Travel Guide to Lewisburg, West Virginia

Lewisburg, West Virginia is located in the southeastern corner of the state, near the Virginia State line. A town rich in history and scenic splendor, Lewisburg is nestled among the forested Allegheny mountains, with access to the Greenbrier State Forest and the New and Greenbrier Rivers. As such, Lewisburg is an outdoor sports enthusiast’s idea of heaven. You can enjoy hiking, rock climbing, white water rafting, canoeing, mountain biking, swimming, fishing and boating. Wintertime brings it’s own special magic with fantastic skiing, snowboarding, ice skating and sledding. Numerous outdoor activities abound all year long, and Lewisburg is also host to a number of arts and crafts fairs and outdoor theater productions under the stars. For a small town, Lewisburg has a surprising and very diverse arts scene. Traditional homespun arts and crafts can be found here, along with several fine art galleries in the historic downtown area. The town is known as the cultural hub of Greenbrier County and is home to an award winning theater that is housed in a converted barn and features works by famous writers such as Neal Simon. The theater regularly plays to sold-out audiences. You’ll also find live music at various spots around town – including street musicians. Lewisburg is even home to Carnegie Hall, which was built in 1902 as part of the Greenbrier College for Women and was a gift from Andrew Carnegie. The center sponsors a diverse arts series and includes a museum, art galleries and dance. Lewisburg is featured in the book, “The Best Small Art Towns in America,” by John Villani and was named one of National Geographic’s “Best Small Town Escapes.”

Services such as shopping, lodging and dining are very abundant in Lewisburg, making it a great vacation destination you will remember for years to come. Entwined among the unique shops and restaurants are nearly seventy 18th & 19th century buildings that have put Lewisburg, West Virginia on the National Register of Historic Districts. This is a town that is a must see for Civil War buffs – historical landmarks, old cemeteries and battlegrounds abound in the area. Some of Lewisburg’s buildings still bear scars of the battle fought there, and a mass grave outside of town holds the remains of 95 unknown Confederate soldiers killed at the Lewisburg battle. Tours of historic Lewisburg are given via horse drawn carriages. The historic district is also lined with antique shops, specialty stores, art galleries, inns and bed & breakfasts.

Lewisburg serves as the county seat for Greenbrier County and has a permanent population of only around 3600, but of course, it seems much more than that with all the tourist activity in the area. Greenbrier is known as one of West Virginia’s most beautiful counties, with rugged mountains to the west and broad savannahs to the east. The Greenbrier State Forest offers over 5100 mountainous acres for outdoor recreation. Hike or bike the 75-mile long Greenbrier River Trail, or visit the nearby New River Gorge area and see the spectacular, world’s longest, single span, steel arch bridge. The town of Lewisburg, West Virginia is also home to the Lost World Caverns, which is one of the most wondrous caves of this type in the U.S. For the history buff, especially those interested in the Civil War, there’s no better place than Lewisburg. The Confederate Cemetery on McElhenny Road contains a cross-shaped mass grave containing the remains of 95 unknown Confederate soldiers who were killed or died of their wounds during the Battle of Lewisburg – May 23,1862. The General Lewis Inn, located at 301 East Washington Street, was originally built in 1834 by John Withrow. The lobby and west wing were added in 1928 and today contains an impressive collection of antique glass, china, kitchen utensils, tools, and firearms. The Old Stone Church is the most famous of Lewisburg ‘s landmarks. Built in 1796, this building is the oldest church in continuous use west of the Allegheny Mountains. The headstones of some of the area ‘s early settlers can be seen in the surrounding cemetery.

Lewisburg, West Virginia is also home to the West Virginia State Fair. Usually held in August, this event guarantees non-stop fun and excitement for the whole family with rides, agriculture and animal exhibits, arts and crafts, entertainment and mouth-watering food. Another well-known Lewisburg event is the Fairgrounds Flea Market. This flea market operates year-round and offers customers many items, including a fresh farmer’s market. As the mountains welcome the arrival of fall with their glorious show of color, many festivals are held throughout the Lewisburg and Greenbrier area. It’s an exciting time to visit the mountains of West Virginia, with something going on almost every week. Ghost Tours of Lewisburg are given every weekend in the fall, when guests join period dressed guides for a stroll of the haunts of the Historic District (an especially good time to visit as Halloween approaches!) If you are visiting the Lewisburg area during the Christmas holidays, do not miss the Appalachian Coal Town Christmas & Light Festival held in Beckley. With everything from a bonfire, sled rides, horse drawn wagon rides and the appearance of Santa Claus, this festival will delight the young and the young-at-heart. A Winter Wonderland Extravaganza, at the State Fairgrounds, is another event in Lewisburg that features an assortment of holiday treats, arts & crafts, Santa Claus, and a gingerbread house contest.