FAYETTE STATION, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The sound of the New River, birds chirping, and the hum of a passing train make the sunset at Fayette Station hard to beat.
Fayette Station, now a popular destination for tourists and rafters alike, was once a major hub of industry and transportation in the New River Gorge as there were two coal mining towns known as Fayette and South Fayette.
The name Fayette Station was derived from the name of the mining town along with the train stop that was in the town. It served people from the two Gorge communities along with individuals from nearby Fayetteville who chose to board the train at Fayette Station instead of Cotton Hill.
The most notable sight at Fayette Station today is the New River Gorge Bridge, an engineering marvel.
The bridge was completed in 1977 and spans 3,030 feet across the New River Gorge, making it the longest steel arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere.
The bridge has become the main attraction within the nation’s newest national park and is also popular for the annual single-day Bridge Day festival, which includes base jumping.
To access Fayette Station Road by leaving the parking lot of Canyon Rim Visitor Center, return to the four-lane highway of Route 19. Turn right (north) onto US 19 and take your next right onto Lansing-Edmond Road (County Route 5 and 82). In 1/4 mile, turn right onto the road with a road sign marked “Fayette Station Road.” The road forks almost immediately; take the left fork.
