Lore and Legend

West Virginia is a land steeped in rich lore and enduring legends that captivate the imagination of visitors and locals alike. From the mysterious Mothman sightings in Point Pleasant to the ghostly tales surrounding the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, West Virginia is a treasure trove of Appalachian folklore. Deep in its misty hollows and rugged mountains, stories of supernatural creatures, haunted locations, and mysteries have been passed down through generations. These chilling yet fascinating tales make West Virginia a top destination for paranormal enthusiasts and fans of folklore. Whether exploring ancient Native American myths or Civil War ghost stories, West Virginia’s legends add an eerie charm to its scenic beauty.

Telescopes at Green Bank, WV, Pocahontas County, Allegheny Highlands Region

West Virginia observatory monitors signals from distant galaxy

Scientists working with the remote National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia, have detected repeating radio signals being emitted from a dwarf galaxy three billion light-years away. Astronomers dedicated to finding signs of intelligent alien life recorded 15 repeating fast radio bursts on August 26, according to an August 30 Newsweek article. The … Read more

Hitchhikers at WVU, c. 1970s

New podcast series revisits gruesome murder of WVU co-eds

Even after half a century, new information is coming to light regarding the gruesome murders of two hitch-hiking students who disappeared from the campus of West Virginia University in 1970. Morgantown-based Kromatic Media today announced the release of the first three podcasts in the series “Mared and Karen: The WVU Coed Murders,” which explores the kidnapping, murder, … Read more

Old penitentiary at Moundsville, WV, Marshall County, Northern Panhandle Region

Introducing the five most haunted places in W.Va.

MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — The Travel Channel ranks two West Virginia landmarks among the most haunted in the United States, but ghost hunters know there are many more. The following five, ranked in 2014, are favorites of Jason Burns and Jonathan Moore, among the state’s best-known purveyors of the paranormal. No. 1: Trans-Allegheny Asylum When Virginians … Read more

Jonathan Moore

Ghost in the Machine: Moore returns after 14 years

The 2014 relaunch of West Virginia Explorer has been deputied not by a jet-setting newcomer to the industry, but by our publication’s first webmaster. Answering the clarion call for assistance in the relaunch of more than 2,000 pages, Jonathan Moore has returned after 14 years, and I couldn’t be happier. Though a skillful webmaster, he … Read more

Deaths in 1911 witnessed through second sight

SUTTON, W.Va. — One of the most publicized cases of extrasensory perception reported in West Virginia involved the deaths of a mother and seven children in the town of Sutton on February 19, 1911. According to author and publisher Jim Comstock, who recounted the details in the W.Va. Heritage Encyclopedia in 1976, the tragedy unfolded … Read more