Berkeley Springs, W.Va.
Recognized for Art Community - Again

Berkeley Springs’ recognition as an art destination continues to grow, making the historic spa town almost as widely known for local art and galleries as for its warm mineral waters. The spring 2003 edition of John Villani’s “100 Best Small Art Towns in America” includes Berkeley Springs for a fourth time.

Mountain Laurel Gallery is the most venerable of the shops and was recently voted by artists throughout the United States as the number seven retailer of fine American crafts. Six rooms on two floors of the building that anchors one corner of the historic downtown square are filled with artwork from about 125 local, regional and American contemporary artists. Owner Chuck Wheeler bought the shop in 1997 and dramatically expanded the business, which initially opened in 1976.

Mountain Laurel is a regular stop on area Art Walks that occur eight Saturday nights a year, often featuring an artist-in-residence. Other art stops in the walkable downtown include the artists cooperative Ice House Gallery, Tari’s Premiere Café, Heath Studio Gallery and Mallory Gallery, a newly opened home for fine art in the historic Berkeley Springs train depot.


For more information: 1-800-447-8797, www.berkeleysprings.com.

-Jeanne Mozier