SPEND A DAY LOOKING UP AT ALMOST HEAVEN

In Mercer County, West Virginia, the beauty of the sky isn’t confined to the nighttime hours. During the day, as the sun casts its golden glow across the landscape, the sky above transforms into a vast canvas of ever-changing hues, inviting you to look up and marvel at its splendor. Spend a day looking “up” at all our Almost Heaven skies, following by a few more tall mansions and desserts. Let us be your guide, up and away!

Morning: The perfect day starts out with the sunrise. Our favorite spot to catch the first rays is at the Pinnacle Rock State Park. This state park, built in the 1930s, is located outside of Bluefield on Route 52. The rock staircase winds up from the bottom of the park to the top of a sandstone formation. Geologists believe when the Appalachian Mountains were formed, the land to the east, visible from the overlook, was folded forming the Ridge and Valley portion of the Appalachian Mountains.

The land to the west of this area was raised to a high plateau and erosion formed the Allegheny portion. In this area dividing these two portions of the Appalachians, the earth’s crust was broken and pushed up vertically to form sandstone structures standing on their edge such as Pinnacle, Black and Turkey Rocks within the park.

Mid-day : During the height of coal mining, the town of Bramwell built tall, beautiful mansions. The predominant architectural style found in Bramwell is Victorian, with various sub-styles such as Queen Anne, Italianate, and Second Empire being prevalent. These styles are characterized by ornate detailing, asymmetrical facades, decorative trim, elaborate moldings, and often feature turrets, towers, and wrap-around porches. Grab a coffee at the Honeycomb Cafe or lunch at the Bramwell Corner Shop.

Evening: The tallest milkshake in southern West Virginia can be found in Bluefield at the RailYard. These specialty milkshakes feature an ice cream base with a towering dessert on top, then decorated with a final touch of whipped cream and more. Choose from the menu or a try a limited edition themed milkshake. Finish before sunset and ride up to East River Mountain Overlook. Located 3,500 feet above sea level, this overlook gives a birds-eye view of Bluefield and the surrounding region. Watch the sunset from the Almost Heaven swing, one of several iconic scenic swings across the state of West Virginia.

Last updated: August 28, 2025