You come back because nowhere else is the same.
In a previous life, the buildings we’re transforming into Hill Hall were home to the students of Fayetteville for over 75 years.
New life, energy, and light is being infused back into walls where history has lingered since they were first built, back in 1923. The revival of this space is more than just a personal endeavor, it’s a chance to restore a property for the community it sits at the heart of — and for all of those that find themselves passing through this corner of West Virginia, looking for a temporary place to call home.
The academic essence of Hill Hall has intertwined itself into our brand story with ease — nostalgia is at the forefront of our identity, and something we hope you’ll feel the warmth of on arrival. Read on for the histories that have woven their way into the fabric of this town, stories held onto and passed down through generations to where we find ourselves today.
The History of Hill Hall & Fayetteville
A River
Runs
Through
Snapshots from the wild and wonderful history of this small slice of Almost Heaven.
Caption copy for this image. To make this feel more
Caption copy for this image. To make this feel more editorial/academic
1872 | The small community of Vandalia becomes the ‘Town of Fayetteville’ in honor of Marquis de Lafayette, a prominent figure in the Revolutionary War. The region was immersed in the timber, coal, and railroad boom, an era that brought thousands of jobs to the Mountain State. A fascinating history filled with Civil War stories and characters also awaits the curious visitor.
Caption copy for this image. To make this feel more
Stonemasons from Piedicavallo, Italy arrive in Fayetteville with a goal to “enrich the quality of life and the beauty of their adopted home town and country” through their craftsmanship. They complete work on the High School alongside many other buildings around town, and its doors officially open to the first cohort of students. Descendants of these stonemasons still live in the area to this day.
Construction comes to a close on “one of the longest single-span steel arch bridges in the Western Hemisphere”, turning what was once a 40-minute drive into the gorge and back out, into a one-minute crossing. Sitting a whopping 826 feet above the New River, the bridge has become one of the most photographed in the state.
c. 1912
“The New” receives ‘National River’ status, but its origins as “the second oldest river in the world” began millions of years before. Flowing through three different states, it’s become a mecca for white water rafting enthusiasts, fly fishing, and paddle boarding —among the myriad of other reasons to adventure here through every season.
Centennial Coin 1983
The first official Bridge Day takes place as two parachutists jump from a plane onto the bridge, watched by 5000 people. Cut to today, and the event has become West Virginia’s largest one-day festival, luring thousands of visitors and BASE jumpers from all over the world, occurring every third Saturday in October. It’s considered the largest extreme sports festival in the world.
Caption copy for this image. To make this feel more editorial/academic
The school board shutters the doors of the old High School after approval of a consolidation plan. The hallways and classrooms become storage space, while the Middle School homes the local police station for a number of years, before the buildings finally close to all foot traffic in 2014, awaiting further preservation efforts.
The New River Gorge becomes America’s newest National Park, solidifying protection for 70’000 acres of wild land and natural habitats, and the longest and deepest gorge in the Appalachian Mountains.
The school buildings are acquired by Mountain Shore Properties, and restoration plans are unveiled by Charlie Wendell, a Fayetteville local, whose family all attended the school at various stages, and who’s mother, Pat, was instrumental in the establishment of the Fayetteville Historic District. A project is set in motion to revive and renovate the school into housing, a hotel, restaurant, and a community space for the town.
Caption copy for this image
To make this feel more editorial
Caption copy for this image
To make this feel more editorial
Caption copy for this image
To make this feel more editorial
Caption copy for this image
To make this feel more editorial
Caption copy for this image
To make this feel more editorial
Caption copy for this image
To make this feel more editorial
Say hello.
Hill Hall Culture
Morbi id augue orci. Quisque volutpat libero mi, ac efficitur ante tempor ut. Maecenas ultrices fermentum nibh vel facilisis. Duis quis auctor ex, sit amet ornare mauris. Phasellus ut vulpate nisi, a pellentesque velit. Fusce tempor arcu a ex pulvinar lacinia. Maecenas felis ligula, vulputate et nibh non, ultrices aliquet velit. Nam rhoncus aliquam massa at tempus.
Culture
Morbi id augue orci. Quisque volutpat libero mi, ac efficitur ante tempor ut. Maecenas ultrices fermentum nibh vel facilisis. Duis quis auctor ex, sit amet ornare mauris. Phasellus ut vulpate nisi, a pellentesque velit. Fusce tempor arcu a ex pulvinar lacinia.
Caption copy for this image. To make this feel more editorial. Photo by David Robert Elliott
Culture
Morbi id augue orci. Quisque volutpat libero mi, ac efficitur ante tempor ut. Maecenas ultrices fermentum nibh vel facilisis. Duis quis auctor ex, sit amet ornare mauris. Phasellus ut vulpate nisi, a pellentesque velit. Fusce tempor arcu a ex pulvinar lacinia.
Caption copy for this image. To make this feel more ditorial. Photo by Braiden Maddox.
Culture
Morbi id augue orci. Quisque volutpat libero mi, ac efficitur ante tempor ut. Maecenas ultrices fermentum nibh vel facilisis. Duis quis auctor ex, sit amet ornare mauris. Phasellus ut vulpate nisi, a pellentesque velit. Fusce tempor arcu a ex pulvinar lacinia.