Once regarded as a single river by Native Indians, the Great Kanhaway is made up of the New and Kanawha rivers today. The New-Kanawha River Basin takes in a third of West Virginia's territory, and is viewed as the state's most important river basin. Navigable for 20 miles upriver from Charleston, the waterway is an important artery for industrial commerce. With large reserves of coal and natural gas, the area adds a large boost to the state's economy.
   One of a string of small communities along the Kanawha River, the town of Glen Ferris continued to grow when Union Carbide established a ferro-alloys plant a few miles away. The town's original homes were company leased coal camp housing. Some of the first dwellings in this coal mining village date back to the early 1800s. One particular home was later converted into an inn, and with three or four remodels, the hotel lives on today. The Glen Ferris Inn provides a close-up vantage point of the river and a wonderful view of the Kanawha Falls area. This view from Kanawha Falls Fishing Area captures a small section of the Kanawha Falls during late October when the hillsides begin to put on a fiery show of autumn colors.

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