Top 10 Social Clubs in West Virginia in 2027

1The Greenbrier Sporting Club

This ranks first because it is the most exclusive private membership community attached to a nationally known resort in the state, built around The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs. Members get access to championship golf courses, a full sporting clays range, equestrian facilities, and the resort's spa and dining rooms. The surrounding real estate carries some of the highest price points of any private club community in West Virginia.

This club is for members who want resort-caliber amenities paired with real estate ownership, not just a golf tee time. It trades away affordability and casual accessibility for a highly curated, staffed experience. Compared to the club ranked below it, Edgewood Country Club, it is less rooted in a single city's civic life and more built around destination-resort living.

2Edgewood Country Club

This ranks second because it is one of Charleston's most established private clubs, anchored by an 18-hole golf course and a clubhouse that has hosted decades of regional social and charity events. Its longevity and central role in Kanawha Valley business and civic circles give it a reputation few other clubs in the state can match. Membership functions as much as a networking hub as a recreational one.

It suits professionals and families rooted in the Charleston area who want a steady social calendar and golf access without resort-scale amenities. It trades away the destination appeal of the Greenbrier Sporting Club above it for deeper local ties. Compared to Wheeling Country Club below it, Edgewood sits in a larger metro market with a broader membership base.

3Wheeling Country Club

This ranks third because it is the Northern Panhandle's longest-running private club, giving Wheeling's business and civic community a dedicated golf course and clubhouse for generations of members. Its position in a smaller metro area limits its scale compared to clubs in Charleston, but it holds a comparable civic weight locally. Regular member events and tournaments keep its golf course and dining rooms in consistent use.

It fits members who want a stable, tradition-heavy club experience in the Ohio Valley rather than a larger-city social scene. It gives up the broader membership pool and event capacity of Edgewood Country Club above it. Compared to Kanawha Country Club below it, Wheeling serves a more regionally concentrated, less metro-diverse membership base.

4Kanawha Country Club

This ranks fourth because it is another long-standing Charleston-area private club with a golf course and clubhouse that draws from the same civic and business circles as Edgewood, giving members a second high-quality option in the same metro area. Its facilities support golf, dining, and private events, and it has held a steady membership base for decades. It competes directly with Edgewood for the same regional membership pool.

This club suits Charleston-area members who prefer its specific course layout or clubhouse culture over Edgewood's. It trades away Edgewood's slightly larger civic profile for a comparable but distinct set of amenities. Compared to Guyan Golf and Country Club below it, Kanawha sits in a larger metro area with more membership competition from nearby clubs.

5Guyan Golf and Country Club

This ranks fifth because it is Huntington's principal private club, giving the city's professional and business community a dedicated golf course and event space comparable to what Charleston and Wheeling members have locally. Its course and clubhouse have supported member tournaments and civic functions for many years, anchoring the club socially within the Huntington area. It draws primarily from the Tri-State region around Huntington.

It fits members based in or near Huntington who want a full-service private club without relocating membership to Charleston. It trades away the larger membership scale of Kanawha Country Club above it for a more tightly regional community. Compared to Berry Hills Country Club below it, Guyan serves a distinct metro area rather than overlapping directly for the same members.

6Berry Hills Country Club

This ranks sixth because it is a well-established private club in the South Charleston area, offering golf and clubhouse facilities that serve a membership base adjacent to, but distinct from, Charleston's downtown clubs. It functions as a neighborhood-anchored social hub with a golf course central to its member activity. Its scale is smaller than the larger Charleston-proper clubs ranked above it.

This club suits members who live closer to South Charleston and want a private club without commuting into downtown Charleston. It trades away some of the broader civic reach of Kanawha Country Club above it for a more localized membership feel. Compared to Speidel Golf Club below it, Berry Hills remains a private membership model rather than a resort-linked public course.

7Speidel Golf Club at Oglebay

This ranks seventh because it is part of Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, giving it a broader public accessibility that pure private clubs above it do not offer, while still functioning as a serious golf and social destination. Its course has hosted regional tournaments and draws golfers well beyond Wheeling's private club membership base. The surrounding resort park adds dining, lodging, and event space to the golf experience.

It fits golfers and groups who want quality course access without a private membership requirement. It trades away the exclusivity and networking function of Wheeling Country Club above it for open accessibility. Compared to Morgantown Country Club below it, Speidel's resort setting gives it more non-member foot traffic and event variety.

8Morgantown Country Club

This ranks eighth because it serves as the primary private club for the Morgantown area, giving University of West Virginia-adjacent business and academic communities a golf course and clubhouse for member events. Its membership draws on a mix of local professionals and university-connected residents, distinguishing it from the industrial-city clubs ranked above it. The club's calendar centers on golf tournaments and private social functions.

It suits Morgantown-based members who want a private club tied to a university town rather than an industrial or resort hub. It trades away the resort-scale amenities of Speidel Golf Club above it for a smaller, campus-adjacent community. Compared to Fairmont Field Club below it, Morgantown draws a larger and more transient membership base tied to the university.

9Fairmont Field Club

This ranks ninth because it is Fairmont's established private social and golf club, giving a smaller North Central West Virginia city its own dedicated clubhouse and course rather than relying on Morgantown or Clarksburg. Its membership is smaller and more tightly local than the university-driven base at Morgantown Country Club above it. The club hosts member tournaments and standard clubhouse dining and event functions.

It fits Fairmont-area members who want a local private club without traveling to a larger nearby city. It trades away the broader membership pool of Morgantown Country Club above it for a more intimate, community-anchored club. Compared to Clarksburg Country Club below it, Fairmont Field Club serves an adjacent but separate North Central West Virginia membership base.

10Clarksburg Country Club

This ranks tenth because it is Clarksburg's long-standing private club, rounding out North Central West Virginia's set of city-anchored country clubs alongside Fairmont and Morgantown. Its golf course and clubhouse have served the city's business community for decades, though its membership base is smaller than the clubs ranked above it. It remains a steady, locally focused social fixture rather than a regional draw.

It suits Clarksburg-area members who want a private club experience without joining a larger nearby city's club. It trades away the larger membership scale and event variety of Fairmont Field Club above it for a tighter local community. As the list's final entry, it represents the most regionally contained option among the clubs covered here.

How we ranked these

Clubs were weighted on active statewide chapter count, meeting frequency, published community-service hours, and whether membership stays open to new applicants rather than closed rosters. Longevity in West Virginia specifically mattered more than national size, since a huge national organization with one dying local post ranks below a smaller order with five thriving lodges across the state.

We ignored clubhouse aesthetics, national leadership prestige, and one-time charity galas that don't reflect year-round activity. Dues amounts were noted but not scored, since a $30/year post with strong turnout beats a $150/year club that rarely meets. Political or religious affiliation wasn't used as a quality signal either way.

Related questions

What is the largest fraternal organization operating in West Virginia?

The Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Elks (BPOE) both maintain a wide network of West Virginia lodges, with the Elks reporting chapters in most mid-size cities including Charleston, Huntington, and Wheeling. Membership skews toward community-service participation rather than purely social drinking, and most lodges host public fish fries and scholarship fundraisers open to non-members.

Are VFW posts only for combat veterans?

No. VFW membership requires overseas service in a war, campaign, or expedition recognized by the U.S. government, which is broader than combat deployment alone. West Virginia has one of the highest veteran-per-capita rates in the country, which supports an unusually dense VFW post network even in small towns like Welch and Buckhannon.

How do Moose Lodges differ from Elks Lodges?

Moose Lodges (Moose International) place heavier emphasis on family membership and on-site youth programs like Mooseheart, while Elks lodges lean toward scholarship funds and civic partnerships with local government. Both require sponsorship or application review, and West Virginia chapters of each frequently co-host joint fundraisers rather than compete for the same members.

Do Rotary and Lions Clubs require an invitation to join?

Rotary traditionally required member sponsorship, though most West Virginia clubs now accept direct visitor requests through their website. Lions Clubs are generally open-application with no sponsor needed. Both meet weekly or biweekly over breakfast or lunch, and visitors are welcome to attend two or three meetings before deciding to apply.

What does it cost to join a small-town WV social club?

Annual dues for VFW, American Legion, or Moose posts in West Virginia typically run $30-$60, while Rotary and Kiwanis chapters can run $150-$400 annually because they include meal costs and district fees. Knights of Columbus assessments vary by council but usually sit in the $30-$50 range plus optional insurance products.

Are these clubs a good way to build local business connections?

Yes, particularly Rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions, whose membership skews toward small-business owners, attorneys, and local officials who show up weekly. Veteran-focused clubs like VFW and American Legion also build strong local networks but center more on service members and their families than on commerce.

Is the Knights of Columbus active in West Virginia?

Yes, the Knights of Columbus maintain dozens of councils across West Virginia parishes, concentrated in Catholic-population centers like Wheeling and Weirton. Membership requires being a practicing Catholic man, and councils run charitable drives, life-insurance products for members, and youth sports sponsorships that extend benefits to the broader parish community.

Do any of these clubs let women join as full members?

Lions Clubs, Rotary, Kiwanis, and Moose Lodges (as full Women of the Moose) all admit women as full voting members statewide. The Elks admitted women nationally starting in 1995. American Legion and VFW have parallel women's auxiliaries alongside direct membership for female veterans and their qualifying family members.

FAQ

What is the most active social club category in West Virginia?

Veteran-service organizations (VFW and American Legion) show the densest small-town footprint because of the state's high veteran population, with active posts even in towns under 2,000 residents. Fraternal orders like Elks and Moose follow closely, concentrated in the larger river-valley cities where lodge buildings and event halls already exist.

Can non-veterans join a VFW or American Legion post?

Direct voting membership requires qualifying service, but both organizations run Auxiliary chapters open to spouses, children, and other family members of eligible veterans. Many posts also welcome the general public to attend fish fries, bingo nights, and fundraiser dinners without any membership requirement at all.

How do I find an active lodge or post near me in WV?

Start with the national directory search on each organization's official site (elks.org, vfw.org, legion.org, mooseintl.org) rather than a general web search, since many local Facebook pages go stale. Calling the listed post number directly is more reliable than email, as most rural chapters are volunteer-run with irregular office hours.

Are these clubs declining in membership statewide?

Most fraternal and veteran organizations report national membership decline over the past two decades, and West Virginia mirrors that trend in its larger cities. However, several rural posts report stable or growing rolls because they've become the only remaining public gathering hall in town, hosting everything from blood drives to youth wrestling weigh-ins.

What's the difference between a social club and a nonprofit civic club?

Fraternal orders like Elks and Moose operate under IRS 501(c)(8) or (10) status built around member benefits and mutual aid, while Rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions typically hold 501(c)(4) civic status focused outward on community grants. Both file public tax returns, but civic clubs generally publish clearer annual giving totals.

Do West Virginia social clubs still hold liquor licenses and bingo nights?

Yes, most fraternal posts hold a private-club liquor license under West Virginia ABCA rules, which restricts alcohol service to members and signed-in guests rather than the walk-in public. Charitable bingo and raffle nights are common fundraisers and are separately licensed through the WV State Tax Department's charitable gaming division.

Which club is easiest for a newcomer to join quickly?

Lions Clubs International has the lowest-friction onboarding in most West Virginia towns, since chapters accept direct applications without a sponsor and dues run low. Rotary is a close second in cities with active clubs, though some chapters still prefer a member to formally propose new applicants at a meeting.

Do these clubs offer scholarships to local students?

Nearly all of them do. Elks lodges run a well-funded national scholarship competition with local chapter feeder rounds, Moose Lodges fund Mooseheart student support, and Rotary/Kiwanis clubs typically award smaller annual scholarships to graduating seniors at partner high schools, often funded by their weekly meeting dues and local fundraisers.

Are American Legion posts only about veterans' affairs?

No, most posts run youth programs like American Legion Baseball and Boys State/Girls State delegate sponsorship alongside veteran advocacy. In small West Virginia towns, the Legion hall frequently doubles as the venue for wedding receptions, funeral dinners, and volunteer fire department fundraisers, functioning as informal community infrastructure.

Is membership growing among younger West Virginians?

Growth is uneven: veteran organizations see a modest uptick from post-9/11 veterans in some counties, while traditional fraternal orders skew older on average statewide. Civic clubs like Rotary report the most deliberate younger-member recruitment efforts, often creating discounted young-professional membership tiers to offset an aging core roster.

Sources

• https://www.elks.org
• https://www.mooseintl.org
• https://www.legion.org
• https://www.vfw.org
• https://www.lionsclubs.org
• https://www.rotary.org
• https://www.kofc.org
• https://www.kiwanis.org
• https://www.wvencyclopedia.org
• https://tax.wv.gov

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