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Marshall County has a rich history, with many historic sites available for curious locals and travelers alike.
However, according to county Tourism Director Jesse Mestrovic, many of the county’s most intriguing destinations remained untapped by locals and travelers alike.
The county Convention & Visitors Bureau created the position for Mestrovic this spring, in an attempt to boost tourism economy for the greater Moundsville area. Previously a park ranger at Tomlinson Ridge State Park near Weirton, he plans to use his years of outdoor recreation experience to assist Marshall County’s attractions.
Mestrovic is looking to update historic and cultural landmarks in the area, specifically those with ties to Native American heritage.
The 67-mile Warrior Trail, beginning at the mouth of Fish Creek in Marshall County and ending in Greene County, Pa., is just one of those landmarks. More than 5,000 years ago, native tribes started wearing down a path from their villages along the Monongahela River to one of their supply post, Flint Ride in Ohio, according to the Warrior Trail Association.
At Flint Ridge, they would collect stone to carry back into the forest, carving it down into the essential arrowheads used to hunt buffalo and mastodons. The present-day path of the Warrior Trail follows a portion of this ancient highway from the Monongahela River to the Ohio River, running across the Mason-Dixon Line.
Although the trail is near the properties of several Marshall County residents, Mestrovic said many locals aren’t aware of its existence or historical value. He added the tail is in need of informational kiosks and additional mile markers, which he hopes to establish this year with the help of government grants and local boy and girl scouts.
“People fail to look in their backyards,” he said. “They go on vacation without realizing that something neat is right near their homes.”
CVB representatives are speaking with local homeowners with property near the trail, in an attempt to set up camping locations and more.
Llew Williams, president of the Warrior Trail Association, a non-profit based in Greene County, Pa, said volunteers are needed to help maintain Marshall County’s portion of the attraction.
“We’ve been trying to keep the trail alive since 1965. It’s a beautiful attraction and a great example of local nature,” he said. “The trail is 67 miles so there can never be enough volunteers. We’d love to get some people from Marshall County to help with their end of the trail.”
Other attractions on Mestrovic’s list include Roseby’s Rock near Cameron, the former Baltimore & Ohio Railroad trail from Moundsville to Fairmont and the St. Joseph settlement near Proctor.
The presence of the oil and gas industry throughout Marshall County has affected Mestrovic’s pursuits in terms of property rights, however. Roseby’s Rock, an unincorporated settlement currently owned by Consol Energy, is a focal point. The area near the St. Joseph settlement is also under the company’s control.
Roseby’s Rock, a settlement located on Grave Creek, features an inscribed boulder with the town name along the abandoned grade of the B&O Railroad.
On Dec. 24, 1852, railroad workers completed the B&O at the site, establishing the first continuous railroad linking the Atlantic Ocean and the Ohio River Valley.
The spelling and naming of the rock is a subject of dispute, according to Mestrovic. According to many local residents, it would correctly be named Roseby’s Rock and stonemasons incorrectly chiseled “Rossby’s,” Rock.
“It would have a huge draw at its beautiful location, but Consol Energy owns the property, so I’ve met with them in attempt for the county to have more access,” Mestrovic said. “At this point, it’s all dreams and ideas.”
Road conditions are also a current tourism issue that he plans to address with local legislators
“(U.S.) 250 is one of the best, historic routes in the country, but we can’t advise anyone to travel it unless they have four-wheel drive,” he said.
Mestrovic added Marshall County’s friendly atmosphere sets it apart from other local attractions.
“Moundsville and the area surrounding it area a perfect example of Americana,” he said. “We want people to know that Marshall County is a vacation.”