Roadside Attractions Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

If you’re hungry for a pepperoni roll in West Virginia, you can find one at just about any gas station, but how did they get so popular?

In Pennsylvania, the lure of one particular sweet treat gives hikers on the Appalachian Trail a break on their journey and a challenge that requires a strong stomach.

We also “spill the tea” on a classic roadside attraction that’s been around for generations.

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.

In This Episode:

The Riddle Of The Pepperoni Roll
A Half Gallon At The Halfway Point
Snorkeling In The Hills Of Appalachia
Spilling Some Tea About The World’s Largest Tea Pot

The Riddle Of The Pepperoni Roll

Trays of pepperoni rolls, ready for the lunch rush at Horace Mann Middle School in Charleston, West Virginia.

*Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Pepperoni rolls have been enshrined as part of West Virginia history through their connection to coal miners. They’re absolutely a favorite and available almost everywhere, but that wasn’t always true. How pepperoni rolls became a statewide convenience store staple might have less to do with coal mining and more to do with lunch ladies in Kanawha County.

Folkways Reporter Zack Harold takes a bite out of pepperoni roll lore.

A Half Gallon At The Halfway Point

Gardners, Pennsylvania is the halfway point on the Appalachian Trail. Though-hikers celebrate the milestone with something called the “half-gallon challenge.” Hungry (or not so hungry) hikers devour a half gallon of ice cream in one sitting.

WITF’s Rachel McDevitt takes us to the Pine Grove Furnace General Store, to meet some of the challengers.

Snorkeling In The Hills Of Appalachia

Many people love to get out into mountain rivers and streams to fish, swim or just cool off. Now, some communities in North Carolina are adding snorkeling to the list of activities.

BPR’s Lilly Knoepp has this story about a new snorkeling trail.

Spilling Some Tea About the World’s Largest Tea Pot

The World’s Largest Teapot in Chester, West Virginia.

*Credit: Zander Aloi/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Out on the roads of Appalachia, you never know what you’ll see. Fireworks and fruit stands, for sure, but every once in a while you’ll pass something that makes you say, “What was that?”

Inside Appalachia Associate Producer Zander Aloi took a trip to Chester, West Virginia, to learn the story behind a souvenir stand known as the World’s Largest Teapot.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jesse Milnes, Michael Hurley, the Kinks, Paul McCartney, Sierra Ferrel, Tyler Childers, Wizard Clipp, and David Mayfield.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Family recipes are a way to connect generations, but what happens when you’ve got grandma’s recipe, and it doesn’t have exact measurements?

We also talk with Ohio poet laureate Kari Gunter-Seymour about Appalachia, poems — and getting published.

And we revisit a story about an attraction at the confluence of the New and Gauley rivers — and the man who put it there.

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.

In This Episode:

A West Virginia Woman Reverse-Engineers Grandma’s Potato Candy
Ohio’s Poet Laureate Celebrates Appalachia
When To Consider Assisted Living For Your Parents
There’s A Bus On A Rock In A River

A West Virginia Woman Reverse-Engineers Grandma’s Potato Candy

Old family recipes are shared and passed down through Appalachia. Sometimes, they come on fingerprint smudged, handwritten note cards stuffed in wooden boxes. Others show up in loose-leaf cookbooks. These family heirlooms can be a way to connect with the past. But not all of those hand-me-down recipes use exact measurements. So how do you know you’re getting it right?

For Brenda Sandoval in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, it involved some trial and error — and an assist from a cousin. Folkways Reporter Capri Cafaro has the story.

Brenda Sandoval rolling potato candy. *Credit: Capri Cafaro/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Ohio’s Poet Laureate Celebrates Appalachia

Kari Gunter-Seymour is Ohio’s third poet laureate since the state created the position in 2016.

She’s an earnest cheerleader for Appalachian Ohio, which, as she points out, represents about a third of the state.

Gunter-Seymour is the author of several poetry collections. She’s the editor of “I Thought I heard a Cardinal Sing,” which showcases Appalachian writers in Ohio, as well as eight volumes of “Women Speak,” an anthology series featuring the work of women writers and artists from across Appalachia.

Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Gunter-Seymour about poetry, getting published, and the Appalachian part of Ohio.

When To Consider Assisted Living For Your Parents

One of the hardest parts of caring for aging parents is deciding when they need professional care. Whether that’s in-home services, assisted living, or something else. Families have to consider what’s best for their loved ones – and how to pay for it.

WVPB’s Eric Douglas spoke with Chris Braley, the owner of an assisted living and memory care facility in West Virginia.

There’s A Bus On A Rock In A River

If you listen to the popular podcast Death, Sex & Money, you know Anna Sale. Back in 2005, Anna was a reporter for West Virginia Public Broadcasting. She got curious about an old bus that sits on a rock at the confluence of the New and Gauley rivers, just past the town of Gauley Bridge. It’s not far from one of West Virginia’s best known roadside attractions, The Mystery Hole.

In 2005, Anna traveled by boat with former WVPB Video Producer Russ Barbour to meet the man behind the mystery. With warm weather and summer travel not that far away, we brought this story back.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by…Kaia Kater, Jeff Ellis, Erik Vincent, Eck Robertson, Chris Knight and Tyler Childers.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. Zander Aloi also helped produce this episode.

You can send us an email at InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram and Twitter @InAppalachia and on Facebook here.

And you can sign up for our Inside Appalachia Newsletter here!