Nestled in the highlands of West Virginia is the small village of Helvetia. Anyone familiar with the fact that “Helvetia” is the Latin name for Switzerland, or who has seen a Swiss postage stamp, will likely suspect a connection between this village in West Virginia and the alpine nation in Western Europe. But even those unaware of this link will quickly realize, upon arriving in Helvetia, that this is no ordinary Appalachian town. The omnipresent Swiss flags and cantonal coats of arms – most notably that of the canton of Bern – are prominently displayed in front of nearly every house and adorn the facades of the buildings. Even for a visitor from Switzerland, after a long drive along the mountain road winding through the dense forests of the Appalachians, the feeling of suddenly having arrived in Switzerland is unmistakable. A “little Switzerland” in the middle of West Virginia.
Helvetia was settled in 1869 by Swiss and German immigrants, drawn to the hilly landscape that felt familiar and reminded them of their homeland. Even more than 150 years later, on a warm day in July, when the remnants of clouds that have brought rain overnight still hang low over the valley in the morning, the air smells of fresh, dewy grass and the birds are chirping, one definitely gets the feeling of being somewhere in the Swiss Alps. With the first Swiss immigrants also came Swiss surnames, customs, and traditions to the village. Although many of these have evolved over time, taking on a unique character of their own, there are to this day clear similarities to the origins. For example, many of the approximately 60 inhabitants carry surnames typical of German-speaking Switzerland, such as Lehmann, Daetwyler, Balli, and Betler. People in the village also celebrate Swiss National Day on August 1 and “Fasnacht,” the Swiss version of carnival, when frightening papier-mâché masks are worn to chase away the demons of winter. However, it looks a bit different with the language; although the first-generation inhabitants of Helvetia still spoke Swiss German, it has been gradually lost over the course of the 150 years since the Swiss immigrants’ first arrival. Nonetheless, after a bit of searching, you will discover that Swiss German is still spoken in a manner of speaking – though primarily through yodeling. The Helvetia Yodelers, a group of Helvetia residents who meet regularly, sing Swiss German yodel songs such as “Sennele Hoia Hoa.” Remarkably, despite being passed down through several generations, the pronunciation of the Swiss German words has been adapted to the English language, but has changed only slightly.
Like any other village, Helvetia has several social meeting points that serve to keep the community together and help with carrying out everyday tasks. Besides the church and the community hall, these include the village store with its small post office called “Swiss Roots.” People come here not only to buy coffee or send packages, but also for a quick chat with the neighbors or to relax on the wooden bench in front of the store. The “Hütte” restaurant, with its furnishings reminiscent of our grandparents’ old living rooms, is undoubtedly the place where everyone comes together. In fact, much of the furniture in the restaurant belonged to the residents of the village, adding to the homey atmosphere. The dishes are prepared daily with much love and dedication using traditional recipes. The menu includes a veal sausage with spicy mustard, “Zurich Sauerbraten,” and, of course, the classic and delicious Swiss “Rösti.”
In true Swiss fashion, the village also caters to cheese enthusiasts. The Balli family began making Swiss-style cheese upon their arrival in Helvetia in 1875, passing down their expertise through generations. They were even featured in a National Geographic article about West Virginia in 1976. Today, although the Balli family is no longer making cheese, Thrayron Morgan and her husband Russell have taken over the tradition. Every week, they produce cheese in their home and age it in a custom-built aging room for several weeks. Thrayron recalls that she once considered Helvetia’s “Swiss Cheese” to be quite strong. However, after her first trip to Switzerland, where she tasted aged Swiss cheeses, she now finds their own cheese to be rather mild in comparison.
The Morgan family’s Helvetia “Swiss Cheese” is sold locally in the village store as well as at the “Hütte”. It is also popular with the many tourists who visit Helvetia throughout the year. While tourism in Helvetia is generally modest, visitor numbers are constantly rising thanks to various initiatives of the community and the village’s feature in the popular video game Fallout 76. The “Fasnacht” celebration, in particular, now attracts nearly 2,000 guests from near and far. Needless to say, the village’s two inns, the “Swiss Roots” and the “Beekeeper Inn”, are very busy during this period. But Helvetia is worth a visit year-round for anyone seeking to enjoy the tranquility of the village, the unique nature surrounding it, and the friendliness of the locals. In no time, visitors will find themselves completely immersed in the village’s history, traditions, and unique surroundings, discovering a little Switzerland far away from Switzerland – much like the Swiss immigrants did in 1869.
Watch the video below to learn from the locals about the history of Helvetia, the traditions that continue to be celebrated today, and their wishes for the future of the village.
Let us know in the comments below if you have already visited Helvetia, WV or if you have been to any other “little Switzerland” in the United States!
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Aglaja Amadò
October 24, 2025 3:24 am
How beautiful! Could anyone tell me when si the next Carnival celebration is taking place in this town?
John Lalande II
October 3, 2024 7:05 pm
They were so articulate in expressing their views and hopes for the future. Two beautiful, gentle souls who would make a trip to Helvetia worthwhile for anyone.
Great video! My mother grew up in Helvetia. My grandparents & great grandparents lived in Helvetia, so I have visited thousands of times. My family’s reunion is in the Community Hall each year. My grandmother made wonderful Helvetia cheese. My great grandfather Daetwyler was the cobbler.
Inès de Truchis
September 12, 2024 9:06 pm
I love that and love the story behind it 🇨🇭 We unfortunately haven’t a Swiss quarter in LA, and we no longer have a Swiss consulate. We have to travel to San Francisco.
May 15 - 20, 2026 / Throughout the week, special screenings of short films by Charles and Ray Eames The Powers of Ten (1977), and Sarah Morris's AM/PM (1999) and Miami (2002)...
How beautiful! Could anyone tell me when si the next Carnival celebration is taking place in this town?
They were so articulate in expressing their views and hopes for the future. Two beautiful, gentle souls who would make a trip to Helvetia worthwhile for anyone.
Sehr schön
Great video! My mother grew up in Helvetia. My grandparents & great grandparents lived in Helvetia, so I have visited thousands of times. My family’s reunion is in the Community Hall each year. My grandmother made wonderful Helvetia cheese. My great grandfather Daetwyler was the cobbler.
I love that and love the story behind it 🇨🇭 We unfortunately haven’t a Swiss quarter in LA, and we no longer have a Swiss consulate. We have to travel to San Francisco.