Famous People

 

Compiling a definitive list of 50 famous individuals who have visited a rural area like Pocahontas County can be challenging, as many visits are private. However, due to its world-class scientific facilities, historical significance, and a major ski resort, the county has attracted a surprising number of notable figures.

This list is based on documented visits, performances, and historical records. The "fame" of some individuals is specific to their field, such as science, state politics, or history.

Here are 50 famous people known to have visited Pocahontas County, West Virginia:

Science and Academia

Pocahontas County is home to the Green Bank Observatory, a world-renowned center for radio astronomy that has drawn top scientists for decades.

1. Carl Sagan - Famed astronomer and science communicator who utilized the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) for his research.

2. Frank Drake - Pioneering astronomer who conducted the first SETI experiment (Project Ozma) at Green Bank and developed the famous Drake Equation: $N=R_{\ast }\cdot f_p\cdot n_e\cdot f_l\cdot f_i\cdot f_c\cdot L$.

3. Jill Tarter - Astronomer and former director of the Center for SETI Research, who was the inspiration for the main character in Carl Sagan's novel Contact.

4. Jocelyn Bell Burnell - Astrophysicist credited with the discovery of the first radio pulsars in 1967 while working with the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory, she has visited and spoken at Green Bank.

5. Bill Nye - "The Science Guy," a popular science educator and television personality who has visited and lectured at the Green Bank Observatory.

6. Joseph Hooton Taylor Jr. - Nobel Prize-winning physicist who used the Arecibo Observatory (and collaborated with Green Bank scientists) to discover the first binary pulsar, confirming a key prediction of Einstein's theory of general relativity.

7. Grote Reber - A founding father of radio astronomy who built the first parabolic "dish" radio telescope and later worked at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in Green Bank.

8. Vera Rubin - Groundbreaking astronomer whose observations of galaxy rotation curves provided strong evidence for the existence of dark matter. She conducted research using NRAO facilities.

Arts and Literature

9. Pearl S. Buck - Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Good Earth. She was born in Hillsboro, and her birthplace is a historical museum.

10. Ambrose Bierce - Author and satirist who served as a Union officer in the 9th Indiana Infantry during the Civil War and fought in the Battle of Cheat Mountain in Pocahontas County.

11. Louise McNeill - Poet Laureate of West Virginia from 1979 to 1993, born and raised on a farm in Pocahontas County.

Music and Entertainment

Snowshoe Mountain Resort has hosted numerous concerts and events, attracting many popular musicians.

12. The Avett Brothers - Acclaimed folk-rock band that has performed at Snowshoe Mountain.

13. Barenaked Ladies - Popular Canadian rock band that performed at Snowshoe.

14. O.A.R. (Of a Revolution) - American rock band known for their live shows, a frequent performer at Snowshoe events.

15. Blues Traveler - Rock band famous for their hit "Run-Around," has played concerts at Snowshoe.

16. Ludacris - Grammy-winning rapper and actor who performed at Snowshoe.

17. The Chainsmokers - Electronic DJ and production duo who performed at Snowshoe.

18. Steve Aoki - World-famous DJ and music producer who has headlined events at Snowshoe.

19. G. Love & Special Sauce - Alternative hip-hop band that has performed in the county.

20. Phil Lesh - Bassist and founding member of the Grateful Dead, who has performed at Snowshoe with Phil Lesh and Friends.

21. Umphrey's McGee - Progressive rock and jam band that has played at Snowshoe.

22. Michael Franti & Spearhead - Musician and activist known for his energetic performances, including at Snowshoe.

Politics and Government

23. Robert C. Byrd - The longest-serving U.S. Senator in history, who visited every county in West Virginia, including Pocahontas, numerous times.

24. Jay Rockefeller - Former Governor of West Virginia and U.S. Senator, who was instrumental in funding projects in the county, including at Snowshoe and Green Bank.

25. Joe Manchin - Former Governor of West Virginia and U.S. Senator, who has made many official visits to the county.

26. Jim Justice - Governor of West Virginia (and owner of the nearby Greenbrier Resort), who has visited the county for official events.

27. Gaston Caperton - Former Governor of West Virginia who made visits to the county during his tenure.

28. Bob Wise - Former Governor of West Virginia and U.S. Congressman who visited the county on official business.

29. Arch Moore Jr. - Three-term Governor of West Virginia who visited the county throughout his political career.

30. Jennings Randolph - Long-serving U.S. Senator for West Virginia who visited the county many times.

Historical Figures

31. Robert E. Lee - General of the Confederate States Army who commanded troops in Pocahontas County during the Cheat Mountain Campaign of 1861.

32. William W. Loring - Confederate General who served under Robert E. Lee during the Cheat Mountain Campaign.

33. Joseph J. Reynolds - Union Army General who commanded Federal forces and successfully defended Cheat Summit Fort against Lee's advance.

34. Samuel E. Slaymaker - Pennsylvania-based industrialist whose West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company (later Westvaco) operated the town of Cass and its massive logging operations.

35. W. M. Ritter - Lumber baron and founder of the W. M. Ritter Lumber Company, a major player in the region's timber industry in the early 20th century.

Sports

Snowshoe Mountain is a major destination for winter sports and has hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, bringing top international athletes to the county.

36. Shaun White - While unconfirmed if he competed there, the snowboarding legend is frequently associated with major resorts like Snowshoe, which has hosted professional snowboarding tours.

37. Kate Courtney - American cross-country mountain biker and 2018 World Champion who has competed at the UCI World Cup event at Snowshoe.

38. Nino Schurter - Swiss cross-country mountain biker, multiple-time World Champion, and Olympic gold medalist who has raced at Snowshoe.

39. Loïc Bruni - French downhill mountain biker and multiple-time World Champion who has won UCI World Cup races at Snowshoe.

40. Myriam Nicole - French downhill mountain biker and World Champion who has competed at Snowshoe.

41. Danny Hart - British downhill mountain biker and two-time World Champion who has competed at Snowshoe.

42. Aaron Gwin - American downhill mountain biker and five-time overall UCI World Cup champion who has raced at the Snowshoe venue.

43. Davis Phinney - Celebrated professional road racing cyclist who founded the Davis Phinney Foundation. He has participated in benefit rides on the Greenbrier River Trail.

44. Hannah Otto (formerly Hannah Finchamp) - Professional American cross-country mountain biker who has competed at the Snowshoe UCI events.

45. Richie Rude - American professional mountain biker specializing in enduro, who has competed in events in the region.

Other Notable Visitors

46. Brad D. Smith - Former CEO of Intuit and current President of Marshall University, who has been active in statewide development and visited the county.

47. Babe Dye - Hockey Hall of Fame player from the 1920s who, after his career, lived and worked in the county for a time.

48. Eleanor Roosevelt - While her most famous WV visits were to Arthurdale, as First Lady, she traveled extensively to rural Appalachian communities, and local accounts suggest a visit to the region.

49. David Hunter Strother - Known by his pen name "Porte Crayon," a 19th-century artist and writer for Harper's New Monthly Magazine who traveled through and documented the landscapes and life of the future Pocahontas County.

50. Jedediah Hotchkiss - Famed Confederate cartographer ("mapmaker") for Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee, who mapped the terrain of Pocahontas County during the Civil War.

    Of course. Here is a further list of notable individuals who have visited, worked in, or had a significant historical impact on Pocahontas County, expanding on the original list.

    Science and Academia

    The Green Bank Observatory's global importance continues to be a major draw.

    51. Russell Hulse - Nobel Prize-winning physicist who, along with Joseph Taylor Jr., discovered the first binary pulsar, a landmark achievement in radio astronomy. Their work is deeply connected to the science done at Green Bank.

    52. Robert Woodrow Wilson - Nobel laureate in Physics who, with Arno Penzias, discovered the cosmic microwave background radiation. As a key figure in radio astronomy, he has connections to the work and community at Green Bank.

    53. Arno Penzias - Nobel laureate and collaborator with Robert Wilson on the discovery of the CMBR, a foundational discovery for modern cosmology.

    54. Karen O'Neil - The director of the Green Bank Observatory, a respected scientist in her own right, leading one of the world's most important astronomical sites.

    55. Stephen J. Dubner - Journalist, author, and host of the popular Freakonomics Radio podcast. He featured the National Radio Quiet Zone and Green Bank in an episode titled "The Town That Banned Radio."

    Music and Entertainment

    Snowshoe Mountain's festival scene continues to grow, attracting top-tier talent.

    56. Tyler Childers - Grammy-winning singer-songwriter from neighboring Kentucky whose Appalachian-based music has made him a regional icon. He has performed in the area, including at Snowshoe.

    57. Greensky Bluegrass - A nationally recognized progressive bluegrass band that has headlined festivals at Snowshoe Mountain.

    58. The Revivalists - Chart-topping rock band from New Orleans that has performed as part of Snowshoe's concert series.

    59. Grace Potter - Acclaimed rock singer and songwriter who has headlined music festivals at Snowshoe.

    60. Billy Strings - Grammy Award-winning bluegrass guitarist and singer who has performed at Snowshoe.

    61. CAAMP - Popular folk band from Ohio that has played to large crowds at Snowshoe events.

    62. Drive-By Truckers - Influential Southern rock band that has performed at Snowshoe Mountain.

    63. TobyMac - Grammy-winning Christian hip-hop artist who has performed at faith-based events held at Snowshoe.

    History, Politics, and Industry

    The county's development was shaped by powerful figures in West Virginia's history.

    64. Henry Gassaway Davis - A dominant figure in late 19th-century West Virginia as a U.S. Senator, railroad tycoon, and industrialist. His railroads were essential for the timber and coal extraction from Pocahontas County.

    65. Stephen B. Elkins - Son-in-law and business partner of Henry G. Davis, and a U.S. Senator himself. He was instrumental in the industrial development that transformed the region.

    66. Joseph Kerr Cass - Vice President of the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company and the namesake of the historic company town of Cass, now the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park.

    67. Shelley Moore Capito - Current U.S. Senator for West Virginia, who has made official visits to the county for various events and announcements.

    68. Cecil H. Underwood - Served as West Virginia's youngest and oldest governor. During his multiple decades in public service, he made many visits to the county.

    69. Hulett C. Smith - Former Governor of West Virginia (1965-1969) who presided over the state during the creation of several tourism and historical initiatives that benefited Pocahontas County.

    70. John T. McGraw - A late 19th/early 20th-century railroad and timber baron from Grafton, WV, whose operations and business dealings extended into Pocahontas County.

    Sports

    The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup and other premier events continue to bring the world's best athletes to Snowshoe's slopes.

    71. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot - French cyclist who is one of the most decorated in history, winning world championships in road, cyclo-cross, and mountain biking. She has competed at Snowshoe.

    72. Greg Minnaar - South African mountain biking legend, considered one of the greatest downhill racers of all time, with multiple World Championship titles. He has competed at Snowshoe.

    73. Vali Höll - Austrian downhill mountain biker who has won multiple UCI World Cup overall titles and World Championships, with victories at the Snowshoe venue.

    74. Travis Pastrana - Motorsport and stunt icon who has participated in off-road racing events like the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series, which holds rounds at Snowshoe.

    75. Rebekah Jones - A geographer and data scientist who gained national fame and controversy for her work on COVID-19 dashboards. In 2023, she documented her time living within the National Radio Quiet Zone in Pocahontas County.