Roane County, West Virginia, is home to 15,000 people, and is a place where front porch living and a sense of the past meets innovation and a focus on the future.
Widely recognized as one of the most scenic and gorgeous landscapes in West Virginia, Roane County’s population center of Spencer recently was honored for its strategic investments in creative community development.
Enthusiasm and commitment to excellence are key words in the Roane County Public School System. New, modern facilities and a force of dedicated professional and service employees promote an atmosphere conducive to positive attitudes and growth. Teachers, administrators, and service personnel in the Roane County School System are well-trained individuals with strong desires to meet the individual needs of all students. http://www.roanecountyschools.com/
One of best-known events in Roane County is the Black Walnut Festival (photos, Jacob Fetty), held every October and drawing thousands of participants from across West Virginia and beyond. In 1954, Roane County resident Henry Young sold 2 million pounds of black walnuts, prompting local officials to develop them as a cash crop. The Festival was born the following year. For more information, visit 2009.wvblackwalnutfestival.org, or phone 304/927-5616.
Arts/Entertainment and Recreation
Chestnut Ridge Artists Colony
In 2007 Mayor Terry A. Williams along with the Spencer Development Authority began working with local Artist-Blacksmith Jeff Fetty to develop a pristine parcel of land located on Chestnut Ridge overlooking Downtown Spencer. (Link to article, “Artists Working on a Colony Near Spencer” http://www.herald-dispatch.com/specialsections/createwva/x2075608627/No-Headline
All parties shared the vision of creating an Artist Colony perched atop a tranquil ridge where artists could obtain land at an incentive based price in exchange for relocating their studios/workshops to Spencer.
Today, The Artist Colony at Chestnut Ridge is in full swing and features three Artists. The City of Spencer has over 200 acres on which artists can design and develop their dream studios. Additionally, this property features full city utility hook-ups as well as three-phase power.
Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences www.theclaycenter.org
The Clay Center’s mission is to inspire creativity, learning, and wonder through experiences in the arts and sciences for all people of West Virginia and the region. This premiere education center is located in Charleston, just over an hour from Spencer, offering a wide range of performances, exhibits and events of national and international standing all year round!
The Robey Theatre www.robeytheatre.com
The Robey Theatre in Spencer is the longest continuously operating movie theatre in the United States! Hot fresh popcorn and movies the way they used to be seen – one at a time, and in a grand auditorium setting.
Charles Fork Lake
Charles Fork Lake is approximately 2 miles southeast of Spencer, accessible from WV Route 36 via County Route 36/2, and is owned by the City of Spencer.
Charles Fork Lake provides warm water fishing for largemouth bass, sunfish, channel catfish, and tiger musky. Tiger musky generally obtain the 28” minimum size within 3-4 years and are considered one of the premier freshwater game fish by many sportsmen. Tackle used by musky fishermen includes large plugs, spoons, and spinners. Trolling the lake shoreline at depths between 3-12 feet is a successful musky fishing method.
In addition to fishing, the lake provides our residents and guests alike with a multi-use area with over 25 miles of trails surrounding a mile long lake that sports excellent canoeing, camping, hiking and bike trails. Charles Fork Lake is also the site of the popular annual Tour de Lake Mountain Bike Race.
City of Spencer http://cityofspencer.com/metro/
City of Spencer on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Spencer-WV/City-Of-Spencer-West-Virginia/93132958555?ref=s
City of Ripley http://www.cityofripley.org/
City of Charleston http://www.charlestonwv.com/
Greater Parkersburg http://www.greaterparkersburg.com/