Directions

Driving to Big Laurel

DO NOT FOLLOW GPS OR GOOGLE MAPS DIRECTIONS DIRECTLY TO BIG LAUREL LEARNING CENTER! IT MAY NOT BE ACCURATE! PLEASE PRINT AND FOLLOW THESE DIRECTIONS!

Follow Google Maps or your GPS directions to:

1 Peppermint Ln Kermit, WV 25674

This will lead you to a Marathon Gas Station. Stop and go to the bathroom, get a snack, get gas, etc. You should have cell service. Please call us (304) 393-4103 and we’ll know to keep an eye out for you soon. From there, be sure to use these directions rather than trying to follow a GPS. Please note that this route will take approximately 30 minutes to get to Big Laurel.

Marrowbone Creek Road Directions

(red route on map below)

Directions from 1 Peppermint Ln. Kermit, WV 25674 to Big Laurel Learning Center:

Turn Right out of the gas station parking lot
Drive 0.4 mile on Hwy 52 N.
(1.) Turn Right onto Marrowbone Creek Road.
You should see a wooden Welcome to Marrowbone Creek Sign.
Drive 8.6 miles on Marrowbone Creek Road.
(2.) Turn Right onto Big Laurel Branch Road at the one lane bridge crossing the creek.
Drive 1.6 miles remaining on the paved road.
(3.) Turn Left onto Nora Sturgill Ridge Road Rt 911, veering uphill.
Drive 0.7 mile.
Stay left at Granny Dr. and continue uphill.
Road turns to gravel, then slightly paved, then gravel again.
Pass the Sturgell Cemetery on the right.
(4.) Turn Right onto Edwina Pepper Ridge Road Rt 912. You should be at the top of the hill.
You will see Big Laurel horse pasture and property ahead.
Drive 0.1 mile.
(5.) Turn sharp Left into Big Laurel driveway. You will see the big green house. You’re here!
Drive through the gate. Stay right and park in the upper driveway in front of the house.

Welcome to Marrowbone Creek Sign, visible on your right as you turn onto Marrowbone Creek Road.

Right turn onto Big Laurel Branch Road one lane bridge.

Printable directions:

Coal Road Directions

(blue route on map above)

Caution, this road is entirely gravel and in poor condition. Not recommended for two wheel drive vehicles or first-time visitors. DO NOT attempt at night.

(1.) Turn right off of Highway 65 South onto Big Branch Road. This turn will be past the town of Lenore and directly before the second railroad crossing. There is a sign that reads "Big Branch Mine." If you get to Naugatuck and the intersection of Highway 52, you went too far.
Continue straight on Big Branch Road. At the stop sign, continue straight, passing the guard booth. If the gate is closed, tell the guard you are going to Big Laurel.
You will be driving parallel with the railroad tracks and are on property of the coal processing plant. You will pass several buildings and will drive under two large conveyor belts. Keep parallel with the tracks until they end, never going over them or under them.
(2.) When the tracks end, take the right fork up the mountain. You will be driving up the ridge for approx. 2.4 miles, and when you get to the top, the road splits in several directions. (this section is very bumpy with large rocks, holes, and ruts.
(3.) At the large spray painted rocks, look for the red and white sign with Big Laurel/Web of Life/JASMER. Leave the coal company road and take the ridge road indicated by the sign. (The road is directly to the right of the rocks.)
From this sign, after approx. 0.5 miles, you’ll reach the Marcum Cemetery where the road splits. Take the right fork. Continue on the main road. About 0.4 mile past the Marcum Cemetery you’ll pass two small buildings on your left (Well Gap). In 1.6 miles you will pass the Hannah Cemetery to the left, surrounded by a wrought iron and chain link fence. Just past the Hannah Cemetery a road veers to the right. Do not take that ditched dirt road to the right.
(4.) DO follow the main gravel road that curves slightly up and to the left. You will soon see the “Welcome to Web of Life Ecology Center” sign and Ecology Drive sign to the right. To reach Big Laurel continue to the left on the main road for about 0.7 miles. Big Laurel driveway will be on the right.