Perhaps the most interesting parts of any road trip are the unexpected things you’ll find along the way. West Virginia is no stranger to bizarre roadside attractions, either (you can see nine of the most bizarre here). But we’re also known to have some very cool and quirky finds hiding along our back roads as well.

Among the treasured finds hidden roadside in West Virginia is a most unusual and beautiful structure built in the height of The Great Depression.
Waymarking/Shamrock503
It's called Pinoak Fountain, and oddly enough, it was built by the WV State Road Commission.
Flickr/Justin A. Wilcox
It's a springs fountain whose water was powered by gravity, as the actual spring was located up the hill behind the fountain. When visiting, you can almost imagine what an inspiration the fountain must have been in the hard times of the Great Depression. Back in the day, it was the site of many celebrations and picnics. People would gather here and spend the day.
Wikipedia/Justin A. Wilcox, Romney, West Virginia, United States
Nowadays, people go well out of their way to visit this unusual roadside fountain to see the handcrafted structure made of stone quarried from the nearby hillside. Visitors must look up to see one of the most remarkable features of the structure... a spiky layer of crystal quartz lines the ceiling.
Flickr/Justin A. Wilcox

Related Stories

Travel 800 Feet To The Bottom Of The New River Gorge On This Scenic West Virginia Road

Travel 800 Feet To The Bottom Of The New River Gorge On This Scenic West Virginia Road

 Visiting This One Mountain Lake In West Virginia Is Like Experiencing A Dream

Visiting This One Mountain Lake In West Virginia Is Like Experiencing A Dream

 Get Away From It All At This Crystal Clear Lake In West Virginia

Get Away From It All At This Crystal Clear Lake In West Virginia
On one side, the springs fountain features a convenient stone step and an actual drinking fountain...
Flickr/Justin A. Wilcox
... and on the other side a sink was installed under the stream of water to make it easier to fill containers with the water flowing from the spring.
Flickr/Justin A. Wilcox
If you're driving a good distance to visit Pinoak Fountain, then take the time to drive a little further to the north ...
Google Maps
In Paw Paw, you'll find a cozy little local eatery named Amanda's Place. It's perfect for lunch or an early dinner.
Google Maps/Randy E
The family restaurant dishes up hearty meals of soups, salads, and meat and potatoes combos that'll make you glad you stopped. (It's located at 104 Winchester St, Paw Paw, WV 25434.)
Google Maps/Sam Politano

Have you discovered the historic Pinoak Fountain just outside of Paw Paw yet? Pinoak Fountain is available 24 hours a day. (Amanda’s Place is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

For another kind of natural spring in the Mountain State, head to this famous warm spring!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore West Virginia

Featured Addresses
104 Winchester St, Paw Paw, WV 25434