David Sibray
PICKLE STREET, W.Va. — Of all the odd community names in West Virginia, “Pickle Street” may rank among the oddest. Why this hamlet in Lewis County bears the name “pickle” is as much a mystery as why it is termed “street.” There is little street-like about rural US-119, which wanders the valley of Leading Creek … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Now in its 49th year, the Vandalia Gathering—West Virginia’s signature celebration of folk music, arts, and heritage—returns May 22–25 to the grounds of the state capitol in Charleston. The free, public event attracts more than 10,000 visitors and participants each year. The free, public event features live music and dance events, storytelling … Read more
SENECA ROCKS, W.Va. — As summer approaches, residents of the historic village below Seneca Rocks brace for an influx of tourists that grows larger every year. At Harper’s Old Country Store, they field a steady stream of questions from travelers drawn to the otherworldly landscape. “How high are the rocks?” “How hard is the hike … Read more
ELKINS, W.Va. — Recreational trails are a major part of West Virginia’s tourism economy, especially in the rugged landscape of the Monongahela National Forest, where thousands of hikers and mountain bikers explore its scenic backcountry each year. To strengthen tourism and improve trail conditions in the forest’s northern region, a new partnership has been formed … Read more
OAKVALE, W.Va.— Motorists traveling along US 460 east of Autumn at Brush Creek Falls in Mercer County near the Bluestone National Scenic River.[/caption] The incident, remembered as the Pauley Massacre, was among many deadly clashes that marked the struggle for control of the Appalachian backcountry during the Revolutionary War era. Much of the conflict pitted … Read more
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — At least two mysteries tangle in the tale of the Neerly house. What happened to the house? What happened to “old man Neerly? And where did the late folklorist Ruth Ann Musick encounter the legend? The following version of the West Virginia tale appears in the West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia, edited and … Read more
CLAY, W.Va. — A visitor center and more than four miles of trail have been added to the 73-mile Elk River Trail in central West Virginia, a hiking and biking route that shares its path with the Elk River Water Trail, a popular kayak destination. The new center will open at a public open house … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — To help promote National Safe Boating Week, officials at the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources and its law enforcement section are reminding boaters about the importance of boating safety and wearing life jackets. Observed this year from May 16-22, National Safe Boating Week marks the start of the summer boating season and … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia has long been associated with outmigration, but new data tell a different story. The Mountain State now ranks among the nation’s top states for net domestic migration, according to Emilia Man, senior research analyst at StorageCafe. Man said an analysis of 2024 U.S. Census data sharply contrasts with the state’s … Read more
ELKINS, W.Va. — The Monongahela National Forest has acquired a 427-acre tract in Randolph County known as the Cunningham Knob addition, expanding public land near Cunningham Knob and the Laurel Fork area. The property was purchased from Cunningham Knob rises above the Sunks of Gandy. Photo by Rick Burgess[/caption] Greenbrier District Ranger Shane Jones said … Read more
