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West Virginia Explorer

WVExplorer delivers the latest West Virginia news and original reporting on communities, travel, culture, history, recreation, and life across the Mountain State. View our West Virginia Travel Guide!

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Why old West Virginia families waited for cold weather and a full moon to kill hogs

Hunting

Special West Virginia deer season opens for youth, seniors, disabled hunters

Will Reedy October 17, 2026

Historic black-and-white photograph of spiritualist medium Elizabeth Winn Blake seated with three men, one holding a long speaking trumpet.

Lore and Legend

The mysterious Mrs. Blake: The Ohio River medium who claimed to speak with the dead

Four members of the American Pickers television production pose beside and inside a white Antique Archaeology van.

Arts

American Pickers returning to West Virginia in search of historic treasures

A white-tailed deer stands in the middle of a snow-covered rural road in November, surrounded by trees as light snow falls.

Wildlife / Conservancy

West Virginia leads nation in animal collisions as deer season raises danger

Latest West Virginia News

Woodburn Hall glows magically when lit on Woodburn Circle in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo courtesy WVU)

Arts

How a Morgantown builder helped restore the historic night lighting of WVU’s Woodburn Hall

October 16, 2026

Mothman and the Flatwoods Monster will greet families during the West Virginia Department of Tourism’s free Halloween Bash on October 29 at the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston.

Festivals / Events

Mothman, Flatwoods Monster to haunt West Virginia Capitol for Halloween

October 15, 2026

Visitors explore the historic downtown of Hinton, a gateway to the southern reaches of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, where brick-lined streets, local shops, and mountain scenery offer a quieter side of the park experience. (Photo: David Sibray / WVExplorer)

Economic Development

As New River Gorge attracts newcomers, Hinton foundation invites investment in community

October 15, 2026

New River Gorge Bridge surrounded by fog in the mountains of southern West Virginia.

Festivals / Events

Bridge Day 2026 forecast calls for cold weather, but history shows much colder celebrations

October 15, 2026

West Virginia State Parks is offering 2027 golf season passes providing unlimited play at four resort courses, including Cacapon, Canaan Valley, Pipestem and Twin Falls. Annual passes start at $459.

State Parks, Forests

West Virginia offers unlimited golf at four state parks with 2027 season passes

October 15, 2026

West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon generates an estimated $75.5 million in annual statewide economic activity, according to a new study of West Virginia's independent colleges and universities.

Higher Education

West Virginia’s private colleges generate nearly $392 million annually, study finds

October 14, 2026

Communities

Workers restore the roof of the historic Tyree Tavern in Ansted, West Virginia. Dating to approximately 1810, the former stagecoach inn is being rehabilitated as a museum and cultural facility. A new $28,000 preservation grant will support window restoration. (Photo courtesy Pam Webster-Walsh)

Eight historic West Virginia buildings awarded $490,000 for preservation

Clyde Craig October 11, 2026

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Eight historic West Virginia buildings, including a frontier-era tavern, an early African American school, and a church once used by enslaved worshippers, will receive more than $490,000 in federal preservation grants to help protect landmarks

Turkey Shooting, by 19th-century American artist Charles Deas, depicts the pursuit of wild turkeys in early America. The bird later became the subject of one of the nation's most successful wildlife restoration efforts. (Public domain/Wikimedia Commons)

America’s wild turkey hunting tradition returns to West Virginia forests

Will Reedy October 10, 2026

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — One of America’s oldest hunting traditions returns to Appalachian forests Saturday, Oct. 10, when West Virginia opens its fall wild turkey season in all 55 counties, continuing a pursuit that has survived centuries of settlement,

As WVU's Mountaineer prepares for his flu shot, health officials explain when West Virginians should get vaccinated and how to prevent influenza.

WVU Mountaineer Reese Allen to get flu shot as officials urge fall vaccinations

October 8, 2026

A river otter pauses along a grassy riverbank log before slipping back into the water. A new collaborative study by WVU and WVDNR used high-tech GPS trackers to reveal that West Virginia otters can log up to 30 miles in a single night.

GPS trackers in new study reveal W.Va. otters traveling up to 30 miles a night

October 5, 2026

Peak autumn foliage frames Blackwater Falls in Tucker County, W.Va., as visitors look out from the boardwalk viewing platform. Cold overnight temperatures across the Allegheny Highlands have accelerated the seasonal color shift across higher elevations.

Recent mountain freezes accelerate peak fall foliage across high-altitude W.Va.

October 5, 2026

West Virginia Explorer publisher David Sibray stands beside a bat-friendly gate at an abandoned mine portal in the Piney Creek Gorge near the New River Gorge in southern West Virginia. Such gates allow bats to enter abandoned mine workings while restricting human access.

Tiny cellular trackers follow endangered bats through New River Gorge

September 30, 2026

Attractions

A U.S. Forest Service firefighter uses a drip torch to ignite a prescribed burn. Similar controlled fires are planned across 726 acres of Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia this fall to improve wildlife habitat and forest health. (USDA Forest Service photo by Lindsey Winkel)

Forest service plans controlled burns on 726 acres in Monongahela National Forest

Clyde Craig October 10, 2026

ELKINS, W.Va. — Federal forest managers plan to deliberately burn 726 acres of West Virginia’s mountain forests this fall, using controlled fires to improve wildlife habitat, restore natural ecological processes, and reduce the risk of destructive wildfires. The

Stonewall Resort Complex on Stonewall Jackson Lake

West Virginia resort Stonewall ranks among South’s best in Condé Nast Traveler awards

Clyde Craig October 6, 2026

ROANOKE, W.Va. — A lakeside resort in the hills of northern West Virginia has been ranked among the best resorts in the U.S. South by Condé Nast Traveler readers, marking its fourth consecutive appearance in the magazine’s annual

A vehicle enters Coopers Rock State Forest in northern West Virginia. The West Virginia State Parks Foundation hopes to expand private fundraising for projects at state parks, forests and rail trails across the state.

Foundation seeks to expand private funding for West Virginia State Parks projects

October 2, 2026

adventure tourism have become increasingly important drivers of the state's visitor economy. (Photo: David Sibray)

Nearly $20 million in upgrades coming to West Virginia state parks

September 30, 2026

The New River Gorge Bridge rises above the New River amid autumn foliage in southern West Virginia. Fall brings cooler weather, whitewater recreation and changing colors to the national park region.

Autumn changes the New River Gorge and gives travelers new reasons to visit

September 28, 2026

A sign marks the Beaver Dam Cooperative Wildlife Management Area in Monongahela National Forest, one of several areas where the U.S. Forest Service and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources cooperate on wildlife management.

Why West Virginia manages wildlife inside a federal national forest

September 26, 2026

Recreation

Skiers descend Snowshoe Mountain in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. The resort is targeting Nov. 25 for the opening of its 2026–27 ski season.

Snowshoe sets Nov. 25 opening date as West Virginia ski season approaches

Clyde Craig October 6, 2026

SNOWSHOE, W.Va. — Officials at Snowshoe Mountain Resort are targeting Nov. 25 to open its 2026–27 ski season, putting West Virginia’s largest ski destination 50 days from the start of winter operations, weather permitting. The four-season resort in the Allegheny Mountains

A gray squirrel feeds on an acorn. Production of acorns and other forest foods known as mast can influence the movements of deer, squirrels, bears and other wildlife in West Virginia.

Fewer acorns could mean more deer sightings for West Virginia hunters this fall

Will Reedy October 1, 2026

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A below-average crop of acorns and other wild foods could keep West Virginia deer moving this fall, increasing the chances that hunters will encounter them, according to the state’s annual wildlife food survey. Biologists with

West Virginia’s archery and crossbow seasons for white-tailed deer, black bear and wild boar open Sept. 26, 2026.

West Virginia archery season opens Sept. 26 for deer, bear, and wild boar

Will Reedy September 25, 2026

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — One of West Virginia’s longest fall hunting seasons opens Saturday, as archery and crossbow hunters head into the woods for white-tailed deer, black bear and wild boar. The statewide seasons open Sept. 26, beginning more than

A child climbs a tree while exploring the woods. Outdoor educator Levi Moore says adults can help children develop a lasting connection with nature by giving them opportunities to explore, play and discover outdoors.

Want your children to spend more time outdoors? Start with yourself, educator says

September 16, 2026

Chefs from 10 West Virginia state parks are preparing dishes including rabbit pot pie, venison chili, shredded duck tacos, burgoo and other foods for National Hunting and Fishing Day at Stonewall Resort State Park.

Rabbit pot pie, venison chili, duck tacos on menu at West Virginia outdoor celebration

September 16, 2026

Mountain bikers ride a wooded trail in Beckley, West Virginia, where an expanding trail network is part of an effort to develop the city as an outdoor recreation destination.

West Virginia city eyes 40-mile trail network near New River Gorge

September 10, 2026

A young shooter receives guidance while handling a firearm. West Virginia has eliminated the minimum age for its special youth hunting seasons, although hunters younger than 15 must still be accompanied by a licensed adult. Photo credit: Remy Gieling

West Virginia eliminates minimum age for youth hunting seasons

September 10, 2026

Wesley Scarbrough helps his brother-in-law, Justin, fire a gun while squirrel hunting near Rock Creek, West Virginia, in 1995. The photograph by Lyntha Scott Eiler is part of the Library of Congress Coal River Folklife Project.

Long a West Virginia rite of passage, squirrel hunting returns Saturday

September 10, 2026

Tyler Harmon holds the 72.75-pound blue catfish he caught in the Ohio River in Jackson County as a West Virginia Division of Natural Resources official assists with the record certification. The fish set a new state weight record and was released alive. (WVDNR photo)

West Virginia brought back a giant native fish that now keeps breaking records

September 4, 2026

A bicycle rests beside the Meadow River along the Meadow River Rail Trail, an 18-mile route between Rainelle and Nallen in southern West Virginia. (Photo courtesy Meadow River Rail Trail)

New 18-mile trail is revealing a hidden West Virginia river valley

September 4, 2026

Rafters charge through whitewater on the Gauley River during Gauley Season in West Virginia. The six-week fall season draws thousands of whitewater enthusiasts to the river each year. (NPS photo)

Six weeks of legendary whitewater are about to begin on the Gauley in West Virginia

August 26, 2026

A couple walks a wooded trail at Pipestem Resort State Park, where the West Virginia Trails Conference will be held Nov. 8–10, 2026.

West Virginia trails conference looks to turn outdoor recreation into community growth

August 24, 2026

Culture

An earth-covered concrete bunker stands in the woods of the former West Virginia Ordnance Works near Point Pleasant, W.Va. Built to store explosives during World War II, the bunkers later became associated with the area's Mothman legend. (Photo by Jesse Thornton)

Before Mothman, West Virginia’s mysterious TNT area was World War II explosives factory

David Sibray October 13, 2026

POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — Visitors searching for the legendary Mothman in the woods near Point Pleasant are finding the remains of a massive World War II explosives factory that employed thousands of workers and supplied explosives for American

C. W. Scott and a young boy feed hogs from a wagon in Petersburg, West Virginia. Raising hogs provided mountain families with an important source of meat, traditionally butchered during the cold months of late autumn and early winter. (Courtesy West Virginia & Regional History Center, WVU Libraries)

Why old West Virginia families waited for cold weather and a full moon to kill hogs

David Sibray October 12, 2026

RICHWOOD, W.Va. — As temperatures fall across West Virginia in late autumn and early winter, an old Appalachian tradition comes to mind— hog killing. For generations, mountain families depended on the cold to slaughter the hogs they had

Stretcher's Neck Tunnel near Prince, West Virginia, is associated with a ghost story involving a tragic love triangle. The railroad legend is among several supernatural tales linked to the New River Gorge.

Four ghost stories hidden in the abandoned towns of the New River Gorge

David Sibray October 9, 2026

THURMOND, W.Va. — A crying baby, a wailing woman, and a headless man are all said to have haunted a coal-company house in the New River Gorge in the 1930s. According to local legend, the disturbances grew so

Visitors browse vendors during a previous Hinton Railroad Days celebration in downtown Hinton, W.Va. The annual festival continues October 9–11, 2026, without the dedicated excursion trains that once brought hundreds of passengers to the city.

Lore and Legend

Rafters descend the Gauley River in West Virginia, one of the world’s celebrated whitewater runs. A form of the river’s unusual name appears in records dating to at least 1774, though its origin remains uncertain. (Photo courtesy ACE Adventure Resort)

Real Estate

The 80-foot Red Oak Fire Lookout in the Monongahela National Forest is now available for overnight stays in Webster County, West Virginia. (Photo courtesy U.S. Forest Service)

History and Prehistory

An artist’s interpretation of the “Panther Killer” legend associated with Ephraim “Big Eaf” Hatfield, father of William Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield. A 1952 Logan County history related a tradition that Hatfield killed a panther with a hunting knife near present-day Red Jacket, West Virginia. Contemporary evidence establishing the episode as fact has not been found.

State Parks

A steam-powered excursion train travels through the mountains at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. A new 100-site campground has opened at the popular railroad and outdoor recreation destination.

Hunting

Participants learn outdoor skills during a Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop in West Virginia. The nationally recognized program introduces women to hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities in a supportive setting.

Fishing

Morgantown angler Robert Glover holds the 9.76-inch pumpkinseed sunfish he caught at Cheat Lake, setting the West Virginia record for a category that has now been broken three times in little more than a month. (Photo courtesy W.Va. DNR)

Hiking

Skiing

White Grass has long been a magnet for visitors from Columbus, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C. (Photo: Mountain River Media)

National Parks

The New River Gorge Bridge spans New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in southern West Virginia, which recorded nearly 2 million recreation visits in 2025. (NPS photo/Gary Hartley)

Kayaking

Kayakers paddle around Big Rock on the lower Greenbrier River near Hinton, West Virginia.

Whitewater Rafting

Biking

One of the largest networks on the East Coast, the routes activate thousands of miles of gravel roads across the Mon Forest for visitors and communities. (Photo: Getty Images)

More West Virginia News

Hunting