Appalachian Rivertown Hinton West Virginia: Home of Folk Hero John Henry

In this Mountain Roots episode of Exploring Appalachia I head to the rivertown of Hinton West Virginia. I explore the area, and find everything from boating at the Bluestone Marina to the steel driving American folk hero John Henry, and the John Henry Days celebration.
Join me as I discover the history of this area, enjoy the buildings of the historical downtown, and also see the beauty of nearby Sandstone Falls.
Watch more Mountain Roots:
Exploring Appalachia: • Exploring Appalachia
If you want to contact us for business inquiries or collaboration opportunities, email: [e-mail]
Also find us on facebook @mountainrootshomestead
Snail Mail:
Mountain Roots Productions
PO Box 664
New Castle, VA, 24127
#westvirginia #appalachia #JohnHenry

[@MountainRoots]

Let us know in the comments where we should explore next!

[@MountainRoots]

@Blue sure have! In fact, that's the next episode 😁

[@caseys9310]

Giles county va! We have Mary draper Ingles history along with much more! Not to mention its a beautiful place full of great people. I just discovered your channel today and can't wait to watch all these episodes. Great work!

[@MountainRoots]

@@caseys9310 absolutely! Planning on doing an episode there in the near future 😁

[@dianeball2004]

Boomer or Gauley Bridge, Montgomery, West Virginia

[@eileenspamer]

@@caseys9310 me to today 30th january 2023 from england

[@markfletcher8084]

If I ever move back to WVa, it would be around the Hinton area. Close to my roots, and home of some of the best chili slaw dawgs in the world. (Hinton DQ)

[@MountainRoots]

So I'm told, thanks for watching!

[@kaycooperblair5882]

I LIVED ON LEATHERWOOD RD ! I COULD WALK TO THE DAM FROM MY HOUSE ! ALSO THE HOT DOGS FROM THE DAIRY QUEEN WERE THE BEST ON THIS PLANET ! I MISS HINTON W,VA VERY MUCH !!🌭🌭🌭

[@DekeRadio]

What a great video. Thank you for this. I grew up in southern WVA, and have been gone for more than 40 years to make a decent living. Now as I near the end of my career, I'm looking at potential retirement destinations, and Hinton is in my top 3. Spending what will be my final years in my home state seems like a nice way to bring my life full circle.

[@bretparker8533]

Me too been gone since 98, if I do move back it would be here

[@Random-reviewer]

Proud to see my hometown getting the love and recognition it deserves

[@watchparker]

Stumbled across your channel today. Love this video. The founder of Hinton, John "Jack" Hinton, is my fifth great grandfather.

[@MountainRoots]

Oh wow, that's wild!

[@drummersagainstitk]

Your production is great. Thanks for all your work. WV is important to America.

[@VNV67]

When I go back home to Princeton in the summer I always like to go to Hinton to talk with the people that live there. But I also bring my fishing gear. It is hard to pick my favorite place, Hinton, or Pipestem State Park. They are both great places to visit. I fished these waters a lot when I came home from Vietnam. There was something about the water and the place that put me into a different state of mind. I have yet to find that here in Florida. SURE there is a lot of water and rivers here, but it's the people and the mountains that are missing.

[@sandydeel400]

I really enjoyed this video and learning some of the history behind this beautiful place. The footage you captured was great. It's kinda sad how beautiful places like this and their history have somewhat faded from our minds. Thanks for showcasing another great town in the Great Appalachia's.

[@MountainRoots]

Thanks for watching!!

[@alysonrdiaz]

You tell the stories of these, almost forgotten, towns beautifully🤎 Loved all of the visuals you captured! Also, Hinton is a beautiful place for a ride out on your motorcycle 😉

[@MountainRoots]

Great place for riding a bike! Thanks for watching 😊

[@LD-jg3vq]

Seeing Hinton this way was wonderful. I remember it as a child and it seemed so sad. But in this light, it's a place I want to revisit.

[@stevemeador2188]

My hometown❤

[@gregorycam66]

Dude, your videos are amazing. Like other's have said, your storytelling is wonderful and i really enjoy listening and learning. Thank you for these videos!!

[@russlong7175]

My mother's people came from Hinton West Virginia. I was there when I was young.

[@rexfranks1159]

Another awesome video. Thanks show me Appalachia. My grandparents are from Northern West Virginia, PA, and Ohio. Steel towns that are along the Ohio River and now mostly forgotten. Still a nice ride on a motorcycle. I'm in florida now and I miss the Appalachian mountains. Your videos make me long to return to that area. I miss the peaceful, slower pace of that time in my life. Thanks for sharing.

[@MountainRoots]

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@SomenathChakraborty]

Nice vlog, In summer there is Appalachian festival happens in Hinton there, In 2022, I experience that and visited Hinton many times , amazed by it's beauty!

[@dianamoody7251]

Been there growing up in the 1950’s.

[@zxtenn]

Interesting and beautiful scenery, before i bought my house in Quinwood i looked and was interested in a place in Pineville, right on the road to the Hatfield and McCoy trails. I consider many parts of WV the 'last frontier', i have a friend in Beckley and that town has its share of crime but most places crime is FAR lower than the average. I remember the old John Henry fable and good to know it was real not just folk law, the moral of the story i think is work and hard work is fine but don't kill yourself or attempt something that will kill you.

[@SparksofOhio]

Great overview of this town, my wife and I traveled all over Ohio and saw all 88 county courthouses and for our next adventure we want to see all the parks in WV that have waterfalls that are ADA accessible. Thanks again for the excellent videography as well. ❤️✌️😎

[@MountainRoots]

Thanks so much for watching, happy travels!

[@magsdayz1995]

Pretty nice town. One day I gotta get over there and have a drive around WV myself. Great videos!

[@MountainRoots]

Do it, definitely a place to explore!

[@sitaguptarealvlogs8845]

Very nice

[@neilbruce123]

I love this area and the Bluestone Lake!

[@t.s.racing]

Another awesome video, thank you. The young bucks at the end were absolutely beautiful. ( off the record, they did have me craving a venison burger, just sayin ).

[@MountainRoots]

I know what you mean 😉...thanks for watching!

[@markfletcher8084]

Pipestem State Park would be a great place to explore.

[@MountainRoots]

It's a beautiful park!

[@kendeel7474]

Loved the info-packed narration and the visuals were exquisite; kudos!

[@MountainRoots]

Glad you liked it, thx for watching!

[@hunter415]

Nice meeting you in SWVA today, what a small world. Appreciate the unique history shared and excellent footage of Appalachia. Safe travels!

[@MountainRoots]

It was great meeting you too- hope you enjoy your time exploring the area!

[@sandrasmith7091]

When was this filmed? Came through there summers on way to Princeton 2004-07. They were starting construction on dam. We always stop. Didn't realize how much they were going to do. Last time I been through there was 21.

[@MountainRoots]

Appx. August 2022. Lots of work!

[@IronskullGM]

This my hometown.

[@chrispowers1992]

You should cover rainelle and the meadow river lumber company

[@eileenspamer]

its beautiful from uk granny

[@murdock3594]

we own a bait and tackle shop in Hinton and crab orchard. You should have came down and checked us out. You would have been more than welcome!!!

[@MountainRoots]

Thanks, maybe next time!

[@karengaines3835]

Thanks so much for this video. Southern West Virginia is so beautiful with the mountains in the background. All I knew of Hinton was that’s where we catch the Amtrak to and from Chicago!

[@lenghtofpull]

I'll be doing a rally starting and ending in Hinton in late July. I'm so excited and happy that places like this are opening up to us to come and enjoy their area. The rally will raise money for people that have lost their children, and boost the local economy. Thanks Hinton, I look forward to visiting with my friends and family

[@rodlong1802]

I am DEFINITELY visiting this place in the near future.. what a gem

[@jolienshade478]

Just found you on KZbin and some very nice videos good work keep it up thank you 😊

[@MountainRoots]

Thank you!

[@Steve-Duh-Rino]

Heard of Hinton most of my life but didn’t know anything about it. Beautiful river scenery!

[@jb856]

Great work sir. Thank you!

[@MountainRoots]

Appreciate it, thanks for watching!

[@dralbertpakin8895]

Wow Great drone photos

[@3derevo3]

I live in Hinton. It's beautiful but economically depressed, with very limited infrastructure and nothing to do except enjoy nature

[@TheCuberism]

Just stumbled across your videos, great stuff!

[@MountainRoots]

Glad you found them & enjoy them, appreciate you watching!

[@heatherfulmore3412]

The area looks nice.

[@bretparker8533]

My parents owned a cabin down the road from Hinton my whole childhood. Was the best times, grew up on the Greenbrier river

[@southerlandstation]

Thanks

[@MountainRoots]

You bet!

[@NathanWaddell193]

Come to Raleigh West Virginia we have some historical places here

[@MountainRoots]

Planning on it!

[@dylanmccormick5338]

Moonville ohio

[@judypierce7028]

Thank you for such an awesome video of Hinton. I was born and raised in Dunbar which is close to Charleston. I have always heard about Hinton, but in the 30 years I lived in WV, never had a chance to visit. Thanks for taking me along.

[@MountainRoots]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jimjustice581]

I’m sure everybody shares my opinion of what a great job of narrating your videos you do. While the video would be enjoyable without sound, your narrative style, musical choices, and the excellent research you do make this a channel I’m proud to share with others.

[@MountainRoots]

Wow, thank you! Really appreciate the feedback!!

[@nursehemp7280]

Thanks for showcasing the beautiful town of Hinton!!

[@MountainRoots]

Glad you liked it, appreciate you watching!

[@johnd5244]

Beautiful area with lots of history. Thank you for sharing.

[@MountainRoots]

Absolutely, thanks for watching!

[@darcee3350]

That's a gorgeous area. Can't wait to go back!

[@ironhorse7588]

Beautiful drone shots👍 Great v🙏🇺🇸

[@leemz6134]

greeting from china

[@MountainRoots]

Greetings!

[@leemz6134]

@@MountainRoots you are making excellent videos. i love your shots and drone picturing, which capture the beauty of wv. keep going bro, watching your video is a pleasure for me.

[@hyunsunyun5538]

Very beautiful Video !!!!

[@MountainRoots]

Thank you!

[@andyzehner3347]

Thanks for this one. I went 60 miles out of my way to see there John Henry memorial there.

[@MountainRoots]

You're welcome!

[@wg4299]

Great job!!

[@MountainRoots]

Thanks!

[@WVCBUS08]

My family’s hometown!

[@MountainRoots]

Nice!

[@mhurley782]

Love it.

[@MountainRoots]

So glad to hear that!

[@jugg1492]

Thank you

[@MountainRoots]

You're welcome!

[@robertgates2939]

can not wait to see all of the places in person come the spring

[@MountainRoots]

It will be beautiful!

Who was John Henry

[@joannpolidori7379]

Darren Polidori

[@rickmeadows686]

Hinton is not the home of John Henry. Talcott, WV is….

[@MountainRoots]

Correct, I don't think I said otherwise. Thanks for watching!