West Virginia Executive Winter 2018 | Page 123

located in John Henry Historical Park near the entrance of the Big Bend railroad tunnel in Talcott. Mothman Statue In November 1966, strange things began happening in Point Pleasant, culminating in the collapse of the town’s Silver Bridge that crossed the Ohio River. These incidents were blamed on West Virginia’s Mothman. Today, a 12-foot- tall, stainless-steel statue with football-size red eyes incarnates the legend in Mothman Park. Across the street, the Mothman Museum is home to the world’s largest collection of Mothman history and memorabilia, and the town also hosts the annual Mothman Festival every fall. Mystery Hole Located two miles from Hawks Nest State Park and 15 miles from the New River Gorge Bridge, this mysteriously mind-baffling roadside attraction puts the laws of gravity to the test for anyone who dares to enter. Individuals with vertigo or heart conditions are discouraged from participating. Palace of Gold Known as America’s Taj Mahal, the Palace of Gold in New Vrindaban near Moundsville is rated as one of CNN’s eight religious wonders to see in the U.S. The palace’s interior is decorated with marble and onyx imported from Europe, Asia and Africa, and the walls and pillars are accented with pure gold and semi-precious stones. Visitors are encouraged to plan their trip around the community’s many fairs and festivals like the Festival of Colors. Philippi Mummies After traveling the world with P.T. Barnum’s circus and being featured in exhibits and tours all over North America and Europe, the Philippi mummies have been laid to rest in the Barbour County Historical Museum. Known as the Hamrick Mummies for more than 100 years, they were originally named after their preserver, Graham Hamrick, a Barbour County native. Admission is $1, and museum hours vary. The Smallest Church and Post Office in the U.S. Silver Lake, WV, is the home of the smallest church and post office in the continental U.S. Our Lady of the Pines measures 24 feet by 12 feet and houses six pews that can seat up to 12 people. A sign outside the adjacent Silver Lake U.S. Post Office indicates there is outgoing mail daily, but window service is only available when the 13th day of the month falls on a Friday while parcel post is only delivered on February 29. Welcome to Euro-Suites Hotel Euro-Suites Hotel is an award-winning, boutique- style hotel conveniently located in the heart of Morgantown, home of the WVU Mountaineers. It is our personal mission to showcase the warm hospitality of the Mountain State while ensuring your travel comfort in our spacious two-room suites. University Centre 501 Chestnut Ridge Road, Morgantown, WV 26505 (304) 598-1000 [email protected] • euro-suites.com www.wve xe c uti v e.com 39