David Sibray
SUTTON, W.Va. — Sightings of a bigfoot alleged in the wilderness surrounding Sutton Lake in central West Virginia may have a historical precedent. According to Andrew Smith, executive director of the Braxton County Convention and Visitors Bureau, old news clippings that refer to a “wildman” and more recent stories of an ape-like creature imply that … Read more
ALUM CREEK, W.Va. — Officials with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources will host a public meeting on Tuesday, May 20, to review and receive feedback on options proposed for developing the Forks-of-Coal State Natural Area. At the confluence of the Little Coal and Big Coal rivers south of Charleston, West Virginia, on the … Read more
SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. — Want to increase your property value? Plant a shade tree. Want to charge more for goods and services in your shop or restaurant? Plant a shade tree. Especially in West Virginia, where tourists come for shade in summer and color in autumn, shady lawns and gardens, even shady parking lots, can increase … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — One enduring West Virginia legend posits that the first person of European descent to visit the land now within the boundaries of the Mountain State was a “lunatic.” The late Jim Comstock, publisher of the celebrated West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia, briefly mentioned the tale in his work, though little is known of … Read more
JUSTICE, W.Va. — Which is the shortest river in West Virginia? Most sources have heretofore agreed that it’s the Holly River at 3.9 miles. The namesake for Holly River State Park, it is indeed short, far shorter than most people probably think a river should be. However, there’s another river in West Virginia that’s even … Read more
ZENITH, W.Va. — Those who have heard the haunting “Peters Mountain Roar” say it will forever stay with them. “The roar of a thousand lions,” some have called it. A meteorological phenomenon, the sound is most often experienced in the windward valleys west of Peters Mountain. Many theories have been proposed about its origin, though … Read more
PIPESTEM, W.Va. — Many of the thousands of people named “Farley” in the New River valley region in southern West Virginia trace their lineage back to one early settler, Drewry Farley. He and his wife, Mary Adkins Farley, established their family in an upland pasture overlooking the New River at the summit of what’s known … Read more
BURNING SPRINGS, W.Va. — Practically inaccessible for years, one of the state’s legendary rock formations is attracting the attention of hikers and other intrepid sightseers. Though the journey to the “Devil’s Tea Table” may require visitors to climb a steep slope and drive a vehicle that can ford small streams, the payoff is rewarding, and … Read more
BEAVER, W.Va. — To encourage West Virginians to walk at least one mile daily, state officials are designating one-mile hiking trails in 32 parks as “Mountaineer Mile” challenge trails. Governor Patrick Morrisey gathered with other state officials to announce the initiative at Little Beaver State Park, which boasts a mile-long walking trail encircling Little Beaver Lake. … Read more
CRANY, W.Va. — How did the grave of a soldier from the Shenandoah Valley wind up in one of the most remote and rugged mountain regions in southern West Virginia? According to the legend, as it’s come to be told, a band of marauding Shawnee burned Ralph Stewart’s father at the stake, and so no … Read more
