Valley Falls State Park Overview & History

Park Overview

Once the site of a lumber and grist mill community, Valley Falls State Park is a place of scenic beauty and historical significance. A series of four picturesque falls created by the dark, rushing waters of the Tygart Valley River distinguish this 1,145-acre park. In addition to its scenic charm, Valley Falls State Park offers miles of hiking, biking trails and fishing. 

Park History

During the 1830s, a trader acquired what is now Valley Falls State Park and built a lumber mill, which was later followed in 1847 by a grist mill. With the completion of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad line from Grafton to Wheeling in 1853, the community began to boom, with a ferry, post office, shops, a factory and schools. Between 1886 and 1888, a fire and flood swept through the community, causing massive devastation. Repair efforts were made, but the town never fully recovered. In 1964, the West Virginia State Park System acquired the falls and surrounding land and created Valley Falls State Park.