Overview
Point Pleasant is a town of 4,637 people (as of 2000) in West Virginia. These days it's best-known for a series of mysterious paranormal occurrences that began in 1966. Starting on November 12th of that year, locals began to catch glimpses of an odd flying creature - people generally described it as a very large grey man-shaped creature, with giant wings and large red eyes - that pursued people and even killed their pets, apparently making its home in an abandoned TNT plant outside of town. The newspapers called it Mothman, and there were over 100 sightings of it during the next year. Then tragedy struck: on December 15, 1967, the 700-foot Silver Bridge between Point Pleasant and Ohio collapsed, killing 46 people. Following the collapse, sightings of the Mothman dropped off, leading some to hypothesize that the Mothman was a sort of harbinger of doom. This same period was marked with an apparent increase in paranormal phenomena, and some have linked the entire series of events to an old Native American curse that was reputedly put on the area by a murdered chief. The events surrounding the sightings inspired the book The Mothman Prophecies, on which the 2002 film was based.
6 sights · 4 things to do · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Point Pleasant
Mothman statue
12-foot-tall stainless-steel statue.
Fort Randolph
It was built in November 1774 and named Fort Blair, but was destroyed by Native Americans. It was rebuilt in May 1776 when it got its current name, and again in 1785. No traces remain of the original buildings however th…
Tu-Endie-Wei State Park
Open year-round; museum open May through October. The site of the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774; an 84-foot-tall granite obelisk commemorates the Virginia militiamen who died in the battle. The Mansion House Museum, b…
Mothman Museum and Research Center
Open daily noon-5PM spring and summer. Describes the history of Point Pleasant and the Mothman incident, with drawings, newspaper clippings, mementos and other exhibits. On-site gift shop. Admission $3.
Point Pleasant River Museum
Focuses on river life and commercial enterprise on the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, with displays and video demonstrations. The museum also offers a working pilot house and a research library. Gift shop on-site.
West Virginia State Farm Museum
50 acres of working museum, with artifacts from early pioneer life and farm life heritage, and year-round operations. Pioneer crafts are demonstrated during festival weekends. See the restored buildings of historical val…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 85°F; winter lows dip to about 22°F. Cold months (Jan) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jul and Jun. (climate data from nearby Columbus)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- HTS Tri-State Airport / Milton J. Ferguson Field, Huntington — 41 mi away. Directions
- CRW Yeager Airport, Charleston — 44 mi away. Directions
- CMH John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Columbus — 89 mi away (major hub). Directions
Point Pleasant is at the intersection of US-35 (which follows the Kanawha River), between Charleston and Jackson, Ohio, and OH-7 (which follows the Ohio River), between Huntington and Middleport, Ohio.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Mothman statue, Tu-Endie-Wei State Park, Point Pleasant River Museum
- Afternoon Sternwheel Regatta River Cruises, Mothman Festival
Day 2
- Morning Mothman Museum and Research Center, Fort Randolph, West Virginia State Farm Museum
- Afternoon Mason County Fair, Battle Days Festival
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Point Pleasant was also the site of the First Battle of the Revolution - the Battle of Point Pleasant on October 10, 1774, between the Virginia militia and the Shawnee led by Chief Cornstalk (he of the curse). The battle prevented the Native Americans from forming an alliance with the British, which in turn shaped the outcome of the War of Independence.
Get in
Point Pleasant is at the intersection of US-35 (which follows the Kanawha River), between Charleston and Jackson, Ohio, and OH-7 (which follows the Ohio River), between Huntington and Middleport, Ohio.
Get around
There's no bus or taxi service in town, so bring your car.
See
- The tourism information center is at 210 Viand Street, +1 304-675-6788. Open M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-2PM.
See Fort Randolph
It was built in November 1774 and named Fort Blair, but was destroyed by Native Americans. It was rebuilt in May 1776 when it got its current name, and again in 1785. No traces remain of the original buildings however the fort was reconstructed in October 1974, along with other period buildings. Re-enactments are carried out during warmer weather. The park also features fishing, paddle boats, miniature golf, a playground and camping facilities.
See Tu-Endie-Wei State Park
Open year-round; museum open May through October. The site of the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774; an 84-foot-tall granite obelisk commemorates the Virginia militiamen who died in the battle. The Mansion House Museum, built in 1796 as a tavern and the oldest hewn-log house in the Kanawha Valley today, is also on the site. The name of the park comes from a Wyandotte phrase meaning "the point between two waters", signifying the spot where the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers meet.
Museums
See West Virginia State Farm Museum
50 acres of working museum, with artifacts from early pioneer life and farm life heritage, and year-round operations. Pioneer crafts are demonstrated during festival weekends. See the restored buildings of historical value, the world's largest stuffed horse and the taxidermy collection. Country store on-site.
Do
Events
Do Sternwheel Regatta River Cruises
Held in early July. Celebration of river life, live music, food vendors, and a carnival-like atmosphere. Cruise downriver on a sternwheel boat to Gallipolis, Ohio & two fireworks cruises.
Do Battle Days Festival
Tu-Endie-Wie State Park. Held the first weekend in October. Celebrating the first battle of the American Revolution and honoring the people who gave their lives at the Battle of Point Pleasant on October 10, 1774. Historical re-enactments, sutlers and crafters in period clothing, a juried art show, a colonial ball, a lantern tour to meet historical characters, a parade, entertainment, a drama, and more.
Buy
- Mothman souvenirs, of course. There are T-shirts, books, videos, bumper stickers, and you can even pick up a Mothman beanie baby.
Drink
Point Pleasant is the only place you can get a Mothman Frappuccino.
Sleep
Go next
- Gallipolis, Ohio is a 10-minute drive across the Ohio River on US-7.
- Huntington is about 1 hour south on US-7.
- Charleston, the state capital, is a little over 1 hour southeast on US-35 and I-64.
Nearby
Gallipolis
City / town · 9 listings · 5 mi away
Wayne National Forest
Park · 15 listings · 14 mi away
Hurricane
City / town · 30 mi away
Jackson
City / town · 23 listings · 31 mi away
Athens
City / town · 59 listings · 33 mi away
Huntington
City / town · 88 listings · 35 mi away
Ashland
City / town · 11 listings · 38 mi away
Tornado
City / town · 4 listings · 39 mi away
My experience
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