Coal Heritage Rides

This ride takes you into the heart of the West Virginia coalfields and through historic coal towns.

Coal Heritage South (131 miles)

Be sure to note the interesting architecture of the buildings and the old company houses the miners called home. Along the route, you can enjoy the waterfalls of Twin Falls State Park, or take a side trip to the historic Ashland Company Store for a bite to eat.

Get your map here for Coal Heritage South.

Places to See: Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine

The Exhibition Coal Mine is the largest and most popular coal heritage destination in the region. After years of planning, the Exhibition Coal Mine completed an extensive renovation that includes the 14,000 sq. foot, Rahall Company Store, visitor center, coal museum, fudgery and gift shop. A visit will begin here with the purchase of a ticket and a visit to the extensive collection of mining artifacts and tools, geological specimens, photographs, and other features of early life among the coal towns of southern West Virginia. The main attraction is a tour that takes visitors below ground, under the supervision of an experienced veteran coal miner.

Traveling 1500 feet beneath the hillsides of New River Park, visitors are carried along track, riding authentic "man cars" from the mine entrance, to old working areas of the coal mine and back. Stops throughout the tour explore the history of low-seam coal mining from the hand-loading days into the era of modern mechanization.

In addition to the underground mine tour, visitors can explore the historical coal camp situated throughout the grounds.

• Lovingly restored
• The Coal Company House
• Superintendent's Home
• Pemberton Coal Camp Church
• Helen Coal Camp School

These attractions and historical sites truly give our guests a true representation of early 20th century coal camp life.