David Sibray
WHITESVILLE, W.Va. — A new recreational trail in an isolated valley in southern West Virginia has piqued the curiosity of hikers, bikers, and residents wondering about its impact. The 15-mile Clear Fork Rail Trail, the first phase of which is set to open in spring 2024, follows an old railroad through one of the most … Read more
COTTAGEVILLE, W.Va. — Tales of legendary lumberjack Paul Bunyon might seem far removed from West Virginia, but it turns out there’s a long-established link between the folk hero of the American-Canadian border country and the Ohio Valley in West Virginia. As to when Paul Bunyon left his mark in West Virginia, none now know, but … Read more
BECKLEY, W.Va. — After a five-year pause, the outdoor drama “Honey in the Rock” is returning to the stage at the Cliffside Amphitheatre at Grandview as part of an initiative to reach national park visitors and dedicated local patrons. According to general manager Gayle Oaks, along with “Hatfields & McCoys,” the musical drama will be … Read more
COWEN, W.Va. — Cowen today is a sleepy town of 500, perhaps best known for its location near a quiet lake. It was hardly so in 1900 when railroads were first being extended into the dark interior of the Allegheny Mountains. One of the last ancient forests in the eastern U.S. was being timbered, and … Read more
CRANBERRY, W.Va. — Wolves in North America typically run in packs of around eight, according to most sources, though packs as large as 30 have been documented. However, packs far larger may have hunted in the mountains of West Virginia. A settler in the wilderness of the southern state tells the chilling tale of a … Read more
CEDAR GROVE, W.Va. — West Virginians are renowned for their helpfulness, a generosity that is perhaps most evident in their devotion to helping stranded motorists. When pulled over alongside the road to engage in a cell phone call, many out-of-staters have quickly found themselves engaged with a concerned native tapping at their window, checking on … Read more
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — For pioneers in western Virginia, life was complicated enough without talk of “witches.” Any interruption in the business of avoiding hunger and disease might prove deadly. A blighted harvest, a twisted gun, or a broken limb could swiftly doom a settlement. But then there were witches. According to superstitious settlers, they lurked … Read more
SCARY, W.Va. — Though nothing remains on the battlefield along the Kanawha River today, the Battle of Scary Creek was one of the most significant engagements in what’s now West Virginia during the Civil War. Fought in 1861 near Saint Albans, West Virginia, it was also one of the first battles in the war and … Read more
SHADY SPRING, W.Va. — Frequent visitors to the West Virginia woodlands, especially to the mountain counties, are likely familiar with this evergreen groundcover. Though inedible, the plant was harvested to the point of becoming rare for two peculiar reasons. Diphasiastrum digitatum, or Lycopodium digitatum, as the plant is scientifically known, is so common in the … Read more
PHILIPPI, W.Va. — Stored for years in an old barn, the creations of a rural mad scientist, the hardened cadavers known as the “Philippi Mummies” are as grotesque as anything you might imagine, and they’re attracting tourists to this quiet river town in the shadow of the Allegheny Mountains. Everything you’ve heard about them—it might … Read more
