David Sibray
I hardly remember a time when the U.S. 19 expressway didn’t climb Powell Mountain on its journey between Sutton and Beckley in southern West Virginia. Raised in Beckley by parents who hailed from the Monongahela Valley, I spent countless hours on the route visiting grandparents, and later, while attending West Virginia University, spent many more … Read more
Rural and mountainous, West Virginia is home to some of the most star-spangled skies in the eastern U.S. — a circumstance of which photographer Jesse Thornton has made good use. https://wvexplorer.com/2018/08/17/west-virginia-night-jesse-thornton/2/h Seen from the top of Seneca Rocks, car lights trace US-33 and WV-55 through the vale of the North Fork of the South Branch … Read more
Few better places from which to enjoy the approach of autumn exist than the Canaan Valley, perched high in the Alleghenies of eastern West Virginia. Here, where the lowest elevations exceed 3,000 feet above sea level, the leaf change is vivid and comes early — as early as mid-August, says Steve Drumheller, superintendent of Cannan … Read more
A new pedal-train excursion that leads tourists along a glittering trout stream and deep into the mountains of central West Virginia has attracted more than 1,200 guests from 20 states in the last 30 days, according to spokesmen for the venue. “Most of what we’re seeing so far is from word-of-mouth or from Facebook,” conductor … Read more
Start the school-year off by unplugging with the kids on a whitewater rafting trip through the New River Gorge, a chasm deep enough and a journey wet enough to inhibit smart-phone use. The vice-president of River Expeditions, Heather Johnson says last-minute trips through the gorge are popular with families in search of end-of-summer fun, but … Read more
The weather was turning cold in mid-November 1966 when stories of a strange creature began to scatter like autumn leaves across West Virginia. Men digging a grave near Clendenin claimed to see “a brown human being” gliding through the trees above. The following night, two couples in a wood near Point Pleasant reported being chased … Read more
West Virginia’s abundant land holds promise for agricultural prosperity for the state and its people, according to Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt. To ensure this valuable industry thrives for years to come, agribusiness owners, retailers and other stakeholders are being asked to give their input. The West Virginia Agriculture Advisory Board announced the first step in … Read more
Of all the wondrous healing springs in West Virginia, no other enjoys quite the pedigree that Berkeley Springs can claim. History, scenery, and hospitality blend beautifully here in the shade of Warm Springs Ridge, and there’s much to see and do, whether or you plan to wade or wander through cafes and specialty shops. Unlike … Read more
Cacapon Resort State Park will host West Virginia native and professional storyteller Adam Booth Aug. 11 for a family friendly evening of campfire ghost stories and tall tales. Booth has been professionally telling stories for more than 12 years, has performed across the country, and was featured in Wonderful West Virginia magazine’s May 2018 issue, … Read more
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice today unveiled data that shows a 16.1 percent increase in state hotel occupancy. Combined with a robust average room rate, the occupancy increase also produced a 20 percent revenue increase in a year-over-year comparison. Joined by the state’s Tourism Commission and dozens of hospitality-industry representatives, the governor announced that the … Read more
