Showcasing the Mountain State

Mark Bowe, a West Virginia native and star of DIY Network’s “Barnwood Builders,” is finding success in combining his passions: authentic salvaging, historical restoration and casting a positive light on the Mountain State. By Samantha Cart Mark Bowe isn’t letting fame go to his head. The West Virginia native and successful entrepreneur, who has turned…

Hospitality Repurposed: From Barns To Beds

An old red barn with an open hay loft—this familiar image is practically a West Virginia icon. Driving through the picturesque countryside of the Mountain State, what appears to be a well-kept barn may actually be more than meets the eye. Throughout the state, entrepreneurial souls have given new life to old barns and buildings, turning them into unique overnight accommodations. Under these refurbished roofs, guests can find a romantic slice of pastoral life, luxurious amenities and a space to recharge with friends and family.

Real. Mountain Memories

Real. Mountain Memories When West Virginia Executive set out to create a one-of-a-kind map that would draw millennials to the Mountain State, we turned to those who love Wild, Wonderful West Virginia the most: the locals. Working with West Virginia Division of Tourism and Generation West Virginia, we collected input from folks across the state…

Always Different, Always Good: Hawk Knob Hard Cider and Mead

Seated in the hollow bowl of a gently rolling Lewisburg hillside sits a tidy little red building with a front porch full of rocking chairs, not unlike the other tidy little red buildings tourists and visitors alike may stumble across while milling about in Greenbrier County. Yet through a casual swing of the front door, it’s anything but common. Here at Hawk Knob Hard Cider and Mead, a small farm winery, West Virginia fruit and honey are being slowly melded and channeled into ciders and meads, extending a long legacy of makers and doers in the Appalachian foothills while demonstrating the future of small business and sustainable agriculture in the Mountain State.

West Virginia’s Wake-Up Call

Many of us remember getting in trouble as children and being disciplined. Our parents would warn that the punishment was going to hurt but that it was for our own good. Today, West Virginia is in trouble. With changes in the economy and the ebb and flow of various industries as a result of those changes, some states are riding out the storm while West Virginia continues to sink without any visible signs of rescue. It’s time for us to have a serious conversation. It’s a conversation that’s probably going to hurt, but it’s for our own good.