Sutton (West Virginia)

Sutton is a town of 876 people (as of 2020) in West Virginia. It's located in Braxton County, which is known as "the Geographic Center of West Virginia". Sutton was first settled in 1792, and incorporated in 1860, having been named in honor of one of the early settlers. The area is noteworthy for its Civil War heritage, as well as the Braxton County Monster (aka the Phantom of Flatwoods), a green space alien with fiery red eyes and a pungent odor that reportedly frightened a group of local residents in September 1952 and remains one of the most famous creatures in UFO lore.

Sutton sits directly adjacent to Sutton Lake, regionally popular for outdoor recreation.

Sutton's twin town, the smaller town of Gassaway, population 769 is 2 miles west, on the other side of I-79. Flatwoods is a collection of mostly chain businesses adjacent to I-79, about 5 miles north of the town.

The Sutton area, including Gassaway and Flatwoods, is a major highway stop along I-79 in West Virginia, sitting at roughly the halfway point between Charleston to the south and Clarksburg to the north, and it is the last town with significant highway services before or after a more than 40-minute drive southwest on I-79 through a very rural area with sparse population and few services before beginning to enter the Charleston metropolitan area.

The proximity of the Sutton area to the Charleston area, as well being partway between it and the Morgantown-Fairmont-Clarksburg area makes it a popular day or weekend trip from these larger towns.

Get in

By car

Sutton is on I-79 and US-19, south of Clarksburg and Weston, just north of the spot where I-79 splits west toward Charleston while US-19 heads south to Summersville.

By train

The Elk River Railroad runs between Gilmer and Hartland, stopping in Gassaway, Shadyside and Frametown on the way.

By plane

The nearest major airports are in Clarksburg and Charleston, but the Braxton County Airport (Airport Road, +1 304-765-9031) is also capable of handling light twin-engine aircraft on its 4,000-foot runway.

Get around
  • Gassaway Cabs, 201 River Street in Gassaway, +1 304-364-5272.
  • Sutton Cabs, 206 Main Street, +1 304-765-5004.

See
  • The downtown Sutton historic district is roughly bounded by Main Street, River View Drive and First Street. Walking tours are available.
  • Elk St. is the main historic retail street in downtown Gassaway
  • Although the county as a whole lays claim to the title, the nearby town of Flatwoods is the precise geographical center of West Virginia.
  • Mountain Lakes Amphitheater, 2000 Sutton Lane, toll-free: +1-866-700-7284. Live al fresco musical performances. 
  • 🌍 Landmark Studio for the Arts, 4th Street and Main Street, ☏ +1 304-765-3766, +1 304-765-3462. Musicals, plays, dinner theatres, dramatic readings, presentations and exhibits. Home to the West Virginia Landmark Players and the Landmark Youth Theatre Project, located in a converted historic Victorian era church. $4-8, season subscriptions $65-155. 
  • Bulltown Historic District, Millstone Run Road off WV-19 in Burnsville, +1 304-853-2371 or +1 304-452-8170. Open 10AM to 6PM daily, mid-May to mid-October. Civil War battlefield, featuring preserved trenches, structures dating to the mid-1800s, a mile-long self-guided trail, and a visitor's center with costumed interpreters and exhibits. The Battle of Bulltown is re-enacted each fall.
  • 🌍 Sutton Lake, ☏ +1 304-765-2816. Sutton Dam Road. 1,500-acre lake offering bass, catfish and trout fishing; swimming; boat launch ramps; and the 210-foot-high Sutton Dam, completed in 1961. 
  • 🌍 Burnsville Lake, ☏ +1 304-853-2371. WV-5 east of Burnsville. 968-acre lake offering fishing, swimming, guide services, boat launch ramps, full-service marina, small game hunting, and the Burnsville Dam. Camping available. 

Do
  • Mid-Mountain Lanes, exit 67 off I-79, 304-765-2811. Bowling alley with on-site restaurant.
  • Mountain Lakes Amphitheater. Hosts a summer full of the best entertainment in West Virginia. 
  • 🌍 Elk Theater, 192 Main Street, ☏ +1 304-765-2519. Open year-round. Call for the current film. Offers concessions. Cone screen, showing current releases on weekends seating capacity 250. Circa 1930s. Contributing building in Downtown Sutton Historic District. $6.00. 

Learn
  • The local newspapers are

Braxton Citizens' News, +1 304-765-5193.

Braxton Democrat Central, +1 304-765-5555, Serving Braxton County, West Virginia since 1883.

Buy
  • Flatwoods Factory Outlet Stores, 250 Skidmore Lane, ☏ +1 304-765-3300. Apr-Dec: M-Sa 10AM to 9PM, Su noon to 6PM on Sunday; in winter, Su-Th stores close at 6PM, and F Sa at 9PM. Save up to 70% on quality merchandise from over 20 stores, including Fenton Art Glass, clothing, gifts and the Flatwoods Farmers Market. 
    • Poplar Forest, 82 Skidmore Lane, ☏ +1 304-765-3995. One of West Virginia's finest and most diverse cooperatives, representing over 200 juried artists and craftsmen of Central Appalachia: glass, quilts, pottery, furniture, books, West Virginia food and wine, baskets, bowls, hand forged ironware, dulcimers, mountain music, toys, dolls and more. 
    • Lost Road Candles, 252 Skidmore Lane, ☏ +1 304-765-4044, toll-free: +1-877-273-2888. Embellished, heavily-scented candles in coffee, pie and fruit scents, flower and herb scents, and holiday or special occasion varieties. 
    • Nanny's Primitives, 89 Skidmore Lane, ☏ +1 304-765-3636. Handmade primitive furniture, primitive candles, accents, decor, primitive tea-dyed quilts, wall hangings, stoneware, handmade rugs, lighting and more. You can also buy a statuette of the Braxton County Monster. 
    • Everything Fiesta, 52 Skidmore Lane, ☏ +1 304-765-5383. 1st and 2nd quality Fiesta, decorated Fiesta items, and accessories such as linens, glasses and flatware. 
  • Sisters' Antique Mall, 1954 Sutton Lane, ☏ +1 304-765-5533. Antiques and flea markets. 
  • Bear Heaven, Exit 67 off I-79 (adjacent to the Sunoco), ☏ +1 304-765-7993. Daily 8AM to 10PM. West Virginia's largest Boyds Bear dealer with a distinguished Platinum Plus status; also offering gifts, souvenirs, novelties, scented candles and candle crumbs. 
  • Summer Hollow Pottery, WV-1 in Frametown, ☏ +1 304-364-5527. Unique handcrafted pottery including mugs, teapots, bowls, vases, pitchers, candlesticks, piggy banks, prayer boxes and more. 

Eat
  • Cafe Cimino, 616 Main Street, ☏ +1 304-765-2913, toll-free: +1-877-9-CIMINO (246466). Tu-Sa 5-10PM. Reservations recommended. Serving fine Italian cuisine and other European specialties. $10 - 32. 
  • China Buffet, 245 Skidmore Lane, ☏ +1 304-765-7468. All-you-can-eat buffet with appetizers, main courses and desserts, as well as an abundant menu. 
  • Giovanni's Pizza, in Burnsville, +1 304-853-2001. Italian cuisine, including pizza and spaghetti.
  • Waffle Hut, 2118 Sutton Ln (on I-79 at Exit 67 Flatwoods), ☏ +1 304-765-2775. 24 hours. Home-cooked food, great food and service. Exxon Gas Station. 
  • Vae's Diner (Ole City Diner), 517 Elk St, ☏ +1 304-364-2326. Open all week.. Family cooking. 

Sleep

Connect
  • 🌍 Sutton Library. (updated Mar 2019)
  • 🌍 Sutton Post Office. (updated Mar 2019)

Go next
  • Summersville is about 40 minutes south on US-19.
  • Weston is about 40 minutes north on I-79.
  • Glenville is 45 minutes north; 25 minutes west of Burnsville Lake on WV-5
  • Fayetteville and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is about 1 hour south on US-19
  • Clarksburg is about 1 hour north on I-79.
  • Charleston is about 1 hour southwest on I-79.
  • Richwood is about 1 hour south
Routes through Sutton
Morgantown ← Weston ←  N  S  → Charleston → Merges into


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