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
Overlook of New River at Hawks Nest State Park, Ansted, WV, Fayette County, New River Gorge Region

New restaurant opening at Hawks Nest State Park

Featuring stunning views of the New River Gorge, The Vista Restaurant at Hawks Nest State Park has opened under park management, the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources announced today. The upscale restaurant in the park’s cliffside lodge will begin serving alcoholic beverages after July 1. “It’s a new start at Hawks Nest State Park,” superintendent … Read more

Forest near Grafton, West Virginia, out of which the Grafton Monster allegedly appeared.

June 16 marks anniversary of Grafton Monster sightings

On June 16, 1964, hell broke loose in Grafton, West Virginia, a sleepy town on the Tygart Valley River. Excitement here normally came by railroad rather than lurching out of the forest. Though the Grafton Monster, or “Beast of Grafton,” as it came to be called, left not so much as a footprint, folks still … Read more

Biologist Brandon Keplinger (center) works with staff to restore trout populations.

Biologists find success restoring trout in eastern panhandle

Biologists with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources have released fingerling brook trout into a tributary of the Cacapon River with the help of students from Slanesville Elementary School, part of an effort to restore native trout to the Eastern Panhandle. The division initially stocked hatchery-raised trout, but they didn’t reproduce well, said Brandon … Read more

The West Virginia Tourism Office's 2018 campaign for the state’s birthday features "Almost Heaven" stickers to be featured in social media posts.

W.Va. launches “Almost Heaven” sticker campaign

The West Virginia Tourism Office today unleashed a new 2018 campaign for the state’s birthday June 20 featuring exclusive “Almost Heaven” stickers that can be featured in social media posts. Tourism Commissioner Chelsea Ruby says the campaign is designed to prompt visitors to visit and share news of its many wild and wonderful attractions. “Let’s … Read more

Conaway Run Lake forms behind an inpoundment in the Conaway Run Lake Wildlife Management Area.

Conaway Run Lake facilities to close during repair

As part of the dam-safety program of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Conaway Run Lake, near Middlebourne, in Tyler County, is undergoing repairs June 11-Oct. 31, 2018. Its boat ramp, parking lot, and the access road to its dam will be closed during this time, according to a release from the division. Bank … Read more

A screenshot from the new game Fallout 76 appears to show a ruined New River Gorge in the background.

Fallout 76: Which West Virginia landmarks can you find?

In time for Christmas 2018, Bethesda it will unleash “Fallout 76,” a video game of enormous proportions that appears to be entirely centered in a post-apocalyptic West Virginia set in the 2076. The trailer for the video begins to pay homage to the Mountain State from the state, invoking the state song “Country Roads, Take … Read more

The Depot Produce More in West Virginia

Looking for a business boost?

If you own or manage a West Virginia business associated with travel and tourism, look no further than West Virginia Explorer. Our $200 business spotlight provides you a feature story crafted by journalists and published at WVExplorer.com. “We saw immediate results,” said Joyce Brenemen of The Depot Produce & More, in Oak Hill. “They figured … Read more