Touch of whimsy in Hinton
Story by Dee Dee Ellison ❖ Photos by Steven Porterfield
Entrepreneur Terry Martin sits behind the counter at her shop Rindercellas in Hinton, West Virginia.
Nestled at the convergence of the New, Bluestone and Greenbrier Rivers in Summers County, West Virginia lays the historic town of Hinton. Established in 1873, Hinton began as a railroad town and was a major hub for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad.
Remnants of its early incarnation still exist— the Victorian era architecture, cobbled streets and, of course, the trains that still carry coal, timber, goods and passengers.
Nowadays, the town of Hinton also has a new reputation.
Its proximity to the New River George National Park and Preserve, Bluestone State Park and Pipestem State Park means tourists and park enthusiasts also frequent the town. The boutique destination combined with its history is exactly what entrepreneur Terry Martin embraced when she opened Rindercellas in Hinton’ s downtown historic district.
“ Hinton was a given,” Martin says.“ It’ s our home and Summers County has so much to enjoy. We absolutely love it here.”
The shop originally opened at another location in Hinton but when a fire at the neighboring business occurred, they had to decide on another location.
“ Our stores’ current location happened following a fire at the business located next door in late September 2025,” says Martin.
“ We had been preparing for Railroad Days which began on Oct. 9. We were devastated. The opportunity to relocate to 407 2nd Ave. and still be able to participate in Railroad Days was a gift beyond my imagination.
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