Nikki Bowman Mills top 15 stories from the past 15 years.
Ripley’s Believe it or Not
Early on, I was invited to speak to the Ripley Rotary Club about the magazine. As I was finishing up, a man came up to me and said, “The mayor wants you to stop by her office on your way out of town.” I’d never had that request before, and I had never met the mayor. I pulled into City Hall, and as soon as I entered the door, the receptionist exclaimed, “She’s down the hall and waiting for you!” As I rushed towards her office, I saw all kinds of video and camera equipment lining the hall. Confused, it felt a bit like I was walking into a Candid Camera episode. When I entered the room, Mayor Carolyn Rader jumped up from behind her desk and rushed to give me a hug, while three men with video cameras watched. Mayor Ripley gushed about the magazine and then asked me if my car was outside and if everyone would fit in it? “Everyone?” I asked. She waved her hand to indicate the gentlemen with the cameras. Still not knowing what was going on, before I knew it, we were all piling into my SUV. “Where are we going?” I laughed. She replied, “Up the hill. We are going to give you a tour of Ripley, because you need to do a story on our town!” What she didn’t say was that the tour was going to be by helicopter. As soon as I crested the hill and saw the helicopter, I started stammering, “No way. No way. I don’t do helicopters.” But before I even turned off the engine, I was being suited up for the ride. I still didn’t know who the folks with the cameras were and why they were going. Come to find out, they were from TLC and were shooting for a show called “My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding.” Mayor Rader told the TLC crew to get in the back and, before I had time to argue, I was strapped in and airborne. It was my very first helicopter ride—and I hate flying. But guess what? I LOVED it! It was amazing, and I’ve never been afraid of helicopter rides since.
I Bearly Survived
During the winter of 2012 on the snowiest day of the year, I went on a bear hunt—for a story, of course. I was ill-prepared. The scouting and tracking of bears was a little more complicated than I thought. We had to slosh through deep snow, across frigid creeks, over fallen trees, through thick bramble, and up steep mountains with our hunting party once a bear was treed. Men three times my size sprinted up the hillside at a pace I’m sure would win the Olympics. I slung my camera around my neck and clawed my way up the incline, grabbing onto roots and limbs for support. After I got to a plateau, I sat down on a fallen log and tried to catch my breath while everyone else continued their ascent. I was completely done with bear hunting when the rest of our party started shouting, “Tell ‘Picture Lady’ to get up here!” I couldn’t move and flatly refused to scale more of the hillside. I stood up, pushed my camera into Michael’s hands and said, “You go and take the picture. I’m staying here.” Before I knew it, I was sliding back down the hill—Michael had pushed me backwards. I looked up to see the bear running down the hill towards us and over the log I had just been sitting on. I didn’t sit down for the remainder of the day.
Walk the Talk
We’ve all driven over the New River Gorge Bridge and probably thought nothing of it. But have you done Bridge Walk, the catwalk beneath it? If you have, you know why this makes my list—and if you haven’t, then you just need to do it for yourself. And for an extra special experience, do it with photographer Rebecca Kiger. Wink, wink.
Wild Blue
One of the most life-altering experiences of all was pulling Gs and hanging upside down over the New River Gorge in Wild Blue Adventure Company’s open-air cockpit of a World War II biplane. As I mentioned, I’m a gal who fears flying. I learned to not let fear fool you. Face it. Feel it. Let it take your breath away, and then conquer it. There’s no better feeling.
A Slam Dunk
One of my life’s bucket list items was to interview Jerry West, and I was able to check it off in 2010. I met him and his wife, Karen, at his house at The Greenbrier Sporting Club. Jerry gave me a tour, and then we settled down in his living room to chat. He was delightful and authentic. Afterwards, he invited me to his newly opened restaurant, Prime 44. He was taking his maquette of the sculpture of him that stands outside of the WVU Coliseum to the restaurant and, as we walked out the door, he turned to me and asked me to hold it while he took his dogs out for a quick walk. I reached for it but wasn’t prepared for how heavy it was—I nearly dropped it on his driveway, catching it just inches above my toes. He grabbed it back and handed me the leashes to his dogs.
Pavement Pancakes
Judging the Roadkill Cook-Off in Marlinton ranks up there as one of my most interesting culinary experiences. Although they don’t peel roadkill off the pavement, contestants compete to see who can prepare the tastiest meat dishes from animals that could be found on the road—things like Pothole Possum Stew, Hardtop Hare, and Smeared Hog with Groundhog Gravy. Not a shock that this was memorable, right?
Moore Fun
In 2016, Senator Shelley Moore Capito and I met up in Harpers Ferry. We were both eager to explore this historic town and meet area business owners. One of our goals was to hike the West Virginia portion of the Appalachian Trail. It was a scorching summer day, pushing 100 degrees, as we trudged our way up and down the trail. Although a few of her aides and my photographer begged off (Yes, Carla, you were a wimp!), we huffed and puffed and completed our task, and then hopped on a tandem bike from River Riders and rode on the Armory Canal Trail along the Potomac River. By the time the evening rolled around, I couldn’t move. We still laugh about that outing and promise that we will recreate it on a much cooler day.
Better Angels
In 2019, I interviewed the legendary editor Charlie Peters, founder of The Washington Monthly. He was 93 years old. It was one of the most important highlights of my professional and personal life. Charlie, a native of Charleston, was instrumental in helping John F. Kennedy win West Virginia, and he is the reason that Senator John “Jay” D. Rockefeller IV came to West Virginia. This interview re-inspired me to fight the good fight. Charlie passed away on Thanksgiving Day, 2023. Rest in peace, Charlie.
A Full House
In July 2010, I was invited to participate in the grand opening of The Casino Club at The Greenbrier and scored a spot along the red carpet to interview celebrities like Shaquille O’Neal, Debbie Reynolds, Jane Seymour, Raquelle Welch, Brooke Shields, Charles Barkley, and Jennifer Garner. I happily chatted up all the celebrities, not realizing there was a “red carpet etiquette” of only asking one question. The journalist standing beside me was from PEOPLE magazine, and he finally huffed, “My job depends on getting a quote from Jessica Simpson, could you please not ask her any questions?” I complied.
Riding the Wave
Strapped in a motorless glider plane and being catapulted in the air over Petersburg definitely ranks as one of my most memorable adventures, thanks to the Eastern Soaring Center. The experience of going from 0 to 60 mph in 1.6 seconds and then floating on the thermal waves in the sky in complete silence is something I’ll never forget.
Apocapalooza
I am very grateful for the opportunities afforded me because of my role as publisher and editor of WV Living, but sometimes that responsibility can be challenging and frightening. I get my fair share of letters from prisoners. Most are harmless and even kind, but some are not. I’ve had a few stalkers, some hate mail, and even some uncomfortable love notes. One of the scariest experiences I’ve been through, though, involved a reader who did not like our economic development initiative called Turn This Town Around. In 2014, this reader would drop off packets at my office when no one was there filled with letters claiming that if I “turned” Grafton around, I would launch Armageddon, making me the Antichrist. The packets contained many threats, so until he was located, every time I traveled to Grafton, I had to have a police escort. The man was eventually identified, and you’ll be happy to know that I no longer need a police escort to travel to Grafton.
A Tee-riffic Tale
I know nothing about golf. So when I had the opportunity to interview Tiger Woods in 2015 at The Greenbrier Classic, I didn’t know what to ask him. I was positioned right in front of him as he stood at a podium looking out over Old White, and I was surrounded by seasoned journalists from every major network, who peppered him with questions about his game. Everyone was shouting, so I yelled, “What do you love about coming to West Virginia and staying at The Greenbrier?” Instead of taking Sports Illustrated’s question, Tiger looked down at me (he actually is really tall and skinny) and smiled. It was the only time he smiled during the press conference. And then he went on to rave about the beauty of the state and how much he loved staying with his family at The Greenbrier. My question and his response made national headlines. I’d say that was a hole in one.
A Capital Achievement
In 2013, Mara Boggs from Senator Manchin’s office reached out to my friend Jack Thompson and me to ask us to help organize a Taste of West Virginia event at the nation’s capitol in honor of the state’s 150th birthday. We set out identifying West Virginia products and reaching out to businesses to showcase. We anticipated 250 to 300 attendees. Instead, we had more than 1,000 people. The room was so packed that no one could even get off the elevators. In fact, the fire marshal paid us an unhappy visit. It was truly insane, but an awesome experience showcasing West Virginia to Congress.
Rev Your Engines
This past year, our photographer and Art Director Carla Witt Ford and I had the opportunity to drive an open-air, three-wheeled Polaris Slingshot from The Greenbrier to Cass. I may never stand straight again, but it was worth it—an amazing way to experience our state’s stunning scenery and curvy roads.
No Regrets
I love Heritage Farm in Huntington. I’ve been several times with and without my children. But one of my most memorable visits is also one of my saddest. Weeks before founder Mike Perry passed away, I visited. Even though he was very weak, Mike wanted to give me a tour of the new Doll Museum himself. We spent a couple of hours together, just the two of us, arm in arm. He told me, “I have very few regrets in life, but one of them was not funding you all those years ago,” he said, referring back to 2008 when I approached a group of investors before launching my company. They turned me down, saying, “A statewide magazine would never be successful.” I remembered that time very well. In fact, after that failed meeting, I decided to raid my retirement funds and launch the magazine without any outside money. “But look at what you’ve done,” Mike said as he grabbed my hands. “I’m so proud of what you’ve done for the state. I wish I could be here to see what other great things you’ll do.” I sobbed in his arms, knowing this was goodbye. That day at Heritage Farm was a true gift.
READ MORE ABOUT HERITAGE FARM
Acres of Heritage, Spring 2013
A Legacy Collection, Spring 2015
Heritage Farm Announces Smithsonian Partnership, 2015
Heritage Farms and a Treehouse Adventure, Summer 2021
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