Jackson County · West Virginia · Almost Heaven
Two river towns. Hundreds of thousands of annual visitors. America's largest small-town Independence Day. Kayak trails, Ohio River sunsets, and moonshine poured from the cornstalk to the bottle. This is the West Virginia they don't put on the postcards.
Where the Appalachians meet the Ohio River — Ripley and Ravenswood, West Virginia
A curated selection of Jackson County businesses worth your time — editorially reviewed, not just listed.
Featured Partner
Cedar Lakes Conference Center
Event Venue & Lodging · Ripley, WV
West Virginia's most-visited venue — 450 acres with four lakes, 30 buildings, and overnight lodging for groups of 20 to 500. Home of the Mountain State Art & Craft Fair and the 1887 Staats Mill Covered Bridge. Open year-round for conferences, weddings, youth camps, disc golf, and hiking. Four miles from downtown Ripley.
Featured Partner
Appalachian Distillery
Distillery & Tasting Room · Ripley, WV
Craft moonshine produced from the cornstalk to the bottle in Ripley, WV. Traditional white lightning alongside signature WV flavors — paw paw, blackberry, peach, and strawberry lemonade. One of the most distinctive and unexpected stops in the region.
Featured Partner
Great Bend Campground & Marina
Camping & Marina · Ravenswood, WV
Ravenswood's Ohio River base camp. Full hookup RV sites from $40/night, boat slips from $10/night, and direct access to the river at Washington's Riverfront Park. Within 45 miles of Cedar Lakes, Parkersburg, and Charleston — the ideal staging point for the whole region.
Limited availability
Your Business Here
A featured card at the top of this page — the first thing every visitor reads about Jackson County businesses.
$45 / month · Cancel anytime · No long-term contract
No setup fee · We write your copy and you approve it before it goes live · Card live within 5 business days · Cancel any time and your card comes down at the end of the month.
Featured partners get a full editorial description we write for you, a photo-background showcase card, social media mentions, event cross-listing, and quarterly click analytics. Your business name doesn't just appear — it gets remembered.
Become a PartnerJackson County sits between Charleston and Parkersburg along the Ohio River — close enough to reach from half a dozen states, far enough to feel like another world. A place people return to every July 4th, that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors a year across its marquee events, and that has been quietly worth visiting for over 150 years.
Its two towns have distinct characters. Ripley, the county seat, is the kind of American small town that gets voted Most Community Pride and actually deserves it. Ravenswood, on the Ohio River, was named after a hero from a Walter Scott novel and is building something new on the banks of one of America's great rivers.
Drag or swipe to explore four defining Jackson County experiences.
Drag to explore
Ripley and Ravenswood sit 11 miles apart and cover everything from Appalachian craft spirits to Ohio River sunsets.
Conference & Event Venue
Four miles from downtown sits West Virginia's most-visited venue — 450 acres with four lakes, lodging for hundreds, and year-round events and workshops.
Craft Distillery
Ripley is home to one of WV's most distinctive craft spirits producers — traditional moonshine and unique WV flavors made cornstalk to bottle.
Water Trail
A 20+ mile kayak journey from Ripley to Cottageville along Mill Creek — one of West Virginia's most accessible and scenic water trails.
Artisan Market & Historic Theatre
Over 100 local artisans, live performances, concerts, and film at a Main Street landmark operating since 1936.
City Park & Recreation
Olympic-size pool with water slide, skateboard park, lit tennis courts, picnic shelters, and a gazebo. Ripley's community hub — free to visit.
Trail System
The Kevin Clegg Trail System at Eastwood Recreation Area — nine trails totaling 13 miles across 120 acres. Hiking, mountain biking, and trail running for all skill levels. Actively expanding.
Ohio Riverfront
Washington's Riverfront Park on the Ohio River — fishing, boat launch, bird watching, walking trails, and a performance stage hosting major acts each August.
Local History & Museum
Native American roots through the 20th century, including a remarkable early-1900s photography exhibit documenting Ravenswood in extraordinary detail.
Campground & Marina
Full RV hookups, boat slips, and direct Ohio River access — within 45 miles of three major markets.
Ohio River Festival
Major performers, fireworks by Premier Pyrotechnics, a crazy boat race, and a full carnival at Washington's Riverfront Park each August.
Downtown Revival
Ravenswood's OnTRAC Main Street program is bringing new energy to Washington Street. New businesses, events, and the annual Harvest in the Wood festival.
A quick reference to local restaurants — no chains listed. Want the full story on a specific restaurant? Featured Partners get an editorial description visitors actually read.
Ripley
Ravenswood
Directory growing with Ravenswood's OnTRAC revitalization — submit your listing.
Is your restaurant listed here?
A basic listing puts your name in front of every visitor. A Featured Partnership is how they actually learn about you — full editorial description, photo card, and placement at the top of the page where visitors make decisions.
Independent local shops in Ripley and Ravenswood. For the full Ripley business directory, see shopripleywv.com.
Ripley
Ravenswood
More Ravenswood shops opening on Washington Street with OnTRAC revitalization — submit your listing.
Full Directory
Is your shop listed here?
A basic listing puts your name in front of every visitor planning a Jackson County trip. A Featured Partnership is how they read about you — editorial description, photo card, and top-of-page placement before they even arrive.
Jackson County runs on community. These are the annual events that have been drawing people for generations.
July 2–5, 2026 · Annual
Ripley, WV · Downtown & Courthouse Lawn
America's Largest Small-Town Independence Day. Six days — a 200-unit parade, carnival rides, Firecracker 2-Miler, watermelon contest, and free concerts. 2026 performers: Darryl Worley, Bucky Covington, Johnny Staats Project. Population swells from 3,000 to 20,000.
Free Entry Official siteJuly 3–5, 2026 · Annual
Cedar Lakes Conference Center, Ripley
One of West Virginia's premier craft events during July 4th weekend. Regional artisans, folk art, handmade goods, and workshops. Founded as part of WV's 1963 Centennial — seventh decade running.
Cedar Lakes DetailsJuly 2026 · Annual
Jackson County Fairgrounds, Cottageville, WV
Youth projects, livestock competitions, carnival rides, local food, and community traditions. A cornerstone of Jackson County's farming heritage and one of the year's most family-friendly events.
Family EventJuly 31 – Aug 2, 2026 · Annual
Washington's Riverfront Park, Ravenswood
Three days on the Ohio River — live bands, food trucks, craft vendors, a crazy boat race, pet pageant, carnival rides, and fireworks. Free admission and free riverfront parking.
Free Admission ScheduleFall 2026 · Annual
Downtown Ravenswood, WV
Ravenswood's beloved autumn festival. Local vendors, artisans, food, and fall color along the historic Washington Street corridor.
Downtown RavenswoodNovember 2026 · Annual
Ripley, WV · Jackson County Courthouse
Hundreds of photo posters of veterans and current service members lead a uniquely moving parade to a courthouse ceremony.
Free & OpenOne puts your name in a list. One puts your story in front of every visitor who finds this guide.
Basic Directory
Free
Your name, category, and website link in our county directory. Factual entry only — no editorial copy, no cards, no top-of-page placement.
Featured Partner
$45/month
A full showcase card at the top of the page — the first thing visitors read after the hero. Editorial copy we write for you.
Premium Sponsor
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Category exclusivity, editorial features, and co-branded content. Coming soon — limited availability.
These figures describe Jackson County tourism and the regional market — not traffic to this site. Want our current site visitor numbers before you commit? Ask us and we'll share them.
County Business Directory — Free Listings
Name & link only · No editorial copy
Basic listings are reference entries: name, category, and website link. That's it. For a designed card, editorial description, and top-of-page placement — see Featured Partner above.
To add your business to the free directory, email us with your name, category, and website.
Submit Your ListingTwo unhurried days from Columbus, Pittsburgh, or Charleston — about a 2.5-hour drive. Here's how to spend them.
Day One
Ripley & Cedar Lakes
Day Two
Ravenswood & the Ohio River
There's a reason to come in every season — not just the Fourth of July.
Spring
Quiet trails, rising creeks for paddling, and green hills before the summer crowds. The mildest weather for hiking.
Summer
Peak season. The legendary July 2–5 Independence Day celebration, the Mountain State Art & Craft Fair, and the August Ohio River Festival. Book lodging months ahead.
Fall
Appalachian foliage, the Harvest in the Wood festival in Ravenswood, and the best photography light of the year along the river.
Winter
The quiet off-season — distillery tastings, cozy small-town dining, and the moving Veterans Day Parade carrying into the holidays.
From full-service conference lodging to Ohio River campsites, Jackson County has room for you.
Conference & Event Lodging
Cedar Lakes — Holt Lodge
Hotel-style accommodations on the Cedar Lakes grounds. 440 beds across 9 cottages plus Main and Mountaineer Lodges. Ideal for groups of 20 to 500.
82 FFA Drive, Ripley · (304) 372-7860
Bed & Breakfast
The Ravenswood Inn
A restored Late Victorian home with three rooms, cooked-to-order breakfast with WV ingredients, and walking distance to Washington's Riverfront Park. No online booking — call for reservations.
400 Walnut Street, Ravenswood · (304) 532-7102
RV & Tent Camping
Great Bend Campground
Full hookup RV sites from $40/night, boat slips from $10/night. Direct Ohio River access. Within 45 miles of Cedar Lakes, Parkersburg, and Charleston.
Ravenswood, WV
Campground & Cabins
Statts Mills RV Park & Cabins
Seven furnished, pet-friendly cabins and 15 full-hookup RV sites on 217-acre Lake O'Brien — 15 minutes off I-77. Kayaking, fishing, WiFi, and bathhouse on site.
5445 Statts Mills Rd, Ripley · (304) 373-0030
Hotels — Ripley
National Brands at Exit 138
Quality Inn from $64/night, Super 8 from $70/night, Holiday Inn Express from $122/night — all at Exit 138 on I-77. Free WiFi and breakfast included. Book 6+ months ahead for July 4th weekend.
Book far ahead for July 4th — rooms sell out county-wide
Getting Here
Jackson County is Central
Ripley sits on I-77 between Charleston and Parkersburg. Under 90 minutes from Huntington WV and Athens OH. Columbus OH: ~2.5 hours. Pittsburgh: ~3 hours.
Exit 138 on I-77 · Ripley, WV 25271