QUALITY OF LIFE...

Pendleton County offers incredible natural beauty with unparalleled opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Surrounded by beautiful State Parks, ski and golf resorts, fishing and hunting preserves, mountains and rivers, Pendleton County offers a beautiful country setting within commuting distance of major metropolitan areas and markets. The necessities of life are readily available locally, but the luxuries of life are only a scenic drive away.

Enjoy a life style in Pendleton County that provides a relaxed atmosphere to work and play away from the hustle and bustle of major metropolitan areas.

There are   many festivals   in the County and surrounding areas. Specifically, Pendleton County plays host to the annual Spring Fest, Pendleton County Fair, and Treasure Mountain Festival.

The Fisher Mountain Golf Club & Resort, just east of Franklin on Rt. 33 is an 18-Hole Championship Golf Course with spectacular views and two island greens.   The Clubhouse features a full scale restaurant, golf pro shop and a fully stocked bar.   You can also putt around in front of the clubhouse for free or visit the driving range, where balls are $3 per bucket load.

The Franklin Town Park has a heated outdoor pool that is open to the public during the summer months.   Swimming classes and aqua-arobics are offered. In addition, tennis courts, playground equipment and picnic pavilions are also available. Schools have playground equipment, which are in use all summer. The county is dotted with parks, ball fields, and picnic grounds — all open to the public.

Pendleton County has volunteer fire and rescue services that receive assistance from state and county resources. A 911 emergency telephone system has been implemented with a dispatch center located in the WV State Police   headquarters east of Franklin. Medical care is available at Hahn Medical, Pendleton Community Care and North Fork Primary Care.

Thorn Spring Park is the site of Pendleton County's 4-H summer camp, and its facilities are available for use by the general public throughout the year.

The Potomac Highlands Recreation Center is another example of a community effort to create facilities that enhance the quality of life for county residents. It offers bowling, roller skating, fitness training machines, miniature golf and video games.

Churches in Pendleton County fill the spiritual and social needs of its residents as they do in other parts of the country. From Presbyterian, Methodist and Catholic churches, to Baptist and other denominations, churches sit soundly on the main streets and are also tucked away in the hills and hollows of the county, fitting themselves to the needs of the community. They all welcome new members.

Pendleton County has an active theater group, through the Pendleton County Committee for the Arts,   that stages plays and other events at the Smith Creek Playhouse throughout the year.   The theater is a renovated church that once inside is a comfortable, air-conditioned space with   seating for 100 patrons. Reservations are a must -- by calling 304-358-2400!   Summer also affords   youth opportunities to enroll in enrichment classes led by artistic, theatrical, musical and cultural professionals.

In addition to the recreation facilities offered within the communities the Discovery Center, located at the foot of Seneca Rocks, welcomes visitors to the Monongahela National Forest and orients them to surrounding points of interest such as North Fork Mountain, Seneca Rocks, Spruce Knob, and the Seneca Creek area. Seasonal interpretative programs and special events that take place during the summer complement the indoor displays, slide shows and lectures.

The two national forests in Pendleton County, the George Washington and Monongahela, encompass over 130,000 acres of the county. More than 185 miles of trails are available for hiking and biking, and range from pavement to forest road to off-road trekking.

And if your in the mood to relax, sit back and enjoy a good book, visit the Pendleton Library in downtown Franklin, with over 25,000 books to choose from. Kids will also enjoy their summer reading programs.