A Visit to Belmont County: A Hidden Treasure

Whether you’re from Ohio or out of state, you haven’t truly experienced all of Ohio without making a visit to Belmont County. This county says America in big, heartfelt ways. Each town flies crisp new flags, every person we talked to would make your mother proud with their hospitality and kind demeanor, and person after person was a wealth of historical knowledge about their corner of the county. The community pride in their towns, citizens and history was touching.

Driving along, you will be surrounded by rolling hills gracing the horizon like a ballerina gliding across the stage. Round hay bales and cattle dot the landscape among the lush green vegetation. Your body starts to relax as you savor the laid back feel of the beautiful terrain.

As a travel blogger, I’m always up for discovering new destinations. Add in a best friend and I’m ready to experience whatever comes my way. While our stay was short, we packed a lot in and we are already looking forward to a return visit to Belmont County.

Always Start with Dessert, Right?

The Fat Apple

We had the pleasure of visiting two of Belmont County’s confectionary meccas. The Fat Apple blew us away as soon as we stepped through the doorway. That famous phrase, ‘happier than a kid in a candy store’ could not be more true, regardless of your age. Large showcases mounded high with homemade sweets welcome you. (3!! Varieties of buckeyes – who knew?!) From there you are greeted with nostalgic candy from yester-years where you can take a walk down memory lane. So fun! If/when you pull yourself away from that part of the store and continue on back, you’ll be tempted with gigantic caramel apples, a showcase of pies, brownies, cannoli and the like. I could go on and on, but I want you to experience it for yourself without me giving away all the fun.

225 Main St. Bridgeport, Ohio

Unique Treats by Jacquie

Our second sweet shop stop, Unique Treats by Jacquie, is in Bellaire. By talking to Jacquie, you can tell she loves what she does and she’s very good at it as well. Family recipes, picking out the best and freshest ingredients, along with a culinary passion, equals a spectacular product. One of her specialties is the one pound caramel apple rolled in crazy concoctions. Each apple is hand picked at the orchard and stems removed before transporting them back to the shop. Roasted nuts, freshly made donuts (come early before they’re gone) and various sweets add to the assortment. She even offers various deli items such as broccoli salad, beet salad and ham salad that you can take home to enjoy or pack for a picnic at the nearby memorial park.

3391 Belmont St. Bellaire

Restaurants to Enjoy in Belmont County

Well, I guess we can’t live on sugary foods alone. Delicious options are plentiful throughout the county for lunch and dinner.  Every place we went during our three day stay served up satisfying entrees.

My Pizza Place

My Pizza Place in Barnesville bakes a pepperoni roll, known as a Tail, like no other I’ve had before. The handmade dough is rolled over pepperoni and cheese, then brushed with butter and seasoned with herbs and spices. Warm out of the oven and dipped in marinara sauce, it’s a meal in and of itself. Get this- it’s only $3! You’ll want one as an appetizer and one to take home. If you are a fan of pickles, then you have to try their pickle pizza. Your taste buds will thank you. Loaded with pickles, cheese and just the right amount of dill, this pizza is in a category all its own.

123 E. Main St. Barnesville, Ohio

Main Street Barrel House

This family friendly restaurant offers a full menu of sandwiches and entrees along with beer and wine. Live bands perform throughout the month, so be sure to check their Facebook page to see who’s up next. If you’re lucky, the owner might be around to play you a personal ballad.

If you, or someone you know, would like to perform on their stage, give them a call or email. They are always looking to support rising stars.

Fried cheese curds and I didn’t even have to go all the way to Wisconsin – score! Add on an Italian Panini with honey mustard for a savory twist and you have yourself quite a meal.

137 E. Main St. Barnesville, Ohio

The Barton Trap

Just outside of Saint Clairsville sits The Barton Trap. They offer outdoor seating on the front porch as well as inside. Each night offers a different special with their famous fish on Fridays. I had a bacon burger and it was cooked to perfection: crisp bacon, quality ground beef and fresh toppings. The garlic wings had real chunks of garlic baked in the breading, not just garlic seasoning. Delicious! If Rick is around, he can offer up a wealth of information about the history of the area.

70736 Main St. Saint Clairsville, Ohio

History is Everywhere When You Visit Belmont County

For obvious geographical reasons, Belmont County’s history is abundant from Native American artifacts to the present. The quality of preservation and presentation is superb.

The Great Stone Viaduct

As one of the main crossing routes over the Ohio River, Bellaire boasts having The Great Stone Viaduct run through its town. This mammoth structure is still being partially used for railroad travel today, just as it was with its completion in 1871. A large portion of the arcade has been bought by The Great Stone Viaduct Historical Education Society for preservation. It will soon be turned into a walking path for all to enjoy. You can read my full write up about the viaduct here.

The Watt Center for the Arts and History

The Watt Center is housed in the old 1888 Watt Car and Wheel Company building. Quite a hub during its heyday, the only thing left now is a gorgeous brick building. The original woodwork, wainscoting, tin ceilings, walk-in safes and hardware are still in tact and looking great.

Some of the manufactured items they are known for include potbelly stoves, steam whistles, wash basins and many items to make coal collection safer and more efficient. Many of the items are on display inside and outside the building.

It might sound silly, but the ceilings are my favorite part of this building. We’ve all seen square, tin ceilings in old buildings. They’re beautiful, but the Watt Center took tin ceilings to a whole new level. Each room has its own punched design, creating one conducive mural across the top. Irreplaceable and gorgeous!

Volunteer Opportunity

The Watt Center currently sells calendars and history books as a fundraiser. They also host a yearly used book sale. If you love to organize, clean, could help with the book sale or have a trade skill (electrician, plumber, carpenter…) there are many papers that need filed/preserved and multiple odd jobs that need tended to inside the building. Anytime is a good time, just call ahead to make an appointment.

Tours are given upon request. 511 Watt St. Barnesville, Ohio

The Victorian Mansion

The Victorian Mansion is a must see when you visit Belmont County. Built in 1890, with 26 rooms and intricate design details, this is a queen among Victorian homes. My favorite architectural element is the little arched alcove on the first floor by the fireplace, otherwise known as the courting nook. Cast iron inserts adorn the majority of the fireplaces as well beautiful mantels. Most rooms have unique double lights: gas and electric. These were installed just in case that new idea of electricity didn’t work out.

The home’s building commenced in 1888 and was finished in 1893. The Bradfields were a family of wealth and influence as seen throughout the town. The bank downtown was built by the Bradfields and is ornately adorned with stone carvings.

There are SO many amazing features to this home you just have to see it to believe it: the hinges, original lincrusta wallpaper, the woodwork, the mantels.

A little fun fact: There is an exact replica of this home at 753 Broad St. Columbus, Ohio.

Volunteer Opportunity

Every year the house is dressed up for Christmas. Many volunteers are needed to decorate the trees and arrange the decorations. There is always a need for volunteers to clean inside and to do light yard work throughout the year.

Tours are given by appointment only. 532 N. Chestnut St. Barnesville, Ohio

Additional Historical Landmarks to Visit in Belmont County

Many other items of interest fall into this category. You can enjoy many of them by visiting for a few minutes, reading their plaque, then going to the next one.

• Train Depot – Barnesville

• First Presbyterian Church – Barnesville

• Ohio Hills Health Services aka the old Bradfield building – Barnesville: Be sure to look UP at the stone carvings

• Underground Railroad Museum – Flushing; open by appointment

• Stratton Mill – Flushing

• Great Western School – St Clairsville

• Shaeffer Campbell Covered Bridge – St Clairsville

• County Courthouse – St Clairsville

• Sullivan Square – Bellaire;  Great place to have a picnic under the majestic maples and  sycamores.  

Museums and Tours

Toy and Plastic Brick Museum

What started out as one man’s love for building and collecting Lego structures has turned into a record setting entity. Housed in an old elementary school, the Toy and Plastic Brick Museum fills every room of the three story building. Many of the rooms have themes: Star Wars, the wild west, cartoon characters. The gym is used to display the World Record Lego mural and is highlighted by a Lego band that really plays on the stage in front. It’s hard to pick a favorite because there are SO MANY. I found the Mona Lisa and Yoda mural most intriguing. Try this: Look at the mural then take a picture of the mural. The picture will really make the colors of the various blocks pop. It’s amazing to see how lifelike it can become from blocks alone.

Volunteer Opportunity

As you can imagine, keeping up on a 36,000 sq ft building is quite tasking. You can help! If your family, or a group/organization you know, would like to commit to cleaning or painting a room, free admission to the museum will be granted. Contact the owner, Dan Brown, ahead of time to coordinate arrangements.

4597 Noble St. Bellaire, Ohio

Belmont County Military Veterans Museum

An idea, determination and perseverance has been put into action to honor those who have served in the military throughout our country’s history. The BCMVM has multiple Walls of Honor. The largest greets you when you first walk through the door. Any veteran who visits can have his/her picture submitted, along with a short bio, and an 8×10 photo will be hung among the others. Additional photo collections include the Women’s Wall, the Tuskegee Airmen, and the Navajo Code Talkers. For a small museum, they have quite a collection of memorabilia. Be sure to ask to see the items from WWII. They will send shivers up your spine.

The museum is run entirely off of donations and volunteers. A yearly community garage sale is held as one of their big fundraisers. Worn flags are also collected for appropriate disposal.

Open Thursday & Friday 1:00- 4:00 or by appointment

101 E. Barrister Belmont, Ohio

Enjoy the Outdoors

Dickenson Cattle Company

No need to go all the way to Texas to see longhorns when you can get up close and personal when visiting Belmont County. This working farm raises roughly 1400 cattle at a time. The farm is known not just for great beef to enjoy at home, but for award winning cattle. Tours of 10 or more are given throughout the day. During your tour, you are transported by bus throughout the pastures and learn not only about longhorns, but about the history of the area. Hop Along Cassidy, Johnny Appleseed and Wilson Shannon are a few of the names that get mentioned at the appropriate points. In addition to the longhorns, the farm also houses many unusual birds. While visiting we were privileged to see a white peacock fanning its stunning feathers. You can also enjoy a catered meal in the pavilion with advanced notice.

Yearly fishing permits are available for $100. There are several ponds to fish from and you can take all the bass and catfish you catch.

35000 Muskrat Rd. Barnesville, Ohio  740-758-5050

Dysart Woods

Take in a one or two mile hike through the largest remaining tract of old growth forest in Southeastern Ohio. Some of the oaks are over 400 years old and tower above you at 140+ feet. There are two trails to choose from, each making a loop. Dysart Woods is part of the Captiva Creek Birding Trail, stop #5, making it a great destination for birding.

61961 Dysart Woods Rd. Belmont, Ohio

Barns of Belmont County

Sometimes you just want to go for a drive/ride. Checking out the barns in Belmont County is a perfect opportunity to take in the countryside, learn a little history and gain an appreciation for the painters who have completed these huge murals. Ohio’s Bicentennial Barns are found in each county of Ohio, but did you know the artist, Scott Hagan, is from Belmont County? Belmont’s barn was the first of the 88 to be painted. The other famous barn painter, Harley Warrick, was also from Belmont County. He started painting the famous Mail Pouch advertisements on the side of barns after he came back from WWII and was in need of a job. A beautifully maintained Mail Pouch barn is located at Barkcamp State Park.

Other noteworthy barns include multiple quilt barns and a ‘Land of the Free Because of the Brave’ beauty. Please be careful as you slow down to admire these barns and possibly take pictures. It’s easy to get distracted and forget about who might be coming up behind you.

Where to Stay

Saint Clairsville offers a great central location between all of the adorable towns within Belmont County. We stayed at the Fairfield Inn and Suites which is conveniently located by Cracker Barrel and Starbucks. The service was great, everything was nice and clean and there’s even an outdoor seating area where you can enjoy your take out food. There are multiple hotels in the general vicinity to choose from. Staying in a cabin or even camping is also an option at Barkcamp State Park.

So, When are You Visiting Belmont County?

Wow! Are you ready to hop in your car and visit Belmont County? I’m ready to head back because there are still things I didn’t get to see and do. The county is beautiful, the people are as friendly as they come and there is something fun and interesting for everyone. Enjoy your visit and tell them Jodi from Bountiful Blessings said HI!

Be sure to Pin this for later so you’ll have all the addresses and websites for easy access.

A special thanks to the Belmont County Visitor’s Bureau for helping arrange a wonderful visit to Belmont County, Ohio! I was an invited guest of Belmont County. Opinions and experiences are all my own.