It’s finally fall in West Virginia, and Mama Nature seems to have arrived right on time. If you’re a native of the Mountain State, you probably don’t need to be reminded that as the air cools and the leaves change, there are some pretty awesome things to do around the state that can only be enjoyed this time of year. But just in case, grab your scarf, pop your favorite Oktoberfest, and check out these sweet fall destinations to check out on the weekends.
1. The West Virginia Penitentiary, Moundsville, WV – http://www.wvpentours.com/
If you’re into really bad television, you have probably caught the West Virginia Penitentiary (aka “Moundsville Prison”) on any one of the 47 “ghost-catching” shows out there. And while I might turn my nose up at watching this sort of TV, I’ve always wanted to go to Moundsville and spend the night at what is known as one of the most haunted places in America. Operational from 1876 to 1995, the West Virginia Penitentiary has been the site of prison breaks, riots, and countless other violent deaths. So if you like to give yourself the heebie-jeebies to get into the Halloween spirit, there are few better places to go than here. And it’s only an hour and a half from Morgantown!
2. The Pumpkin House, Kenova, WV
What do you get when you combine a lot of free time, a healthy love of autumn, and well over three thousand pumpkins? You get the Pumpkin House in Kenova, WV! When I was an undergrad at Marshall, I loved taking the short drive to Kenova every year to check this place out. Since it began in the early 2000s, this place has caught the attention of national news, and folks from West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio drive hours every year to see it. If you find yourself in the Huntington area in late October, this place is a must-see, unless you’re sensitive to mass pumpkin-ocide.
3. Bridge Day, Fayetteville, WV – http://www.officialbridgeday.com/
Keep this date clear on your calendars: October 19, 2013. Sure, that’s when Texas Tech comes to Morgantown, but after this weekend’s shellacking in Baltimore by the Terps, what sounds better to you? Watching WVU get squashed by the team that brought down the reality-check hammer on the then top ten-ranked Mountaineers last year, or jumping off a bridge?
