David Sibray
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
SAINT MARYS, W.Va. — West Virginia has always been reasonably peaceful. Violence erupts occasionally, though one might say it’s sleepy in a home-spun Andy Griffith Show way. It had been remarkably free of violent crime during the Great Depression when most folks were too occupied with the business of surviving to carry out a murder. … Read more
ROANOKE, W.Va. — According to West Virginia officials, the state’s National Hunting and Fishing Day celebration will return to Stonewall Resort State Park in Roanoke in September. Brett McMillion, director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, says the annual event promotes hunting and fishing traditions in the Mountain State and has become a … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice has announced the allocation of funds for 61 outdoor recreation projects across West Virginia, banking on recreation efforts in 34 counties, including nearly 700 miles of new or enhanced outdoor recreation trails. Justice said the awards leverage state, federal, and local funds and represent nearly $19 million of outdoor … Read more
MARLINTON, W.Va. — When spring is in the air in West Virginia, black bears come out of hibernation and begin a desperate search for food. Because bears become more active during this time of year, the chances of an outdoor encounter increase, says Colin Carpenter, black bear project leader for the W.Va. Division of Natural … Read more
