The Marmet locks are the busiest on the Ohio River System in terms of commercial tonnage - about…read more10,000,000 tons in 2012. When they were opened in 1933 (the dam was completed in 1934?) the two original 55' x 360' locks provided 24' of lift at the dam, a recent expansion project added a 110' x 800' lock to better handle modern barge traffic which can be watched comfortably from benches in Bill Wells park. Five 100' roller type gates maintain the pond height and a three unit hydroelectric plant in the dam is capable of generating 144,000 kilowatts. According to local fishermen there's plenty of fish to be had from two platforms which is attested by the many pole holders on the railings.

Sunday 08/31 at Pipestem State Park in Athens WV "Almost Heaven" swing Tony Vanoy Swing 5/41…read more We had an adventure today checking out all these swings! There are bathrooms and picnic tables here! Plenty of parking Free to enjoy! Located near the Golf Course Clubhouse past the Lodge! Lisa Diane Boyce-Vanoy #almostheaven #wvswings #2025endofsummerroadtrip

If you're cruising through South Charleston and spot a big grassy hill tucked between antique shops…read moreand quiet streets, that's the Criel Mound. It's worth a stop. It's not flashy, but there's something grounding about standing next to a structure built over 2,000 years ago by the aboriginal people. The steps leading up are wide and gentle, and once you reach the top, you get a surprisingly peaceful view of the neighborhood. It's a quick visit. The mound itself is steeped in mystery and history. Archaeologists found 13 skeletons inside, including a central figure surrounded by others. There's a small park around the mound with interpretive signs that give you just enough context to spark curiosity. Some locals say horse races were once held around it, and there's even talk of burials that might represent alliances between different tribes. It's wild to think about how much has happened on that patch of earth, and how little we still know. The Criel Mound stands to quietly anchor the town. Kids run up the steps, people are walking dogs, and there's me, pausing to read the plaques. There is a sense of reverence here if you feel it. It's not at all a playground. [Review 569 of 2025 - 154 in West Virginia - 24130 overall]

The Criel Mound is a historic and cultural gem nestled in South Charleston, WV…read more The small park which houses it has plenty of street parking available and several interpretive signs around the mound explaining its history, importance, and what archaeologists discovered inside the mound when excavating. The mound is the second largest Adena mound in West Virginia and is believed to have been developed between 250 and 150 B.C. The Criel Mound was originally one of 50 mounds and prehistoric earthworks located in WV but unfortunately most have since been destroyed due to industrialization. It's definitely worth a visit (plan on about 30 minutes) if you're in the area.

While I was home on a quick One Day visit my daughter Noelle Teel and I had to play tourist and…read morecheck out the West Virginia State Capitol Complex. It was such a lovely day and we enjoy walking around the complex enjoying the day. The architecture is lovely. The statues are great..there are fountains and gardens with trees and squirrels and located on the banks of the Kanawha River. This is the only capitol that is modeled after the Capitol Building in Washington DC and the dome is a gorgeous Shiny Bright Gold that you can see gleeming in the Charleston Skyline...and on a sunny day...it's absolutely amazingly beautiful!!

Okay so this might be the first *slightly* positive yelp review I've posted…read more I definitely believe West Virginia is a great state for a certain type of person... I am not that person. My experience is limited to a town I completely forget the name of, Spencer, Charleston, and Morgantown (yes the guy writing this review is a complete narcissist) Charleston is a great representation of the state- confusing. You see people sporadically herded together smoking cigarettes in small circles down one street yet, none of them are speaking to each other. Nobody really looks at or acknowledges you, yet you can't help but notice the confederate flags, Trump signs, and country backdrops. It's almost like the missing piece of the puzzle between the South and the North- All the 'glory' of the country, yet devoid of southern hospitality. Even the bums wouldn't talk to me. Morgantown is a bit of an anomaly, there's the college town vibe with little hipster-y joints around town set against the slight implication of the spirit of the coal industry. Don Knotts was from there, and downtown there's a statue of ol' Barney Fife which is pretty cool in my opinion. I would even consider going back, it was very easy to assimilate with the younger, fitter looking people than the average West Virginian. Still there was a general lack of friendless until people were like piss wasted. Spencer gets an honorable mention. I went because I have a couple friends from here, and I had nothing else to do. They can tell you about meth and corruption, they can tell you about incest and nightmares, but me? I can tell you about the stares I got. Whoooo boy I actually think everyone I passed just kinda looked at me in that unfamiliar, "You're not from around here are ye" look. It was a look that didn't make me feel welcome, but didn't make me want to leave. I mean I spent like four hours and ten miles I wasn't prepared to spend getting lost in the Kanewha forest, and I really needed something to eat. I wasn't gonna let a bunch of blurry eyed hicks stop me from looking like a pig in a small town pizza joint. West Virginia exists because it seceded from a state that was seceding from the union yet- none of the people I came in contact with seemed to really agree with that decision.... Thank God I'm White. Amen.

I would like to thank your department for paving Quail Drive in Ona! It looks like Quail received a…read morefacelift. , again, for making my street beautiful.

I attended West Virginia Is For Lovers music festival, hosted by Hawthorne Heights, at this venue…read moreover the summer. As an elder emo, I appreciated the indoor venue change complete with options for sitting between sets. It was easy enough to check in and go through security at the venue. Prices were outrageous for food and drink vendors, as you may expect from a Coliseum, and the food was not good. The "cheesesteak" came on a pita (why?) and the pizza was worse than eating straight cardboard. They did have a local beer on tap that was tasty. Overpriced, obviously, but still good. Overall, while they could elevate the food and beverage experience, otherwise I had an enjoyable time at this venue.

Great small venue with a nice layout. You're closer in the cheap seats here than you would be in…read moremore expensive premium seating at different, larger arenas

This is the Robert Carlyle Byrd United States Courthouse and it serves as the headquarters for the…read moreUnited States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. Byrd (1917-2010) was a towering figure in American politics, serving as U.S. Senator from West Virginia for over 51 years. This remains the longest tenure in Senate history, exceeding the second-longest (Daniel Inouye from HI) by a 18 months. Born in North Carolina and raised in the coalfields of West Virginia, Byrd began his political career in the state legislature before moving to Congress in 1953. A Democrat, he held numerous leadership roles including Senate Majority Leader and President pro tempore, and was renowned for his mastery of Senate procedure and his passionate speeches. He directed billions in federal funding to West Virginia, leaving a legacy of infrastructure, education, and public service projects that bear his name. This courthouse was completed in the late 1990s and stands seven stories tall consuming over 450,000 square feet. It is the second-largest building in the entire state, behind the State Capitol. The structure occupies an entire city block and was designed to be both imposing and welcoming, with a four-story portico, stained-glass windows, and Art Deco-inspired detailing that crown its exterior. It, and the federal courthouse in Beckley WV, are named for the Senator. Inside, the courthouse features a sky-lit rotunda, cherry veneer paneling, and secure corridors that reflect updated federal design standards. It was the first courthouse built under the revised U.S. Courts Design Guide (1991), which emphasized separate circulation paths for judges, prisoners, and the public. I was able to find a nearby parking space and walk the grounds. It's a darned impressive building. You can't miss it. [Review 564 of 2025 - 149 in West Virginia - 24125 overall]

This marker is along a curvy road at the peak of the hill. It is set back from the road a little…read morebit and needing some clearing. There is some space to pull over to stop and read the marker. The marker reads, "White Oak Fuel Company built the Oakwood Mine Complex in 1902. In 1915, 21 miners died when gas in the mine exploded. A year later, the original wooden tipple was upgraded to a multi-story steel structure. New River Company ran the mine after absorbing White Oak Fuel, a subsidiary, in 1936. Peak output was 515,936 tons in 1940. The mine shut down in 1965." The maker was erected in 2012 by West Virginia Department of Abandoned Mine Lands and the West Virginia Department of Archives & History. [Review 19615 overall - 89 in West Virginia - 586 of 2023.]