Sutton

Comfort food is something that comes to mind when you think of Sutton. Luzader’s 3 Girls Diner is a family owned restaurant whose goal is to treat all customers like friends. Find homemade biscuits and gravy and creamy mashed potatoes on their menu. If you can’t get enough of the Flatwoods Monster, the Spot Dairy Bar is the place to be. Serving up alien themed subs alongside monster-themed decor, it’s an eccentric and fun spot to drop by for lunch or dinner. Just a few miles outside of Sutton is Sigman’s Diner, a family friendly restaurant with hearty country cooking.

You never have to go far to experience some entertainment in Sutton. In fact, you’re encouraged to stay in the county to find elusive Flatwoods Monster chairs. These chairs were set up by the local convention and visitors bureau and after you visit all five you can earn a special “Braxxie” sticker. For live outdoor performances in the summer, check out the Mountain Lakes Amphitheater. The historic Elk Theatre, built in the 1930s, hosts films every weekend as well as special events, too.

Local charm makes shopping in Sutton so memorable. The Mountain Laurel Country Store is a general store that prides itself on having a large number of local consignors who make various arts, crafts, and tools. Sisters’ Antiques, off of I-79 has antiques, furniture, collectibles and glassware. Stop by Everything Fiesta at the Flatwoods Center to find the colorful dinnerware West Virginia is so famous for.

As you can probably guess, the Mountain Lakes region is known for an abundance of lakes. Sutton Lake Marina rents out a variety of boats, jet skis and paddleboards, and provides guided tours of the lake. This spot has also been named one of the most incredible U.S. destinations to rent a houseboat. The Elk River Water Trail begins at the tailwaters of the Sutton Dam and passes through three counties. Often referred to as the best all-in-one river in West Virginia, the water trail is recognized among biologists for its exceptional diversity of fish making it the perfect area to cast a line. You’ll find West Virginia native brook trout, musky, bass and golden trout.

In the 1800s, the settlement that would later come to be known as Sutton became a transportation hub due to its proximity to the Elk River, the West Virginia and Pittsburgh Railroad, and the Weston and Gauley Bridge Turnpike. During the early days of the Civil War, the town was occupied by 5,000 Union soldiers when Sutton’s location was identified as critical to the movement of troops. After the war’s end, the town was slowly rebuilt and became a commercial center for the timber industry. Many of the buildings in the Sutton Downtown Historic District date back to 1890-1920.