You're Going to Love it Here

Explore an area rich with outdoor activities, such as hiking and golf. Participate in community events, like fairs and festivals. Dine at award winning restaurants, bars and wineries. Enjoy art exhibits, musical performances, local sports, historic landmarks and so much more.

 

Life In the Mid-Ohio Valley

The Parkersburg area is a great place to achieve a healthy work-life balance. Heritage is the defining characteristic of the charming towns and riverfront cities in our valley. Comprised of manufacturing, financial and medical fields, this is home to some of the most successful, fastest-growing companies in the world. Our community is well suited for everyone. A family-friendly lifestyle that larger urban areas can’t offer. Young professionals, growing families, long-time residents and visitors are drawn to the MOV because of its quality education, livability, business friendly infrastructure, organizations, healthcare and other amenities.

A SMALL TOWN WITH A BIG HEART

Whether you bleed gold and blue or scarlet and gray, moving here, you will quickly notice that we are a strong family-oriented community with not only a love of sports but also a substantial involvement unlike anywhere else. Residents here are always eager to lend a helping hand, be it fundraising for a community member who has been diagnosed with cancer, passing local levy’s to improve our schools and libraries, shopping at the local ‘mom and pop’ shops, or finding ways to preserve the area’s history. The Mid-Ohio Valley is a unique geographical setting, encompassing both Ohio and West Virginia, with Parkersburg being the heart of it all.

Parkersburg has 130 acres of parkland and stunning entertainment venues, like the picturesque Point Park along the Ohio River, which are perfect backdrops for a city poised for growth and opportunity.  Each year, the annual Taste of Parkersburg event attracts thousands of foodies and wine lovers to downtown Parkersburg. Across the river in Marietta, stands the historic Lafayette Hotel in the charming town featuring broad tree-lined brick streets. Each year, the annual Ohio Sternwheel Festival attracts thousands of visitors to Front Street. Quality showcases like these are just a part of what makes the MOV such a great place to live, work and come home to.

 

The Mid-Ohio Valley offers incomparable natural beauty with the convenience of mild weather. But that’s only the beginning. In addition to being a family-oriented community, there are low crime rates, low commuting times and state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, combined with lower-than-average cost of living, excellent education systems and an abundance of opportunities for families and those starting their careers. The Mid-Ohio Valley is a premier choice to raise a family, retire, or just enjoy a better overall quality of life.

Our prime geographic location makes for easy access when wanting to travel to larger nearby cities such as; Athens, OH, Columbus, OH, Morgantown, WV and Charleston, WV.  

history. charm. southern hospitality.

Discover all that is in the Mid-Ohio Valley

The Mid-Ohio Valley’s convenient location gives access to boating and water sports on the Ohio River as well as nearby lakes. The area is rich with other popular outdoor activities such as: hiking, biking, golf, rock climbing, zip lining, and geocaching are also nearby. As a well-known historic area, the MOV features a colorful and fascinating heritage that has been magnificently preserved and presented by our museums and historic sites. Adventure awaits! 

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So Much to Do!

EXPLORE THE HISTORY

  • Blennerhassett Island
  • The Blennerhassett Hotel
  • Henderson Hall
  • Oil & Gas Museum
  • Julia-Ann Historic District
  • Campus Martius Museum
  • The Castle
  • Fort Boreman
  • The Lafayette Hotel
  • Ohio River Museum

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

  • Downtown Throwdown and Brewfest
  • Ohio River Sternwheel Festival
  • Mid-Ohio Valley Cultural Festival
  • Parkersburg Homecoming
  • Taste of Parkersburg
  • West Virginia Interstate Fair and Exposition
  • Belpre Homecoming
  • Washington County Fair
  • Blennerhassett Hotel Festival of Trees
  • First Fridays Marietta Main Street

ART & ENTERTAINMENT

  • Valley Gem and Riviera
  • People’s Bank Theatre
  • Smoot Theatre
  • West Virginia Symphony Orchestra – Parkersburg
  • Actors Guild of Parkersburg
  • Parkersburg Art Center
  • The Adelphia Music Hall
  • Hidden Marietta
  • Marietta College Athletics
  • Trolley Tours

GRAB A FEW BITES TO EAT

  • North End Tavern
  • Chams Lebanese Restaurant
  • Colombo’s Italian Restaurant
  • Fusion Japanese Steakhouse
  • Marietta Brewing Company
  • JR’s Donut Castle
  • Stoked Coffee
  • Philippines Best Food, LLC
  • River Town Prime Steakhouse & Grill
  • The House of Wines

OUTDOORS & RECREATION

  • North Bend State Park
  • Mountwood Park
  • Marietta Trail Network
  • The Ohio River
  • YMCA of Parkersburg
  • MOVEment Fitness
  • Elite Sports Center
  • Marietta Country Club
  • Parkersburg Country Club
  • Oxbow Golf Course

Life In West Virginia

Whether you’re here for medical training or hoping to call West Virginia your forever home, we have countless resources to help you find anything from your favorite farmer’s market to a school for your child. West Virginia is considered the land of opportunity. Top-ranked universities, fulfilling careers, award-winning health institutions, thriving arts communities and ample outdoor recreation activities are just a few elements that draw people to the Mountain State. Cost of living in West Virginia is 12% below the national average. West Virginia residents enjoy a variety of affordable and safe housing options to meet every individual or family’s needs.

West Virginia also provides quality, affordable education. In fact, there are over forty colleges here in the Mountain State. Striving to support and supply students with a professional learning network to achieve success. West Virginia University holds the title as the number one college in the state. There is a lot of pride for the Mountaineers. Sports are a great way to come together, and it’s been a traditional part of life in West Virginia to celebrate with gold and blue for quite some time.

Adventure Awaits

Wild and Wonderful West Virginia is a four-season vacation destination. Each season brings with it new life, natural wonders and unique activities to experience each season in its fullest form. Disconnect from worry and reconnect with what matters most. Find tranquil, one-of-a-kind, picturesque landscapes with vibrant colors. There are endless adventures waiting for you in Almost Heaven. Tourism is one of the state’s largest industries.

So Much to Do!

EXPLORE THE HISTORY

  • Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
  • Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad
  • Lewisburg Historic District
  • West Virginia Penitentiary
  • Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
  • The Point
  • West Virginia State Museum
  • West Virginia Mine Wars Museum
  • Mothman Museum
  • Museum of Radio and Technology

FAIRS & FESTIVALS

  • West Virginia Sunflower Festival
  • WV Italian Heritage Festival
  • Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival
  • State Fair of West Virginia
  • Cabin Fever Craft Beer Festival
  • Feast of the Ramson
  • FestivALL
  • Bridge Day
  • Mountain Music Festival
  • Festival of Lights

OUTDOORS & STATE PARKS

  • New River Gorge
  • Blackwater Falls State Park
  • Summersville Lake
  • Jefferson Rock
  • Lost World Caverns
  • Seneca Rocks State Park
  • Cass Scenic Railroad State Park
  • Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park
  • Hatfield-McCoy Trail Systems
  • Hawk’s Nest State Park

RESORTS & RECREATION

  • Snowshoe Mountain Resort
  • Canaan Valley Resort
  • The Greenbrier Resort
  • Resort at Glade Springs
  • ACE Adventure Resort
  • Oglebay Resort
  • Timberline Mountain
  • Stonewall Resort
  • Alpine Lake Resort
  • Pipestem Resort

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

  • Gandy Dance Theatre and Conference Center
  • Clay Center
  • Capitol Theatre
  • Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center
  • Mountain Stage
  • Mountaineer Field
  • Hillbilly Hot Dogs
  • Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum
  • Mardi Gras Casino and Resort
  • Tamarack’s David L. Dickirson Fine Arts Gallery

Close to Home

West Virginia is located within a day’s drive of the East Coast’s major cities and still remains an uncrowded and hidden gem. West Virginia is centrally located between the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, and within a day’s drive of more than 75% of the U.S. population.

West Virginia also has seven commercial airports with many offering direct flights to major hubs. When you’re ready for big-city sites, interstate and highways provide easy travel to nearby metropolitan areas. A few popular nearby cities consist of: Washington D.C.; Harrisonburg, VA; Columbus, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio; Pittsburgh, PA; Lexington, KY; Charlotte, NC; Greensboro, NC.