David Sibray
The New River Gorge Trail Alliance has received a $60,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to study the expansion of a bike trail system across a large part of southern West Virginia. Trails would be extended into Summers, Webster, Raleigh, Monroe and Kanawha counties should the study find it is feasible to extend beyond … Read more
New River Community and Technical College is offering classes in bird-watching and nature exploration in March at its campuses across southeastern West Virginia. Students can expect to learn about bird species, habitats, and activities in the bird-watching classes and plants, animals, and the environment in the nature-exploration classes. Families are encouraged to participate, says Jenni … Read more
Lushly forested West Virginia is a ideally suited to the production of rich, golden honey, and North Bend State Park is fostering the industry this year by hosting a free beekeeping program February 28. Master Beekeeper Janet Clayton will host a free program at 6:30 p.m. at the park lodge during which she will discuss … Read more
Bacontown, Battleship, Black Oak Bottom — though they no longer exist, these vanished communities are among nearly 300 towns that historian Carl Wolfe has cataloged in Raleigh County. And he’s asking past and present county residents to help find more. Having witnessed the boom-and-bust economy of coal mining, Raleigh County, in southern West Virginia, is … Read more
Governor Jim Justice today announced an $11-million investment package for Pipestem Resort State Park that will include new outdoor-adventure infrastructure and updated park accommodations. Beginning this spring, visitors to Pipestem, in southern West Virginia, will be able to enjoy a new splash park, lake adventures, guided trout-fishing trips, stand-up paddleboard tours, rock climbing and rappelling … Read more
Few hills and hollers in West Virginia exist without a ghost around to haunt them. Mountaineers love their lore and find plenty of places for restless spirits to walk. Many such tales are based on real events, others on traditions handed down, and Susanna Connelly Holstein, of Jackson County, has collected as many as she’s … Read more
West Virginia Explorer is now reaching more than a million readers annually! If you’re an advertiser, you’ll be happy to know that visitors had 1,170,018 opportunities to click-through to your website this month (as of 8 a.m. this morning). If you’re a reader, it means there’s plenty of fun in store as we travel the … Read more
There’s often no time to waste when rescuing a historic landmark, which is why West Virginia’s Preservation Alliance is expanding its endangered-properties program to accept nominations and provide assistance year-round. The alliance will continue to publish its anticipated list of endangered properties annually, but staff will now provide assistance as soon as submissions are approved, … Read more
Thanks to an early cold spell, Canaan Valley Resort’s ski area is operating 19 downhill runs and trails despite milder-than-normal temperatures, according to Steve Drumheller, general manager for the highland resort. “We expect to have mild days between our cold spells, so we take every advantage we can to make snow in abundance whenever possible … Read more
January’s Wolf Moon recalls a time when wolves roamed the hills of West Virginia. Though the idea may seem as remote as the dark forests through which wolves roamed, West Virginia’s rugged interior was the final eastern stronghold of the Canis lupus in the eastern U.S. As far as is known, the last wolf that lived … Read more
