Oak Hill was settled in 1820. First incorporated on February 25, 1903, Oak Hill, though not the county seat, is the largest city and economic center in Fayette County. The City got its name because of its location under a spreading white oak tree at nearby Hilltop and the fact that it was located on a hill.

Oak Hill by the late 1960s had grown into one the 20 largest cities in West Virginia, though the community retains a small-town character and is largely composed of residential neighborhoods, many of which developed in the early 1900s around coal-mining operations. However, Oak Hill is primarily a service and commercial destination. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 7,730. Plateau Medical Center, the largest hospital in the county, is located off the US-19 expressway on Main Street in its downtown.

Establishment of the New River Gorge National River in the 1980s saw the creation of many jobs in the tourism sector. Today, more than two million tourists visit the Oak Hill region in the New River Gorge area. Many new residential developments are being located in the Oak Hill area.

Many of the best known visitor attractions in West Virginia are located in the Oak Hill area, including the New River Gorge Bridge. Hiking, biking, climbing, and whitewater rafting help to attract more than a million tourists to the region annually.

Fayette County

Fayette County is located in southern West Virginia, central to the states burgeoning New River Gorge tourism region. The county is renowned for its dramatic landscapes, small communities, and outdoor-recreation amenities. The national parklands of the New and Gauley rivers course across the center of the county, which is defined by its gorges and broad, wooded tablelands. Whispering Oaks is located near the midpoint in this region in an area renown for its expressway access and great natural beauty.

New River Gorge National River

One of the most exciting destinations for hiking, biking, climbing, and paddling in the eastern U.S., the New River Gorge National River was established by the National Park Service in 1978 and includes more than 72,000 acres in and adjacent to the New River Gorge and the valley of the New River. More than a million visitors annually climb rocks along the rim of the gorge near Fayetteville and paddle its whitewater runs on the New and its tributaries. Countless miles of hiking and biking trails wander the park and climb into the surrounding mountains. The nearby Gauley River National Recreation Area likewise attracts thousands of tourists annually, notably rafters during Gauley Season in autumn when the river runs strong.

The Summit: Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve

The Summit Bechtel Reserve is the home of the National Scout Jamboree and the national leadership center for the Boy Scouts of America as well as one of the organizations five high-adventure bases. More than 50,000 visitors attended the inaugural jamboree in 2013, though far more are expected to attend the 10-day event in 2017. The jamboree had been held at Fort A.P. Hill; however, the organization chose to relocate the site to the New River Gorge region to accommodate the need for access to outdoor-adventure activities.

Town of Fayetteville

Fayettevilles historic district is both charming and one of the most attractive locations for outfitters shops, boutique shops, and specialty restaurants in West Virginia. More than a dozen antiques shops were operating in the Fayetteville area in summer 2017, and five independent restaurants in the district were offering an outstanding selection of unique cuisine. Fayetteville is, essentially, the heart of the travel-destination area as well as the legal center of the county. The population of Fayetteville in 2014 was estimated at 2,892.

State Parks: Babcock and Hawks Nest

Two of the most photographed landmarks in West Virginia are located within a half hours drive of Whispering Oaks. Babcock State Park, and its world-renowned Glade Creek Gristmill, attracts photographers year-round, and Hawks Nest and its overlook of the New River Gorge have been attracting sight-seers since long before Europeans arrived in the region. The state also maintains thousands of acres of public recreation land nearby in the Beury Mountain, Cotton Hill, and Plum Orchard Lake wildlife management areas.

DIRECTIONS

Directly across from BB&T Bank in Oak Hill, West Virginia