Rainelle, WV

Set in western Greenbrier County at the foot of Sewell Mountain, Rainelle is a small mountain town with deep timber roots. It sits right where Route 60 meets Route 20, bordered by the gentle curves of the Meadow River. The town was founded in the early 1900s as a hub for the Meadow River Lumber Company, which once operated the largest hardwood sawmill in the world. Even decades after the mill closed, that forestry legacy still gives the community its down-to-earth, historic character.

ATTRDougtone / CC BY-SA 2.0

You can spot that craftsman history in the local architecture, including the landmark United Methodist Church, built entirely from native American chestnut. Everyday life here is quiet and scenic, with the Meadow River Rail Trail giving residents an easy path for walking and biking through the valley. It offers a relaxed mountain setting, while still keeping you within an easy drive of the shops and dining in Lewisburg and the hiking trails around the New River Gorge.