In Barboursville, historic architecture and a range of outdoor activities come together. The area’s building history can be seen in Queen Anne-style houses and the Historic District; Lake William offers fishing and walking, while Barboursville Park has a more extensive network of hiking and biking trails. You can make local history, outdoor activity, or a mix of both the focus of your stay.
Queen Anne Architecture and Local History
The George McComas Home is a two-story wood-frame residence in the Queen Anne style. Builder P.A. Vallandingham constructed it in 1902. The Thornburg House dates to 1901 and is considered an unusual example of this architecture in Barboursville and its surrounding area. Together, the two construction dates provide a brief timeline for the houses: the Thornburg House was built one year before the George McComas Home. Both also showcase the same architectural style in a tangible way.
The Barboursville Historic District also offers a distinct perspective on local history. It includes 20 buildings, 17 of which contribute to the town’s historic preservation. Its local significance is tied to Barboursville’s early development as a commercial center and its later location along transportation corridors. These two aspects of its development are reflected here: its early commercial role and its later connection to transportation routes. The historic Midland Trail runs through the Village of Barboursville, adding to this perspective on the area’s transportation history.
If you’d like to plan your visit to Barboursville around an event, Civil War Days and Fall Fest are two annual local events. Specific event dates and the current program are not provided here; check the dates before planning your trip if you’re visiting for one of the festivals.
Fishing, Walking Paths and Trails
At Lake William, you can fish from the shore or the pier. The lake is stocked each year with trout, catfish, and bass. A roughly one-mile trail also circles the lake, making it suitable for walking and jogging.
Barboursville Park has more than 40 trails for hiking and biking. The designated difficulty levels range from easy to difficult: on the map, green markers indicate easy trails, blue indicate moderate trails, and black indicate difficult trails. If you’re looking for a particular level of difficulty, use these markings to choose a trail; check the current map and trail conditions before setting out. The difficulty ratings and map colors help you consider these trails as a distinct activity option, rather than confusing them with the roughly one-mile loop around Lake William.
Barboursville therefore offers two clearly distinct planning options: its houses and Historic District draw attention to the area’s history, while Lake William and the trails in Barboursville Park offer different ways to fish, walk, jog, or bike. The historic Midland Trail also runs through the Village. Check event dates if Civil War Days or Fall Fest is part of your reason for visiting.
More destinations
Explore more destinations: Huntington.
Go to the main travel overview: Cabell County.
