Sutton (West Virginia)



Sutton is a town of 876 people (as of 2020) in West Virginia. It's located in Braxton County, which is known as "the Geographic Center of West Virginia". Sutton was first settled in 1792, and incorporated in 1860, having been named in honor of one of the early settlers. The area is noteworthy for its Civil War heritage, as well as the Braxton County Monster (aka the Phantom of Flatwoods), a green space alien with fiery red eyes and a pungent odor that reportedly frightened a group of local residents in September 1952 and remains one of the most famous creatures in UFO lore.

Sutton sits directly adjacent to Sutton Lake, regionally popular for outdoor recreation. Sutton's twin town, the smaller town of Gassaway, population 769 is 2 miles west, on the other side of I-79. Flatwoods is a collection of mostly chain businesses adjacent to I-79, about 5 miles north of the town.

The Sutton area, including Gassaway and Flatwoods, is a major highway stop along I-79 in West Virginia, sitting at roughly the halfway point between Charleston to the south and Clarksburg to the north, and it is the last town with significant highway services before or after a more than 40-minute drive southwest on I-79 through a very rural area with sparse population and few services before beginning to enter the Charleston metropolitan area.

The proximity of the Sutton area to the Charleston area, as well being partway between it and the Morgantown-Fairmont-Clarksburg area makes it a popular day or weekend trip from these larger towns.

By car
Sutton is on I-79 and US-19, south of Clarksburg and Weston, just north of the spot where I-79 splits west toward Charleston while US-19 heads south to Summersville.

By train
The Elk River Railroad runs between Gilmer and Hartland, stopping in Gassaway, Shadyside and Frametown on the way.

By plane
The nearest major airports are in Clarksburg and Charleston, but the Braxton County Airport (Airport Road, +1 304-765-9031) is also capable of handling light twin-engine aircraft on its 4,000-foot runway.

Get around

 * Gassaway Cabs, 201 River Street in Gassaway, +1 304-364-5272.
 * Sutton Cabs, 206 Main Street, +1 304-765-5004.

See

 * The downtown Sutton historic district is roughly bounded by Main Street, River View Drive and First Street. Walking tours are available.
 * Elk St. is the main historic retail street in downtown Gassaway
 * Although the county as a whole lays claim to the title, the nearby town of Flatwoods is the precise geographical center of West Virginia.
 * Bulltown Historic District, Millstone Run Road off WV-19 in Burnsville, +1 304-853-2371 or +1 304-452-8170. Open 10AM to 6PM daily, mid-May to mid-October. Civil War battlefield, featuring preserved trenches, structures dating to the mid-1800s, a mile-long self-guided trail, and a visitor's center with costumed interpreters and exhibits. The Battle of Bulltown is re-enacted each fall.
 * Bulltown Historic District, Millstone Run Road off WV-19 in Burnsville, +1 304-853-2371 or +1 304-452-8170. Open 10AM to 6PM daily, mid-May to mid-October. Civil War battlefield, featuring preserved trenches, structures dating to the mid-1800s, a mile-long self-guided trail, and a visitor's center with costumed interpreters and exhibits. The Battle of Bulltown is re-enacted each fall.
 * Bulltown Historic District, Millstone Run Road off WV-19 in Burnsville, +1 304-853-2371 or +1 304-452-8170. Open 10AM to 6PM daily, mid-May to mid-October. Civil War battlefield, featuring preserved trenches, structures dating to the mid-1800s, a mile-long self-guided trail, and a visitor's center with costumed interpreters and exhibits. The Battle of Bulltown is re-enacted each fall.

Do

 * Mid-Mountain Lanes, exit 67 off I-79, 304-765-2811. Bowling alley with on-site restaurant.

Learn

 * The local newspapers are

Braxton Citizens' News, +1 304-765-5193.

Braxton Democrat Central, +1 304-765-5555, Serving Braxton County, West Virginia since 1883.

Eat

 * Giovanni's Pizza, in Burnsville, +1 304-853-2001. Italian cuisine, including pizza and spaghetti.
 * Giovanni's Pizza, in Burnsville, +1 304-853-2001. Italian cuisine, including pizza and spaghetti.
 * Giovanni's Pizza, in Burnsville, +1 304-853-2001. Italian cuisine, including pizza and spaghetti.

Go next

 * Summersville is about 40 minutes south on US-19.
 * Weston is about 40 minutes north on I-79.
 * Glenville is 45 minutes north; 25 minutes west of Burnsville Lake on WV-5
 * Fayetteville and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is about 1 hour south on US-19
 * Clarksburg is about 1 hour north on I-79.
 * Charleston is about 1 hour southwest on I-79.
 * Richwood is about 1 hour south