Dylan Jones helped build one of the most important outdoor publications in West Virginia from the ground up.
As co founder of Highland Outdoors, Dylan and his wife Nikki spent nearly a decade turning a small independent idea into the state’s only standalone outdoor magazine. They did it all themselves. Selling ads, stuffing envelopes, loading pallets of magazines at their house, and driving distribution routes across West Virginia every quarter.
This episode of Access Appalachia looks back on that decade of building Highland Outdoors and the decision to sell the publication to New South Media earlier this year. Dylan reflects on burnout, growth, and what it meant to document the evolution of West Virginia’s outdoor culture in real time.
We also dig into the broader outdoor economy across the state, from the post pandemic surge in visitation to the rise of mountain bike infrastructure and connected trail systems, and what those changes mean for the future of recreation in West Virginia.
Access Point: Hinton, West Virginia
This week’s Access Point is the town of Hinton, West Virginia, a historic railroad community at the confluence of the New River and Greenbrier River and part of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Many visitors are surprised to learn the park boundary extends this far east, placing Hinton right in the middle of one of the most scenic river corridors in the state.
From town, it is a short drive to Sandstone Falls, Bluestone Lake, and Pipestem Resort State Park. Hinton itself is in the middle of a revitalization effort, with growing river access, historic character, and a strong connection to railroad heritage celebrated each year during Railroad Days. It is a quiet but strategic base for exploring a less crowded corner of southern West Virginia.
Learn more about: Highland Outdoors / New South Media / Hinton, WV
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