The city park. You know it. You love it or hate it, depending on the day and the age of your kids or the obedience level of your dog. But there’s one particular city park in Beckley, West Virginia that is a step above the rest – a huge step.

Tucked away in Beckley, West Virginia is a city park that's anything but average. It's name? New River Park on Ewart Avenue.
NeoWasHere/Tripadvisor
For starters, it's got an underground coal mine running underneath it!
Bill K/Tripadvisor
What's more, you can tour this Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and learn all about the history of coal and the process of coal mining in West Virginia. You can even take a train ride into the mine on an old coal car.
Bill K/Tripadvisor
But the fun doesn't stop with just the coal mine. There's also a children's museum, a historic village, and a planetarium all in the same city park!
NeoWasHere/Tripadvisor
Told you it was anything but average.

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The Youth Museum of Southern WV is a super fun spot for youngsters (and youngsters at heart) to spend an afternoon. Even the setting is unique; it's located inside a complex formed by four real train boxcars.
Youth Museum of Southern WV/Facebook
Expect to find many fun and interactive options, including continuously rotating exhibits bringing all your favorite children's books and characters to life. Past exhibits have included things like Curious George, Thomas the Train, castles, and more.
Youth Museum of Southern WV/Facebook
Then there's the homestead museum, a collection of rooms and buildings that comprise a historic West Virginia village that you can tour.
NeoWasHere/Tripadvisor
From dated school rooms to hair salons, from kitchens to bedrooms, from stores to churches, come see how previous generations experienced life in Appalachia.
F B/Tripadvisor
Now, where else can you find such an eclectic mix of fun options all in a city park? Nowhere else - only in West Virginia!
txbenton4/Tripadvisor

The City of Beckley’s website offers more information about planning your visit to the coal mine or the youth museum. Have you been to any (or all) of the one-of-a-kind attractions tucked away in New River Park? For another one-of-a-kind West Virginia experience, try a ride on the record-holding wooden roller coasters at Camden Park. 

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Featured Addresses
509 Ewart Ave, Beckley, WV 25801, USA
Exhibition Mine, Beckley, WV 25801, USA