CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Producers of the History Channel’s American Pickers are searching for unusual antiques and private collections in West Virginia ahead of filming planned for November.
David Lavender, executive director of the West Virginia Film Office that issued the announcement, said he thinks the series and its audience are drawn to the state’s distinctive culture of resourcefulness, its rich industrial history, and its friendly residents.
“I think West Virginia in general is a bit of a mysterious place to the rest of the country,” Lavender said, pointing to the state’s tradition of repairing and preserving possessions and its industrial heritage as sources of fascination.
“Its do-it-yourself philosophy goes hand in glove with our strong tie to river, railroad and coal history, so there truly are some historically relevant pieces tucked away in barns and outbuildings all over the Mountain State.”
The production plans to film in West Virginia and Pennsylvania in November 2026, though it has not announced specific communities or filming dates. Producers are seeking owners of rare or unusual objects with interesting histories who are willing to sell.
Previous visits brought attention to West Virginia attractions
The program has featured West Virginia collections since at least 2011, when it visited Heritage Farm Museum and Village near Huntington. The episode, Pickin’ Perry-dise, featured the late Michael Perry and his wife, Henriella.
Lavender, who serves on the board of the Huntington Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said people still visit Heritage Farm because they discovered it through the television series.
“Reeling in TV episodes of popular series are the gift that keeps on giving because it is an evergreen tourism postcard enticing folks to come to visit your place in this beautiful state,” Lavender said.
He pointed to a similar experience at Hillbilly Hot Dogs in Lesage, which has attracted visitors from around the world following appearances on the Food Network series Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
Other American Pickers visits have included a 2017 stop at the Elkins property of Ronald and Linda Miller and an examination of Francis Turner’s collection, which operated the former Marx Toy Museum in Moundsville.
In 2021, the program featured a West Virginia homestead containing an antique automobile showroom in an episode titled Homestead Honey Hole. Another episode, Coal Gold, explored a century-old soda shop, the Bon-Bon, which recently sold to developers in Mount Hope.
How West Virginians can participate
The series follows professional antique buyers as they travel the country searching for valuable objects and the people who have collected or preserved them.
Producers are interested in privately held collections, particularly those containing historically significant objects, and owners must be willing to negotiate a sale.
The production does not visit stores, flea markets, antique malls, auction businesses, museums, or publicly open collections.
Residents may also recommend friends, relatives, or neighbors who have unusual collections.
Prospective participants can contact the production at americanpickers@cineflix.com or 646-493-2184. They should be prepared to describe their collections and provide photographs and contact information.
The production is gathering leads ahead of filming in November. Submission does not guarantee an appearance on the program.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have the Pickers back in West Virginia, letting folks the world over know that there’s treasure in the people and the beauty of our Mountain State,” Lavender said.