Escape to Philippi, WV

A Hidden Gem of History and Natural Beauty!

We love getting visitors!

Lots of people get excited about coming to visit the shop, but want to make the most of their trip. Who wouldn't? Sometimes frustratingly, a lot of what makes our town so charming, also isolates it from the rest of the world: these people are bad at being on the internet. That's why we've made this list of all the places you can stay and visit while you're in the area!

Experience the charm of Philippi, WV, where history is undead and nature invites you to explore. Nestled amidst picturesque landscapes and rich cultural heritage, this quaint town offers a delightful blend of attractions for every traveler. Plan your visit today and make memories that will last a lifetime. Below, you'll find some great recommendations of where to stay, eat, shop, and historical places to check out!

Where to Stay

Philippi is a very small town with a population of less than 3,000, and the downtown is less than a mile wide, making it very walkable. And that means we go above and beyond for all our guests! Our main lodging is the Mountaineer Inn at the edge of town, but we also have several Airbnb options both downtown, and in our more wooded areas if you love the outdoors.

Mountaineer Inn

On the edge of town, so not convenient to walking around, but there is a diner on the other side of the parking lot, and they serve pretty big portions for the hungry adventurer. We also love handicap-accessible lodging.

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Erickson Center

Formerly a lodging for Alderson Broaddus alumni, this motel is now open to the public and the perfect place for anyone coming to any Realms Con as it's right on the campus and just a short walk from the convention building!

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Patriotic Ranch Home

This place is just bursting with American Pride with its red, white, and blue theme! It's also handicap accessible, and a great option for those who love the outdoors with opportunities for outdoor grilling, fishing, and hiking.

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The Chrislip

Smack-dab in the middle of Main Street, this gorgeous house is convenient to absolutely everything in town. The lack of curtains in the home is a point of contention for several locals, especially regarding guests who have no compunctions about getting a midnight snack in the buff. You do get an unobstructed view of Gerald's house, though

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Jan's Cottage

Located in our neighboring town of Belington, Jan's little retreat just outside of town is cute and quiet, just a 2min. drive from downtown Belington, and 15min. from Philippi. Not only is it surrounded by woods, convenient for outdoor activities, and handicap accessible, but there's a chance to get visited by a dog named Jackson!

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Where to Shop

The powers that be in Philippi struggle to understand basic economic concepts, so they keep courting and creating restaurants and event spaces, even though those are literally the two things we don't need anymore of. However, of our few non-fast food joints, here are Artefaktual's recommendations!

Twisted Bee Studio

Formerly Winnie's Attic, Twisted Bee Studio has switched it's focus to being a crafting space for all ages! Check out some of their local vendors, or sit down to paint and create. They even have ceramics!

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The Yarn Basket

If you have a passion for textile arts, Wendy is exactly who you want to go visit on your trip to Philippi! Browse a delightful array of yarns, patterns, and accessories to fuel your next crafting project. Wendy is a talented artist, and excellent teacher, and has partitioned a lot of her space to be available for people to just chill on the couch and work on their projects.

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The Garden Market

The Community Garden Market a provides an opportunity for local gardeners and bakers to earn money by selling their fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, baked goods, honey and other specialty items. You can find books by local authors, crafts, and the occasional Amish baked good.

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What to Eat

Philippi loves to eat, but mostly hates change, so while we're clocking in at 15 eateries, most are fast food, or pub/diner fare. We're just going to focus on the places that aren't owned by major corporations.

Fox's Pizza

Our partner in non-crimes, Fox's is right at the corner of the bypass! Previously, we weren't huge fans of Fox's, but Grumpy'z closed and Ian and Taylor work there now, so the pizza is 1000% improved! Ask for the Gretch special.

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Molly's Ice Cream

Molly's is a great place to stop for a sweet treat, especially in the summer months, our only complaint is that they aren't open until late afternoon most days, so they're more of a post-dinner stop.

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Lil' Moe's

Lil' Moe's has probably some of the best food in town, but the trade-off is that it's the hangout for all the alcoholics in the county. It is a bar, after all. It's loud, crowded most evenings, and the staff is usually overworked, so we highly recommend tipping well and ordering to-go, then eating in one of the park areas by the bridge.

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Margarita's

By now you have to be wondering why so many of the restaurants start with an M. It's a mystery to us, too. But if you're looking for authentic Mexican, with cute decor, this is the place for you. They're only open for dinner hours, but they do have conference room for meetings and secluded dining.

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The Chinese Restaurant

It's Chinese food! I really don't know what else to tell you. The family is very sweet, but also very overwhelmed. The food is average, but this is the last restaurant before caving and just getting McDonald's or Sheetz. Sheetz won't give you a fortune cookie, so...

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What to Do

If we haven't lost you so far, just wait till you hear about the dead bodies down by the river! I'm only kind of joking. Let's take a look at some of our unique historical sites!

Barbour County Historical Museum

Sure, there are a lot of really neat exhibits, especially regarding the first land battle of the Civil War, and the origins of Hanger Prosthetics. But you're going in here to look at The Philippi Mummies. They're very real, and a bit too much for some to handle. We really love our mummies, though, so be nice to them. If you happen to be here when they haven't opened yet, just stop by the shop and tell us. Around here, we always "know a guy".

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Barbour County Courthouse

Marvel at the architecture of the most beautiful courthouse in WV. You literally can't miss it, it's right in the center of town. If you marvel at the outside long enough, there's a chance that Gerald will randomly appear to take you on a tour of the inside so you can stand in awe of the stained glass ceiling and transoms.

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The Philippi Covered Bridge

The Philippi Covered Bridge is the only covered bridge that's part of the U.S. Highway System, and it's original construction pre-dates the Civil War!

Listen, I'm going to be super honest with you right now. I don't get the appeal. Maybe I'm just jaded because I've seen it every day for decades, but I just do not understand the covered bridge hype train. But here's the thing: I don't need to understand it. Everyone has that thing they nerd out over. Whether it's comics, sports, bugs, collecting Pez dispensers... we've all got a niche interest that brings us joy, and some people, disproportionately those living in New England, go absolutely bananapants over covered bridges. So what I love about this bridge is how happy it makes people who love covered bridges, especially when they get to travel over it on their way into town.

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Adaland Mansion

This stately brick home in Philippi, West Virginia is set against the rolling hills of Barbour County WV and was built in 1870. The 23-room, Greek Revival mansion has been restored with great attention to authenticity, featuring homemade brick and walnut woodwork throughout. You can visit the home for historical tours, attend their public tea parties and special dinners, or book the venue for private events.

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