History of the New River Gorge

Nature First

The oldest river in the oldest mountains on Earth- that’s the setting for the New River Gorge Preserve. With nature in mind, we’ve built a community that fits right in to its Wild and Wonderful West Virginia backdrop.

Most geologists put the New River at about 300 million years old. During the last Ice Age, about 25,000 years ago, an ice dam at present day Chillicothe Ohio forced the river to change direction, forming what is to this day known as the Ohio River.

Man In The Wilderness

The gorge has always been home to a spirit of exploration, and it was never permanently inhabited by man. Native American tribes never lived in its valleys, but used the area as a common hunting and fishing preserve. The earliest European scouting parties marked the river as unusual because it flowed in the opposite direction of the streams surrounding it. Many Civil War battles were fought on the shoulders of the river, securing its reputation as “untamed”.

King Coal

The demand for coal, and the railroads used to ship it, would change the gorge forever. In 1873, the C&O railroad completed a track along the New River, connecting it with Richmond, Virginia. Soon after, mining towns and businesses began to spring up on every creek, and in every hollow. The cliffs along the New River were found to be home to the highest grade of coal ever discovered, and business boomed. Coal was the lifeblood of New River country, and it remained that way for nearly a century.

Outdoor Adventure

In the late 60’s and early 70’s, a new kind of adventurer was drawn to the gorge. Outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds began to recognize the New River Gorge as a wilderness paradise. Soon, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and mountain biking became major attractions for the area. Since then, millions of visitors have come to the New River Gorge to experience the thrills of this unique wilderness.

A Bridge To The Future

A huge amount of attention was drawn to the river when, in 1976, the New River Gorge Bridge was opened. The political will necessary to build such a project was reaching out to the river runners below it. Community and statewide action to promote and protect these areas ultimately resulted in creating the New River Gorge National River and the Gauley River National Recreation Area. Both rivers are now a part of the National Park Service.