Discover the City of Summersville

Centrally located in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia, Summersville is the county seat of Nicholas County. With a population of 3415, the city offers a small town feeling with big city opportunities.

Summersville is the home of the state’s largest lake, offering 60 miles of shoreline and 2800 acres of water. The lake is the perfect place for boating, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, fishing, scuba diving and rock climbing.

In addition to the abundance of water activities, the town also offers hiking, biking, and history. Summersville is also the gateway to the south, just 22 miles to the New River Gorge Bridge and the New River Gorge National Park, as well as white water rafting on both the New and Gauley Rivers.

Summersville Dam was constructed to control flooding in the Kanawha Valley. The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers purchased the town of Gad and all the residents moved away. Construction of the dam began in 1960 and was completed in 1966. Traditionally, the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers names the dam after the closest town, which would have been “Gad Dam.” The Corps decided to name the dam after the next-closest town, which was Summersville.

Summersville is the perfect destination for families and offers lodging and restaurants to fit any budget. There are 500 hotel rooms, several cabins and camping, whether it be tents, yurts, or RV parking.

Summersville is a progressive and friendly community. The city government is committed to building regulations and developments, recreation, public health, good local roads, and many other community services. The Summersville Hydroelectric Project began commercial operation in 2001 and the city and its partners continue to work to improve electric generation capacity.

We invite you to make Summersville your next vacation destination, long week-end getaway, or your hometown.