David Sibray
SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. — The tale of the “Ford Ghost” southwest of Summersville, West Virginia, appears several times in local lore. This telling by J.W. Benjamin, published in the W.Va. Heritage Encyclopedia, couches the story in a manner that captures the essence of a good ghost story with the help of Lonnie E. Legge, who might … Read more
HINTON, W.Va. — Far from crowds that visit some of its most popular tourist attractions, the National Park Service at the New River Gorge has preserved an old-time mountain farm, providing visitors a glimpse into the past in West Virginia. Though access isn’t provided to the interiors of the buildings, visitors are encouraged to walk … Read more
FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — Which are the best hiking trails in West Virginia’s new national park? Deb Moses Lamey, president of Friends of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, is a consummate hiker who knows the trails that climb through the gorge and surrounding highlands. With more than 40 designated hiking trails, the park … Read more
THURMOND, W.Va. — Victims of a smallpox pandemic that swept through the New River Gorge in the late 1800s may have been buried in a remote cemetery on what many now call the ‘Island of the Dead.’ Though remote, the island is accessible during low water in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. … Read more
PAX, W.Va. — West Virginia is warm enough to welcome family camping at least six months out of the year, and there’s little more exciting about a night under the stars than campfire tales told over roasted marshmallows. As the embers dim, inexplicable sounds come out of the darkness. The crash of a falling branch! … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Communities across West Virginia are turning to their scenic potential to bolster local economies. They’ve discovered that beauty spots attract tourists and increase the desirability of nearby real estate without much expense. Landscape architect Joe Bird, vice president of A hiker gazes across the Greenbrier Valley. Photo courtesy Pine and rhododendrons help … Read more
FAIRPLAIN, W.Va. — Carved on a hillside by an eccentric sculptor in the 1950s, a curious rock face near Ripley, West Virginia, is attracting a larger audience than ever, thanks to social media. More travelers than ever are on the hunt for the rock. According to the late historian Mike Ruben, West Virginia’s diminutive Mount … Read more
FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — For millions of tourists, Fayette County and its New River Gorge is a destination for healing and rejuvenation—a wonderland of hiking trails and kayaking streams. But a century ago, newspapers across the U.S. had named it “Bloody Fayette,” and with good reason. Coal had been discovered in the county in vast quantities, … Read more
ELKINS, W.Va. — Lilacs bloom in April and May in West Virginia, which may be a good time to recall one of its best-known ghost stories — that of the tell-tale lilac bush, a story that’s grown into legend, thanks to the late folklorist Ruth Ann Musick. In 1965, Dr. Musick, who taught folklore at … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginians are increasingly turning to their native resources for diversion and sustenance, and bee-keeping has certainly enjoyed renewed interest. More than 13,300 bee colonies are registered in the Mountain State, producing almost 245,000 pounds of honey annually. Therefore, maintaining pollinating plants is of increased economic importance to West Virginia honey producers … Read more
