Overview
Tornado, also called Upper Falls, is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kanawha County, Metro Valley, West Virginia. Its official name has switched between Tornado and Upper Falls several times since its discovery in 1742 and both names are in common use today.
1 sights · 3 things to do
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Tornado
Upper Falls of Coal River
Adjoin the community and give it its historical name from their cascading waters.
Big Bend Golf Course
A championship, 18 hole, par 71 golf course of 6,237 yards. Opened in 1965, the course was designed by Claude Evans to be easy enough for beginners and yet challenging for the pro. Trees line the fairways and water is in…
Meadowood Park
Features soccer fields, volleyball, picnic shelters, children's play structures, fishing and boating. The park is home to the Upper Falls Landing on the Walhonde Water Trail, a natural landing on Coal River that supports…
Mountaineer Radio Control Flying Club
Maintains a flying field that is very busy on summer weekends. New fliers are always welcome.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Sep. Summer highs reach about 70°F; winter lows dip to about 14°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Dec and Jan. (climate data from nearby Snowshoe)
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.
- CRW Yeager Airport, Charleston — 14 mi away. Directions
- HTS Tri-State Airport / Milton J. Ferguson Field, Huntington — 39 mi away. Directions
- CMH John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Columbus — 127 mi away (major hub). Directions
Coal River Road provides access from the city of Saint Albans to the north and from the community of Alum Creek to the south. Falls Creek Road enters from the community of Garretts Bend to the west. Smith Creek Road provides access from the city of South Charleston to the east.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Upper Falls of Coal River, Meadowood Park
- Afternoon Big Bend Golf Course, Mountaineer Radio Control Flying Club
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
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
The U.S. Census Bureau, with the approval of the Kanawha County Commission, renamed the CDP to Upper Falls for the 2010 census. The commission then decided in 2013 that the community favored Tornado's distinctive name over Upper Falls and requested that the U.S. Board on Geographic Names change the name back. The Census Bureau followed by replacing the 2010 Upper Falls CDP with the Tornado CDP in 2020.
Get in
Coal River Road provides access from the city of Saint Albans to the north and from the community of Alum Creek to the south. Falls Creek Road enters from the community of Garretts Bend to the west. Smith Creek Road provides access from the city of South Charleston to the east.
Get around
With portage around the Upper Falls of Coal River, the adventurous can circumnavigate Upper Falls from watercraft on the Walhonde Water Trail.
See
See Upper Falls of Coal River
Adjoin the community and give it its historical name from their cascading waters.
Do
Do Big Bend Golf Course
A championship, 18 hole, par 71 golf course of 6,237 yards. Opened in 1965, the course was designed by Claude Evans to be easy enough for beginners and yet challenging for the pro. Trees line the fairways and water is in play on three holes. Larger greens are sloped enough to test putting skill. Big Bend is nestled within its namesake Big Bend of Coal River, which flows around the course and compliments its scenic beauty. Features include a pro shop and a snack bar that serves hot sandwiches and beverages.
Do Meadowood Park
Features soccer fields, volleyball, picnic shelters, children's play structures, fishing and boating. The park is home to the Upper Falls Landing on the Walhonde Water Trail, a natural landing on Coal River that supports watercraft portage around Upper Falls Dam and Upper Falls Lock. Upper Falls Point provides a spectacular view of the Upper Falls. The Upper Falls Walking Trail is here, one of a series of autonomous trails that comprise the Walhonde Walking Trail system. Parking and restrooms are available. Admission is free.
Do Mountaineer Radio Control Flying Club
Maintains a flying field that is very busy on summer weekends. New fliers are always welcome.
Go next
Walhonde Trail Byway is a planned scenic byway that will transverse Upper Falls.
History
During an exploratory expedition in 1742, John Peter Salling discovered the Upper Falls of Coal River, which gives the community its historical name. European settlers first arrived after the Revolutionary War, but many left after conflicts with natives.
Timber harvesting began in the region in the 1830s. A sawmill and later gristmill, established around 1850 by Joseph Thomas at the Upper Falls, operated until the 1930s. Locks and dams were constructed on Coal River in the 1850s to transport coal and timber, but commercial steamboat traffic ended in 1881 because of various interruptions caused by ongoing flooding and the Civil War. The Coal River and Western Railway, completed in 1904, is now operated by CSX Transportation to transport bituminous coal to global markets.
While timber extraction largely ended in the 1920s, the community grew rapidly during and after World War II to house workers for the weapons and chemical manufacturing industries. It is today a residential suburb of Charleston.
Nearby
Hurricane
City / town · 11 mi away
Charleston
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Huntington
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Logan
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Gallipolis
City / town · 9 listings · 38 mi away
Point Pleasant
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Catlettsburg
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Spencer
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My experience
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