West Virginia Explorer Magazine

10/20/2026

West Virginia's mountains have become a medieval kingdom! Filmed partly at the West Virginia Renaissance Festival near Lewisburg, The Kingdom of Rexmonte features horseback adventures, sword battles, and a fictional royal family caught in an invasion.

10/19/2026

About 40,000 pounds of trout will be stocked in nearly 40 lakes and streams during the last two weeks of October (story in the comments), including popular fishing waters near the New River Gorge and in the Monongahela National Forest.

Anglers will also have a chance to catch a specially tagged trout that is worth a lifetime fishing license. See where the trout are being stocked and what anglers need to know.

10/17/2026

Elizabeth Winn Blake's séances (full story in the comments) attracted doctors, skeptics, and investigators. In one remarkable experiment, a voice reportedly identified an object hidden inside a sealed box. In another, a voice claiming to be the deceased wife of West Virginia's governor predicted a change in his travel plans.

10/17/2026

American Pickers is returning to West Virginia in November (find out more in the comments), and producers are looking for people with rare objects, remarkable collections, and stories to tell. Got an old barn full of antiques? A collection of unusual treasures tucked away in the garage?

David Lavender, executive director of the West Virginia Film Office, says the state's tradition of saving, repairing, and preserving things makes it a natural destination for the History Channel series. Read the full story in the comments. 👇

10/16/2026

What should you do if you hit a deer? West Virginia is the most dangerous state in the nation for animal-vehicle collisions, and the riskiest time of year is here. November is the most dangerous month.

According to new State Farm data, West Virginia drivers face a one-in-46 likelihood of an animal collision, compared with one in 145 nationally. Will your insurance cover the damage? And what rights do West Virginia motorists have if their vehicle is declared a total loss?

You'll find the full story and answers in the comments.

10/16/2026

For more than a decade, one of West Virginia University's most beloved holiday traditions had gone dark. Then nearly 8,000 lights brought historic Woodburn Hall back to life.

Now, the West Virginian who helped lead the restoration has been honored for his work. Here's the story behind the return of a familiar sight for generations of Mountaineers.

A WVU construction manager earns recognition for helping restore Woodburn Hall's beloved holiday lights after more than a decade of darkness.

10/15/2026

Mothman and the Flatwoods Monster are headed to the West Virginia State Capitol! The state's most famous legendary creatures will greet families during a FREE Halloween Bash on October 29 in Charleston.

The celebration includes a cryptid scavenger hunt through the West Virginia State Museum, folklore storytelling, miniature golf, costume contests, and more. 🎃 Free admission and parking.

Read more at West Virginia Explorer:

Mothman and the Flatwoods Monster will haunt West Virginia's State Capitol Complex on October 29 during a free, family-friendly Halloween celebration.

10/15/2026

How cold can Bridge Day get? With chilly weather forecast for Saturday's celebration at the New River Gorge Bridge, West Virginia Explorer examined weather records from 43 previous events.

We found that the average high is 61 degrees, rain is less common than you might expect, and one particularly frigid Bridge Day never left the 30s.

See how this year's forecast compares with more than four decades of Bridge Day weather history.

Bridge Day 2026 may be colder than average. WVExplorer.com examines 43 years of NOAA weather records to reveal the coldest and wettest celebrations.

10/14/2026

A massive World War II factory once stood on Point Pleasant's outskirts. Now hidden in the woods, its concrete bunkers stored explosives manufactured for the American war effort.

Today, the bunkers and other structures are among the surviving remnants of the West Virginia Ordnance Works—and part of the landscape where the Mothman legend emerged in 1966.

In the comments, you'll find the full story of the works with photos by Jesse Thornton.

Before Mothman made Point Pleasant famous, the TNT area was a massive World War II explosives factory. Discover its history and surviving ruins.

10/11/2026

What do a frontier tavern, a Civil War hospital, and an early African American school have in common? They're among eight historic West Virginia buildings receiving more than $490,000 in preservation grants.

From an 18th-century log cabin concealed beneath a newer house to a church with a remarkable history of emancipation, these landmarks tell stories that helped shape West Virginia and the nation.

Discover their histories, see the buildings, and learn how the grants will preserve them for future generations.

Eight historic West Virginia buildings will receive $490,261 in preservation grants, protecting landmarks tied to frontier settlement, slavery, and the Civil War.