The town of Ansted, chartered in 1891, was created because of coal. The town's name is a remembrance of a British geologist, David T. Ansted, who stalked out the seams of high grade coal, but today it is difficult to find evidence of this once thriving industry. Gauley Mountain Coal Co., Signal Knob Coal, Hawk's Nest Mining have come and gone, leaving behind "coal camp" architecture and the Victorian mansions of William Page, coal company manager, and that of the company's superintendent.
Today Ansted looks toward a future working with the environment, not against it. The foundation townsfolk build on are: education, tourism, and quality of life issues. This community of 1700 tucked in the fold of Gauley Mountain and hugging the rim of the New River Gorge, gains strength and momentum form the past, and welcomes the future as a town eager to share the best of West Virginia's lifestyle - a precious heritage comprised of love of family, respect for your fellow man, and a code of values to live by.
Unique characteristics of our community are:
- Hawks Nest Rail Trail
Length is 1.8 miles
Surface type is pea gravel and 2 decked bridges
Permitted uses are for hiking and biking
Endpoints: Town of Ansted and Hawks Nest Lake
Road access: US Rt. 60 to Town Hall in Ansted to Hawks Nest Road
- Only town in Fayette County, one of very few in the state, that has a state park within the city limits.
- In 1830, the 1st county seat, New Haven, was established in the neighborhood of Ansted.
- In 1827, the first Post Office in Fayette County, Mt. Cove, was located in present day Ansted at the site of the Tyree Tavern.
- Our town still retains a quaint, small-town atmosphere which "nostalgia buffs" would enjoy.
Current tourist attractions / opportunities are:
Hawks Nest State Park
- Lodge, Conference facilities, dining room and pool
- Picnic facilities and playground
- Tram rides, jet boat rides, paddles boats
- Civil War Museum
- Marina for Fishing and boating
- Hiking trails and naturalist program
- Snack bars at lower park and the marina
Contentment Complex
- Antebellum home of Civil War Col. George Imboden, Ansted's first mayor and now the headquarters for the Fayette County Historical Society. Listed on the National Register in 1974.
- George Eades Museum
- Grace and Ivan Steele one room schoolhouse
Westlake Cemetery
- Burial site of Julia Jackson Woodson, mother of Civil War General "Stonewall" Jackson.
- Slave graves
- Oldest grave 1815
African American Heritage Family Tree Museum
- Dedicated to preservation of West Virginia African- American history
Page/Vawter House
- Victorian mansion, home William Page, coal company manager
- Listed on National register in 1985
- Private residence
Tyree Tavern/ Halfway House
- Tavern and stagecoach stop on Old James River and Kanawha Turnpike
- Possibly oldest standing building in Fayette County
- Listed on the National Register in 1978
- Private Residence
Lodging:
Shopping:
- Ansted Floral
- Blue Smoke Salsa
Ansted Church Services:
Assemblies of God
- Trinity Assembly- Master Hill Rd. off W. Main St.
Sunday School 10 a.m.- Worship 11 a.m.
Baptist
- Ansted Baptist (American)- Holley St. off E. Main
Sunday School 10 a.m.- Worship 8:45 and 11 a.m.
- Ansted Freewill- Turn onto Rich Creek Rd. off W.
Main then left onto Logtown Rd.
Sunday School 10 a.m.- Worship 11 a.m.
- Beacon Baptist- Take Beacon St. off W. Main,
Corner of Beacon and Imboden
Sunday School 10 a.m.- Worship 11 a.m.
- Lover's Leap Baptist (American)- W. Main St.
Sunday School 10 a.m.- Worship 11 a.m.
- Mt. Chapel (Afro-American)- Turn onto Rich Creek
Rd. off W. Main, then left onto Logtown
Rd., continue on, turn left on Skaggs St.
Sunday School 10 a.m.- Worship 1st and 3rd 11 a.m.
Episcopal
- Episcopal Church of the Redeemer- Taylor St. off W. Main
Worship 11 a.m.
Methodist
- St. Paul's United Methodist Church- Turn off E.
Main onto Holley St., then left onto
Church St. behind United Bank
Sunday School 10 a.m.- Worship 11 a.m.
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