Tamarack

Folks looking for Greenbrier food at diner prices will love visiting Tamarack. The fried green tomato sandwich and the world famous Greenbrier peach with hand made whipped cream are each worth the long journey down I-64 to Tamarack.

The food is not the only attraction for this interesting stop just off I-77 and I-64 in Beckley, West Virginia. Tamarack was established as a cultural center showcasing the best of West Virginia artisans. Roam the halls at Tamarack and you are sure to find fabulous arts and crafts by artists that still use traditional techniques.

There are always four resident artisans at Tamarack that work in studios with glass walls. Visitors can observe the creative process, watch demonstrations and ask the artists questions about they make their hand made, museum quality goods.

If you are lucky, you can watch a performance in Tamarack's 178 seat theater . The facility often schedules live music, theater, dance and storytelling performances. Musicians playing at Tamarack often use instruments made by the musicians themselves from techniques learned from parents and grandparents. Story tellers repeat stories passed down by West Virginia families as well as contemporary stories made up by creative local artists. The theater also shows West Virginia oriented films.

All works sold at Tamarack are made by artists resident in West Virginia. Artists offering goods sold in the large, light filled Tamarack gallery must compete in a rigorous juried process. Tamarack was developed to be an interesting stop for tourists and surely it succeeds, but Tamarack also serves the important function of providing economic stimulus to the impoverished Appalachian region. The facility offers area artists an important outlet to sell their spectacular, sometimes under appreciated goods. Crafts sold at Tamarack come from artisans living in all 55 counties in West Virginia.

Tamarack is about a five hour and twenty minute drive from downtown Washington, DC. There are many hotels and motels in the area surrounding the craft market. Tamarack is located at One Tamarack Park in Beckley, WV 25801 just off I-77 and I-64.

The hours at Tamarack vary by season. Tamarack is open from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. from January 5 to March 1. Tamarack is open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. from March 2 to January 4. The food court serves breakfast from 8 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. and lunch/dinner from 11 a.m. until closing.