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    Small Town Getaway, Big Time Charm

     

    When you visit downtown Buckhannon, you’ll find locally owned restaurants, specialty shops & boutiques, West Virginia hospitality, and more. You’ll love strolling up & down the historic streets of Buckhannon.

    A quick drive south, you’ll shift to the great outdoors with the WV Wildlife Center, pristine rivers and peaceful scenic views to create a laid-back trip to West Virginia.

    Within 30 minutes, you’ll find a resort & spa, excursion train rides, and endless opportunities to create an adventure & lasting memories.

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    Explore

    Colonial Arts Center

    History & Renovation of the former Colonial Theatre The Colonial Theatre was constructed in 1924 and is listed as a…

    Colonial Arts Center

    History & Renovation of the former Colonial Theatre

    The Colonial Theatre was constructed in 1924 and is listed as a contributing structure in Buckhannon’s Downtown Historic District for its exterior façade. The architect is not known at this time. Under the ownership of Garland West, it was operated as the Colonial Theater from 1930-1966 and underwent two major building renovation phases. In 1966, the West’s leased the cinema to Park, Inc. of Clarksburg, WV. In the early 1970’s, Grey Barker assumed management of the cinema, and renamed it The Cinema V. Barker is a noted UFO author and enthusiast, who died in 1984. Peter Griesinger, a documentary filmmaker, also has ties to the building. In the early 1980’s the cinema was renovated into a bar. The building contains 4,400 square feet on first floor and basement, and a balcony containing 2100 square feet.

    In the last few years, the building was beginning to show signs of severe deterioration both inside and out, and the future of the former theatre looked grim. Buckhannon City Council foresaw that the building would either eventually need to be demolished–potentially at the City’s expense if the building was abandoned–or another transfer of ownership might ensue with minimal repairs undertaken and a change of use not fitting with the historic downtown theme and culture.

    Buckhannon City Council held a town hall meeting in March 2017 to seek input from the community about the building and its future (see the attached minutes below). Council received suggestions ranging from a venue for youth activities, performances, training, and business meetings, among others. The dominant feedback supported public purchase of the property and renovating the space for the benefit of the community.

    Following the positive response to the acquisition at the town hall, the City of Buckhannon submitted a grant proposal to acquire and renovate the Colonial Theatre for historic preservation to the West Virginia Division of Culture and History in the spring of 2017. Despite heavy competition with numerous projects contending for a piece of the pie, the Colonial Theatre proposal received $102,000 in award dollars for this grant cycle. Thus far, local arts organizations have donated $5,500 toward the renovation.

    The City of Buckhannon purchased the old theatre located at 48 E. Main Street in January 2017 at a cost of $60,000, significantly below the appraised value of $80,000. As of February 2018, city employees have worked approximately 1,600 hours in demolition and clean-up work, including floor replacement and roof repair, meeting the match requirements for the grant funding of $102,000. Grant funding has provided $52,000 for materials and roof repair.

    In October 2017, Buckhannon Community Theatre presented a special showing of “Rocky Horror Show” at the theatre and was a big success. In 2018, ART26201 presented a Variety Show in June and the City hosted Fall Fest performances in September with a “Battle of the Bands” and Appalachian folk dancing and old-time music.

    Stay Over

    Bicentennial Inn

    Phone: 304.472.5000 or 800.762.5137 With pure heart and soul hospitality, we hope to be your home away from home.  Home of…

    Bicentennial Inn

    Phone: 304.472.5000 or 800.762.5137

    With pure heart and soul hospitality, we hope to be your home away from home.  Home of the 88 Restaurant & Lounge, the Bicentennial Inn features a convenient location on Main Street between downtown Buckhannon and WV Wesleyan College.

    Amenities include 24 hour Front Desk Service, complimentary continental breakfast, elevator access, wireless internet, flat screen TV’s, conference & event facilities, and more!

    90 East Main Street, Buckhannon WV
    www.bicentennialinn.com

    Flavor

    Hillbilly Grill

    Phone: 304.471.2223 Come & enjoy our restaurant, bar and outside deck (heated in the winter) with glass windows for scenic…

    Hillbilly Grill

    Phone: 304.471.2223

    Come & enjoy our restaurant, bar and outside deck (heated in the winter) with glass windows for scenic views. Hillbilly Grill was featured in a recent article that covered AMAZING burgers found around the state of West Virginia. Click HERE for the article!

    1235 Stonecoal Lake Road, Buckhannon WV
    hillbillygrill.business.site

    Shopping

    Argo Books

    Join us at the ARGO and begin your creative adventures! An independent bookstore with clubs/classes! Phone: 304-901-0561 Email: argo@theargobooks.com Located…

    Argo Books

    Join us at the ARGO and begin your creative adventures! An independent bookstore with clubs/classes!

    Phone: 304-901-0561

    Email: argo@theargobooks.com

    Located at 7 E Main St, Buckhannon, WV 26201

    www.theargobooks.com

    Argo Books Facebook 

     

    Events

    Spring Downtown Market
    Spring Downtown Market

    Saturday, March 30, 2024

    Come ready to shop at one of the largest vendor shows of the year! Over 35 vendors will be set up inside and outside of...

    Spring Downtown Market

    Spring Downtown Market

    Saturday, March 30, 2024

    10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
    Stockert Youth & Community Center
    79 E. Main St
    Buckhannon, WV 26201

    Come ready to shop at one of the largest vendor shows of the year! Over 35 vendors will be set up inside and outside of SYCC for the afternoon. There will be door prizes, games, and hot dogs for sale (Erica’s Hotdog Express). For any questions, you can reach out to Jackie Fisher.

    Meet Here

    Bicentennial Inn

    Phone: 304.472.5000 We offer a full service conference facility with three private meeting rooms. We can host an intimate small…

    Bicentennial Inn

    Phone: 304.472.5000

    We offer a full service conference facility with three private meeting rooms. We can host an intimate small group or a large seminar up to 150. Other amenities include Catering Services, Free Wi-Fi, Business Services and Equipment Rental.

    88 East Main Street, Buckhannon WV
    www.bicentennialinn.com

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