ricketts Fort State Park is a day-use historical and recreational park, located just north of Fairmont, West Virginia, two miles off Interstate 79 at Exit 139. The original fort was built at the confluence of Pricketts Creek and the Monongahela River in 1774, and provided a place of refuge from Indian attack for early settlers to the area. Now a state park, the site also includes the Job Prickett House, built in 1859 and listed on the National Register of Historical Places.

Both the reconstructed fort and the Job Prickett House are open for public tours from mid-April through October, with a living history style interpretation. Visitors enjoy seeing costumed artisans at work weaving, blacksmithing, cooking, and building muzzleloader firearms. A dozen or more special events are conducted annually.

Other recreational facilities at Pricketts Fort include picnic areas, nature trails, fishing, and a boat launching ramp. A newly constructed Visitor Center includes a ticket counter, museum gift shop and orientation exhibit gallery. Pricketts Fort is a trail head providing rail trail access to both the MCPARC trail to Fairmont and the Mon River Trail South to Morgantown.

The Visitor Center, the historical interpretation program, and all special events are managed by the Pricketts Fort Memorial Foundation, under long-term contract with the state.

Contact the Fort for more information: info@prickettsfort.org

Updated April 2008