Appalachia is full of ancient cave systems. Some are so deep nobody’s sure where they begin or end. For Inside Appalachia, Folkways Reporter Andrea “river” Peterson explored a once-privately owned underground landscape that recently became a Pennsylvania State Park.
The weeklong tour will bring the number of counties FSU President Mike Davis has visited to 55 and will make good on a commitment he made when he was hired in 2023 to visit every county in the state.Photo credit: Chris Schulz
Listen
Share this Article
Fairmont State University President Mike Davis will travel across the Mountain State from July 27 through Aug. 1 as part of his 2025 Tour of West Virginia.
Fairmont State University President Mike Davis
The weeklong tour will take Davis through 14 counties including Wood, Pocahontas and McDowell. He said the trip will bring the number of counties he’s visited to 55 and will make good on a commitment he made when he was hired in 2023 to visit every county in the state.
“If I think about what a regional university is supposed to do as the largest regional university in the state, we serve all 55 counties,” Davis said. “There are areas of the state that have been ignored that, like I said, have a lot of promise, and I think that those areas are going to continue to struggle if we don’t start to figure out ways to reach into those communities and say, we’ve got your back.”
West Virginia University announced earlier this week that their president, Michael T. Benson, will also embark on a statewide tour July 28 through Aug. 1.
Traveling via camper van, Davis will make overnight stops at campgrounds, state parks and community hubs along the way.
President Mike Davis’ Tour of West Virginia Itinerary:
Sunday, July 27 Depart Fairmont in the afternoon Spend the night in Wood County at Mountwood Campground
Monday, July 28 Lincoln County Spend the night at Ole Henry’s Camping Retreat
Tuesday, July 29 Mingo County Visiting Big Laurel Learning Center in Kermit Spend the night at Devil’s Backbone Adventure Resort
Wednesday, July 30 McDowell & Wyoming County Spend the night at Ashland Resort
Thursday, July 31 Pocahontas County Spend the night at Snowshoe Campground
Friday, Aug. 1 Return to Fairmont
Add WVPB as a preferred source on Google to see more from our team
Clean water and marine security are the focus of two announcements Gov. Patrick Morrisey made Wednesday, covering three southern West Virginia counties.
There is a lot riding on the outcome of Tuesday's election, both in this state and across the nation. Assistant News Director Maria Young spoke with Marshall University Political Science Professor Marybeth Beller about what to watch for as the results come in.
Marshall University and Huntington Tri-State Airport are set to become a premier hub for cutting-edge aerospace training and innovation thanks to a $3 million award from the Economic Development Administration (EDA).