10 Things to Visit Featured in 'Fallout 76'

In the gaming community, it is well known that Fallout 76’s location is West Virginia. I myself hail from the Mountain State and am glad my state was chosen for the game's setting. Hopefully, this will bring more tourism (a large portion of our revenue) if the gamers want to see the places in real life. I have taken it upon myself to show you 10 places that are featured in the game and are worthy of a visit. At the bottom of the page will be a map where all of these locations can be found.

The Greenbrier Resort

The Greenbrier is a luxury resort in White Sulphur Springs. It is the home of The Greenbrier Classic golf tournament as well as The Greenbrier Champions Tennis Classic (past athletes including the Williams twins, John McEnroe, and Pete Sampras). The resort offers horseback riding, ice skating, hiking, laser tag, a casino, and The Bunker. The Bunker, now open to the public, was kept a secret from the public for 30 years (1962-1992). Its purpose was to house Congress in the event of a nuclear holocaust, making it perfect for the game. Guests and the public can now tour the bunker and learn more about this Cold War fallout shelter.

Mothman

In case you haven’t seen The Mothman Prophecies (2002) starring Richard Gere and Laura Linney, Mothman is a cryptid in Point Pleasant. Outside Charleston in a town called Clendenin was the first sighting in 1966. Mothman has red glowing eyes, towers at 7 feet tall (2.13 m), has a wingspan of 10-15 feet (3.05-4.57 m), and can fly at 100 mph (161 kph). In November of 1967 was the second sighting in Point Pleasant. A couple was chased by Mothman several miles starting around a site known as the TNT Area, an old WWII munitions plant. The next day, Mothman’s appearance was documented in the paper. More sightings occurred and some people even claimed to be visited by Men in Black telling them to stop talking about the creature. On December 15, 1967, the Silver Bridge collapsed and 46 people died. Many people connected Mothman to the bridge collapse, especially because since the collapse he hasn’t been sighted.

There is also a Mothman festival in Point Pleasant held the third week in September. Live music, vendors, tours, talks, and a pancake eating contest are a part of the festival.

New River Gorge Bridge

The New River Gorge Bridge was the world’s longest single-span arch bridge for over 25 years. It is now the fourth longest. It is also one of the highest vehicular bridges in the world. People from everywhere come to see the bridge and it even has its own celebration, Bridge Day. On the third Saturday in October (which is also around the best time to visit, the temperature is cool and the leaves have turned), the bridge is shut down and people BASE jump into the gorge below. There are also vendors at the celebration and nearby towns (Fayetteville, Oak Hill) usually have events to go along with it.

Woodburn Hall (WVU)

Even though I went to “rival” school Marshall University (Go Herd!), it is impossible to ignore the powerhouse that WVU is in sports and research. Offering a medical school and dental school (and more) this school has sent students all over the world to study abroad for class credit or for postgraduate fellowships (Rhodes, Fulbright, etc.). Not to mention the school goes back and forth between number one and two of the top party schools on the Princeton Review, albeit not everyone is proud of that. It has been an institute of higher learning since 1867, four years following West Virginia’s admittance to the Union. Woodburn Hall, the building featured in Fallout’s trailer, is the largest building of the original collegiate buildings.

The Capitol

The state’s capital bounced around from city to city but finally reached its home in Charleston in 1877. Cass Gilbert designed the limestone building, which is the tallest building in the state. Gilbert was so pleased with his design he used part of it for the US Supreme Court. Across the street is the West Virginia Culture Center where there is a museum of West Virginia’s history from the prehistoric era to the present. Tours of the capitol can also be arranged there.

This past year (Spring 2018) it was the location where teachers went on strike statewide for higher pay and to fix insurance. The strike lasted from February 22-March 7, ending with a 5 percent pay raise, but no guarantee on health care's rising costs. This sparked teacher strikes nationwide including in Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Arizona. During this time many teachers stayed behind in their hometown in common, public areas to make sure kids were still getting fed since school was not in session. Others drove hours, going through the tolls to have their voice heard in person.

Green Bank

In the Monongahela National Forest lies the Green Bank telescope. It is the world’s largest, steerable radio telescope. Green Bank itself is in the United States Radio Quiet Zone where radio transmissions are limited in order to help with scientific research and military intelligence. There is hardly any cell phone service (Snowshoe is about the only place in the quiet zone that has it). Use of wifi, microwave ovens, and other things that emit high amounts of electromagnetic radiation are highly condemned. Depending on how close you are to the telescope, the Observatory polices the area and will send someone to your house and ask you to stop using those devices. The telescope scans for signals possibly emitted from extraterrestrial technologies. It also has detected the most massive neutron star (so far) and things like sugar in space and has helped in many other space advancements.

Cranberry Glades

Mentioned in Tyler Childers’ song Universal Sound the Cranberry Glades are five small bogs in Pocahontas County. The flora here is unlike any other in the state and features two carnivorous plants. The plants here are typically found at higher altitudes. The climate in the Glades is like that of New England or even Canada. Since the elevation is so high, frost can happen year round, with the shortest period being 81 days. In the Glades, there are some trails and a boardwalk so you can witness this area for yourself. However, do not stray from the path since the area is so ecologically sensitive.

Camden Park

This is West Virginia’s only amusement park! Located in Huntington, the park is only 26 acres, which is roughly the size of Ellis Island and a little bit bigger than Alcatraz Island. It is one of 13 trolley parks that remain open in the US. There are 30 rides and attractions, one of which being a full size traditional wooden roller coaster. Camden Park’s season is limited from late spring to late fall, but during that time there are a number of festivals. They have some classic park rides/attractions there like mini-golf, a scrambler, a tilt-a-whirl, and swan boats.

Summersville Lake

This is the largest lake in the state, located in Summersville, Nicholas County. While technically a reservoir, many people boat, swim, cliff jump, rock climb, hike, snorkel, scuba dive, and fish here. The Lake has a no-wake zone for those who want to casually boat. For the scuba divers, there is an intentionally sunken boat to examine. Camping spots, cabins, and boats are available to rent and there is a lighthouse that is open for tours.

Blair Mountain

Blair Mountain is a site of major West Virginian historical significance. The Battle of Blair Mountain was the largest labor uprising in US history and one of the best organized and well-armed uprisings post-Civil War. Mining is a large part of West Virginia’s economy and has always had terrible working conditions, but in 1921 things were significantly worse. The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) and other striking coal miners fought for five days against deputies and mine guards. The battle came to an end when the US Army and Air Corps arrived to fight. Mother Jones also helped fight with the miners and Bill Blizzard, a union organizer and President of UMWA’s District 17, led the uprising. At the end, reports had anywhere from 20-100 people were killed and 985 miners were indicted (most were acquitted later). In the woods surrounding the area, people are still finding guns and ammunition that the miners hid during the battle.

1. The Greenbrier Resort
2. Mothman
3. New River Gorge Bridge
4. Woodburn Hall (WVU)
5. The Capitol
6. Green Bank
7. Cranberry Glades
8. Camden Park
9. Summersville Lake
10. Blair Mountain