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
WVU Tech students socialize along South Kanawha Street in Beckley, West Virginia.

WVU Tech Homecoming weekend to feature community events

WVU Tech will host its annual Homecoming at its new campus in Beckley, West Virginia, September 23-28, featuring a parade, tailgate, and ribbon cuttings for new facilities. Celebrating its third homecoming since opening the campus at Beckley, the university’s student population is now 1,700 and growing, and community leaders are excited. “It’s really obvious that … Read more

ATVs parade through Gilbert, West Virginia, during National Trailfest.

National Trailfest to attract record ATV fans Oct. 10-14

More than 5,000 ATV enthusiasts are expected to visit Gilbert, West Virginia, this October during National Trailfest, now one of the nation’s largest all-terrain vehicle festivals. “It’s amazing to watch a town of 500 people grow into a town of 5,500,” says Victoria Surber, director of the Gilbert Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Yet, I think … Read more

Alderson Broaddus has been named Best Value and Best Regional College in the South by U.S. News & World Report.

Alderson Broaddus ranked top by U.S. News & World Report

Alderson Broaddus University received recognition this week as the highest-ranking West Virginia college or university in two categories published by U.S. News & World Report. The school was ranked first among West Virginia colleges overall and 39th among the 2020 “Best Regional Colleges in the South.” The report compares institutions based on performance across a … Read more

"The Ascent of Gauley Mountain, in Western Virginia by the Twelfth Ohio Regiment," from Harpers Illustrated, October 5, 1861.

Civil War lecture series set for Sept. 28 in Charleston

West Virginia Archives and History will present a series of four hour-long lectures regarding West Virginia during the Civil War on Saturday, Sept. 28, in Charleston, West Virginia. During an hour-long break between the morning and afternoon sessions, attendees will have an opportunity to inspect Civil War artifacts from the personal collections of presenters and … Read more

The midway at the State Fair of West Virginia rages with color at dusk at Fairlea, West Virginia.

State Fair of W.Va. broke record food, carnival sales in 2019

Good weather and gate specials helped the State Fair of West Virginia reach record food and carnival sales in 2019, according to Kelly Collins, CEO for the fair, who provided a breakdown of figures. “Although school calendars have affected attendance for the State Fair of West Virginia, we were fortunate to have great weather,” Collins … Read more

The community of Point Pleasant extends into the distance from the junction of the Ohio (left) and Kanawha (right) rivers.

WVU selects Point Pleasant for community branding

Rich in lore and history, Point Pleasant, West Virginia, has been chosen as the recipient of a branding project by West Virginia University designed to promote tourism and economic development. Home of the Mothman legend and a turning-point battle with the Shawnee, it’s also a community on the rise, says Rita Colistra, associate professor at … Read more

A student at Morgantown, West Virginia, stands transfixed under a street light.

New paranormal expo central to Monongahela Valley

As any student who attends West Virginia University at Morgantown can tell you, there’s an air of mystery that grows over the Monongahela Valley at night. Ranked among the most haunted locales in West Virginia, Morgantown—and all of the Monongahela Valley, from Pittsburgh to the Allegheny uplands—is imbued with a sense of the uncanny. It … Read more