Smalltown West Virginia- Scenic HWY 52 

From Washington State live in Tennessee and I think West Virginia is the most beautiful state. You can just smell nature there. I love it there.

I was born and raised in West Virginia. Love ❤ and miss it.

6:31 "How'd you like to grow up in a place like this?" I did, and it was magical. I've spent my entire adult life chasing the peace and happiness I felt growing up in a small town in SE WV. The beauty of the Appalachian mountains is unmatched.

Oh those beautiful west Virginia mountains

Some of the most beautiful state highways run through West Virginia.

West Virginia is such a beautiful state!

I grew up in WV as did my parents. One of the few rural states left. I hope it stays that way. We had fun as kids playing in creeks, climbing hills, trees, etc. Too bad kids these days don't have that. We grew up appreciating nature.

I live in Bluefield WV. The best part of Rt 52 is going up over East River Mountain (not going through the tunnel). All the great views are at the top, the scenic overlook is pretty awesome.

I've been in West Virginia ³for my whole life 46 years I love it nothing like home in the mountains

Wow! this is almost heaven...

I used to go to bluefield all the time I am from Williamson West Virginia and the train used to go from bluefield to Williamson. I lived in Florida and I also lived in Williamson West Virginia we went to that train station me and my brother when I was like 13 or 14 he was like five or six and we went alone. I took care of him and we went all the way to Williamson to visit family. I remember it back then how it was. I don't even know if the train even runs anymore through there but I've been away for a long time and when I would get to Williamson the train would take me right into Portsmouth Ohio where my aunt and family lived. Thank you so much for showing me these pictures that I had forgotten about so long ago at least 50 years ago. Thank you for showing me all this and reminded me of home where I used to live and ride the train and 52 with always a route that our family would take from Florida into West Virginia 52 also runs to Huntington West Virginia I'm pretty sure. I sure do miss seeing all this l and wish I could see it again . Thank you so very very much for showing me 52 again and all the years that I spent traveling on it as a child all my family is dead now in Florida and then Williamson and Portsmouth last year I lost my aunt she was 96 who lived in Portsmouth Ohio the last of my father family that I loved and missed so much and I lost my mother and my oldest son and 3 aunts. This meant a lot to me seeing this I always think about route 52 always when I think of home

Wow never thought about you'd be coming thru my hometown! My dad will be so excited! Watching your channel on Sundays is a tradition. Thank you for showing the area's beauty and not it's poverty due to the coalfields dying out. Please continue safe travels.

Great video. As a native West Virginian, I agree we have some very scenic highways

When I was a kid, my dad was from WV and we lived in Alabama so every year we went to WV and traveled 52. It went over 3 mountains named at that time Bushy, Big Walker, and of course Bluefield Mountain. In Bluefield we hopped the turnpike which is now 77 and still charges today for the same stretch of road. Going over those three mountains was scary as a kid but I wish I could find them now and go over them again with adult eyes to enjoy the scenery. I do have a picture of us as a family on top of Blucfield Mountain with the town of Bluefield in the distance. Good memories!

Nice to see that my yard had been done when you passed my house rite before the Harley Dealership! Safe travels!

Ha! My parents met in Bluefield WV in 1951. Both school teachers taking their students to a music competition, he from Wheeling and she from Huntington. How random!

Thank you so much. From a West Virginia native who’s handicapped this means the world to me

Thank you. I spent a few childhood years @ 225 Parkway in Bluefield. Brings tears to my eyes, my heart belongs to West Virginia. Am coming back soon!

Russ, Bluefield, WV. is in my neck of the woods. Wish I had of known you were passing thru. I would of bought your dinner and supplied you with a site to overnight park. Next time!👍👍

I am fascinated by old pictures , they show how much things have changed over time .

You missed the exhibition coal mine at Beckley. You can ride a coal car down into a mine. Some of the company houses are still there. It is worth the trip just to see that. It makes you appreciate coal miners, the people who keep the lights on. Those who condemn coal have enjoyed the electricity all of these years not knowing the sacrifices that were made for them to turn on the switch. God's gift to mankind is the abundant natural resources. I am proud to be a lifelong West Virginia resident.

Went to West Va 3 yrs ago, we loved it and will be going back! Thoroughly enjoying watching these videos!!!!

I love my home state of West Virginia. Beautiful state.

Good ol' Bluefield, place of my birth. Left in 1988 at the age of 7, haven't been back since. It's crazy, but I still recognized a lot of what he showed of downtown from my childhood.

Great video Russ, we have been to Beckley and have rafted the white water of the New River West Virginia is beautiful and I have yet to see anything in the States that match the scenic history and geographic splendor of the area, hence John Denver's song Almost Heaven. Stay well and have fun.

Don’t forget to get a famous Slaw Dog and pepperoni roll in WV!

I've lived in WV outside of Romney for 36 years, absolutely love it

Born and raised in WV and moved to NC years ago. We travel home all the time up 77 and through 3 tunnels and then hit the WV turnpike in Charleston, WV. I’ve traveled the route your taking many a time but not lately, so its wonderful to see. Thanks and be safe. I’m sure there is always so much to see in every State, but you need to look up Harpers Ferry, WV. Lots of history, scenery and a fabulous overlook that is an amazing photo opportunity, especially for the drone.

I am a native West Virginian and am very familiar with the countryside you have shown. It is beautiful scenery and 52 is a highway that I have traveled many, many times.

This is what I call living your best Life. I enjoy watching this.

My state of West Virginia is rich in history of famous people. Poets, Authors, Football/ Baseball players, Actors/Actresses and much much more. My town of Red House. Wonderful tour. Thank you.

I spent every summer in Bluefield WV with my grandmother. It was the highlight of my childhood. At 12:25 the house with the green roof on the left.. I made out with the girl who lived there and I thought I was so cool! Wow haha what memories!

Great video!!! I was born and raised in Powhatan WV located on 52 about 18 miles from Bluefield. My father and grandfather came to Powhatan in 1920 to work in the coal mines. There's not much left of the town now.

Thank you for sharing so much of our country's history along the way. We need to remember that we have more in common & share that common history rather than the divisiveness politicians are trying to spread. It's 1 USA & we need to remember that. You are so great at showing us & tacitly reminding us of the great country we have thru all your shared travels.🥰 Love driving E from Central TX toward all the greenery E of the Mississippi. While it's beautiful back E, there's nothing like heading W & coming back to the wide open spaces & skies. We lived in MD for a while & drove all over the East coast. There's so much history & everything to see & visit there. But 💙❤ always W.

Wow you missed the most beautiful part of the ride....you should have went straight instead of going thru East River Mountain tunnel....there is a scenic overlook at the top of the mountain that has a breathtaking view....but I'm from McDowell County which rt 52 cuts right through...welcome to wild and wonderful West Virginia...

Cannot believe you just rode through Northfork, where I graduated High School, and the little town just after called Keystone (but you missed the sign and thought you were still in Northfork) where I used to live. My father pastored there and married me and my husband in 1977 in the church on the hill right beside the parsonage (the house beside the church with the red roof)! So many memories all the way to Welch (home of Steve Harvey) where we got our marriage license! Thanks Russ! Glad you enjoyed my old stomping grounds! ❤️

Appreciate you taking the time to pause and zoom in a bit on the story boards Russ! I know you always seem to be in a hurry to get on with the trip but its one of the reasons I suscribe to channels like yours. I learn a lot and plan my own trips!! Love this series!! Keep it up!! Thank you!

I so enjoy seeing your travels! Thank you for sharing them with us.

Proud to say I grew up running these roads. Route 52 and route 97. Wyoming county WV! Thanks for posting this. It's weird I'm in North Carolina now and this part of highway 52 is called Andy Griffith highway and it leads all the way back home to WV! Miss it! Thanks again!

Hey Russ!!! Keep those "WHEELS" A "ROLLING "!!! Be Safe!!!

Makes me want to go on a road trip to visit all these out of the way towns

Beautiful. I used to travel by GRAYHOUND , and they took this winding scenic route.

Just drove through Hawks Nest area ..Clifftop Rd.. had all my kids in the back, just cruising. Didnt make it home to Charleston, WV until 930pm. Had a wonderful time. Its even beautiful at night! God bless & be safe. ❤

All states have their beauty but I have to put West Virginia at the top.

Beautiful old towns. Be safe and thanks Russ. 🚐

I'm from West Virginia & that was a step back in time for me! Thank you

Nice ride along the scenic route. Be careful out there, dingbat drivers. Like those stops and ride throughs of the small towns with histiry at each corner. 😊👍

💚I can’t believe he pulled out in front of us like that!😬 Thank you... Best Wishes & Safe Travels!!

I just moved to Bluefield, Va. and I love it.

Tudors biscuit world is on rt 52 in bluewell and their is a location in Bluefield wva. I hope you had a chance to stop in for breakfast.

Thank you for the drive. I am looking at moving to the area, but because of the pandemic haven't been able to physically go there yet. This is giving me a really nice view of what the area looks like.

My daddy was born and raised in McDowell county back in 1934 and all my family live in and around Bluefield. I loved your video and I can't wait to move back and raise my kids in wild and wonderful West Virginia!! Stay safe on your travel's

Howdy Russ!! Hope you have a great memorial day weekend 👍

I love WV. 💘 we're fixing to buy a house up there off of us 52. We ride the Hatfield and McCoy trail. It's so beautiful 😍

That building was probably one of the originals 5:05. When the road in front of it was nothing more than a wagon track!

Loving your travels off the beaten path Russ. Thank you for sharing this beautiful Country with those of us who can't travel it for ourselves.

I grew up in Rocky Gap haven’t been there in 30 years was so awesome to see your video my parents use to run that last red brick store on the left and that big white building on the left with the wagon wheels was my grandmothers home it use to have a concrete dam behind it we’re we fished for trout . Also those amazing east river mountain tunnels my dad helped build them what a trip down memory lane thank you 😉 makes me want to go home 🏡

I grew up in Princeton, only about ten miles away from Bluefield. Going to Bluefield seemed like going to the big city, which in most ways, it was, at least in the 1950s. It was about four times larger than Princeton. There was even a parking garage in Bluefield! Anyone remember the old advertising slogan, "Cross the Bridge and Save a Dollar?" Or the late Saturday night news with Big Jim Dalton? (I think that was his name). Or O.C. Young, Tiny Thompson, Scoop & Snoop? Or driving out to the airport to watch airplanes come in? The drive-in movies on the way to Princeton?

Stonewall Jackson sang a song about being in Bluefield. Thank you for showing me. Safe travels.

I love your videos and i will say also my state of west virginia is beautiful i have no intention of ever leaving! i st love it!

I was born and raised in Williamson WV. My Dad worked for the railroad and his run was to Bluefield.

Happy to find this clip. Im in Wood County....)love my state. Very blessed to live here.

I am originally from Morgantown WV but lived in Beckley and then Bluefield in 1987/88. Thanks for your video. It brought back memories. Route 52 definitely brought back memories.

My dad was head mechanic for the Buffalo Creek and Gauley Railroad that hauled coal out of Widen, West Virginia.

Thanks for the tour of Bluefield, WVA. I was born there.

The silo thing was the coal tover. steam engines had a tender which carried coal for fuel, engine pulled thru tower and tender was loaded. most have been torn done but historical society probably saved that one.

Thank you for sharing ! Beautiful ❤️!

What a find! My only disappointment was that you stopped your video in Bluefield. I was born and raised in Maitland, W.Va. just north of Bluefield along Hwy 52 and was hoping to see my Dads' parents old homeplace in Bramwell where we used to visit and sit on the porch and watch the traffic go by just in front of the house. I had Uncles and their families that lived along US 52 in Norfolk before you would have gotten to Kimball where I first went to school, then Maitland where I was born on the side of the mountain overlooking a major coal mine where my dad worked. It has been a while since my last visit to that area. I wish you had continued your ride and video. Keep up the fine work looking for scenic places. Thanks for the ride along.

Drove this highway many times in the early 70s. Bluefield is a great town. In it’s hay day the huge coal trains would gather in Bluefield reaching Princeton to the east. They had at least twelve tracks abreast all with coal cars as far as the eye could see.

West Virginia wild and wonderful. Country Roads Take me Home to the place I belong West Virginia.

Thankyou Russ ,love the country drives ,,been thru that tunnel before with another vlogger

When you get up here to Pennsylvania swing by and I’ll buy you dinner !! Lots of scenic and historic places around home to see too. 👍🏻 Safe travels Russ !!!!

I've driven the entirety of 52 thru WV many times- many fond memories of beholding beauty!

Awesome tour today! Thank you.

Jeez, Russ, that driver must have been nippin' at some of the local white-lightning before getting behind the wheel and pulling a stunt like that. Goes to show it's not just the big cities where one needs to have the head on a swivel. That silo-ish structure was likely a coal tipple, a remnant from steam locomotive days that just isn't worth the money it would cost to demolish. Hope you're enjoying things here in the east; safe travels.

Beautiful seeing this. West Virginia is my home even though I live in Texas now. And I did grow up in a small town very similar to Bluefield. The train was an extra treat as my dad was a train engineer 40 years. Thank you, this made my evening.

You don't have to go through East River Mt. tunnel you can go over the mountain if you would have stayed on 52 and there is a overlook at the top at the state line.

My wife and I once traveled US 52 out of Mount Airy, NC north to the Blue Ridge Drive. That was a scary drive climbing up that hill lol and yet it was beautiful at the same time. Love driving back country roads! Safe travels sir.

Great little town. I might be wrong but I think Dave’s RV life is up that way somewhere. Thanks for today cruise around, stay safe!

My family went to stay in wv they loved this beautiful state and people were sweet as pie

In the 90s I was driving tour bus, did a lot of spring break trips to Florida running down I 77,Some out of Canada or NY/Pa, Always went through that area in the dark of night both ways. I would have liked to see that country in the daylight. I always imagine what it must have been like to run bus trips before the interstates were built.

The state line it the middle of the ridge of East River Mt. You actually enter WV in the middle of the tunnel. That's just where the sign is located.

That's my home state. I'm from Clarksburg and raised in Philippi, it's a real small town. It's a beautiful state. You should go by the new rivet gorge Bridge, it's the newest national park

My home state. Beautiful state. Living in Nebraska, now. Enjoy!

Great video, thanks for posting it. I grew up in Mercer County, Princeton, 10-miles from Bluefield. As a kid a big treat for me was to ride the Tri City Traction bus from Princeton to Bluefield, think it cost a dime, and go to the movies at the Granda Theater on a Saturday afternoon, often a double feature western then ride the bus home. Back then a kid could do that without fear or parents worrying. Couple of things you should have seen. First had you stayed on Rt 52 and come across East River Mountain instead of getting back on the Interstate well let me just say that is the best part of 52 and at you topped the mountain you could have pulled over at the overlook and gotten a great shot of Bluefield and the surrounding area. Next, the Granada Theater in downtown Bluefield has been beautifully restored and it is amazing to see. You were so close to it but at the time you filmed the renovation may have still been in the works. I was there at the library just across the street from it for a book signing of my book In Search Of A River back in May of 2022 and we got to go inside and see the beautiful finished product. Brought back good memories this morning to watch your video.

I own 240 acres in Bekly West Virginia it’s been in the family for over 150 years it’s beautiful country but it’s also the poorest state travel well and grandkids says hello Russ take care lance and family

Would love to move to West Virginia ❤ I live in NYC, so a breath of fresh air would be welcome 💯

Bluefield WV was my home for nine years. I was the pastor of that big`Ole church you saw on your left coming down the street with all the houses. You want stories? I could tell you hundreds but would not scratch the surface of the past 150 years. I may retire there in a few years.

Thanks for Sharing Russ! Really nice video! Thanks again! Love that country.

Good filming easy on the eyes and excellent narration.

FYI, Many of the buildings in Bluefield are old mining offices of independent coal operators before consolidation into bigger operations. Additionally, the store fronts that look like department stores were company stores run by the mine companies in which script rather than dollars were used. Kinda the Bitcoin of the early 20th century you might say. I spent more than 25 yrs. in the Appalachian coalfields with Route 52 as the hub.

👍 Love the old towns. Thanks!

Thanks Russ, My Great Grandfather was from Tazewell Va. I seen a sign in your video. I was born in West Virginia and I have to go back and visit, it has been way too long.

West Virginia is beautiful. Thank you.

As alway's, thanks for the ride most enjoyable trip. Excellent work !

I used to live in Bluefield from 2015 to 2019 for college, thank you for stopping by.

Those "old time appartment buildings" were most likely an old mill or factory once upon a time, turned apartment building. Its the way of things back east.

I'm stoked to see you so far east, Russ. I'm probably hoping for too much for you to come towards North Jersey. Lots of history here.

I started in the 70’s and have drove back roads for entertainment every since.

WE LOVE THAT PACE