Mode of Program Participation
Academic Scholarship
Participation Type
Paper
Presentation #1 Title
Geographies of Tourism in Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
This paper focuses on the town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia located at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers in the Ohio Valley. It examines the processes involved in developing and coordinating several types of tourism. In addition to promoting heritage tourism, Point Pleasant markets itself as the location of alleged sightings of the Mothman, a monstrous creature depicted in a film starring Richard Gere. Point Pleasant also gained national attention in 1967 when the Silver Bridge collapsed into the Ohio River resulting in over 40 deaths. Based upon fieldwork and interviews conducted in Point Pleasant, this paper provides an analysis of the ways in which the heritage and paranormal tourism narratives are interwoven with narratives and markers of the bridge disaster.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Dr. Robert Kruse is a professor of Geography at West Liberty University. His research interests includes geographies of popular culture, disabilities and disabilities.
Geographies of Tourism in Point Pleasant, West Virginia
This paper focuses on the town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia located at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers in the Ohio Valley. It examines the processes involved in developing and coordinating several types of tourism. In addition to promoting heritage tourism, Point Pleasant markets itself as the location of alleged sightings of the Mothman, a monstrous creature depicted in a film starring Richard Gere. Point Pleasant also gained national attention in 1967 when the Silver Bridge collapsed into the Ohio River resulting in over 40 deaths. Based upon fieldwork and interviews conducted in Point Pleasant, this paper provides an analysis of the ways in which the heritage and paranormal tourism narratives are interwoven with narratives and markers of the bridge disaster.
