fenton art glass company

The tour is free. You see collector glass items being made from being hand blown, formed, finishes, and put in ovens for the finish. The tour allows you to ask questions as well seeing old glass from times way past. The store offers perfect items and some seconds, all at cheaper than speciality stores.

On a recent road trip along route 77 north I took a side trip to find the Fenton Glass Factory near Parkersburg West Virginia. There are plenty of road signs to direct you to the building. However, once I arrived it was abandoned. Located in a residential area of town, off the main road. The parking lots were all empty and overgrown. The doors were locked. No signs of life, except for a police cruiser parked in one of the empty lots. I asked the officer about the place. He said it has not been occupied for a long time. The last time he had to go inside the building on a call, it was deserted and abandoned. There is a website that says they still give demonstrations on bead making and the gift shop offers some items. You wouldn't know it by being on the site in broad daylight. Don't bother going out of your way to see this place unless you like to look at the outside of an old brick building, and overgrown parking lots. You could probably find what you are looking for on line or at your local Pandora dealer.

My family members have apparently purchased Fenton Glass items for many years. We have many pieces going back to my great-grandmother. I have toured the plant in the past and then stopped in the gift shop to purchase items. However this time, I was shocked to find out that the company has shut down production and is selling off all items. I guess I missed the memo. This stop was very depressing.

Though Fenton Art Glass Co. ceased traditional glassmaking in 2011, they continue to use more than a century of glassmaking expertise and skill to create beautiful, handcrafted art glass jewelry. A limited tour of the beadmaking dept. is available upon request. As the company winds down the remaining factory "traditional glass" inventory, handpainted glass is still available and other items are marked at 60-70% discount in the Fenton Gift Shop. The "majority" of the glass in the shop was made at the Williamstown, WV factory. There are also some limited editions and one-of-a-kind pieces offered in the shop as well as on eBay. There is a video of the company history as well.

The Fenton glass company was wonderful. I was certainly aware of this beautiful glass but hah no idea that it was located a very short distance from our hotel. You get to see the artist at work and they have a hugh selection of glass ware to purchase.

Just a beautiful factory that used to make hand blown, hand painted glass. What a shame that such beautiful craftsmanship is gone. Used to be able tour and watch the glassblowers create.

We are glass collector's and seller's and we decided to visit Fenton, Imperial, and Fostoria for a 2 day trip. We went to Fenton and while there were some beautiful pieces still for sale, there wasn't much to see. We didn't get to see the bead making because they would make the announcement, then wouldn't wait for people to come to their designated "area" which wasn't much.The employee's were very nice and helpful. It is very sad to see an era of skilled tradesmen come to an end. The China products were the worst quality! If I were a Fenton owner, I would just close down then to sell that garbage! Love Fenton! Beauty no more! :(

Visited the factory yesterday, went on the tour of the bead making since the original tour of the glassblowing in the factory is no more. The bead tour lasted about 5 min, we watched one man making a bead and a woman painting on misc glass pieces that they have found from scavenging around the old plant, the lady painting is extremely talented. It was very sad to see such a big part of the past come to an end. The tour guide told us that it was nothing to see a thousand people a day come to tour Fenton , then the struggles with the economy hit hard and today there were two of us on the tour. Even though it was short and not a lot to see I was glad to get to see what we did, Fenton is such a large part of American history in art glass.

We used to go there as children - and still visit whenever we're down home. Unfortunately, it is difficult to find any good Fenton originals. And what is more disconcerting is that the Fenton gift store is stocked primarily with glass made in China.

While the factory is no longer making art glass, you can watch the glass beads being made and painted. If you collect any type of glass, you will find the the Museum to be very interesting. The staff is extremely knowledgeable about Fenton glass and are happy to assist with any questions you may have. There is still lots of beautiful glass for sale; but I'm sure this will not be the case for much longer.

They have stopped production but still have glass for sale. Lovely to look at, but very expensive

You can see glassblowers at work. Informative tour which when I visited was FREE! Afterwards, you can shop at their gift shop.

After 100+ years of producing hand- made art glass from this glass works in Williamstown, West Virginia, this iconic factory and historic company is closing down very soon, at the end of 2011, permanently. Perhaps a victim of the devastating economic conditions here (and many other places), the once famous Plant Tours are done now. There is nothing to see. Cold furnaces and deserted paint shops.We came for the 'tent sale' around July 15, 2011. It was very disappointing. I got a yellow glass frog; the wife got some cheap Xmas glass. I thought the stuff was overpriced.There was a separate row of tables of chinese- made glass items which we looked at out of curiosity and then dismissed.We have been here before, and took the tour, and bought souvenir shoes and some Dave Fetty hand crafted originals in the private indoor collection, back a couple of years ago. The atmosphere here now is one of despair, and who can blame them? We didn't even go into the gift shop this time. It was all too sad. There is just no reason to come here any more.

This was my second visit to Fenton and all of the glass is very appealing to the eye. There were so many options to pick from but you had to limit yourself. I could have easily left there and spent $200 or more but I picked wisely. The staff was nice and helpful. I'm planning on going there again soon.

Closing this year it is rumored.Still making beautifuljewelry, handmade of their glass. Go on the tour if you get a chance. Wonderful guide and lovely young lady who waited on us. Took lots of time showing us the jewelry.