Bluefield (West Virginia)

Bluefield is a city of 9,800 people (as of 2018) in Mercer County, West Virginia. Along with Bluefield, Virginia, it forms the micropolitan area of the Bluefields.

Nestled at the foot of the 3,400-foot East River Mountain, Bluefield is the most elevated town in West Virginia, at 2,655 feet above sea level. The town is sometimes called "Summit City", because of its high altitude, and "Nature's Air-Conditioned City" for its pleasant summer temperatures. Since 1941, the Chamber of Commerce's "Lemonade Lassies" have passed out free lemonade on days when the temperature exceeds 90 °F (32 °C). The airport thermometer is used to determine this, which is at the highest point in Bluefield. It can often exceed 90° in downtown Bluefield during the summer.

The area was first settled in the 1780s and incorporated in 1889. Named for the blue chicory fields in the area, Bluefield was a booming Norfolk and Western Railroad hub for the coal industry until the decline of coal in the 1960s. Today the city has an air of faded 1950s glory; some of the lovely homes have seen better days, the downtown is largely deserted, and passenger railways have given way to freight cars. The city is beginning to embark on an aggressive revitalization scheme, by restoring old buildings, attracting specialty shops and restaurants back to downtown, and focusing on tourism as a promising source of revenue. The town still retains its small-town Appalachian charm, with friendly people, beautiful scenery, and very low housing costs.

One of the best-known local residents is John Forbes Nash, winner of the 1994 Nobel Prize in economics and the subject of the 2001 film A Beautiful Mind. The town has yet to capitalize on this connection, however, so if you're a big fan of the man or the movie, you won't find a lot of related activities or sights in the area. Nash's boyhood home is undergoing renovation, and will likely be a listed historic site in the near future.

Get in

By car

Bluefield is just off I-77, between Beckley in the north and Wytheville, Virginia, in the south. Most people will use exit 1, although if you're travelling south to Bluefield, you may see a sign recommending that you get off at exit 9; this, however, is only a needless detour through Princeton. At Bluefield, I-77 becomes the West Virginia Turnpike; if you continue north from Bluefield, you'll encounter toll booths.

The other main roads that pass through the town are US-19, from Abingdon, Virginia in the southwest to Beckley in the north; US-52, from Williamson in the northwest to Wytheville, Virginia, in the south; and US-460, from Grundy, Virginia in the west to Blacksburg, Virginia, in the east.

By bus
  • Greyhound Bus Lines, 511 Commerce St, ☏ +1 304 325-9442. (updated Nov 2019)

By plane

Get around

Bring your car! The area is rather mountainous, so if you stray from the main highways, you'll probably end up in some hilly terrain. It can be treacherous, especially in winter; but the upside, of course, is that the scenery is often spectacular.

There are also several streets in town that are very steep (Jefferson and S Mercer being good examples); traversing them in warm weather is nail-biting enough, but when the streets are covered with snow or ice, you definitely don't want to attempt it without four-wheel drive.

  • Bluefield Area Transit, 1642 Bluefield Ave, ☏ +1 304 327-8418 or ☏ +1-866-759-0978. Buses run Monday through Friday, with limited weekend service to Athens; closed on holidays. Services Mercer and McDowell Counties with routes into Bluefield, Princeton and Welch. Fares $1–2, or $20–25 for a monthly pass.

See
  • Downtown Bluefield, with its architecture dating from the 1920s. There are self-guided walking tours available.
  • First Fridays, Chicory Square. Live entertainment and food on the first Friday of each month.
  • Bluefield Area Arts Center, 500 Bland St, ☏ +1 304 325-8000. Housed in the historic Old City Hall, the Arts Center features an art gallery with rotating monthly exhibits, a top-floor artists' studio featuring local artisans, the Summit Theatre and a restaurant. The Mercer County Convention and Visitors' Bureau is also in the building. (updated Jan 2024)
  • The East River Mountain Overlook, at the top of the mountain along Route 598 (off Route 460), ☏ +1 304 327-2401. Gives visitors a 3,500-foot-high view of the Bluefields and East River Mountain. Observation deck, hiking trails, picnic shelters, tables and grills.
  • The National Coal Heritage Area encompasses 11 counties in southern West Virginia, and aims to preserve, protect, and interpret lands, structures, and communities associated with the coal mining heritage of the state. Bluefield is the southern terminus of the Coal Heritage Trail, a 97-mile scenic drive that passes mine-owners' mansions, miners' homes, company stores, coal tipples and state parks, before ending at the Exhibition Coal Mine in Beckley.
  • Eastern Regional Coal Archives, 600 Commerce St, ☏ +1 304 325-3943. Open Monday through Friday afternoons; closed holidays. If you're interested in the coal-mining heritage of the area, this public history research center, housed in the Craft Memorial Library, highlights the history of West Virginia coal fields. Along with research material, the center houses exhibits, photographs, mining implements, memorabilia, music and films. 

Do
  • Mountaineer Bowling Lanes, 3224 Cumberland Rd, ☏ +1 304 325-7037. A 28-lane bowling center with snack bar, billiard tables, nursery, pro shop, game room and Keno. 
  • Elks Golf Course, 1501 Whitethorn St, ☏ +1 304 327-9822. 
  • If you just want a relaxing family afternoon by a gentle stream, haul your picnic basket out to the Bluefield City Park, 1750 Stadium Dr, ☏ +1 304 327-2448. Picnic area with 4 pavilions, grills, playground, softball fields, football stadium, youth center with recreational equipment, tennis courts and gymnasium with indoor goals.
  • Greater Bluefield Community Center, 703 College Ave, ☏ +1 304 325-5707. Swimming pool, basketball, racquetball, gymnastics, aerobics, swimming and lifesaving classes, weight room and Nautilus. Day passes $6.
  • The Granda Theater, 537 Commerce St, ☏ +1 304 589-0239. The Granada Theater opened January 2, 1928, with Mary Astor in "Rose of the Golden West." The building was modernized in 1949 to the plans of architect E. H. Geissler. The theater was built for Vaudeville Acts and brought many talents to the area such as legendary contralto Marian Anderson, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Greer Carson.
    The Theater servers Gelato.     (updated Jan 2024)

Events

Bluefield holds several festivals during the year:

  • Italian Festival (Bluefield City Auditorium), ☏ +1 304 589-3317. Held in early October. Friday night includes Italian dinner (spaghetti, lasagna, chicken cacciatore, salad and dessert) and dancing; Saturday features Italian food, homemade desserts, artisans and vendors, fashion show, and live entertainment. Admission free. 
  • Holiday of Lights Festival, Bluefield City Park. Held yearly from Thanksgiving through the first full week in January. Open 6PM-10PM weekdays, 6PM-11PM weekends. Admission is free but donations are gratefully accepted. The city park is festooned with Christmas lights, displays and scenes, which can be viewed from the warmth of your car as you drive along the marked trail.
  • Mountain Festival, Bluefield City Park. For a week around Memorial Day Weekend, the festival features live entertainment, dancing to oldies and beach music, a carnival, fireworks, sporting events, contests, an antique car show and the Miss Mountain Festival Pageant. (updated Nov 2019)
  • Lemonade Days Festival, ☏ +1 304 327-7184. Celebrated in early August. Free lemonade even if the temperature isn't above 90 °F, along with sales in downtown shops, entertainment, vendors, an auction, the Downhill Derby and a parade. (updated Nov 2019)
  • Bluefield Coal Show. Brushfork Armory Civic Center, Route 52 N. For three days every other September, this professional show displays what the future holds in the way of equipment and any new innovative technology being developed in the coal industry. (updated Nov 2019)

Also of note is one of the most passionate high school sports rivalries in the country:

  • 🌍 Battle of the Bluefields (Bluefield–Graham game), Mitchell Stadium, Stadium Dr. If you're a fan of high school football, this annual rivalry is not to be missed. The Bluefield Beavers and Graham G-Men, respectively representing the public high schools of the West Virginia and Virginia Bluefields, first played in 1911 and have played every year since 1928. While the schools have a strong rivalry in all sports that they sponsor, the football version is by far the most passionate. Mitchell Stadium, located in the West Virginia city's park (though with the state line passing through the parking lot), is the home field for both teams, and the rivalry game sells out every year. (updated Aug 2022)

Learn

The city newspaper is the Bluefield Daily Telegraph.

  • 🌍 Bluefield State College, 219 Rock St, ☏ +1 304 327-4000, toll-free: +1-800-344-8892, +1-800-654-7798. A four-year historically black college on the north side of town, established as a teachers' college in 1895 and integrated in 1954. Bluefield State specializes in career and technical two- and four-year programs, enhanced by a selection of liberal arts courses. (updated Mar 2019)

Buy
  • Mercer Mall, Highway 460 and Route 25, ☏ +1 304 327-2508. M-Sa 10AM-9PM, Su 1PM-6PM. Over 70 shops and restaurants, and an on-site movie theatre. 
  • New to You Consignment Shop, 1116 Bluefield Ave, ☏ +1 304 325-3480. Local landmark offering a wide selection of clothing, jewelry, books, and small appliances. Closed Sunday. 
  • Prowl Around, 1715 Bluefield Ave, ☏ +1 304 325-9855. Antique books, pictures and glassware. 
  • Town and Tweed, 2924 E Cumberland Rd, ☏ +1 304 327-8197. A favorite local store for years, selling high-quality women's apparel. 

Eat

Bluefield isn't quite a culinary drawcard these days; if you like fast food, you're in luck, but otherwise there aren't a whole lot of options.

Drink
  • Open Heart Ministries Cafe, 413 Federal St, ☏ +1 304-323-2551. Here you can be part of something bigger by helping to support the homeless community. 
  • Kelsey's at the Quality Inn Hotel and Conference Center, 3350 Big Laurel Hwy, +1 304 325-6170. Pub food, drinks and a large dance floor.

Sleep

Hotels
  • 🌍 Econo Lodge, 3400 Cumberland Rd, ☏ +1 304 327-8171, toll-free: +1-800-55-ECONO (32666). Complimentary continental breakfast. Rooms from $48. (updated Dec 2016)
  • 🌍 Economy Inn, 3206 E Cumberland Rd, ☏ +1 304 325-9111. (updated Dec 2016)
  • 🌍 Quality Hotel and Conference Center, 3350 Big Laurel Hwy, ☏ +1 304 325-6170. 120 rooms. Full-service dining room, cocktail lounge, fitness center, sauna, game room, and seasonal heated outdoor pool. Rooms from $90. (updated Dec 2016)

Go next
  • Bramwell is about 15 minutes northwest on US-52. It was once home to millionaires and is now home to Pinnacle Rock State Park.
  • Princeton is about 10 minutes northeast on US-460. It's the county seat, and a good access point for Pipestem State Park and the Bluestone National Scenic River.
  • Tazewell, Virginia is about 30 minutes southwest on US-19.
  • Welch is about 1 hour northwest on US-52. It's a traditional mining town in the heart of coal country, although the decline of the industry has hit the town hard.
  • Wytheville, Virginia is about 45 minutes south on I-77.
  • Beckley is about 1 hour north on I-77. Winterplace Ski Resort, in nearby Flat Top, offers skiing, snow tubing and snowboarding trails.
  • Blacksburg, Virginia is a little over 1 hour east on US-460. It's home to the Virginia Tech Hokies.
  • Abingdon, Virginia is about 1½ hours southwest on I-77 / I-81, or a bit under 2 hours if you follow US-19. A charming town popular for its well-known Barter Theatre.
  • Grundy, Virginia is about 1½ hours west on US-460.
  • Williamson is about 2.5 hours west on US-52. Birthplace of the Hatfield-McCoy feud.
Routes through Bluefield
Charleston ← Princeton ←  N  S  → Wytheville → Charlotte
Huntington ← Bramwell ←  NW  SE  → Wytheville → Winston-Salem
Mount Sterling ← Grundy ←  W  E  → Princeton → Roanoke


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