David Sibray

David Sibray is the founder, publisher and editor-in-chief of West Virginia Explorer, a news and travel magazine devoted to the state’s history, tourism, outdoor recreation and economic development. For more information, he may be reached at 304-575-7390 or at editor@wvexplorer.com
Morning dawns in the Monongahela National Forest in eastern West Virginia.

Forest Service invests $6 million in deferred maintenance in W.Va.

The Monongahela National Forest has received $6 million in funding from the 2020 Great American Outdoors Act to support seven projects across the Forest in 2022. These projects are part of $503 million in Great American Outdoors Act investments across USDA-managed lands to address deferred maintenance, improve infrastructure, increase user access, and support rural economies … Read more

West Virginia fisheries biologist Aaron Yeager (left) with Lucas King (right) holding King's record musky.

Angler catches W.Va. record muskie in Braxton County

West Virginia officials have confirmed that on Saturday, March 19, Lucas King, of Burnsville, West Virginia, caught and released a new Mountain State record muskie. King was fishing from the bank of the Little Kanawha River at a public access site in the tailwater section of Burnsville Dam in Braxton County, according to the state … Read more

West Virginia officials unveiled collectible travel guides at the lodge at Hawks Nest State Park.

State unveils travel guides, Hawks Nest improvements

West Virginia officials this week unveiled the state’s new 2022 vacation guide and highway map during a ribbon-cutting at Hawks Nest State Park on the New River Gorge at Ansted, West Virginia. Gov. Jim Justice was joined by Brett McMillion, director of the Department of Natural Resources, and Chelsea Ruby, secretary of the Department of … Read more

Even the pronunciation of the word "Appalachia" is subject to debate.

WVU researchers want respect for Appalachian speech

Language has partly defined the way people in Appalachia are perceived in other regions of the U.S., according to two researchers at West Virginia University. Yet many natives stand their ground and continue to use vowel sounds that give away their linguistic roots. Kirk Hazen, director of the West Virginia Dialect Project and professor of … Read more

A mason repairs a brick wall.

Registration open for W.Va. historical masonry workshop

The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia, in partnership with the City of Weston, is hosting a week-long historic preservation workshop from April 25- 29, 2022 in Weston, West Virginia. The workshop will offer an in-depth introduction to the treatment and repair of historic masonry and include both classroom instruction as well as hands-on experience. Under … Read more