Expanding W.Va. theater trail continues boosting economic growth

ELKINS, W.Va. — Four theaters in West Virginia have been added to the state’s historic theater trail, established in 2010 to boost cultural and economic growth in Mountain State downtowns and rural areas.

The Elk Theater in Sutton, the Granada Theater in Bluefield, the Robinson Grand in Clarksburg, and the eponymous Shepherdstown Opera House were added to the trail in 2025, according to Jamie Billman, preservation manager for the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia.

Billman said the trail, which is piloted by the alliance and the W.Va. State Historic Preservation Office, is helping attract and sustain the arts in theaters that are beyond the state’s strip commercial districts.

The state is enjoying a marked increase in new residency, boosted by the remote-work revolution and the desire among many Americans to move out of population-dense areas.

Billman said historic theaters are well-equipped to support the growth of the arts across the state and attract residents and visitors to historic districts.

“We really want this trail to help create collaborations and connections between these remarkable theaters and provide valuable resources and promotional opportunities,” she said.

The initiative was designed to promote cultural tourism by showcasing the state’s theatrical heritage, supporting local economies by boosting traffic to local businesses, restaurants, and lodging accommodations, and revitalizing the theater buildings for years to come.

“By working together, these theaters and others already on the West Virginia Historic Theater Trail can create a thriving and vibrant cultural landscape for the state,” she said.

The alliance, which manages the trail initiative, is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to historic preservation and administers the Preserve WV AmeriCorps program and the West Virginia Endangered Properties List.

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More about the four additional W.Va. historic theaters

Here’s further information about each of the additional theaters.

Shepherdstown Opera House

Opened in 1910, the opera house at 131 West German Street and is a contributing structure to the Shepherdstown Historic District. Designed as a vaudeville center, it’s now used for cinema, lectures, live performances.

Granada Theater

Opened in 1927, the theater is located at 537 Commerce Street in Bluefield and is a contributing structure in the Bluefield Downtown Commercial District. Originally used as a vaudeville and movie theater, it’s now used for cinema and live performances.

Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center

Opened in 1913, the Robinson Grand at 444 West Pike Street in Clarksburg is a contributing structure in the Clarksburg Downtown Historic District. It was designed and is still used for cinema, live performances, and as an events venue.

Elk Theater

The theater was opened in 1940 at 192 Main Street in Sutton and is a contributing in the Sutton Downtown Historic District. It was designed and is still used for Cinema and Live Performances.

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Find out more online at West Virginia Historic Theatre Trail.