Did you know there are many world records that are held in West Virginia?
There are a lot of things West Virginia is known for, but here are some we bet you haven’t heard of before. This list also includes some incredible state records that are held by West Virginia residents.
- West Virginia’s Biggest Blue Catfish
Game and Fish Magazine Austin Hoffman of West Virginia caught this massive 52.95 pound, 47.75 inch long blue catfish on the Ohio River on April 26, 2014. Good thing he’s got the photo to prove it, because a nearly four foot whopper sounds like a real fish story!
- World’s Smallest Chicken Egg
World Record Academy Donnie Russell found an egg that was just 2.1 cm long, roughly the size of a penny, weighing in at only 3.46 grams.
- Most Fireball Shots Served In One Night
m01229 Flickr Students from West Virginia University hold the world record for most Fireball shots taken in one night at Fat Daddy’s Bar in Morgantown, WV. Over 4,200 shots were served in a single evening. No wonder they have a reputation as a party school!
- Most Pepperoni Rolls Eaten
Brandy Overbee Pinterest If there’s one thing West Virginians love, it’s their pepperoni rolls! In 2012, Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti ate 33 pepperoni rolls which broke the previous world record - that he also set - at the 3 Rivers Festival in West Virginia.
- World’s Largest Sycamore Tree
Jenny Downing Flickr The world’s largest sycamore tree is located near the Elk River in Webster Springs, WV. It’s an incredible 117 feet tall.
- National Record Set at 135 Points in a Basketball Game
Rob Buenaventura Flickr In 1960, Danny Heater from Burnsville, WV scored an amazing 135 points in a high school basketball game.
- Most Coal Produced From a Long-Wall Plow
Dennis Church Flickr In 2012, Pinnacle Mine, which is located near Pineville, WV, set a world record of 32,430 tons of raw coal production from a long-wall plow during a 24-hour course.
- Smallest Church in the Nation
Jon Dawson Flickr Our Lady of the Pines, located in Silver Lake, WV, is the smallest church in the continental U.S. It’s just 12 feet by 24 feet and also doubles as a post office!You can take a virtual tour of the church at the Visit Mountaineer Country tourism site.
- Longest Poker Game in the World
mouton.rebelle Flickr Thurmond, WV, which is now practically a ghost town, holds the world’s longest poker game and is in the Guinness World Records book for it. The game went on for 14 years!
- Oldest Base Jumper
Erik Weber Flickr On October 19, 2013, Donald Cripps parachuted off of the 876-feet tall New River Gorge Bridge on Bridge Day. Cripps was 84 years old at the time and clearly wasn’t interested in a peaceful retirement sitting in a rocking chair!
Aren’t these just amazing? We had no idea that there were such fascinating things going on right here in West Virginia!
Game and Fish Magazine
Austin Hoffman of West Virginia caught this massive 52.95 pound, 47.75 inch long blue catfish on the Ohio River on April 26, 2014. Good thing he’s got the photo to prove it, because a nearly four foot whopper sounds like a real fish story!
World Record Academy
Donnie Russell found an egg that was just 2.1 cm long, roughly the size of a penny, weighing in at only 3.46 grams.
m01229 Flickr
Students from West Virginia University hold the world record for most Fireball shots taken in one night at Fat Daddy’s Bar in Morgantown, WV. Over 4,200 shots were served in a single evening. No wonder they have a reputation as a party school!
Brandy Overbee Pinterest
If there’s one thing West Virginians love, it’s their pepperoni rolls! In 2012, Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti ate 33 pepperoni rolls which broke the previous world record - that he also set - at the 3 Rivers Festival in West Virginia.
Jenny Downing Flickr
The world’s largest sycamore tree is located near the Elk River in Webster Springs, WV. It’s an incredible 117 feet tall.
Rob Buenaventura Flickr
In 1960, Danny Heater from Burnsville, WV scored an amazing 135 points in a high school basketball game.
Dennis Church Flickr
In 2012, Pinnacle Mine, which is located near Pineville, WV, set a world record of 32,430 tons of raw coal production from a long-wall plow during a 24-hour course.
Jon Dawson Flickr
Our Lady of the Pines, located in Silver Lake, WV, is the smallest church in the continental U.S. It’s just 12 feet by 24 feet and also doubles as a post office!You can take a virtual tour of the church at the Visit Mountaineer Country tourism site.
mouton.rebelle Flickr
Thurmond, WV, which is now practically a ghost town, holds the world’s longest poker game and is in the Guinness World Records book for it. The game went on for 14 years!
Erik Weber Flickr
On October 19, 2013, Donald Cripps parachuted off of the 876-feet tall New River Gorge Bridge on Bridge Day. Cripps was 84 years old at the time and clearly wasn’t interested in a peaceful retirement sitting in a rocking chair!
We’re sure countless other world records are held in West Virginia. Share what records you hope to achieve in the comments!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: West Virginia, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Facts About West Virginia April 27, 2021 Lisa Sammons What are some interesting facts about West Virginia? People often think of the Mountain State as quiet and unassuming, but we’ve got some real claims to fame! Did you know West Virginia is (by far) the highest state east of the Mississippi? How about that the city of Weirton is the only city whose borders extend into two states? The first federal prison institution for women was founded in Alderson. Read more interesting facts here. What is the history of West Virginia? West Virginia had an extremely interesting history before it even became a part of the United States of America. Read fascinating information about the formation of our unique land structure in this article. This one contains information on Native Americans that lived in the region long ago. What are some unique quirks to residents of West Virginia? Here’s a list of undeniable ways you just know you’re from West Virginia. And there’s plenty of phrases that are unique to our area. We’ve got lots of advantages that the rest of the country just can’t enjoy! Here’s some things you should know before dating residents of West Virginia.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Facts About West Virginia
April 27, 2021
Lisa Sammons
What are some interesting facts about West Virginia? People often think of the Mountain State as quiet and unassuming, but we’ve got some real claims to fame! Did you know West Virginia is (by far) the highest state east of the Mississippi? How about that the city of Weirton is the only city whose borders extend into two states? The first federal prison institution for women was founded in Alderson. Read more interesting facts here. What is the history of West Virginia? West Virginia had an extremely interesting history before it even became a part of the United States of America. Read fascinating information about the formation of our unique land structure in this article. This one contains information on Native Americans that lived in the region long ago. What are some unique quirks to residents of West Virginia? Here’s a list of undeniable ways you just know you’re from West Virginia. And there’s plenty of phrases that are unique to our area. We’ve got lots of advantages that the rest of the country just can’t enjoy! Here’s some things you should know before dating residents of West Virginia.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
People often think of the Mountain State as quiet and unassuming, but we’ve got some real claims to fame! Did you know West Virginia is (by far) the highest state east of the Mississippi? How about that the city of Weirton is the only city whose borders extend into two states? The first federal prison institution for women was founded in Alderson. Read more interesting facts here.
What is the history of West Virginia?
West Virginia had an extremely interesting history before it even became a part of the United States of America. Read fascinating information about the formation of our unique land structure in this article. This one contains information on Native Americans that lived in the region long ago.
What are some unique quirks to residents of West Virginia?
Here’s a list of undeniable ways you just know you’re from West Virginia. And there’s plenty of phrases that are unique to our area. We’ve got lots of advantages that the rest of the country just can’t enjoy! Here’s some things you should know before dating residents of West Virginia.