Des Barkalov, owner and founder of The Block Restaurant and Wine Cellar, has always had a passion for wine. Originally from Bulgaria, both his maternal and paternal grandparents were involved in the wine-making business. Growing up surrounded by beautiful wineries instilled in him this love, which is where his path to The Block—an urban restaurant and wine bar in downtown Charleston, WV—began.
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…
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 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…
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.
Ready to take your next West Virginia resort visit to a whole new level? Ten resorts in the Mountain State are prepared to make your next stay your most unique.