BY JARETT LEWIS
CHARLESTON — A few West Virginia winter “hidden gems” aren’t so hidden anymore.
A recent study from “Architectural Digest” found that Thomas, in Tucker County, was ranked as the No. 1 hidden gem as well as the fourth-best mountain town in the entire country.
Elkins, in Randolph County, was ranked No. 2 as a hidden gem and was ranked as the 30th-best overall mountain town. Marlinton, in Pocahontas County, was ranked as the No. 8 hidden gem.
Thomas scored a 95.09 out of 100. The scoring is based on things that make a place a great tourist attraction in the wintertime like snowfall, skiing, restaurants and entertainment.
Jessica Waldo, executive director of Tucker County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (CVB), calls this national recognition quite the honor.
“It’s a pretty amazing list and we’re honored to be included in it, especially in the top four,” said Waldo.
Waldo was a guest on MetroNews “Talkline” Thursday and said she was surprised by the rankings and that a town in her county was on a list with other popular winter destinations across the country. At the same time, it’s also a testament to the hard work of the Tucker County CVB.
“I will give credit to our tourism office, they do a great job on getting the word out about West Virginia and how it’s a great destination,” Waldo said.
Waldo said the town of Thomas has turned into a hot spot for local folks and tourists to enjoy music and art. She said the rise in recognition was “organic” and entrepreneurs saw potential in the area to develop the “walking town.”
There’s plenty to do in the town. Tucker County is home to two full service ski resorts in Canaan Valley and Timberline Ski Resort. In addition to traditional skiing, Canaan Valley Resort State Park offers outdoor ice skating and a four-lane snow tubing hill. There’s also a lift-accessed sledding hill at Blackwater Falls State Park. Canaan Valley Resort State Park sees an average snowfall of 150 inches a year.
Mountain State Brewing Co. is in Thomas, too. Waldo said the area has plenty of fantastic food options for visitors as well.
In the study, “Architectural Digest” searched for the best places to own a mountain home and the best “hidden gems.” The western part of the U.S. took up most of the top mountain towns overall, but West Virginia was seen a lot in the hidden gems section.
“The word is out,” Waldo said about Tucker County. “It’s really an honor to be included in that and be a great destination for the winter season.”
Thomas has fewer than 1,000 people and is also one of the most affordable towns, according to the study. The median value of a home in Thomas is approximately $140,400.
The town of Davis in Tucker County and Snowshoe in Pocahontas County are among the best winter traveling destinations in the U.S., according to a 2023 study from “Architectural Design.”
