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David Sibray

David Sibray is the founder, publisher and editor-in-chief of West Virginia Explorer, a news and travel magazine devoted to the state’s history, tourism, outdoor recreation and economic development. For more information, he may be reached at 304-575-7390 or at editor@wvexplorer.com
State Parks, Forests

West Virginia parks foundation to raffle outdoor adventure prizes worth $14,000

by David Sibray

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia State Parks Foundation is offering 27 outdoor adventure prizes valued at more than $14,000 in a fundraising raffle benefiting West Virginia’s state parks, forests, and rail trails, according to executive director Brad Reed. Tickets cost $40 each, and participants receive a sixth ticket free when they buy five. The … Read more

Orange sunlight breaks through dark clouds above a silhouetted forest beneath a nearly black sky.
Festivals / Events

Before trick-or-treating, Halloween was already causing trouble in West Virginia

by David Sibray

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — By 1899, Halloween had become such a troublesome occasion in Huntington that one resident demanded special police protection, warning that drunken revelers and vandals might provoke a deadly confrontation with homeowners. In a letter published in the Huntington Advertiser on October 31, the writer complained that Halloween celebrations had deteriorated into an … Read more

U.S. Rep. Harley O. Staggers Sr. of West Virginia smiles while seated at his congressional desk, with American flags behind him.
History / Prehistory

When a 35-mile trip to West Virginia meant changing your watch seven times

by David Sibray

MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — Before 1966, a traveler making the 35-mile journey between Steubenville, Ohio, and Moundsville, West Virginia, could encounter seven time changes. Some communities observed daylight saving time while others remained on standard time, creating a patchwork of conflicting schedules. The confusion became an example cited in Congress by U.S. Rep. Harley O. Staggers … Read more

Aerial view of snow-covered ski slopes, chairlift corridors, and wooded mountainsides at Timberline Mountain ski resort in Tucker County, West Virginia.
Skiing and Snowsports

West Virginia ski resort Timberline ranks among 10 most affordable in U.S.

by David Sibray

DAVIS, W.Va. — Timberline Mountain in West Virginia has been ranked among the 10 most affordable ski destinations in the United States for the 2026–27 winter season, according to a national study of lodging and lift ticket prices. The Tucker County resort placed ninth among 100 destinations evaluated in HomeToGo’s 2026–27 Ski Season Report, released … Read more

New West Virginia Cryptids license plate depicting Mothman, the Flatwoods Monster, and other mysterious creatures against a moonlit mountain landscape.
Travel / Transportation

West Virginia unveils license plate featuring nine legendary Mountain State monsters

by David Sibray

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Mothman, the Flatwoods Monster, and seven other creatures from West Virginia folklore will soon appear on vehicles across the state as the Division of Motor Vehicles introduces a new Cryptids license plate. The plate, designed by the late West Virginia graphic artist Jesse Corlis, will be available Monday, Nov. 2, at DMV … Read more

WVU professor Elizabeth Cohen smiles beside a Ghostface mask outdoors on campus.
Arts

Why do we love scary movies? WVU expert explains the psychology of fear

by David Sibray

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Why do people willingly watch movies filled with murder, monsters, and terrifying situations? A West Virginia University professor says the attraction has much to do with human curiosity about danger, particularly the disturbing things we would rather avoid in real life. Elizabeth Cohen, a professor of communication studies in WVU’s Eberly College … Read more

Long rows of cultivated crops stretch toward a distant tree line beneath a broad evening sky.
Agriculture

West Virginia agriculture commissioner warns data centers could threaten valuable farmland

by David Sibray

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Thousands of acres along West Virginia’s Ohio River are being targeted for massive data center developments, prompting the state’s agriculture commissioner to warn that industrial expansion could permanently reduce the farmland available for food production. Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhardt is urging developers to avoid productive agricultural land when selecting sites for data … Read more

New River Gorge Bridge spanning a deep, forested canyon, viewed from the rocky Long Point overlook in West Virginia.
Travel / Transportation

New River Gorge enters new era as America’s 64th national park is named

by David Sibray

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — After nearly six years as America’s newest national park, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is entering a new phase of tourism promotion as the designation passes to Chiricahua National Park in Arizona. President Donald Trump signed legislation Tuesday establishing Chiricahua as the nation’s 64th national park, ending a distinction … Read more

A person holds several green pawpaws gathered in a blue denim shirt outdoors.
Agriculture

West Virginia grants target new markets for pawpaws, forest crops

by David Sibray

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Eight West Virginia agricultural projects have received federal grants, including those focused on expanding forest farming, developing food products from native pawpaws, and helping small growers process their harvests. The W.Va. Department of Agriculture announced the awards through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which supports research, education, … Read more