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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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Tiny West Virginia town celebrates America’s forgotten fruit at the Pawpaw Festival

A West Virginia wildlife biologist examines a white-tailed deer while another person documents the encounter with a smartphone. State officials are encouraging the public to report sick or dead wildlife through a new online reporting system that helps biologists monitor wildlife health.

Wildlife / Conservancy

West Virginia launches online tool for reporting sick and dead wildlife

Will Reedy July 29, 2026

An aerial view of the historic Pence Springs Hotel in Summers County, W.Va., shows the former mineral springs resort surrounded by the forests and rolling hills that made it one of Appalachia's best-known mountain retreats. The 138-acre property is now being offered for sale through Foxfire Realty.

Lodging and Real Estate

One of America’s forgotten mineral springs resorts is for sale and awaiting its next chapter

A kayaker paddles through a spectacular bloom of pink water lilies at Plum Orchard Lake Wildlife Management Area near Pax, one of southern West Virginia's most peaceful paddling destinations. The 202-acre lake is known for its quiet coves, excellent fishing and abundant wildlife.

Travel / Transportation

Hidden New River Gorge lake, Plum Orchard welcomes visitors after $1.2 million makeover

Krissy Stiver and Heather Stiver pose beside a pickup truck loaded with scrap metal collected during a community cleanup in Winona, W.Va. Volunteers removed abandoned metal, tires, and other debris as part of an effort that cleared nearly 7.7 tons of trash from the former coal community.

Economic Development

What happens when a town stops believing the worst things people say about it?

Latest West Virginia News

Tourists visit the Coal Run Company Store near the New River Gorge

Lodging and Real Estate

One of the New River Gorge’s best-known landmarks is looking for its next life

July 27, 2026

Musicians gather in an informal jam session beneath the trees at the Appalachian String Band Music Festival near Clifftop, W.Va. Unlike most music festivals, the heart of the event is found in hundreds of spontaneous circles where participants play together, preserving the traditions of old-time Appalachian music.

Festivals / Events

Why the world’s old-time musicians make a pilgrimage to this West Virginia mountaintop

July 26, 2026

A young George Washington surveys the lands along the Ohio River during one of his frontier expeditions in the early 1770s. As a Virginia surveyor, soldier, and land speculator, Washington traveled the upper Ohio Valley to evaluate its forests, waterways, and settlement potential, helping shape the region's early colonial history. (WVExplorer Illustration)

History / Prehistory

Before the American Revolution, West Virginia almost became Britain’s 14th colony, Vandalia

July 25, 2026

A secluded road near present-day Countsville recalls the isolated Roane-Jackson border country, where a series of murders and acts of vigilante violence unfolded in 1877.

Lore and Legend

The West Virginia farmer that some believed God struck down with lightning

July 24, 2026

The collapsed Silver Bridge lies submerged in the Ohio River after its catastrophic failure on Dec. 15, 1967. Although not the deadliest disaster in West Virginia history, the collapse claimed 46 lives and transformed bridge inspection standards across the United States.

History / Prehistory

West Virginia’s deadliest disasters—10 tragedies that changed U.S. history

July 24, 2026

A drone view captures Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park in the Ohio River near Parkersburg, where the reconstructed Blennerhassett Mansion stands amid mature trees. Once the estate of Harman and Margaret Blennerhassett, the island became the setting for Aaron Burr's mysterious western expedition and today is one of West Virginia's most distinctive historic destinations.

State Parks, Forests

After killing Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr ventured to this legendary island in W.Va.

July 23, 2026

Communities

WVU researchers help tourism communities grow without losing what makes them special

David Sibray July 22, 2026

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — As tourism continues to reshape rural communities across Appalachia, researchers at West Virginia University in Morgantown are helping local leaders answer a difficult question: How can towns welcome more visitors without sacrificing the qualities that

A child sits alone while coping with the loss of a loved one. About one in seven West Virginia children will experience the death of a parent or sibling before age 18, highlighting the need for grief support programs such as Camp Erin West Virginia. (Photo: Getty Images)

One in seven West Virginia children lose a parent or sibling. A free camp wants to help

Clyde Craig July 21, 2026

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. — For many West Virginia children, grief arrives far earlier than most people imagine. About one in seven children in the Mountain State will experience the death of a parent or sibling before reaching adulthood—the second-highest

A spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) adult winged.

Spotted lanternfly reaches Kanawha County as invasive pest spread across West Virginia

July 21, 2026

A driver approaches a busy interstate interchange, where merging traffic, unfamiliar routes and a loss of control can trigger anxiety for some motorists. Researchers at West Virginia University say driving anxiety is more common than many people realize. (Photo: Samuele Errico Piccarini)

You’re not alone: Why driving anxiety happens—and how to keep it from taking over

July 21, 2026

Appalachian Escapes: Straight out of the ’80s: David Sibray, Nate Adams, and Rachel Adkins swap stories in a replica Pizza Hut. (Photo: Holly K. Clark)

This may look like a 1980s Pizza Hut, but it’s a vacation rental in West Virginia

July 18, 2026

George Washington and the Seneca leader Guyasuta overlooking the Ohio River near the mouth of Big Sandy Creek during Washington's 1770 expedition through the Ohio Valley. The two longtime acquaintances camped together before discussing the frontier lands that would later become part of West Virginia.

George Washington’s lost West Virginia: Five places you can still visit today

July 17, 2026

Attractions

Our Lady of the Pines, a tiny chapel near Silver Lake in Preston County, is among the unexpected West Virginia landmarks featured in Peggy Stanton's new book The United "Saints" of America. Built in 1958 by Lithuanian immigrant Peter Milkint, the chapel has become one of the state's most distinctive places of worship.

United Saints of America author discovers West Virginia’s unexpected Catholic landmarks

Clyde Craig July 21, 2026

WHEELING, W.Va. — West Virginia is rarely considered a destination for Catholic pilgrimage. Settled largely by Virginians and Scots-Irish pioneers before later immigrant communities arrived, the Mountain State has long been associated more with frontier Protestantism than with

Historian and West Virginia Explorer correspondent Cody Straley stands before the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston, whose clean lines and imposing Brutalist design have made it one of the state's most recognizable public buildings since opening in 1976.

The W.Va. Culture Center at 50: The story behind one of the state’s great public treasures

Cody Straley July 18, 2026

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — July marks not only the 250th anniversary of American independence but also the 50th anniversary of a modern Mountain State masterpiece—the West Virginia Culture Center. This deceptively simple, large, gray, boxy, stone-clad building in Charleston

The Williams River winds through one of the most scenic and remote sections of West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest. Temporary road closures beginning July 20 will affect access to parts of the river corridor while the U.S. Forest Service repairs flood damage and improves stream crossings for native wildlife. (Photo: David Sibray)

Road closures planned across Monongahela National Forest as repairs, stream projects begin

July 17, 2026

A tourist photographs a historic home in the Middleway National Historic District in West Virginia.

National Trust joins legal fight over proposed plant near one of West Virginia’s oldest villages

July 15, 2026

Diners gather inside Oddfellers in downtown Richwood, where locally sourced Appalachian ingredients and from-scratch cooking have helped make the restaurant a destination for visitors exploring the surrounding mountains, trout streams, and hiking trails.

Food historian says West Virginia’s culinary scene is finally finding its flavor

July 12, 2026

The hidden mountain behind West Virginia’s Pinnacle Rock State Park

July 10, 2026

Recreation

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

Big Rock: A Greenbrier River landmark where the Civil War didn’t end

David Sibray July 17, 2026

HINTON, W.Va. — Today, Big Rock is one of the best-known landmarks along the lower Greenbrier River, a towering sandstone outcrop where generations of paddlers and tubers have stopped to climb, picnic, and wade into the cool water.

A white-tailed doe pauses in a West Virginia forest. The state's controlled antlerless lottery hunts are designed to manage deer populations while protecting forests and wildlife habitat.

Hunters can apply for rare deer hunts in West Virginia state parks

Will Reedy July 16, 2026

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Hunters seeking an opportunity to pursue white-tailed deer in some of West Virginia’s most scenic public lands can now apply for a series of controlled lottery hunts designed to manage deer populations while protecting forests

Hikers enjoy panoramic views from North Fork Mountain Trail, where miles of exposed ridgeline overlook the South Branch Valley in eastern West Virginia.

10 best hiking trails in West Virginia for scenic views and adventure

David Sibray July 15, 2026

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va — From windswept mountain summits to dramatic river overlooks, West Virginia is home to some of the most scenic hiking trails in the eastern United States. While beauty is subjective, certain trails consistently leave visitors speechless,

An American woodcock pauses on the forest floor during its annual migration through Appalachia. The secretive bird depends on young forests and moist woodlands that provide shelter and abundant earthworms as it travels between its northern breeding grounds and southern wintering habitat.

As autumn migration approaches, West Virginia sets seasons for dove, rail, woodcock

July 14, 2026

An instructor guides educators through the Lower New River Gorge, where whitewater rafting offers hands-on lessons in geology, hydrology and teamwork. (Courtesy of ACE Adventure Resort)

West Virginia teachers invited to discover the New River Gorge as an outdoor classroom

July 8, 2026

West Virginia has stocked more than 50 lakes and ponds with channel catfish for the summer, giving visitors and residents fresh opportunities to fish at state parks and public waters across the Mountain State. (Photo courtesy W.Va. Dept. of Commerce)

West Virginia stocks more than 50 ponds and lakes with catfish for summer fishing season

July 6, 2026

A hunter walks through a forest during West Virginia's fall hunting season. The state has released updated hunting and trapping regulations for the 2026-27 seasons, including changes affecting deer, bear and turkey hunters. (Photo courtesy W.Va. Dept. of Commerce)

New West Virginia hunting rules could affect thousands of hunters this fall

June 29, 2026

Illustration of a commercial rafting trip running whitewater beneath the New River Gorge Bridge in southern West Virginia. The state's combination of nationally recognized rivers, dramatic mountain scenery, and outdoor adventure has made it one of the East's premier rafting destinations.

Here’s why West Virginia is the East’s premier whitewater rafting capital

June 26, 2026

A mature wild turkey gobbler displays during the spring breeding season in West Virginia. Once scarce across much of the state, wild turkeys have made one of North America's greatest wildlife recoveries and are now found in every West Virginia county. (Photo courtesy W.Va. Division of Natural Resources)

West Virginia’s wild turkeys have made one of America’s greatest wildlife comebacks

June 25, 2026

More New River Gorge hikers are leaving Endless Wall for the Grandview Rim Trail

June 15, 2026

Volunteers gather on Peters Mountain near Franklin to help build a new trail system in the Monongahela National Forest during a hands-on trail-building workshop.

New Peters Mountain Trail System takes shape in Monongahela National Forest near Franklin

June 12, 2026

Rock climbing in the New River Gorge near the New River Gorge Bridge

Interior Department opens review of rock climbing policies affecting New River Gorge

June 11, 2026

Culture

Edna Moreland and Brother Ginevan display freshly gathered pawpaws near Paw Paw, West Virginia. The state's annual Pawpaw Festival celebrates the unique native fruit and the Appalachian traditions surrounding its harvest.

Tiny West Virginia town celebrates America’s forgotten fruit at the Pawpaw Festival

David Sibray July 23, 2026

PAW PAW, W.Va. — Every autumn, a remarkable fruit ripens quietly beneath the forests of Appalachia. It has a creamy texture, a flavor often compared to banana, mango, and vanilla, and a history stretching back thousands of years.

Rev. Dyke Garrett, the mountain preacher who rode horseback through the rugged hills of southwestern West Virginia for more than 50 years, ministers to a gathering of Appalachian families. Garrett became one of the few trusted figures among both the Hatfield and McCoy families during the infamous feud.

Devil Anse Hatfield’s mountain preacher ended America’s most famous family feud

David Sibray July 22, 2026

SARAH ANN, W.Va. — Long before highways reached into the mountains of southwestern West Virginia, people traveled narrow creek bottoms and mountain paths threading through some of Appalachia’s most rugged country. Families identified with the watersheds where they

Excitement builds as Scouts check in for Scouting America's National Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in southern West Virginia. The 10-day event introduces thousands of young people and their families to the Mountain State through outdoor adventure, leadership, and service.

Thousands gather in W.Va. for the Jamboree, America’s largest outdoor youth adventure

David Sibray July 22, 2026

MOUNT HOPE, W.Va. — Tens of thousands of scouts, volunteers, leaders, and family members are arriving in southern West Virginia this week as Scouting America’s National Jamboree transforms the mountains of the New River Gorge region into one

A smiling child with colorful face paint enjoys a day at the State Fair of West Virginia. Fair officials and community partners are providing complimentary all-day midway ride passes to eligible foster children during this year's event, helping more young people experience one of the state's most cherished summer traditions. (Photo courtesy Jeremiah Lawrence)

Lore and Legend

Effie "Aunt Effie" Wells of Tyler County recalled a family story that linked her household to John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln.

Real Estate

A couple tours a mountain property with a West Virginia Realtor while overlooking a historic barn and rolling Appalachian hills.

History and Prehistory

An illustration depicts Deputy Sheriff T.S. "Flintlock" Perry confronting an angry mob outside the Kanawha County jail. According to later accounts, Perry offered his own life in an attempt to prevent a lynching. (WVExplorer Illustration)

State Parks

West Virginia Explorer publisher David Sibray explores a remote section of Tomlinson Run within Tomlinson Run State Park. The park protects one of the largest remaining forested watersheds in West Virginia's Northern Panhandle and supports plant communities uncommon elsewhere in the region.

Hunting

The Mourning Dove is one of the most abundant and widespread North American birds and a popular gamebird.

Fishing

Hiking

Held at 21 state parks and forests across West Virginia, the First Day hikes are part of a nationwide New Year’s Day tradition designed to promote outdoor recreation.

Skiing

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

National Parks

A family enjoys a quiet moment overlooking the New River Gorge Bridge. Many first-time visitors underestimate the size of the national park region and end up wishing they had planned a longer stay, local tourism officials say. (Photo: David Sibray)

Kayaking

Motorboats with engines larger than 10 horsepower are now permitted to operate at no-wake speed on Elk Fork, North Bend, O’Brien, Stonecoal, and Woodrum lakes.

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

Wildlife / Conservancy