Bramwell, West Virginia, is a wonderful destination for a day trip. It’s also a popular place for ATV riders exploring the Hatfield-McCoy Trail to stop for a lunch or dinner break.
Bramwell’s population is only a few hundred people, which creates a tight-knit community. The small town has a big history of wealth that was unprecedented at the time.
This article is written in partnership with Visit Mercer County. All opinions are my own.
Start Your Visit at Honeycomb Café
151 Main Street, Bramwell, WV
Breakfast at Honeycomb Cafe is a great way to start your day. We enjoyed their specialty coffee drinks and a hearty breakfast.
Fair warning, “1 Biscuit & Gravy” is a generous portion size. I almost ordered the 2 biscuit size, but thankfully, the staff guided me to reconsider.
Breakfast is served all day, and the cafe also has lunch options, specialty coffee drinks, and teas.
After exploring downtown, we returned to purchase one of the homemade pastries in the display case that had previously tempted us during breakfast.
Their pastries and baked goods are made fresh daily, so you can’t go wrong with whatever you. choose.
We chose the oatmeal cookie to try later that day. It was filled with icing in the middle, which was a very elevated experience if your point of reference is a prepackaged Oatmeal pie.
Take a Self-Guided Tour of Millionaire Row in Bramwell
Did you know that in the 1880s, Bramwell, WV had more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the United States?
In the early 20th century, there were as many as fourteen millionaires in town, and possibly a few more according to some varying reports.
Many of these homeowners were wealthy coal operators who prospered until the early 1930s when the Great Depression impacted the coal industry.
On the self-guided tour, you can admire the outside of many Victorian and Tudor-style mansions whose previous owners were coal barons and other historic buildings in town.
Self-guided tour maps are available in town, sharing information about each home and homeowner.
In 1888, Bramwell was named in honor of J. H. Bramwell, a civil engineer who became Bramwell’s first post master.
During our visit, the mayor of Bramwell was gracious enough to take us around and introduce us to a few homeowners.
Many homes also have plaques on the outside to help tell the homes’ story or more about the homeowner who previously lived there.
Each home has a unique architecture and features.
We learned that one of the wealthy families previously had a special bridge for their kids to cross to take them to their “playhouse” on the other side of the river, which was the size of many residential homes.
Definitely a perk of being in an uber-wealthy family during that time.
Another notable point of interest is the former gasoline pump dating back to the early 1900s. It was used by the first resident in the area with an automobile.
Tour the Inside of Homes on Millionaire Row
Twice a year, you can purchase tickets to tour the inside of select homes on Millionaire Row. There is a one-day special event in June and one in December annually.
If you attend the event in June, you’re in for a treat because you’ll meet homeowners Don Thompson, a children’s book author (The Adventures of Lucky and Nicky: Lucky gets trapped in a penny loafer), and Pam Thompson, an artist, who reside in one of the homes on the tour.
Visit the Coal Heritage Trail Interpretive Center
100 Simmons Ave, Bramwell, WV
You can learn more about the town and the area’s coal mining history at the Coal Heritage Trail Interpretive Center.
The interpretive center is free to visit and was previously a railroad stop.
The display cases have interesting artifacts tied to the coal industry, including a coal miner’s helmet and scrip coins.
Scrip, a currency only used at the company stores provided by the mines, was used similarly to a credit card for miners between paychecks.
Unfortunately, many miners only became deeper in debt to the coal company in this cycle because of overpriced goods at the company stores and living expenses.
There are a lot of images of Bramwell’s coal barons and their families during their prosperous era.
It’s also interesting to look at old photos and maps of the town.
Walk Across Anne Spencer Bridge
Cross the Anne Spencer Bridge over the Bluestone National Scenic River for another perspective of the river that weaves around Bramwell.
The swinging bridge behind the interpretive center is named in honor of Anne Spencer, an African American poet who lived in Bramwell as a child.
Lunch Stop at The Corner Shop in Bramwell
171 Main Street, Bramwell, WV
Step back in time with a dose of nostalgia at The Corner Shop, an old-fashioned soda fountain in downtown Bramwell.
The Corner Shop offers a variety of soda fountain flavors and has bragging rights for the “Best Milkshakes in West Virginia,” so of course, we had to try them.
The Corner Shop makes its own ice cream. I decided to try one of their more unique flavors, strawberry rhubarb, as the ice cream for my milkshake.
My husband ordered the “Peppermint Patty” made with chocolate ice cream, peppermint, chocolate syrup, and garnished with peppermint.
Fun Fact: The Corner Shop is located in the former Bryant/Newbold Pharmacy building, the third store in the US to carry Chanel No. 5 perfume.
The Corner Shop has interesting memorabilia on display from its pharmacy era.
If you’re visiting for a meal, you definitely want to try one of their specialty burgers that are hand-pattied.
I ordered the “James Dean” Jalapeno Burger.
It’s made with 1/2 lb. fresh ground beef and topped with pepperjack cheese, deep-fried/ breaded jalapeno peppers, their special buffalo sauce, lettuce, onion, and tomato.
My husband tried the “Mickey Rooney” Burger. It’s made with 1/2 lb. fresh ground beef, topped with sautéed mushrooms and onions, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, garlic aioli, all on grilled bread.
The portions are generous, and in hindsight, I should’ve opted for the “princess” portion, a 1/3lb. size burger instead.
We ordered their hand-cut French fries and tater tots as our sides and split both for the best of both worlds.
Soup and salad options are available too, along with a special kids’ menu for 12 and under.
An Additional Restaurant and Shop in Downtown Bramwell
I also want to note that the Casa Familia restaurant and the Blue Moon Gift Shop are downtown, too.
The Corner Shop is closed on Sundays, so Casa Familia can be another dining option.
We didn’t have a chance to visit either during our visit, but it’s always great to support local businesses.
Explore The Hatfield-McCoy Trails on an ATV
11138 Coal Heritage Rd, Bramwell, WV (Pocahontas Trail Head)
There are over 1000+ miles of trails to explore in southern West Virginia on The Hatfield-McCoy Trails.
Hatfield-McCoy Trails is one of the world’s largest off-highway vehicle trail systems.
It’s open 365 days a year, providing year-round adventures for every season.
Pocohantas Trail System is the closest section of the Hatfield-McCoy Trails to Bramwell.
You can bring your own, rent ATVs, or hire a company for a guided tour.
You’ll want to read the trail rules and download the Hatfield-McCoy Trails Rider maps, or download their app, before you go.
Hatfield-McCoy Trails Annual Trail Permit
Riders must purchase an annual trail permit before riding on the Hatfield-McCoy Trails.
The cost for West Virginia residents is about half the trail permit price compared to non-residents.
The permits can’t be purchased online, but they’re sold at any Hatfield-McCoy Trailhead facility or over 180 authorized HMT permit vendor locations.
You’ll want to check online for the closest trail permit location and call ahead to confirm business hours and permit availability in advance.
The trails draw all skill levels from novice to advanced, and the trail signs are marked similarly to a ski resort, warning guests of the difficulty level ahead.
We didn’t have enough time to hit the trails during our visit, but this video provides great tips before you go.
Enjoy the Views From Pinnacle Rock State Park
6470 Coal Heritage Rd, Bramwell, WV
The park is named in honor of Pinnacle Rock, a 3100 ft sandstone formation.
A fair warning, the staircase to the viewing area at the top will get your blood pumping, but thankfully, it doesn’t take very long to reach the top.
The scenic views are worth it once you reach the observation deck.
You can see up to several counties away in the distance.
Hiking Trails at Pinnacle Rock State Park
Distance and time estimates are according to AllTrails.
- Pinnacle Rock Overlook via Falling Rock Trail – Easy – .6 miles (18 min.)
- Cemetery Loop Trail -Moderate – 2 miles (est. 54 min.)
- Homestead Trail – Moderate – 2.9 miles (est. 1hr 21 min.)
- Turkey Rock Trail – Moderate – 2.6 miles (est. 1hr 26 min.)
- Acorn Ridge Trail – Moderate – 2 miles (est. 54 min.)
- Beaver Pond and Turkey Rock Trails – Easy – 2.4 miles (est. 1 hour)
- Lake View Trail – Easy- 1.3 miles (est. 30 min.)
The park has a picnic area, hiking trails, and a fishing lake.
Jimmy Lewis Lake is stocked seasonally with trout, and a proper fishing license and trout stamps are required and may be purchased online.
Nearby Points of Interest
While in the area, these stops are around 20 minutes from Bramwell.
Swing with a View at East River Mountain Overlook
Route 598, Bluefield, WV
This Insta-worthy stop has a gorgeous view of the surrounding area, which includes Bluefield, West Virginia, and Virginia, 3500 feet above sea level.
“Almost Heaven” swings are located throughout the state, showcasing the best Instagrammable views.
Dine in a Former Bank at The Vault Downtown
401 Federal St, Bluefield, WV
The Vault Downtown is located inside a former historic bank lobby, The Commercial Bank, that dates back to 1895.
The repurposed fine dining restaurant is gorgeous with plenty of natural light from the large windows.
Reservations are recommended, and the restaurant is open for dinner Wednesday-Saturday.
For an even more unique dining experience, reserve a table inside the former bank vault.
A few dining tables are inside the former bank vault, surrounded by murals on the inner walls.
A few interesting observations are the thickness of the vault doors and the former vault ventilator.
Their menu features steaks, seafood, fine wine, and Italian-American cuisine.
I ordered the Prime Filet Mignon, an 8-oz center-cut filet with roasted garlic maitre d’ butter, whipped garlic potatoes, and tempura-battered onion rings.
My husband ordered the prime rib special with whipped garlic potatoes and green beans. Both of our entrees were prepared perfectly!
We were very full at the end of our meal, but I always like our server to tell me what’s on the dessert menu just in case.
After some tempting options, we landed on the Apple streudel pastry puff served with vanilla ice cream.
We powered through the delicious dessert in the name of research, and it was worth every bite.
The Vault Downstairs
The Vault has a speakeasy-style luxury lounge on the lower level of the building, which you need to be buzzed in by staff.
Patrons can select their cigar of choice and enjoy spending time in a dedicated space just for them.
The Luxury Lounge has a special drink menu with unique cocktails, too.
More Adventures in Southern West Virginia
Looking for more adventures in the area? Check out the following articles.
