Rainelle, W.Va. (WVDN) — The Greenbrier Historical Society (GHS) is pleased to announce that the former King Coal Hotel property in Rainelle has been generously donated as the future home of the Greenbrier Historical Society’s Meadow River Valley Museum. Construction on the new museum is expected to begin later this summer.
The donation marks an exciting milestone in GHS’s ongoing efforts to preserve and share the rich history of western Greenbrier County while creating a permanent home for the stories, artifacts, and memories that define the Meadow River Valley.
The property itself holds a remarkable place in local history. Originally opened in 1929 as the Maple Oaks Hotel in East Rainelle, the building later became known as the King Coal Hotel. For decades, it welcomed travelers along Route 60 and stood as a symbol of a thriving community shaped by the coal, timber, and railroad industries. Although the hotel was demolished in 2014, its legacy lives on through the people whose lives and livelihoods were woven into the history of the Meadow River Valley.
The new museum is a key component of the Greenbrier Historical Society’s Hidden History of Western Greenbrier Project, The Hidden History project is spearheaded by GHS Board member Janice Cooley and the Hidden History committee that includes Vicky Neal, AmeriCorps Oral Historian, and Margaret Hambrick, GHS Board Member.
The museum campus will include the historic MERILUCO building, donated by the State Fair of West Virginia, and the former Meadow River Lumber Company Sales Office, donated by the Jim and Shelby Bryant family. Together, these historic structures will create a space where visitors can explore the region’s industrial heritage, community traditions, and personal stories for generations to come.
For years, Neal, Cooley, and Hambrick have devoted countless hours to researching, documenting, and preserving the history of western Greenbrier County. Through oral history interviews, archival research, artifact collection, and educational programs presented to students throughout Greenbrier County, they have worked to ensure that the voices and experiences of the Meadow River Valley remain an enduring part of the region’s history. The GHS Meadow River Valley Museum will serve as a lasting tribute to those efforts.
The Greenbrier Historical Society extends its sincere appreciation to the Town of Rainelle for its generous donation of the property, as well as to the West Virginia State Fair and to the Jim and Shelby Bryant family for their continued commitment to preserving the history of the Meadow River Valley through the donation of the historic MERILUCO building and the Meadow River Lumber Company Sales Office. These generous partnerships have made this exciting project possible.
Additional details about the museum, construction timeline, and opportunities for community involvement will be announced as the project progresses.
The Greenbrier Historical Society welcomes photographs, documents, artifacts, and personal memories related to the King Coal Hotel and the communities of western Greenbrier County as work continues on the GHS Meadow River Valley Museum.
For more information about the GHS Meadow River Valley Museum or to learn how you can support the preservation of western Greenbrier County’s rich history, contact the Greenbrier Historical Society at (304) 645-3398 or by email at info@greenbrierhistorical.org. You can also visit greenbrierhistorical.org or follow the Society on Instagram (@greenbrierhistoricalsociety) and Facebook (@greenbrierhistorical) for the latest news and updates.
