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Summers County

Summers County was established on February 27, 1871, from segments of Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer, and Monroe counties. The county was named after George W. Summers (1804–68), a noted jurist, legislator, and one of West Virginia’s founders. At the time of its formation, the county was almost entirely rural and agricultural, but the newly arrived Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad soon had a transforming effect.

Mapped Points

• Hinton

  Hinton, the county seat of Summers County, was once a bustling center for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad.

• Talcott

  The legendary John Henry helped build Great Bend Tunnel at Talcott, memorialized in the folk song as the Big Bend Tunnel.

• Bluestone State Park

  Bluestone State Park entered the West Virginia park system in 1955. Named for the Bluestone River, the park is located on the 2,000-acre Bluestone Lake, created by the Bluestone Dam, which impounds the New River and the Bluestone.

• Bluestone Dam

  Bluestone Dam, located at Hinton, is one of the major flood control dams in West Virginia. It has the largest drainage area and flood storage capacity of any dam in the state.

• Great Bend Tunnel

  Great Bend Tunnel, also known as Big Bend Tunnel, is the place where John Henry defeated the steam drill, becoming one of the world’s great folk heroes.

• New River

  The New River flows northward from North Carolina, across Virginia, and into West Virginia. It joins with the Gauley River to form the Kanawha River at Gauley Bridge.
  

  

• Greenbrier River

  The Greenbrier River rises in two forks in the high mountains at the northern end of Pocahontas County. The East and West forks join at Durbin, and from there the river flows in a generally southwesterly direction through Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties before joining the New River at Hinton in Summers County.
  

  

• Alderson Federal Prison Camp

  Alderson Federal Prison Camp was the first federal institution for female offenders. Over the years, the prison has housed some famous female inmates.
  

  

• Pipestem Resort State Park

  Pipestem Resort State Park, which opened on Memorial Day 1970, is one of West Virginia’s premier state parks. It is situated on the east rim of the scenic Bluestone River gorge.
  

  

• Pence Springs

  During the 19th century, the water of Pence Springs was believed to have medicinal properties, and many visitors were attracted to the site.
  

  

• Barger Springs

  Barger Springs was the site of a mineral spring resort from 1903 to 1929.

• Bluestone Lake

  Bluestone Lake is used for recreation and as a water source for Hinton, Princeton, and other areas.