West Virginia Event Venues
By Jean Hardiman
Service, modern amenities, elegance, recreation, ambience: West Virginia’s meeting venues offer something special for every event—and every person. From the art lover to the outdoor enthusiast to the foodie looking to top the last exquisite meal, visitors easily find a wealth of culture, adventure, beauty and cuisine in the Mountain State, and for those attending a meeting or conference, West Virginia’s event venues provide an experience to remember.
Bavarian Inn
Bavarian Brothers Brewery. Photo by Bavarian Inn.
A taste of Europe can be found along the Potomac River in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle at the Bavarian Inn, a boutique resort in Shepherdstown.
Featuring 72 hotel rooms and distinct dining experiences, the Bavarian Inn’s conference space accommodates up to 150 guests for weddings, corporate retreats, team building and more. It provides state-of-the-art audiovisual offerings and an on-site IT director, as well as full catering menus, break-out options for meetings and boxed carry-out meals.
In late 2018, the inn unveiled a new lounge area and added Bavarian Brothers Brewing, an on-site brewery that offers tours, beer samples and beer dinners. Its pub provides an additional dining room with a casual but creative menu.
The charm of the European-inspired resort is enhanced by its surroundings with a variety of convenient recreation opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. The inn’s infinity edge pool and companion bar overlook the river and lush greenery. Tennis and bocce enthusiasts will find the necessary amenities for a friendly match, and guests looking to unwind will appreciate a seat by the outdoor firepit. Golfers will enjoy a round at Cress Creek Country Club a quarter-mile away, and adventure seekers will find whitewater rafting, zip lining and an aerial park within 12 miles.
For more information on hosting an event, contact Brenda Morrison at (304) 876-0415 or visit www.bavarianinnwv.com.
Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall
Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall. Photo by Kristin Gail.
Those searching for a picturesque indoor facility for any event—showers, weddings, meet and greets or conferences—will find what they need on Marshall University’s campus at the Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall. This stand-alone nonprofit facility is a popular Huntington venue that can accommodate up to 400 standing guests.
The hall works with six well-established local caterers and in 2017 upgraded its audiovisual offerings to high-definition TVs and a Panasonic laser projector with a new screen, multiple input locations and microphones. An on-site event planner can direct clients to caterers, photographers, florists, rentals and music and DJ options.
The hall’s 3,300-square-foot main conference room offers a dramatic backdrop with floor-to-ceiling windows, and a pergola off the conference room is a favorite wedding photo op. The hall’s mezzanine overlooks a rotunda with a grand piano, and brides love to descend the grand staircase.
The hall is convenient to both Marshall University and downtown Huntington and is less than 15 minutes from the Huntington Mall and other shopping centers as well as Heritage Farm Museum and Village. There are also more than 400 hotel rooms within a 10-minute drive, making the venue convenient for overnight guests.
To book this space for your next event, contact Teresa West Blankenship at (304) 696-3420 or visit www.marshall.edu/foundation/foundationhall.
Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place
Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place. Photo by Mark Compton.
Just minutes away from West Virginia University’s downtown campus, the Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place offers guests a modern event experience. After a sleek, multimillion-dollar renovation in 2017, the facility can now accommodate groups as large as 3,000 in its multifunctioning conference and convention center.
With entertaining space that offers multiple options for meetings, conventions, trade shows, galas, weddings, concerts and even sporting events, the facility can provide an appropriate event space, accommodations and services for any size of group, from 10 to 3,000. The hotel has a sales and catering team on-site to assist with planning, and a full-service culinary team provides memorable meals for visiting groups year-round. It also offers a private dining room off its main restaurant, Bourbon Prime, for small groups. For meetings, the hotel works with an on-site audiovisual technician who provides the latest equipment to ensure a top-notch event.
On the property, guests can participate in bourbon tastings at Bourbon Prime, visit the full-service spa or expansive fitness center or explore the riverfront walking trail that leads to local restaurants and downtown. The greater Morgantown area offers historical walking tours, golf, shopping, hiking and biking, winery tours and team-building activities such as escape rooms and rope courses.
To learn more about hosting an event here, contact Jennifer Millstone at (304) 581-2800 or visit www.marriott.com/mgwmc.
Oglebay
The Crispin Center at Oglebay. Photo by Chris Weisler.
With an array of attractions on-site, Oglebay in Wheeling is a perfect venue for those wanting to throw a little recreation into their event.
This four-season resort is a playground for guests of all interests. It offers four golf courses; tennis courts; swimming pools; a full-service spa; walking and hiking trails; the historic Mansion Museum; the Carriage Works Glass Museum, where people can watch glass-blowing artisans first hand; and five options for food and beverages. It’s also well-known for its annual Festival of Lights every November and December with 300 acres of holiday light displays.
The resort is also home to a 1,400-seat amphitheater and 30,000 square feet of flexible conference space available for meetings, conferences, weddings, family reunions and retreats. Full-service banquet and catering are offered for everything from private dinners to a 400-guest wedding. Both indoor and outdoor spaces are available, accommodating up to 500 standing-room attendees and offering audio, video and wireless internet capabilities throughout. Oglebay has 258 hotel rooms in the Wilson Lodge and 55 cottages throughout the property.
The resort’s on-site event planning staff includes five full-time conference sales managers, two wedding sales specialists, a director of catering and four conference services/event managers.
Get started planning your special event today by contacting Herb Faulkenberry at (304) 243-4060 or visiting www.oglebay.com.
Tamarack
Tamarack in Beckley, WV. Photo by Tamarack.
Known best for housing the Mountain State’s finest arts and crafts, Tamarack is also home to a first-class conference center perfect for conventions, business meetings, corporate functions, weddings and other private events.
The conference center features both indoor and outdoor space, allowing event planners to add diversity to room arrangements, and it prides itself on offering fresh menu choices that fit all budgets. With meeting spaces, room charges are waved with a minimum amount of catering food services.
Tamarack’s largest conference space is its ballroom, which seats up to 700 guests and provides more than 5,900 square feet of versatile space that can be divided into three smaller rooms, accommodating a variety of setup styles. The center offers full-service audiovisual capabilities, including large portable LCD televisions, an overhead projector, conference calling capabilities and wireless and hand-held mics.
In between meetings, guests will enjoy exploring the works of West Virginia artists in the nation’s first showcase of handcrafts, fine art and regional cuisine. Tamarack houses the creations of more than 2,800 different artists who reside in West Virginia.
While in town, guests can also enjoy Beckley’s shopping and dining experiences, and the city has a number of hotel accommodations within minutes of Tamarack.
To find out more about this unique meeting destination, contact Norma Acord at (304) 256-6843 or visit www.tamarackwv.com.
