Milburn was once a thriving coal company town. Coal camps all along Paint Creek contributed greatly to the development of the United States in the Industrial Age. Milburn shares the same history as many coal company towns which once existed and prospered along Paint Creek and in the broader southern West Virginia coal fields. At present there is only fragmentary evidence that Milburn, and towns like it, ever existed. However, the landscape in this area holds the very record of the history of coal country.

Nature has reclaimed this area. Now the draw is Paint Creek’s recreational opportunities. West Virginia Department of Natural Resources currently supports a “put & take” trout (rainbow, brook, brown) stocking area at this location on Paint Creek.  

Because of the availability of open space and parking in this location, this spot would be the ideal place to tell the story of coal mining history and the subsequent recovery of the environment through interpretive waysides, informational kiosks and as a major stop on a driving tour along Paint Creek.