David Sibray
Ramp sushi, anyone? Though fusing a traditional Japanese rice dish and a much-maligned Appalachian veggie might seem a culinary risk, sushi aficionado Jamie Riddle tried it and liked it. Now living in San Diego, Calif., but born and raised in Summersville, W.Va., Riddle has come to enjoy deep-sea fishing on the Pacific and hauling home a … Read more
Though ship-shaped rocks may be found throughout the world, this “Ship Rock” is noteworthy in part because it is the focus of the mile-long Ship Rock Trail — the first trail established by volunteers in a network of hiking and biking trails built in Beckley, W.Va., on the edge of the Piney Creek Gorge. The sandstone boulder … Read more
Have you ever seen a ramp or attended a ramp dinner? Proud West Virginia fans of the ramp are sharing photos of their favorite ransom feasts. Have a minute to spend sifting through photos of this uniquely North American tradition? Do you have photos of ramp dinners you’d like to share? Please contact us for … Read more
The National Development Council will host the first of a two-part Historic Real Estate Finance Professional Certification series to Fairmont State University May 8-12, 2017, according to a press release from the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia. The five-day course offers a step-by-step look at the real estate development process from the perspective of lenders, developers and … Read more
More than a dozen antiques shops are operating in the New River Gorge Region — a critical mass that’s attracting an increasing audience of antiquers to southern West Virginia. According to Drema Wood, owner of D&K Collectibles, one of four antiques businesses operating in Fayetteville (including an antiques mall), the regional market is strong and growing … Read more
Do you have a favorite West Virginia ramp feast you’d like to share with the public? We’d like to hear from you. Now in its fourth year of publication, our guide to Ramp Feasts and Festivals is annually visited by more than 10,000 visitors, according to publisher David Sibray, who encourages readers to share the list of celebrations of this spring-blooming … Read more
Inns, cabins, hotels, and campgrounds – the diversity of lodging in the Fayetteville area is growing as year-round tourism increases, according to the executive director of the town’s convention and visitors bureau. Sally Kiner says diversification of the local outdoor-adventure market and the addition of new attractions and dining and shopping venues have helped draw … Read more
Increased storefront space and a growing demand for antiques more than doubled traffic through an Oak Hill antiques store over the past year. Jack Kelley, co-owner of J&J Antiques and More, says he thinks the move into a larger location one door along Main Street is part of the reason business has blossomed, though he … Read more
Many communities that depend on warm-weather tourism suffer through winter, but one West Virginia town renowned as a destination for whitewater rafting is breaking out of that cycle. Hiking, rock climbing and mountain biking have increased year-round in the Fayetteville area, benefiting a growing number of eclectic shops, restaurants, and cultural venues that are particularly attractive in … Read more
A pioneering team of scholars who are dating old log structures in West Virginia has discovered rare, previously undocumented examples of log construction and a mysterious lack of early cabins. Dr. Kristen de Graauw, of the Historic Timbers Project, says she and research partner Shawn Cockrell have notably found two extraordinary diamond-notched structures, of which, … Read more
