West Virginia - Mountains & Environs!

[squib]

I know it is a place of beauty! John Denver sang it all! I loved that song about West Virginia, miles and more miles! Thanks, Dave. As always, you have done a wonderful way of explaining things! I would love to see a book written by you! I might have a lot of questions though! Diane.

 

[mydave]

Harpers Ferry & John Brown's Raid (continued):

The raid took place in October 1859 (previous link provides more details) - Robert E. Lee, a Lt. Colonel in the US Army arrived w/ a troop of US Marines (along w/ local militia) to confront the John Brown, which led to his defeat and a conviction of treason - Brown was hung in December 1859 in Charles Town (now Charleston - the capitol of West VA described in several previous posts in this thread). One year later, December 1860, South Carolina seceded from the Union after the election of Lincoln in November - in April 1861, Ft. Sumter, a federal property in Charleston Harbor was bombarded and the American Civil War began.
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Great write-up, as always
Hope to compliment your thread with two videos, one is about Charleston, SC (our beloved hometown with great many historic places) and the Santa Fe Trail 1940 Trailer.

Charleston, SC

SANTA FE TRAIL 1940 TRAILER

Best,

 

[giradman]

I know it is a place of beauty! John Denver sang it all! I loved that song about West Virginia, miles and more miles! Thanks, Dave. As always, you have done a wonderful way of explaining things! I would love to see a book written by you! I might have a lot of questions though! Diane.

Hi Diane - so you found the travel forum - GREAT! Look at some of my other travelogues, if interested -

As to books, that was part of my medical career - now a retired radiology professor - BUT, as to publications, I have over 200 articles, over 40 book chapters, and 12 co-edited books to my name, ALL on gastrointestinal radiology, SO doubt anyone would have an interest - I probably could go into another area of writing for the more general audience - Dave

 

[giradman]

Great write-up, as always
Hope to compliment your thread with two videos, one is about Charleston, SC (our beloved hometown with great many historic places) and the Santa Fe Trail 1940 Trailer.

Charleston, SC

Hi Mydave - thanks for the comments from a 'local' - I've put up a lot of travelogues and was hoping some members living in the area would respond and add some more comments and advice - actually, I have a thread on the Carolina Shore - at the moment, mainly Wrightsville Beach & Kiawah Island, but we've been to Charleston often - please take a look and add some of your own recommendations - I can easily expand that thread w/ Charleston comments or let you respond also - Dave

 

[cecilrwilliams]

I was born in War, Wv, McDowell County. War has Berwind Lake, nothing else. McDowell County once provided more coal than any other location. The County had over 100k, now 33k. Extremely poor, as coal was the only source of employment. Berwind Lake has a Facebook page, I have a movie I made posted on the page. I left in 1966, only to return to visit family.

 

[giradman]

Devastating Flooding in West Virginia w/ at least 26 Dead!

Now, we've just been to Tennessee and not back to West Virginia, but on our trip, devastating flooding has occurred in West Virginia w/ some rivers cresting to over 20 feet - WOW! At least 26 people have been killed in this catastrophe - just some stats quoted below (Source) - plenty of pics and videos can be found on the web - the first two below a brief sampling.

In a few weeks, a PGA Golf Tournament was scheduled at the famous Greenbrier Resort in White Sulfur Springs (discussed in this thread) - the course was dramatically flooded and the tournament has been cancelled - see third quote below; also the last 3 pics of the golf course where the event was to be held (and which I would have recorded on my DVR and watched) - Susan & I have stayed there several times and cannot imagine what the place looks like at the moment - SAD, SAD, SAD! Dave

KANAWHA COUNTY, WV — Massive floods sent raging waters across parts of West Virginia, killing at least 26 people and leaving hundreds stranded-

Forty-four counties declared a state of emergency Thursday night, primarily in the southeastern part of West Virginia. Elkview, Clendenin and Frame have been hit the hardest by the flooding-

Weather radar estimates show that more than 10 inches of rain have fallen in portions of Greenbrier County. There is a 1 in 1,000 chance of this type of rainfall happening in any given year, according to the National Weather Service-

In Kanawha County, which includes the capital of Charleston, the Elkview River crested at 33.37 feet Friday morning, meteorologists said. The river rose more than 27 feet from Thursday afternoon to Friday morning, the highest crest since record-keeping began more than 125 years ago, according to the National Weather Service-

Also in White Sulphur Springs, the storms severely impacted the luxury Greenbrier resort, which is set to host the PGA Tour’s Greenbrier Classic in July.

Because of “widespread damage” from the heavy flooding, the resort will be closed until further notice, the Greenbrier announced on Twitter.

Resort owner Jim Justice released a statement saying that their focus is on helping the people, not “the property, the golf course, or anything else.

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[suenc]

Devastating Flooding in West Virginia w/ at least 26 Dead!

Now, we've just been to Tennessee and not back to West Virginia, but on our trip, devastating flooding has occurred in West Virginia w/ some rivers cresting to over 20 feet - WOW! At least 26 people have been killed in this catastrophe - just some stats quoted below (Source) - plenty of pics and videos can be found on the web - the first two below a brief sampling.

In a few weeks, a PGA Golf Tournament was scheduled at the famous Greenbrier Resort in White Sulfur Springs (discussed in this thread) - the course was dramatically flooded and the tournament has been cancelled - see third quote below; also the last 3 pics of the golf course where the event was to be held (and which I would have recorded on my DVR and watched) - Susan & I have stayed there several times and cannot imagine what the place looks like at the moment - SAD, SAD, SAD! Dave






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The Greenbrier is a famous and beautiful resort. Since we were last there it changed owners and added an elaborate casino, so the whole ambiance and clientele might be different now. I can’t picture how much damage it sustained. We’ve had some good times in WV.

 

[scifan57]

There seems to be an ever increasing number of these devastating storms. My wishes go out to the families if those killed and injured in these floods.

When you were at the Greenbrier Resort did you tour the bunker?

 

[giradman]

There seems to be an ever increasing number of these devastating storms. My wishes go out to the families if those killed and injured in these floods.

When you were at the Greenbrier Resort did you tour the bunker?

We've stayed there twice and toured the Bunker on our second visit - go back to page 6 of this thread, posts 55-58 are dedicated to the Greenbrier Resort, the last on the Bunker (HERE) - believe you made a comment but has been two years - Susan & I have been debating a return visit but expensive and a little 'stuffy', plus the food has never thrilled us; however, the new ownership has changed the food options - BUT, now will have to consider the fall or next spring? Dave

 

[giradman]

Just was wondering if the Bunker may have been flooded? The complex was built underneath a wing of the Greenbrier Resort and is underground (see pic and quote below - Source). I've been googling but cannot find any information?

Not too many years before Katrina hit New Orleans & the adjacent Gulf Coast States, we spent a post-New Orleans medical trip w/ a drive and short stay in Biloxi, Mississippi - we visited Beauvoir, the post-Civil War retirement estate of Jefferson Davis and also the location of his 'Presidential Library' (second pic) - much was destroyed in the hurricane and needed to be completely rebuilt - WHAT a disaster (see second quote below) - not sure how much of the original artifacts may have been saved but would love to return to Biloxi and see the 'new' structure(s) and the house. Dave

During the Cold War the United States government maintained a top-secret underground bunker in the mountains of West Virginia. Built under The Greenbrier, a luxurious Southern resort, the facility was designed to house the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate in case of nuclear attack. Compromised by an investigative reporter in 1993, the bunker is now open to the public.

On August 29, 2005, the original Jefferson Davis presidential library suffered heavy damage from the fierce wind and water of Hurricane Katrina. The library pavilion, the Hayes cottage, Soldiers Home Barracks replica, Confederate Soldiers Museum, gift shop, and the director's home were totally destroyed. Artifacts were photographed, inventoried, boxed and placed in environmental storage while conservation of the items and Beauvoir Historic Site were under way. On January 9, 2007, a bid of $4.1 million was taken to rebuild the library and museum. Because of hurricane damage, renovation of the original Jefferson Davis presidential library was deemed impossible; consequently, the newly rebuilt library was rededicated and opened to the public on June 3, 2013. The Federal Emergency Management Agency paid $4 million to repair Beauvoir and an additional $10 million to construct the new library (Source).

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[scifan57]

I would think that if they closed the doors and vents, the bunker should be safe. It was built to keep out radioactive fallout carried by air or water. The bunker has been well maintained as a tourist attraction and they should have no problem closing it up.

 

[giradman]

I would think that if they closed the doors and vents, the bunker should be safe. It was built to keep out radioactive fallout carried by air or water. The bunker has been well maintained as a tourist attraction and they should have no problem closing it up.

My thoughts also - we took the tour a while ago so don't remember all of the details but the issue was surely discussed - known as Project Greek Island - just one statement in the short linked article "The two-foot thick walls of the bunker were made of reinforced concrete designed to withstand a nearby nuclear blast." An impressive structure. Dave

 

[giradman]

NEW - Back in West Virginia for a 5-night Stay - Pipestem State Park & Resort at Glade Springs

Well has been nearly 2 years since my last posts above - Susan & I are on a 2 + 3 night stay at the two West Virginia destinations listed above - first 2 nights at the Pipestem State Park, just a 2 1/2 drive from Winston-Salem, our home, and our second visit (see first pic below); other pics of the park also included - we are staying at the McKeever Lodge on the Bluestone Canyon Rim (several of my images from our balcony and the lodge building) - the Bluestone River is at the Canyon bottom which is accessible via an aerial tram - there is another hotel in that locale w/ an excellent restaurant (have reservations for tomorrow night) - tonight we ate at 'The Oak', just a 10 minute drive outside the park - named for the 800 year old oak in the yard!

There are plenty of activities to do in the park, but we will likely take a hike tomorrow on one of the easier trails (16 are listed in their trail guide) - then decide on a few more quick sites in the park - just 2 nights, then about a half hour up I-77 near Beckley, WVa for a 3-night stay at the Resort at Glade Springs - have not been there before so will do some resort activities and also revisit Beckley. Dave
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[scifan57]

Your travel stories show me interesting locations I'll likely never visit and give a more personal touch than standard travel guides. Keep up the good work.

 

[giradman]

Pipestem State Park - Activities for our free day - Part 1

Well, there is so much to do in this park but as oldsters, we are more limited - despite our age we had a productive day w/ a LOT of exercise walking/hiking - see map shown below - added the red circles which will be covered in two posts.

We first went to the 'small' Nature Center - not much there, meant mainly for kids - a relocated 2-room (bedroom + kitchen only) log cabin from about 1900 along w/ several out buildings - the cabin has period pieces in the room behind see-through barriers. Our second stop was the Bolar Lookout Tower - required a short but steep hike from the parking area - the tower is dedicated to a superintendent of the park (see pics and plaque below) - the views are just spectacular from the top, as shown in my pics including a wide panoramic view. Will continue w/ several more activities in the next post - Dave
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