Regional Overview

Lovers of the outdoors, sports, antiques, railroads, history and good food can find their favorite things in Alleghany County (population 12,969). The county, situated on the Allegheny mountain range and half-covered by the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, is the western gateway to Virginia. This vacation playground filled with gorgeous scenery is next door to wild, wonderful West Virginia's Greenbrier County, home of the world-famous Greenbrier Resort.

Before the formation of Alleghany County, property records were provided from Fincastle in Botetourt County, a two-day trip. So, in 1822, the County of Alleghany was formed, named after the mountains in which they lie, although the mountains are spelled differently than the county name.

Its county seat, Covington, was named in honor of Gen. Leonard Covington, hero of the War of 1812 and confidant to James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. Clifton Forge, the county's other populous area, was named for its iron production; it contributed cannons and cannonballs to the Civil War effort. During the Civil War, Alleghany County furnished more soldiers to the Confederacy than it had voters and suffered greatly in the war, since it was located next to West Virginia, which joined the Union.

After the war, Clifton Forge was selected by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway as the site of its new depot. The coming of the railroad triggered economic growth, and in 1906 Clifton Forge received its city charter. Natural resources have always been Alleghany County's main industry; hemp, used in rope production, was an early product. The biggest boost to industrial progress came in 1899, when the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Co. decided to put a mill in Covington. The railroad and Westvaco Paper Mill continue to play important roles in the county's culture and economy.

Many of the counties attractions are tied to its history. In the charming historic city of Clifton Forge, the C&O Historical Society Archives preserves the railroad's artifacts and equipment. Also worth a visit is the Alleghany Highlands Arts and Crafts Center, displaying fine regional arts and crafts (See our Civil War chapter.).

Lucy Selina Furnace stacks, more than 100 feet tall, are reminders of the area's 19th-century iron industry. A stunning Victorian mansion built by the owner of the rich iron mines has been turned into the charming Longdale Bed & Breakfast. Local lore says a staff of eight was required just to maintain its gardens.

Nearby is the Longdale Recreation Area, which features miles of mountain trails, camping and sand-beach swimming. All are off I-64's Exit 10 on Va. Route 269 in Longdale. Roaring Run Recreation Area, the site of the ruins of an 1838 iron furnace, is another wonderful place to hike and picnic. It's off U.S. 220 S.

Many a discovery is made on a rocky mountaintop.
Photo: Wintergreen Resort

Other historic points of interest are Fort Young, a reconstruction of the original French and Indian War fort off I-64, Exit 4, near Covington. Lovers of architecture will enjoy seeing Oakland Grove Presbyterian Church, which served as a hospital during the Civil War. It can be seen in Selma off I-64 on Exit 7.

Water has also played a role in the history and life of the county. The unassuming, unmarked source of Quibell water, which rivals Perrier nationally, is next to a cattle grate crossing near to Sweet Chalybeate Springs. The water is trucked away daily for bottling in Roanoke.

Sweet Chalybeate (pronounced Ka-LEE-bee) Pools and gazebo, off Va. Route 311 near the West Virginia border, date back 150 years as a great pre-Civil War resort. It was renovated after lying in waste following the demise of the Civil War aristocracy. The pools now offer bathers the most highly carbonated mineral water in the world. Locals swear by the water's healing powers and many either take a dip or drink its water daily.

Outdoorsy fun awaits at several other Alleghany County sites. Twelve miles of water entice visitors to Lake Moomaw, a relatively new lake formed for power generation 19 miles from Covington. Signs point the way. Residents and visitors have taken advantage of water-skiing, boating, fishing and swimming. Douthat State Park's 50-acre lake also offers a beach, bathhouse, boating and excellent trout fishing. Other facilities include a visitors center, restaurant and lodge as well as cabins, campgrounds and miles of hiking trails. And the world's largest pump storage facility in the world, Virginia Power's Back Creek Pump Storage Station, is also worth seeing.

For obvious reasons, anglers find Paint Bank State Trout Hatchery on Va. Route 311 an interesting place to visit. It is open daily from 7:30 AM until 4 PM. Rock lovers will want to visit Rainbow Gap or Iron Gate Gorge, which create a geologist's paradise a mile south of Clifton Forge on U.S. 220. For 12 million years, the Jackson River has been working on this masterpiece.

Across the border in West Virginia, the attractions are overwhelming. The big one, of course, is the world-famous Greenbrier Resort (See our Resorts chapter). The grounds alone are magnificent, and the resort welcomes visitors, even if you don't spend the night.

Also close to the West Virginia border, but still in Virginia, is a great dining experience in a place called Crows. If you blink, you'll miss it, so keep a look out for the rustic sign with the eagle, indicating Eagle's Nest Restaurant (see our Restaurants chapter). Built beside a rolling waterfall, the restaurant has gourmet food so good that corporate officials flying into the area from around the world are some of its most loyal customers.

Several other West Virginia attractions within an hour's drive are north up W.Va. 92. Blue Bend swimming hole in Alvon, one of the best in the Blue Ridge, is one of them. Lake Sherwood, farther up W.Va. 92, is nice, too, and rents paddleboats. The Cass Scenic Railroad is close to Marlinton, as is Snowshoe Ski Resort. The town of Lewisburg, cultured and sophisticated, is also worth a visit for its charming downtown shops and Carnegie Hall, built by the same industrialist tycoon as its more famous counterpart.

The people are friendly and downright glad to see you in Alleghany County. Brochures of all the area's attractions can be picked up at the Jerry's Run Virginia Visitor's Center at 1 Welcome Center Drive, Covington 24426. Or, contact the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce at 501 Ridgeway Street, Clifton Forge 24422, (540) 962-2178. The chamber's main office is at 241 W. Main Street, Covington 24426.