town – its charm radiates from its people. The people of Fayetteville (some born here, many brought here by their love of outdoor adventure) have created a fantastic place to live and a fun place for you to visit, respectfully.
Fayetteville’s Shops & Boutiques
Scattered around town and within walking distance of each other, you will find several unique locally-owned shops and boutiques to browse during your time in Fayetteville. You’ll find lots of great New River Gorge Souvenirs and so much more!
ACE Adventure Gear
From kayaks to fishhooks, find outdoor adventures supplies here.
Ari’s House Vintage
Curated vintage clothes at Fayetteville’s newest shop.
Great Googly Moogly
Find an impressive collection of gems, crystals and more.
New River Bikes
Bikes, gear, and advice for serious mountain bikers.
D and K Collectibles
Specializing in vintage West Virginia blown glass.
Enjoyed Again
A very cute “junktique.”
Lost Appalachia Trading Co.
Locally designed shirts, gear, stickers, hats, and much more.
Twisty Gypsy’s
Eclectic woman’s boutique tucked down Wiseman Avenue.
New River Antique Mall
25 booths of antique treasures for you to explore.
Water Stone Outdoors
OG outdoor outfitting (a climber’s dream) with a brew garden.
New River Zen
Great selection of home goods and fun gear for your furry friends.
The Hobbit Hole
A hidden gem of an antique shop is in the basement of Mayari.
Mayari
Curated vintage apparel, jewelry, and other goodies.
Rangefinder Coffee
Great little coffee shop that also sells high-quality equipment.
Very Rare Vintage
A skate shop with treasures from the not-so-distant past.
Ringing Rocks Mint
Locally made jewelry and an in-house silversmith.
The Adventure Station
Outpost of Adventures on the Gorge that sells souvenirs and services.
Wisteria Gifts
Brands including Vera Bradley and Brighton.
Love Hope Center for the Arts
A beautiful art gallery with a great gift shop.
Studio B
This wine and beer shop has a great selection of local jewelry too.
The Music Scene in Fayetteville, WV
Most of the establishments below offer live music May – October, some throughout the year. Checking their Facebook pages is the best way to see current hours of operations and performance schedules.
Southside Junction Taphouse
On the corner of S. Court St. and Maple Ave., you will find a lively pub with a big selection of beer and yummy food. In addition to live music, they almost always have something going on like Beer Bingo or trivia.
Charlie’s Pub
Located at 190 S. Court St. (in the lower level), Charlie’s Pub has been a favorite bar destination for locals and tourists for many years.
Our House Grill & Pub
Located inside the Cantrell Rafting complex out Gatewood Road, Our House Grill & Pub offers food, cocktails, and live music with outdoor seating.
Bridge Brew Works
These brew masters sometimes have live music on their beautiful outdoor patio which is on Nick Rahall Greenway inside the industrial park just a few minutes from downtown. Their award-winning beers are worth tasting, and we suspect you’ll want to fill up your growler while you visit.
The Outpost
The Outpost is a great new campground on Fayette Station Road that offers lots of live music during the travel season: Fireside Jams (which are free to everyone) and the Groove in the Gorge Music Series (which is free to campers but have a nominal ticket charge for others).
Rendezvous Lounge at Adventures on the Gorge (Lansing, WV)
There is live music on Fridays and Saturdays at this lively open-air lounge inside the Adventures on the Gorge complex (across the main street from Chetty’s Pub).
More Local Fayetteville Flavor
The Historic Fayette Theater on S. Court St. is widely used by the community for plays and performances. The theater also hosts many of the town’s annual events including the Big Fun Family Talent Show, Appalachian Outdoor Film Festival, and the Video Boaters Challenge (the wildly popular event that showcases the talents of local videographers working in the whitewater industry).
Of course, there’s a yoga studio in Fayetteville. New River Yoga offers regular classes and special workshops in their S. Court St. studio. They also offer yoga on the rim of the New River Gorge at the Adventures on the Gorge pool patio every Sunday morning from May to October.
Right next door to Lafayette Flats is Escape-A-Torium which offers three different escape room games. You must find clues, solve puzzles and escape in less than one hour.
Did you know Fayetteville has an airport? It’s tiny! It’s also home to Wild Blue Adventure Company where you can book a flight in an World War II Stearman biplane. Enjoy the New River Gorge from above and, if you are brave, ask the piolet for some thrilling aerobatics!
Arrowhead Bike Farm is located just a few miles from downtown Fayetteville on Gatewood Road and offers campsites, trails, mountain bike rentals and equipment, but our favorite thing about Arrowhead is their Biergarten where they serve up fresh craft beer and a delicious variety of brats.
On Court St. (Rt. 16) just south out of downtown is Greenheart Co-op. This makerspace is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday. In addition to a co-working space, you’ll currently find coffee and cookies for sale by local makers.
Located a few minutes from downtown Fayetteville on Wolf Creek Road is New Roots Community Farm. This local agricultural resource center operates a farm market that is open to the public Thursday through Saturday.
Feasting in Fayetteville
Need to refuel? There are three great places for coffee in Fayetteville: Cathedral Cafe, Wood Iron Eatery, and Rangefinder Coffee. Enjoy sweet treats with your coffee inside the beautiful old stained glass-filled church that now houses Cathedral Cafe. Expand to espresso, latte and cappuccino at Wood Iron Eatery, or get serious about your coffee at Rangefinder Coffee, the tiny coffee shop with a lot of charm.
Hungry? Get our Fayetteville Food Guide to help decide which restaurant is the perfect pick for your palate. We’ve compiled all the restaurants’ info into one helpful flier: location, contact info and hours, special diet offerings, alcohol availability, and special insider information.
Art in the Heart of Fayetteville, WV
While you explore the quaint and compact downtown you will find these gems all within walking distance of the Fayette County Courthouse and Lafayette Flats.
Lafayette Flats, 171 N. Court St., Window Mural (Rear)
The trompe l’oeil mural in an old window well on the back of the historic building that houses both Lafayette Flats Boutique Vacation Rentals and Lost Appalachia represents the Italian immigrants that constructed so many of the beautiful buildings and walls throughout the town. We asked mural artist, Jesse Corlis to depict an Italian stonemason from the late 1800s/ early 1900s. Together we entitled the mural “Cinto” after Cinto Peraldo, the builder of record on the National Historic Registry for our old cut-stone building.
Lost Appalachia, 171 N. Court St., Mural (Inside)
The mural by Nicole Westfall on the interior back wall of Lost Appalachia reminds us of spring hikes and splashing in creeks. The owner of Lost Appalachia commissioned this bright and beautiful mural in early 2022.
United Bank, 145 W. Maple Ave., Stained Glass (Inside)
Elizabeth Grafton, an influential stained-glass artist who made her home in Fayetteville, died several years ago at the age of 99, but she left a legacy of influence far and wide; seemingly more well-known elsewhere than in her hometown. You can find a beautiful piece of Grafton’s work in the lobby of United Bank. Her tree of life is so beautiful that we would gladly sign up for a checking account just to see it… but don’t worry, you don’t have to.
Intersection of Wiseman Ave. & Court St., Wrought Iron Sculpture
World-renowned metalsmith, Jeff Fetty created the sculpture entitled, “New Directions: A Sculpture for our Community.” The directional sign points to other locations known for whitewater rafting (Zambezi), rock climbing (Yosemite), and mountain biking (Moab). In 2012, when asked about the meaning of his sculpture, Fetty told the Register-Herald that it was meant to communicate that, “you have arrived at a world-class destination. You live in a world-class destination.”
Physical Therapy Building, 233 N. Court St., Mural
Rob Cleland painted Fayetteville’s first outdoor mural on the Fayetteville Physical Therapy building in 2012. Cleland included many of the components of the New River Gorge that make it so special and Fayetteville’s namesake, the Marquis de Lafayette.
Fayetteville Post Office, 120 W. Maple Ave., Mural (Inside)
“The Miners” is an oil on canvas in Fayetteville Post Office painted by Nixford Baldwin. It was commissioned in 1939 by the U.S. Treasury Section of Fine Arts and is a great example of New Deal artwork. Coal mining brought thousands of people to this isolated area from the 1870s to the 1960s, and this mural depicts their daily life in and out of the mines.
Rt. 16 Old Overpass, Intersection of US Rt. 19 & WV Rt. 16, Murals
Both murals were painted by Jeff Pierson, an artist known throughout the state for his caricature-esque style. The first mural celebrates traditional Appalachian music and instruments and the second mural showcases the many types of outdoor adventure available in the New River Gorge. The murals, which cover the abutments of the old Second Street bridge crossing Rt. 16, were commissioned to brighten the area after the deck of the bridge was removed; an upsetting change for so many in town.
Fayette County Courthouse, 100 N. Court St., Marquis De Lafayette Statue
In 2004 the Fayette County Historic Landmark Commission presented the citizens of Fayette County the bronze statue, Marquis De Lafayette by sculptor, Joel A. Randell. Marquis De Lafayette, a French Statesman, is known as George Washington’s close confidant and a true friend of the American Revolution. He is the namesake of Fayette County, Fayetteville, and Lafayette Flats.
Love Hope Center for the Arts, 100 Rotan St., Kinetic Sculpture
Right outside the Love Hope Center for the Arts stands Fayetteville’s first kinetic sculpture. This revolving ball of love and hope was created by Jamie Lester, a fine artist who specializes in bronze monument sculpture.
Love Hope Center for the Arts, Building Mural
On the side of the old church, there is a large colorful mural by Nichole Westfall and ND Tank. The whimsical painting was installed as part of Love Hope’s second anniversary.
Who are we? Amy & Shawn, New River Gorge hikers, Master Naturalists, and owners of Lafayette Flats Boutique Vacation Rentals.
Craving more data for your New River Gorge getaway? Check out:
New River Gorge Explorer: A 7-Day Itinerary
