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Clyde CraigClyde Craig

Clyde Craig is a staff writer for West Virginia Explorer. Born in Parkersburg, West Virginia, he traveled with his family across the globe with the U.S. Army before returning to the Mountain State in 2011. He has been a writer with the explorer since 2018. He can be reached at 304-575-7390 or at craig@wvexplorer.com.
Panoramic view of New River Gorge from Grandview Overlook in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, West Virginia.
Opinion

Is New River Gorge worth visiting? Here’s why millions of travelers think so

by Clyde Craig

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is worth visiting for anyone who enjoys scenic landscapes, outdoor recreation, Appalachian history, or small-town travel. Even visitors who don’t hike can enjoy dramatic overlooks, one of America’s longest steel-arch bridges, historic coal towns, scenic drives, and some of the nation’s best whitewater rafting. … Read more

A bobcat watches visitors from its woodland habitat at the West Virginia Wildlife Center near French Creek. The facility, home to native wildlife species from across the Mountain State, will host its 10th annual Rendezvous Celebration on July 31 and Aug. 1, combining living-history demonstrations with opportunities to experience West Virginia's natural heritage.
Wildlife / Conservancy

W.Va. Wildlife Center rendezvous celebration returns with history, native wildlife

by Clyde Craig

FRENCH CREEK, W.Va. — Frontier blacksmiths will hammer glowing iron. Scouts will demonstrate wilderness survival. Cooks will prepare meals over open fires while historical reenactors recreate life as it unfolded in the Appalachian backcountry. Yet perhaps the most authentic part of the experience won’t be the encampment itself. Just beyond the demonstrations, visitors can walk … Read more

Smoke gathers above the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve during a wildfire. Researchers at West Virginia University are developing an artificial intelligence system that could help satellites detect and track wildfires more quickly across rugged, heavily forested landscapes.
Botany and Forestry

WVU develops AI wildfire detection system for one of America’s most forested states

by Clyde Craig

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — In West Virginia, where forests cover nearly four of every five acres, a wildfire can ignite on a remote mountainside far from roads, fire stations, cameras, or anyone likely to report the first signs of smoke. Engineers at West Virginia University are developing a satellite-based artificial intelligence system that could help change … Read more

Water Divining: A water diviner walks an Appalachian hillside with a forked branch in this artist's rendering, illustrating a folk tradition that generations of mountain families sometimes consulted when choosing locations for new wells.
Lore and Legend

Water divining endures as one of Appalachia’s most distinctive folk traditions

by Clyde Craig

BECKLEY, W.Va. — Long before hydrogeologists, groundwater maps, or drilling contractors, families across Europe and North America sometimes sought the help of a water diviner before digging a well. Few places, however, embraced the tradition as enduringly as Appalachia. Carried to the mountains by English and German settlers, water divining became part of everyday rural … Read more

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

What out-of-state buyers should know before purchasing property in West Virginia

by Clyde Craig

BECKLEY, W.Va. — For many Americans, West Virginia offers something increasingly difficult to find—mountain views, deep forests, rushing rivers, historic towns, and land that remains comparatively affordable in an increasingly expensive East Coast real estate market. Whether they’re seeking a weekend cabin near the New River Gorge, a retirement home in the Allegheny Mountains, or … Read more

The State Fair of West Virginia draws thousands of visitors each August to Lewisburg, where competitive exhibits, livestock shows and carnival attractions highlight the state's largest annual celebration of agriculture. (Photo courtesy Greenbrier Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau)
Festivals / Events

State Fair of West Virginia entry deadlines near as the 101st annual fair approaches

by Clyde Craig

LEWISBURG, W.Va. — From prize-winning quilts and homemade jams to champion livestock and towering garden vegetables, the competitive exhibits at the State Fair of West Virginia have long been among the event’s biggest draws. With the fair’s 101st annual celebration just weeks away, organizers are reminding exhibitors that entry deadlines are rapidly approaching. Livestock entries … Read more

The 230-foot America250 Wheel rises above the West Virginia State Capitol Complex in Charleston during the state's official America250 Capital City Celebration. The observation wheel offers panoramic views of the capital city and is among the event's signature attractions. (Courtesy W.Va. Tourism)
Festivals / Events

Charleston’s America250 Celebration draws thousands for historic Fourth of July weekend

by Clyde Craig

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — One of West Virginia’s largest Independence Day weekends in years is set to unfold in Charleston, where the state’s official America250 Capital City Celebration will coincide with the annual Charleston Sternwheel Regatta, creating four days of concerts, fireworks, history, and family entertainment. The free celebration, July 2-5 on the West Virginia State … Read more

A new "Tech Toolshed" program by Woodlands Development & Lending is giving entrepreneurs free access to professional cameras, lighting and audio equipment to improve their digital marketing.
Economic Development

New program by Woodlands helping rural West Virginia businesses reach customers nationwide

by Clyde Craig

ELKINS, W.Va. — Across the United States, entrepreneurs are increasingly building businesses from home offices, renovated storefronts, and small-town communities while relying on digital marketing to reach customers nationwide. Whether selling handmade products online, promoting vacation rentals, or guiding outdoor adventures, professional photography, video, and audio have become essential tools for success. In rural West … Read more