“Chillers and Thrillers” are part of special summer programs at West Virginia State Parks and Forests

            Although his name sounds like a county music singer’s, David Allen Stover is not. However, audience reaction to his stories and tales at evening campfires include standing ovations and shrieks of delight nonetheless.  Stover, also known as “Bugs,” is performing at three West Virginia state parks as one of the performers of the 2008 special summer programs offered at no charge to visitors and guests.

            “Chillers and Thrillers” describes the stories he will spin at evening campfires at Audra, Beech Fork and Twin Falls Resort state parks.  “Bugs will be telling ghost stories and tales of West Virginia and parks,” says Sissie Summers, state park programming administrator. Stover is well-known at Twin Falls, Wyoming County, where he has captured the imagination at campfire programs since the early 1980s. “His grasp of West Virginia history and homegrown story-telling skills is just good gather-round-the-campfire fun.”

            Campfire Chillers and Thrillers with Bugs Stover is scheduled at Audra State Park on June 14, August 2 and 12;  Beech Fork State Park on August 9, September 13 and October 11; and Twin Falls on October 10, with additional dates to be scheduled.

            Stover is part of the Summer Special Programs at West Virginia State Parks and Forests.  This series welcomes one and all to these outdoor events at no charge to attend.  Other special programs this weekend include:  Three River Avian Center-Birds of Prey at Greenbrier State Forest (June 13); Mick Souter and Celebrate West Virginia at Blennerhassett Island (June 14); The Magic and Balloon Artistry of Garry Boothe at Cedar Creek (June 14) and Mountain Echoes at Tygart Lake (June 14).

            In additional to special program appearances, 17 parks and forests have summer naturalists and programmers with weekly activities and events scheduled. Participating parks and state forests include: Babcock, Beech Fork, Blackwater Falls, Bluestone SP, Cacapon Resort , Canaan Valley Resort, Cedar Creek, Greenbrier SF, Hawks Nest, Holly River, Kanawha SF, Lost River, North Bend, Pipestem Resort, Twin Falls Resort, Tygart Lake and Watoga. Activities range from nature, birding, and area history walks, nature craft, campfire programs, family gametime; nature exploration and nature center activities.             

            For information about special summer programs at West Virginia State Parks information is online at www.wvstateparks.com and click on Special Programs.

“Bugs” Stover Info

            David Allen Stover is known as Bugs Stover and is a native of Wyoming County, W.Va.  A 50-something year old with a compassion for the outdoors, he is a graduate of Mullens High School and earned his teaching degree from Glenville State College in 1976.  After a teaching career of 28 years, Stover is now the Circuit Clerk of Wyoming County.  He is the author of three small books on local ghost stories in West Virginia.  Stover’s personal challenges include attempts to walk across America in 1977, and walks to Washington, D.C. in 1980 and 1998 for various causes and support.

            His hobbies include caving, scuba diving, hiking, biking, judo and storytelling. He enjoys people.  His dedication to preserving the art of storytelling and campfire programs is evident in his appearances.