Hancock County: Trails, Museums and Industrial History

When planning a trip to Hancock County, nature, water, culture and industrial history can each be a focus. When choosing a hotel, it’s worth first considering which themes you want to shape your stay. One specific natural area is Tomlinson Run State Park on the Ohio River in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle. It covers 1,398 acres.

Nature, Trails and Recreation by the Water

Tomlinson Run State Park has six hiking trails, with walking times ranging from 20 to 70 minutes. This lets you plan different amounts of time for a hike, depending on the trail you choose. Walking times are subject to park conditions; check them before your visit. Biking is also permitted on the trails. If you’d rather spend time by the water, you can fish in the park for bass, catfish, bluegill and trout. Rowboats, kayaks and pedal boats are available to rent at the boat docks on Tomlinson Run Lake. The swimming pool features a 182-foot-long, figure-eight waterslide and operates seasonally. Check current conditions for the trails, pool and boat rentals before visiting.

The park also has 48 standard campsites and five camper cabins. The campground is weather-dependent. These options differ from a hotel stay and may be relevant to your plans if you’re weighing different types of accommodation.

Museums and Industrial History

The Fiesta Tableware Company factory tour includes a museum displaying ceramic tableware from more than 150 years of the company’s production. The Fiesta Tableware Company factory was originally built in 1905. The Hancock County Museum offers a different perspective on local industrial history: it displays a collection of diverse, locally made bricks associated with New Cumberland’s former brick industry.

The Peter Tarr Furnace produced cannonballs for the Navy during the War of 1812. Its foundation and the oval salamander, where the iron ore was heated, remain intact below ground level. The history and preserved remains are part of the same industrial site. The World’s Largest Tea Pot is approximately 14 feet wide and approximately 14 feet tall. Its two nearly equal dimensions give an idea of its scale.

Weirton: Museum, Swimming and Rail Trail

The Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center has been located in the former Home Furniture building at 3149 Main Street in downtown Weirton since 2011. Check visitor arrangements before your visit. For a different kind of recreation, Starvaggi Memorial Pool & Park has an Olympic-size swimming pool with two waterslides. The pool operates seasonally. In Weirton, the Northern Panhandle Rail Trail offers a four-mile route for biking, walking and running. This gives you a choice of both a cultural visit and outdoor activities in Weirton.

Recreation and Getting Around

Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort is situated on a wooded hill overlooking the Ohio River and offers a casino and a thoroughbred racetrack. Its amenities include seven dining options, including a Vegas-style buffet, a steakhouse and a sports bar. There’s also a spa and a championship golf course for an additional fee, as well as a full schedule of live entertainment featuring national acts. Individual offerings may change; check the details for your visit.

Two specific roads can help you get your bearings in the county: U.S. 30, the former Lincoln Highway, crosses the northern tip of Hancock County. State Route 2 runs parallel to the Ohio River through the county and connects it with Wheeling and places farther south. When choosing a hotel, you can compare these route details and the places you want to visit with your plans on a map.

Discover more destinations: Weirton, Newell. Explore these destinations too: Jefferson County, Mineral County, Pocahontas County, Preston County, Morgan, Wood.

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