West Virginia - Wild and Wonderful

About West Virginia

West Virginia is noted for its mountains and diverse topography, its historically significant logging and coal mining industries, and its political and labor history. It is one of the most densely karstic areas in the world, making it a choice area for recreational caving and scientific research.

Business

West Virginia is full of opportunity for any business with a growing economy and a highly dedicated workforce. Whether you are running an existing business or thinking of starting a new business you can find all of the information you need throughout this business section.

Education

West Virginia is fortunate to have a tremendous education system with a high standard of excellence. Please use the information provided here to learn more about the wealth of educational opportunities in our great state.

Employment

West Virginia is home to one of the finest workforces in the country based on our hard work and commitment to quality. Whether you are looking for new job opportunities, enhancing your job skills or researching future employment trends you can find all of the information you need throughout this employment section.

Family

West Virginia offers the perfect balance of a rural and urban setting that suits a variety of lifestyles. This is a state where you can go whitewater rafting in the morning, go to an art exhibit in the afternoon and attend a concert in the evening. Whether you just moved to the Mountain State or your family has been here since it was founded, you are part of our community.

Health

Maintaining proper health is vital to ensuring the highest quality of life possible. West Virginia strives to provide one of the best health care systems in the country that is affordable and available to all residents of the state. This section contains numerous resources to assist you in accessing the health care services provided in the state.

Tourism

Exhilarate in the lasting beauty and natural wonder scattered throughout West Virginia. From unmatched outdoor recreation to world-class resorts, breathtaking scenery and a variety of cultural and historic attractions, West Virginia is an ideal spot to plan your next adventure. Discover for yourself what makes West Virginia wild and wonderful.

 Food Network features Grafton and Mother’s Day Shrine 

9/2/2008  GRAFTON, W.Va. – Grafton, W.Va., and its centennial Mother’s Day celebration will be featured on an upcoming episode of the popular Food Network series Dinner: Impossible. Hosted by Chef Michael Symon, the show will air on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 10 p.m. EST/PST.

During each airing of Dinner: Impossible, Chef Symon receives a daunting assignment to prepare a large meal for an even larger group, with little planning, limited time or resources. These and other obstacles usually pop up throughout the show, pushing the limits of the cooking process.

Many parties helped make the Grafton episode come to life. Homer-Laughlin China especially made and donated FiestaWare Mother’s Day dessert plates for all 500 guests; the West Virginia Department of Agriculture set up a farmer’s market, complete with Mountain State meats, fruits and vegetables; while MountainMade created a complete outdoor storefront for Food Network and Grafton residents to browse and shop. The West Virginia Division of Tourism and West Virginia Film Office coordinated with Food Network to facilitate the show’s production.

Mother’s Day in the United States was founded in Grafton by Anna Jarvis. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson named the second Sunday of May “Mother’s Day.” West Virginians also originated other familial celebrations: The first Father’s Day celebration was in Fairmont, near Grafton, and National Grandparents Day was first commemorated in Oak Hill. Grandparents Day will take place on Sept. 7, three days prior to the airing of the show.

Contact Information

Liz Chewning 
304-558-2200 
lchewning@wvtourism.com