Charming small towns abound in West Virginia, as do interesting town names. Many of our Mountain State communities are named for people: Morgantown for the Morgan family, Lewisburg for the Andrew Lewis family. Charles Town is named for George Washington’s brother Charles; Charleston is named for that city’s founder’s father Charles. And so it goes. But one small community on West Virginia’s eastern border is named for a princess: the fictional Native American princess Minnehaha. Welcome to the charming small town of Minnehaha Springs, West Virginia, a little community with an extra interesting past, all the way back to its name origins.

Once upon a time, thermal springs were sacred places - sacred to the American Indians. These mineral springs had healing properties. They were seen as neutral places where warriors could rest safely after a battle.
Frances Anne Hopkins via Wikimedia Commons
Interestingly, many springs in our modern-day United States still bear names that hint at their significance to those who lived here in ancient times, perhaps because primitive stone tools and relics are often found next to them, reminding pioneers of those who had gone before. Such is true of Camp Minnehaha in West Virginia, a small community founded near a refreshing mineral spring.
Google Maps
Minnehaha Springs is named for Minnehaha, a fictional Native American princess, created by Wordsworth in his poem about Hiawatha. But she is a fitting namesake for this particular West Virginia spring, the only springs (and springs town) in the country named after this maiden.
Google Maps

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Her story is a tale of joy and sorrow, plenty and loss; that's also the story of Minnehaha Springs, West Virginia.
L.W. Hine / Library Of Congress
Pictured is the cabin of the family of an early resident of Minnehaha Springs, who, because the schools were segregated, schooled her children at home.
Once a prosperous resort town with its own water bottling company, hotel resort, and sportsmen's club complete with (believe it or not) a herd of elk imported from Yellowstone, Minnehaha Springs is now little more than a speck on the map.
L.W. Hine / Library Of Congress
Pictured here is a two room schoolhouse built in Minnehaha Springs at the height of its boom. However, none of the local one room schoolhouses were ready to merge into a single two room schoolhouse!
But there are a few remnants of the old days still, including beautiful mountain views, peaceful forests, and the springs themselves.
Camp Twin Creeks / Facebook
There's also a new draw: Camp Twin Creeks, which bills itself as West Virginia's best summer camp (for kids) and features the additional complex of the West Virginia Retreat Center (for other large group events).
Camp Twin Creeks / Facebook

And that’s the story of the town in West Virginia named for a Native American Princess. What’s more, Minnehaha, WV is located in Pocahontas County, which brings another famous Native American princess’s name into play. Not sure where Minnehaha Springs, West Virginia is? It’s just outside of Marlinton. Stay at this cute two-bedroom cabin in Marlinton for a nice weekend getaway.

Marlinton Is The Out Of The Way Town In West Virginia You Need To Spend More Time In

Another fascinating small town in West Virginia filled with history is the abandoned town of Thurmond. Learn more about it in this video:

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Minnehaha Springs, WV 24954, USA