Parks & Recreation
Every community is defined by the quality of its public spaces. Spencer has been recognized as one of the top ten most beautiful cities in West Virginia and our quality municipal public lands are a major part of what makes this the Best Hometown in this state. With hundreds of acres of open public lands to explore, what we lack in terms of state or federal parks and forests we make up for with municipal property. Outdoor recreation employs more than three times the number of Americans than the Oil & Gas industry and accounts for employent of more than 46,000 West Virginians. With more than $14 million spent each year on travel tourism in Roane County alone, we strive to improve and diversify our outdoor recreation for public enjoyment and a sustainable, healthy economy for our community.
Charles Fork Lake
The signature public land for Spencer is Charles Fork Lake. A 70 acre impoundment located just south of Spencer on WV Rt 36 features 1,600 acres and 21 miles of trails in pristine Appalachian backcountry for you to explore. The lake is well known for world class walleye, musky and bass fishing. Paddlers flock to these waters for a peaceful glide across the waters where they might see blue herons or even a bald eagle.
The Tour de Lake Mountain Bike Race is one of the most popular and longest running events in the WV Mountain Biking Association points series. The lake has hosted bass fishing tournaments and is home to the annual bluegill tournament for kids ran by the local Sal font Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
Charles Fork Lake features camping with electric hookups at $20/night and $10/night for non-electric sites. Vault toilets are available at the campground and a beautiful picnic pavilion for your birthday party, family reunion or other activity at no charge (first come, first serve). For campground rules please click here.
Ben's Run
Ben's Run is one of the coolest inner-city trail systems in West Virginia with a winery at one trailhead, the city pool and Washington Park at the other, and the iconic Ben's Run Dam in between! With six miles of beautiful trails located almost right downtown, what a perfect place to escape for an afternoon hike or to make your destination for a weekend mountain biking stay-cation.
The trails were created in 2015 thanks to a $40,000 grant from the WV Department of Transportation. There are challenging "rock gardens", a beautiful tumbling stream, quaint bridges, and quiet benches for you to sit and relax, pray, or write your next big literary piece. The trails are super well marked with signs at all junctions, detailed trail maps and even "Fire Tack" markers for night hiking/riding.
Washington Park
One of Spencer's first city parks. When the Holswade Addition to Spencer was first subdivided, founders had the foresight to create a park space for the community. While the park has had a wide variety of recreation resources over the years and a big change in the roads and buildings around it, today it still features the historic Washington Park entrance sign and old growth hardwoods shading modern playgrounds.
Located at the south entrance to the city on US 119 (Black Walnut Avenue), the park features a full size basketball court and two tennis courts that host many community competitions. On a warm day, the playgrounds are alive with the laughter of children as Washington Park becomes the center of the universe for families in the Roane County area.
There are two picnic shelters located in the park that fill up quickly for birthday parties on a first come, first serve basis.
City Pool
When many municipal pools around the state are closing up shop, the Spencer City Pool is still going strong and the City of Spencer is dedicated to keeping this asset going in our community and available at an affordable price.
The City of Spencer Pool offers a refreshing and relaxing destination for summer fun. Amenities include a full snack bar, water slide, diving board, life guards, separate "kiddie" pool, ample "lay out" room, separate "lay out" deck.
The pool is located at 134 Park Ave. behind the Roane County Committee on Aging Building and across from the Ben's Run Trailhead. Phone: 304.927.3152
Summer programs available:
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Swimming Lessons
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Water Aerobics
Family Night on Tuesday and Thursday 7pm-9pm with reduced cost of $2.50/person. Hours: Monday-Saturday 12pm-5pm. Sunday 1pm-5pm. Family Night Tuesday and Thursday 7pm-9pm. Cost of admission: $3.50
Miletree Lakes
Miletree Lakes are located just off West Main Street near McDonalds. The City of Spencer reserve water supply is provided by two impoundments here. Fishermen use these lakes to catch trophy size crappie, largemouth bass, and bluegill. In the spring, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources stocks the lake with catchable trout.
A hiking trail exists from the dirt parking area around to the upper lake. Future plans for Miletree Lakes include an improved access road on the western side of the lake, hiking trails and general improvements.
Goff Hill Civil War Park
The City of Spencer features a Civil War park founded on the same land that Union and Confederate soldiers took up arms on in August 1861. Today, the park features a replica wooden cannon (visit the site and read the kiosks to learn why a wooden cannon) as well as a cemetary where the first casuality of the battle, Union soldier William Pool, is buried.
Interpretive kiosks are placed at the cemetery, at the cannon, at the springs, and at the courthouse on Main Street. Also, the ruins of the Spencer State Hospital Farm Superintendant Home are a favorite photography site for visitors. The view of Spencer and the Spring Creek/Tanner's Run Valleys are breathtaking here.
This historic site is part of the Blue and Gray Highway and site of the former Spencer State Hospital farm. Read a complete history of the Skirmish of Spencer by clicking this button.
Griffith Park
Across Spring Creek from downtown Spencer lies the community of Alvord. Once its very own municipality, Alvord is now a historic part of the City of Spencer. Griffith Park (a.k.a. Fifth Street Park) provides a recreational resource to this neighborhood. The park features an assortment of playground equipment, basketball court and skateboard park. There is a picnic shelter at the park for birthday parties or neighborhood gatherings. Plenty of greenspace exists for pick-up ballgames like soccer, two-hand touch football or a championship game of wiffleball.
The City of Spencer is dedicated to keeping this a vibrant park space for the Alvord community.
Heritage Park
Located right in downtown Spencer, Heritage Park provides the perfect setting for a family picnic or reunion. Heritage Park features a large community building with a certified kitchen that is available to rent.
The Newburne One-Room School House was built in the 1900's near Looneyville and is an example of most of the schools built in Roane County during this era. These schools cost about $100 to construct at that time and the goal was to construct schools so that children would not have to walk over two miles to school. During the 1930's & 1940's Roane County had about 90 one-room schools. The school was moved to its present location when the park was built from 1983-1985.
The Heritage Museum is at the restored train depot that once housed goods and passengers traveling via the Ravenswood, Spencer & Glenville Railroad (RS&GRR).
The City of Spencer works exceptionally hard to honor our veterans. We believe that veterans have made this country the best in the world and we believe that Spencer is the Best Hometown in the best state. We would not enjoy this city in the great condition of government and infrastructure that it has today if not for veterans, so we are proud to show off the Veteran's Memorials at Heritage Park. A large water fountain and numerous monuments are dedicated to the veterans of America's wars.
Both the One-Room School House and Heritage Museum are open during special events and festivals. For more information or to reserve the Heritage Park Community Building for your next gathering contact The City of Spencer at 304.927.1640 or click here.