An ancient underground ocean in West Virginia?!
Did you know an ancient ocean trapped below the Appalachian Mountains lies right here in the heart of the Kanawha Valley? That’s right! J.Q. Dickinson Salt Works has been harvesting all-natural salt by hand from the mysterious Iapetus Ocean since 1817. While the process has evolved, many things have stayed the same – high quality salt and deep family roots.
🪣 The Process
First drilled for by using a hollowed-out tree trunk for piping in 1817, salt is now harvested using an innovative and eco-friendly process.
To begin, brine is drawn from the depths of the ocean below to the surface with a well and is held in a settling tank for a week to clarify. The brine is then transported into evaporation beds in the sun-houses, where it is naturally evaporated to concentrate the salinity.
Once evaporated by just the right amount, the brine is moved into a crystallization bed. This is where the magic begins to happen! Here, salt crystals form and are hand-raked to separate from the bittern – a mineral-rich liquid.
The salt is then spread across cotton cloths to dry. Once dry, the salt is loaded into wagons and take back to the farm office to be hand-labeled, batched, and sealed in glass jars. Free of heavy metals and preservatives, flavored salt varieties are made with fresh herbs, spices and local ingredients.
🛍️ J.Q. Dickinson offers a vast product line featuring a variety of salts, seasonings, spice blends, bath salts, wooden utensils and even a quarterly subscription box complete with speciality West Virginia products.
🔍 Tours
Visit the farm and get a behind-the-scenes look for yourself with a guided tour. Basic tours are $5 per person and experiential tours are $18 per person. Children 12 years of age and younger are free. School groups and field trips are also free! For more information regarding pricing, contact the Salt Works team at (304) 925-7918.
✨ Private Events
At J.Q. Dickinson Salt Works, the rich history comes along with stunning natural beauty. The rustic, scenic landscape makes the perfect backdrop for events of all kinds. From enchanting weddings and lavish celebrations to fun-filled family reunions and one-of-a-kind work retreats, the event team is prepared to make your special event heavenly.
🤯 Fun Facts
💭 J.Q. Dickinson is the only solar-evaporated well-drawn salt in the country!
💭 This salt won best salt in the world at the 1851 World’s Fair in London.
💭 Malden once produced 3 million bushels of salt per year and was known at the “Salt Capital of the East”, supplying the interior country with most of its salt supply.
💭 J.Q. Dickinson is one of the only salts in North America made from an ancient ocean.
Share your photos using #AlmostHeaven
This post was last updated on June 8, 2025