Our mission

Our mission is to restore Cottrill’s Opera House to its historic role: a performing arts venue, community center and cultural hub —driving sustainable economic development for Tucker County and the entire Potomac Highlands region.

Built in 1902, Cottrill’s Opera House long served as a cornerstone of cultural life in Thomas, West Virginia — hosting vaudeville shows, movies, and a wide variety of community events.

But when industrial activity slowed and the region’s population declined, the theater was forced to close its doors. Over the last forty years, a group of dedicated volunteers saved the Opera House and stabilized its structure to prevent further deterioration. However, the heart of the building—its three-story performance space—remains vacant.

That’s about to change. Restoring this historic theater will create a much-needed performing arts center and cultural hub. It will also accelerate the arts-driven economic resurgence already well underway in the Potomac Highlands region.