McDowell County Convention and Visitor's Bureau

09/01/2026

Please share your pictures in the comments

08/27/2026

Read about all the Fall Festivals here:

Festivals • Fall Colors • Community Traditions

08/20/2026

Read the story here:

Come for the trains. Stay for the history—and the art rolling by.

08/17/2026

McDowell County War Memorial Train Observation Park. First Train Observation Park in the state of West Virginia

08/17/2026

I would sincerely like to thank everyone who came out Friday for the ribbon cutting of the War Memorial Train Observation Park. This train observation park is the first in the state of West Virginia.
This park began with a conversation with Kent Walker. Kent, thank you for the idea.

I would also like to thank the many organizations and individuals who made this park possible:

Thank you to the World War I Memorial Board for allowing us to use the land to build the park, and to Birchfield Construction for building it.

Thank you to the National Coal Heritage Area Authority and the McDowell County Commission for funding this project.

Thank you to the Town of Kimball for accepting deliveries of supplies, its assistance and hard work in preparing the park for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, as well as its ongoing commitment to maintaining the park. Markella and Jim Joe Gianato for also accepting deliveries of supplies.

Thank you to my Board of Directors at McDowell County Tourism for always supporting my ideas to expand tourism and trusting me when I have unconventional ideas.

Thank you to the ladies at the Jack Caffrey Center for always helping me and having my back with whatever I am working on.

Lastly, I would like to thank my husband, Doug, for his assistance with installing the tables and benches and adding the finishing touches. This project could not have been accomplished without the support I receive everyday from so many people. I am truly blessed to have the network of people that are always there for me. I hope I have not left anyone out if I did I sincerely apologize.

I would also like to thank the following people for attending the ribbon cutting:

Jay Chatman, David Green, and Adam Gianato from the McDowell County Tourism Board; Destiny Workman from West Virginia Tourism; Jessica Toon, Executive Director of the National Coal Heritage Area Authority; McDowell County Commissioners Michael Brooks, Dewayne Dotson, and Cecil Patterson; Floyd Anderson, Francine Spencer, and Clair Thompson from the World War I Memorial; Adam Gianato, Markella Gianato, Vivian Anderson, Fred Thompson, and Michelle Whittaker from the Town of Kimball; and Kent Walker from the USDA.

We hope that this park will be a great addition to the World War I Memorial Building and the Town of Kimball. An serve the community of Kimball, McDowell County, and our visitors for years to come.

Jennifer Justice, Executive Director
McDowell County Tourism

08/16/2026

DON'T FORGET TOMORROW!! Do you own a business in McDowell County? Do you want to start a business in McDowell County? Come out and network. We will talk about advertising. Grant and Loan resources. Bring your tourism ideas to the table and let's work together to make McDowell County a premier destination.

08/14/2026

08/14/2026

DON'T FORGET TODAY AT 5PM

08/14/2026

Read the story here: https://tinyurl.com/mcdowellcountycourthouse

08/12/2026

Do you own a business in McDowell County? Do you want to start a business in McDowell County? Come out and network. We will talk about advertising. Grant and Loan resources. Bring your tourism ideas to the table and let's work together to make McDowell County a premier destination.