West Virginia Explorer - Travel, News & History

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What out-of-state buyers should know before purchasing property in West Virginia

A bobcat watches visitors from its woodland habitat at the West Virginia Wildlife Center near French Creek. The facility, home to native wildlife species from across the Mountain State, will host its 10th annual Rendezvous Celebration on July 31 and Aug. 1, combining living-history demonstrations with opportunities to experience West Virginia's natural heritage.

Wildlife / Conservancy

W.Va. Wildlife Center rendezvous celebration returns with history, native wildlife

Clyde Craig July 13, 2026

Smoke gathers above the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve during a wildfire. Researchers at West Virginia University are developing an artificial intelligence system that could help satellites detect and track wildfires more quickly across rugged, heavily forested landscapes.

Botany and Forestry

WVU develops AI wildfire detection system for one of America’s most forested states

Cyclists cross a bridge on the Clear Fork Rail Trail, one of several recreation projects helping expand outdoor opportunities in Raleigh County.

Economic Development

Beyond the New River Gorge: Raleigh County is reinventing itself through outdoor recreation

Water Divining: A water diviner walks an Appalachian hillside with a forked branch in this artist's rendering, illustrating a folk tradition that generations of mountain families sometimes consulted when choosing locations for new wells.

Lore and Legend

Water divining endures as one of Appalachia’s most distinctive folk traditions

Communities

One desperate night in a remote Appalachian cabin changed the course of American medicine in ways few people today remember. (WVExplorer Illustration)

Before modern medicine, one frontier doctor attempted the impossible

David Sibray July 5, 2026

POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — Long before antibiotics, anesthesia, or modern hospitals, a young physician in a log cabin on the American frontier faced an impossible decision. The operation he performed is now widely regarded as the first successful

A family watches an Independence Day fireworks display from a designated sensory-friendly viewing area while wearing hearing protection. More communities are adding quiet spaces, ear protection, and other accommodations to help people with autism, PTSD, and sensory sensitivities enjoy public celebrations. (WVExplorer Illustration)

West Virginia’s America250 celebration reflects trend to sensory-friendly Fourth of July events

Bianca Bosworth July 4, 2026

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As thousands gathered at the West Virginia state capitol this weekend to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday, organizers made a point of welcoming visitors who might otherwise avoid large Independence Day celebrations. Among the accommodations

A clear mountain stream in West Virginia provides the cold, clean water required by native brook trout, whose presence signals some of Appalachia's healthiest waterways. More than 170 miles of streams have recently gained new state protections. (Photo: David Sibray)

More than 170 miles of West Virginia trout streams gain new protection

July 4, 2026

Just a few hours from Washington, D.C., West Virginia's high country offers cool summer evenings that have drawn Mid-Atlantic travelers for generations. (WVExplorer Image)

As the eastern U.S. bakes, West Virginia’s mountains offer a cooler escape

July 3, 2026

A new "Tech Toolshed" program by Woodlands Development & Lending is giving entrepreneurs free access to professional cameras, lighting and audio equipment to improve their digital marketing.

New program by Woodlands helping rural West Virginia businesses reach customers nationwide

July 2, 2026

Fayetteville businessman Sean Clarke works remotely above the New River Gorge, a region whose appeal is growing appeal not only as a recreation destination but also as a place to live, work, and build new businesses.

How the New River Gorge region is building a new economy beyond the national park

July 2, 2026

Attractions

David Sibray visits the historic Peter Tarr Furnace near Weirton, one of the oldest surviving iron furnaces west of the Allegheny Mountains and an important landmark in the early industrial history of the Ohio Valley.

Why the Peter Tarr Furnace is one of West Virginia’s most important historic landmarks

David Sibray July 7, 2026

WEIRTON, W.Va. — At the edge of a quiet suburban neighborhood in Hancock County stands what appears at first glance to be a weathered stone tower. It isn’t a tower, however, but the remains of an iron furnace.

A family enjoys a quiet moment overlooking the New River Gorge Bridge. Many first-time visitors underestimate the size of the national park region and end up wishing they had planned a longer stay, local tourism officials say. (Photo: David Sibray)

Visitors keep making this mistake when visiting the New River Gorge, tourism officials say

David Sibray July 6, 2026

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — Travelers arrive from Washington, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, and other metropolitan areas, expecting to spend a day at the New River Gorge before continuing their vacation. Many leave wondering why they hadn’t planned for several more days.

Mount Pisgah Church, founded in 1877 in Berkeley Springs, served generations of African American worshipers before falling into disuse. Community leaders are now working to preserve the historic landmark as the Town of Bath prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2026.

Forgotten Black church in Berkeley Springs may find new life after decades of neglect

July 6, 2026

Visitors walk the Carriage Trail past the stone monument commemorating two unidentified women whose reported Civil War-era deaths remain one of Charleston's enduring historical mysteries.

Did two women really die as Civil War spies on Charleston’s Carriage Trail?

July 3, 2026

Sandstone Falls, near the southern end of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, spans nearly the entire width of the New River and offers one of the park's most impressive landscapes. (Photo: Rick Burgess)

Most visitors never see this side of the New River Gorge National Park

June 29, 2026

The Madonna of the Trail stands beside the historic National Road in Wheeling, honoring the pioneer women whose strength and sacrifice helped open the American frontier. The 1928 monument is one of only 12 identical statues erected across the United States. (Photo: David Sibray / WVExplorer)

The forgotten story behind Wheeling’s historic Madonna of the Trail monument

June 26, 2026

Recreation

An instructor guides educators through the Lower New River Gorge, where whitewater rafting offers hands-on lessons in geology, hydrology and teamwork. (Courtesy of ACE Adventure Resort)

West Virginia teachers invited to discover the New River Gorge as an outdoor classroom

David Sibray July 8, 2026

OAK HILL, W.Va. — Teachers who first experience the New River Gorge on a recreational whitewater rafting trip often return with their students, turning one of Appalachia’s best-known adventure destinations into an outdoor classroom for lessons in geology,

West Virginia has stocked more than 50 lakes and ponds with channel catfish for the summer, giving visitors and residents fresh opportunities to fish at state parks and public waters across the Mountain State. (Photo courtesy W.Va. Dept. of Commerce)

West Virginia stocks more than 50 ponds and lakes with catfish for summer fishing season

Will Reedy July 6, 2026

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Summer travelers looking for an easy way to experience West Virginia’s outdoors have a new reason to pack a fishing rod. State wildlife officials have stocked channel catfish in more than 50 lakes and ponds

A hunter walks through a forest during West Virginia's fall hunting season. The state has released updated hunting and trapping regulations for the 2026-27 seasons, including changes affecting deer, bear and turkey hunters. (Photo courtesy W.Va. Dept. of Commerce)

New West Virginia hunting rules could affect thousands of hunters this fall

Will Reedy June 29, 2026

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Hunters planning to head into West Virginia’s woods this fall should review the state’s newly released hunting regulations, as several changes could affect where, when, and how they hunt during the 2026-27 seasons. The W.Va.

Illustration of a commercial rafting trip running whitewater beneath the New River Gorge Bridge in southern West Virginia. The state's combination of nationally recognized rivers, dramatic mountain scenery, and outdoor adventure has made it one of the East's premier rafting destinations.

Here’s why West Virginia is the East’s premier whitewater rafting capital

June 26, 2026

A mature wild turkey gobbler displays during the spring breeding season in West Virginia. Once scarce across much of the state, wild turkeys have made one of North America's greatest wildlife recoveries and are now found in every West Virginia county. (Photo courtesy W.Va. Division of Natural Resources)

West Virginia’s wild turkeys have made one of America’s greatest wildlife comebacks

June 25, 2026

More New River Gorge hikers are leaving Endless Wall for the Grandview Rim Trail

June 15, 2026

Volunteers gather on Peters Mountain near Franklin to help build a new trail system in the Monongahela National Forest during a hands-on trail-building workshop.

New Peters Mountain Trail System takes shape in Monongahela National Forest near Franklin

June 12, 2026

Rock climbing in the New River Gorge near the New River Gorge Bridge

Interior Department opens review of rock climbing policies affecting New River Gorge

June 11, 2026

Youth gather for a fishing tournament at the Bowden Fish Hatchery near Elkins, West Virginia. (Photo courtesy W.Va. Dept. of Commerce)

Bowden Fish Hatchery to host free Youth Fishing Derby during W.Va. Free Fishing Days

June 9, 2026

Fisheries experts say the upward trend in fishing records is the result of several factors, including better stocking and water quality improvement.

Here’s why fishing records are being broken more often now in West Virginia

May 25, 2026

The Mourning Dove is one of the most abundant and widespread North American birds and a popular gamebird.

South Branch ends mourning dove permits; controlled hunt begin at Stonewall Jackson

May 11, 2026

John Terry, of Gallagher, in Kanawha County, set a new state record for tiger trout on March 19 by catching a 29.13-inch, 11.04-pound tiger trout from Seneca Lake in Pocahontas County.

John Terry catches record-breaking tiger trout in lake at Seneca State Forest

May 10, 2026

Culture

An illustration depicts Deputy Sheriff T.S. "Flintlock" Perry confronting an angry mob outside the Kanawha County jail. According to later accounts, Perry offered his own life in an attempt to prevent a lynching. (WVExplorer Illustration)

The West Virginia deputy who stood between a lynch mob and justice

David Sibray July 8, 2026

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — On a cold winter night in 1875 in West Virginia’s capital city, an angry mob surrounded the county jail demanding justice. Inside stood Deputy Sheriff T.S. Perry, determined to protect the prisoners entrusted to his

Mood Food: A family prepares a meal featuring leafy greens, berries and other nutrient-rich foods. West Virginia University nutrition experts say diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and other whole foods may help support emotional well-being while reducing inflammation. (Getty Image)

What you eat may affect your mood more than you realize, WVU experts say

Clyde Craig July 8, 2026

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The foods people choose each day may play a bigger role in their emotional well-being than many realize, according to nutrition experts at West Virginia University, who say diets rich in whole foods and healthy

A map highlights West Virginia's Northern and Eastern panhandles, two regions created by remarkably different chapters in the state's history. (WVExplorer Illustration)

Here’s why West Virginia has two panhandles and why they couldn’t be more different

David Sibray July 7, 2026

WHEELING, W.Va. — A glance at a map of West Virginia raises an obvious question. Why does the Mountain State have two narrow strips of land reaching toward opposite corners of the eastern United States? One extends northward

The State Fair of West Virginia draws thousands of visitors each August to Lewisburg, where competitive exhibits, livestock shows and carnival attractions highlight the state's largest annual celebration of agriculture. (Photo courtesy Greenbrier Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau)

Lore and Legend

Effie "Aunt Effie" Wells of Tyler County recalled a family story that linked her household to John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln.

Real Estate

Construction crews build new homes in West Virginia, where communities are working to expand affordable housing and meet growing demand for workforce housing and rural economic development.

History and Prehistory

The Mingo Statue has greeted travelers atop Wheeling Hill since 1928. Created by Wheeling artist Henry Beu, the monument honors Native peoples associated with the Ohio Valley and remains one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. (Photo: David Sibray)

State Parks

West Virginia Explorer publisher David Sibray explores a remote section of Tomlinson Run within Tomlinson Run State Park. The park protects one of the largest remaining forested watersheds in West Virginia's Northern Panhandle and supports plant communities uncommon elsewhere in the region.

Hunting

Black bears: The 2025 black bear harvest fell just ten bears short of the 2024 total of 2,479.

Fishing

Hunter Rohr, 15, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, has caught a golden rainbow trout that set state records for length and weight.

Hiking

Held at 21 state parks and forests across West Virginia, the First Day hikes are part of a nationwide New Year’s Day tradition designed to promote outdoor recreation.

Skiing

White Grass has long been a magnet for visitors from Columbus, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C. (Photo: Mountain River Media)

National Parks

Kayaking

Motorboats with engines larger than 10 horsepower are now permitted to operate at no-wake speed on Elk Fork, North Bend, O’Brien, Stonecoal, and Woodrum lakes.

Whitewater Rafting

Biking

One of the largest networks on the East Coast, the routes activate thousands of miles of gravel roads across the Mon Forest for visitors and communities. (Photo: Getty Images)

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Wildlife / Conservancy