The Highlands (founded 2004) is the premier retail/shopping center in the Upper Ohio Valley/Wheeling area with over 1 million square feet of retail area. Immediately off of Interstate 70, this destination offers shopping, dining, lodging, and entertainment amenities. The site is home to one of the nation’s top three performing Cabela’s retail stores (176,000 SF of retail space and a nearby 1.2 million SF distribution center). Additional tenants include Hobby Lobby, Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, Best Buy, and JCPenney. The Highlands continues
to expand with a $30 Million Sports Complex, a big box home improvement retailer Menard’s, an extended stay Hawthorn Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites, and several retail tenants, including Five Guys, Mattress Firm, Kay Jewelers, GNC, Sprint, Sally Beauty, and Great Clips. New projects in the pipeline include a significant expansion of existing retail strips and outparcels. The center has one of the top rated Microtel Inn & Suites in the nation (among 350+ Microtels). There are approximately 900 hotel rooms within a 1.5 mile radius. The average daily traffic count for I-70 is 52,166 vehicles.
The Highlands is uniquely situated in the Wheeling area as the only major retail power center. Because of the topography and lack of developable land in the region, The Highlands is positioned to remain the dominant retail center for the foreseeable future. Significant funds were spent to build the interchange and create developable land, and further expansion including a second interchange is contemplated. The center is approximately 38 miles from Pittsburgh, PA and approximately 136 miles from Columbus, OH. The Highlands
draws approximately the same number of shoppers from West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.