Spencer

Spencer, WV

Spencer is a city of 2,062 people (as of 2020) in West Virginia. It was chartered in 1858 and named for Spencer Roane, a jurist from Virginia. Spencer is famous for hosting the West Virginia Black Walnut Festival every October.

Get in

Spencer is located at the intersection of US-33, between Ripley and Weston, and US-119, north of Charleston, twinned with US-33 east. The closest interstate access is I-77 35 minutes west in Ripley or I-79 40 minutes south in Clendenin, near Charleston.

See

• 1 Robey Theatre, 318 Main Street, ☏ +1 304-927-1390. The longest continually-operating movie house in the US, opened in 1907 as a vaudeville house and showing movies since 1908. One screen. $5 general admission, $7 balcony.  
• Spencer Heritage Park, Church St and Heritage St, ☏ +1 304-927-1640. Housed in an old Baltimore & Ohio Railroad depot, with late 19th and early 20th century tools, printing press, World War I memorabilia, restored 1920 school house, early 1900s oil derrick, and Baltimore & Ohio caboose. 
• Charles Fork Lake. Off WV-36. Fishing, canoeing, and over 25 miles of hiking and biking trails. Hosts the Aquafina Tour de Lake Mountain Bike Race every May. 

Do

Events

• West Virginia Black Walnut Festival, 116 Court Street, ☏ +1 304-927-5616. Held during four days beginning on the second Thursday in October since 1954. The festival was begun when a local farmer sold two million pounds of black walnuts, inspiring the region to cultivate them as a cash crop. Grand parade, kid's parade, art and photography show, competitions, pageant, exhibits and flower show, live music, gospel sing, food booths, carnival.  

Buy

• Common Cents and Vanity Consignment, 215 Main Street. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, most Sundays noon-3PM. One of the largest consignment stores in West Virginia, with over 5,000 square feet. Clothing, household items, antiques, furniture and wallpaper. 

Learn

• Times Record, 210 E Main St, ☏ +1 304-927-2360. The local newspaper.  

Eat

• La Finca Mexican Grill, 1158 Ripley Road, 304-519-2502. Savory fajitas.

Drink

• Chestnut Ridge Winery, 15 Chestnut Rdg.

Sleep

Motels

• Grandview Motel, 1158 Ripley Road, ☏ +1 304-927-1840. 

Bed and Breakfasts

• Cunningham House, 224 Chapman Avenue, ☏ +1 304-927-2022. 4 rooms. Historic home, built in 1900 and opened as a B&B in 1998. Fireplace, wraparound porch, dining room. $84 - 104. 

Go next

• Ripley is about 35 minutes west on US-33.
• Glenville is about 1 hour east on US-119.
• Charleston is about 1 hour south on US-119 / I-79.
• Weston is about 1½ hours east on US-33.

Routes through Spencer

Columbus ← Athens ← Jct N S ←

W  E

→ Weston → Harrisonburg