West Virginia Department of Tourism Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Everybody Gone Surfing, Surfing W.Va.

It’s a crisp fall day, and the leaves are showing the early glimmers of red and yellow.

Andrew Wagner stood on a sandy beach, deep in the Appalachian mountains. He wore a wetsuit and held a surfboard. In a canyon, with a rushing river to his side, he pointed out a couple rolling waves.

“We’re below a rapid called diagonal ledges, and this has been a destination for river surfers for quite some time,” Wagner said.

The road to this wave is long, narrow and requires four wheel drive. The hike from where you can no longer drive is also long, a few miles down a railroad track. Then surfers have to paddle or swim across the river, through a class three rapid.

Wagner said the journey is worth it.

Part of the journey to the river includes crossing a tall, narrow old railroad bridge that crosses the river.
*Briana Heaney/ West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

“No cell service out here, but it’s gorgeous cliff walls, these beautiful sandstone cliff walls,” Wagner said.

Other surfers stood on a narrow black rock ledge, holding their surfboards. Just a few feet from the surfers’ feet, where the river cut through the canyon rock, is a large overhead wave.

“You’re looking at it. The white water is frothing. You’re frothing,” Wagner said.

To enter the wave the surfers took one big leap, holding the board to their body. As soon as they flopped into the wave, they started aggressively paddling.

“Behind you, it’s over your head, and in front of you it’s over your head,” Wagner said.

The ones that were fast enough paddlers slid into the little valley between two peaking waves. At that point they didn’t need to paddle anymore, the wave just held them there.

“So you’re down in this trough and and the water is coming to the top of the wave and breaking back down and crashing, and it’s aerated, and it’s foamy, and that’s kind of like, holds you in there,” Wagner said.

From there Wagner said surfers have to jump from their belly to their feet in one swift move. Few were able to do this, but the ones that did stood on top of their board in the classic surfer position, feet wide, arms out shoulder height.

This is surfing on the Gauley River.

Kayakers also surf this wave, waiting in line with the surfers while floating in the slow-moving water along the side of the river.
*Briana Heaney/ West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

“River surfing, It ‘tis the season,” Wagner said.

Starting in September millions of gallons of water are released from Summersville Lake into the Gauley River to help prepare the lake for winter. It’s a great opportunity for rafters, kayakers, and surfers to enjoy rare high flows of the river.

“Lately, the scene’s been pretty cool. Like a lot of people have been getting into it,” Wagner said.

Wagner said being in the wave is the best part, but it’s also fun watching each other surf, and feeling a part of that community.

“You’re hearing the cheers of your friends, and that’s, like, one of the most exciting, awesome parts about it is, like, being out here, sharing the stoke, and people rooting for you,” Wagner said.

Wagner was at the wave with his friend Brian Bridgewater, who he introduced to river surfing. Bridgewater started off as a climber, then met some white water kayakers and got into kayaking, then through that met some river surfers, and started river surfing.

“I flopped and flailed around a whole lot my first year trying it. There’s definitely a learning curve that is pretty steep,” Wagner said.

Andrew Wagner packs up surfboards for long hike out.
*Briana Heaney/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Almost a decade later, he’s an experienced river surfer.

River surfing is a growing phenomenon. According to National Geographic it’s one of the fastest growing sports in landlocked regions, with powerful rivers.

In Appalachia, where there is an abundance of white water, river surfing is catching on.

It’s even got the attention of ocean surfers. Bridgewater said when he goes on vacations to the beach, surfers often ask what other beaches he surfs at.

“I’ve gone to the beach, and they’re like, Oh, where do you live? Like, where do you normally surf? And I’m like, Oh, I live in West Virginia. And then they just give you an awkward stare. That’s a landlocked state, like, where do you normally surf at? And I’m like, on the rivers. And there just flabbergasted, to say the least,” Bridgewater said.

“A couple landlocked surfers,” Wagner said while laughing.

There are other surf waves in West Virginia as well according to the West Virginia Department of Tourism, on the Gauley and New River.

Any wave on the Gauley River and New River requires expert whitewater knowledge and skills as well as safety equipment, like helmet and a PFD.

Reporters Note: To record the surfing sounds and interviews for this story I had to paddle myself and this waterproof box filled with audio recording equipment across the fast-moving river.
*Briana Heaney/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Tourism School Aims To Grow More Hospitality Workers, Entrepreneurs

The first ever Governor’s School for Tourism wrapped up recently with high hopes that the 50 students will someday land jobs in West Virginia’s tourism sector.

The Governor’s Schools of West Virginia – which host a variety of free summer programs for selected students in grades 7 through 11– recently wrapped up a new offering: their inaugural tourism school.

“I know that this is something that (Tourism) Secretary Ruby and Governor Justice have wanted for a really long time,” said Lauren Bodnar, who is the state director of public relations for the Department of Tourism.

She and other tourism officials are hoping their efforts will pay off in the years to come.

The first-ever tourism school lasted ten days. During that time, 50 students from across the state – one for almost every county – ventured out to experience some of the top activities on a list of things to do in the Mountain State.

Some of the tourism students gather for a scenic photo during a pause in their ATV trail ride.

*Photo by Maria Young/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

“I believe they’re traveling over 1,000 miles from the Northern Panhandle and Wheeling to southern West Virginia to the Eastern Panhandle, Harpers Ferry and Cacapon Resort State Park. They’re really seeing and doing so much,” Bodnar said.

From whitewater rafting and ziplines to Blennerhassett Island and a Charleston Dirty Birds baseball game, it sounds like summer camp on steroids.

But it’s more than just fun and games.

These students are also getting an introduction to the variety of career paths that are available to them in the tourism sector. And there are some high hopes riding on the career choices they will make in the years ahead.

“The tourism industry in West Virginia is just booming,” Bodnar said. “It’s growing at a rapid pace, which is amazing, but we need the workforce to aid that growth. You can’t keep accepting visitors and not have the workforce growing as well. So I think we see this as kind of a way to start planting seeds with students who are in high school, that, ‘Hey, these are different career paths that could be available to you.’”

In the middle of Logan County, for example, students got to rev their engines and speed up and down some of the twisting, hairpin turns of the Hatfield McCoy Trail system.

It’s not hard to see why the mountainous terrain attracts more than 95,000 visitors a year – most of them from out of state.

What might not be so obvious at first is the impact those all-terrain vehicles have had on the economy of southern West Virginia.

There are so many people coming for this kind of activity that tourism officials say there aren’t enough workers to handle them all.

“Since the trail’s inception, we’ve had over 70 new businesses open up just doing lodging, just folks that are opening up either remodeling grandma’s house or opening up a hotel or a motel or cabins or major resorts,” said Jeffrey Lusk, Executive Director of the Hatfield McCoy Regional Recreation Authority.

“We have a dozen major resorts that have opened up in Southern West Virginia, with our primary customer being this ATV, UTV, off road motorcycle enthusiast,” he said.

Lusk and other tourism experts hope the new school inspires the students to pursue careers in tourism – particularly as entrepreneurs.

“We’re hoping that these kids go away from here wanting to open up a business, wanting to take hospitality in high school, wanting to go to college in hospitality or tourism management. We need all of those folks in tourism, and we don’t have enough of them,” Lusk said.

He said the tourism industry here offers good jobs with competitive benefits, salaries and looming opportunities through a host of older managers eyeing retirement options..

Sixteen-year-old Evan Bass is a rising junior from Clay County.

“Anything tourism based I’m known around the school for loving it. I’m known for getting out hiking. My nickname around the school was the dirty hippie. But I’m not dirty, I promise,” he joked.

Bass was selected for the tourism school – and he’s exactly the kind of investment tourism officials believe will pay off in years to come.

“In all honestly, I couldn’t see myself doing any doing anything besides tourism for West Virginia. I mean, I love it. This is what makes me who I am, touring the state and showing people that it’s such a great place,” he said.

“This experience with the West Virginia Governor’s School of Tourism has only furthered that motive.”

His biggest takeaway from ten days on the road: the doors are wide open for people his age to find a path to their futures. “We have opportunities beyond opportunities. Tourism, it’s flooded right now,” he said.

Department Of Tourism Launches W.Va. Culinary Trail

The West Virginia Department of Tourism is highlighting 27 restaurants in the state in its new Culinary Trail.

The West Virginia Department of Tourism is highlighting 27 restaurants in the state in its new Culinary Trail. To participate in the program, users need to download the Culinary Trail passport and then check in on their phones at any one of the participating restaurants. The app uses the GPS locations of the restaurant to confirm users check in.

The restaurants were chosen by one of nine chefs working with the Department of Tourism. West Virginia Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby encourages travelers to visit state and national parks while visiting Culinary Trail restaurants.

“While you’re tasting the best dishes the Mountain State has to offer, you might as well enjoy a side of adventure, too. Plan a foodie road trip and stay a while in ‘Almost Heaven,’” Ruby said.

Every time a user checks into a new restaurant, they receive a point towards a prize. Lauren Hough, public relations manager for the Department of Tourism, said three points can be redeemed for a Culinary Trail branded bottle opener, 10 points gets a chef-selected local ingredient and corresponding recipe card, and checking into all 27 restaurants gets a locally made charcuterie tray.

“It’s made by our good friend Matt Thomas at Thomas Works. He’s based out of Gilmer County, and he’s great,” Hough said. “I think any foodie, even if you’re not a foodie, I think you would enjoy having this tray in your home.”

The trail is part of an effort to give travelers an idea of where to go when visiting different parts of the state and encourage them to try out a new local restaurant. The Culinary Trail launched Nov. 15.

“This is a way to spread awareness about those restaurants that are off the beaten path, so that you can’t miss while you’re visiting,” Hough said.

Tourism Department Released First Fall Foliage Report

Jones said different elements like temperature and precipitation go into an especially vibrant season. He said all those factors are lining up this year. “We are fortunate here to have a very diverse hardwood forest in West Virginia,” Jones said. “I think this year is going to be really vibrant. And you know, I encourage everyone to get out and, in our woods, and enjoy the view.”

The West Virginia Department of Tourism released its first fall foliage report Wednesday. It outlines what to expect for this year’s fall colors.

The reports are produced in partnership with the state Division of Forestry.

Jeremy C. Jones, state forester, said the changing colors are in full swing at higher elevation areas in the state. Lower areas are just beginning to see the change.

“What kicks the trees into gear to start with is the shorter days,” he said.

Jones said different elements like temperature and precipitation go into an especially vibrant season. He said all those factors are lining up this year.

“We are fortunate here to have a very diverse hardwood forest in West Virginia,” Jones said. “I think this year is going to be really vibrant. And you know, I encourage everyone to get out and, in our woods and enjoy the view.”

The Tourism Department and the Division of Forestry will also be recommending drives and hikes each week in areas where the fall colors are peaking.

“Where there is really nice color, we will provide recommended routes and things like that for folks to get out and enjoy the colors,” Jones said.