West of Roanoke — Southwest Virginia’s Magazine
West of Roanoke Magazine exists for one purpose:
to celebrate the people, places, history, and landscape of Southwest Virginia.
We’re not a traditional news outlet.
We’re a regional magazine — part storyteller, part community cheerleader, part travel guide, and always proud of the mountains we call home.
Our coverage stretches across the 18 counties and 4 independent cities west of Roanoke County, a region full of heritage, resilience, natural beauty, and some of the best people anywhere in Virginia.
What We Do
We focus on the stories that make this region special:
Feature Articles
Deep dives into local history, hidden places, regional traditions, Appalachian culture, and the people who help define our communities.
Community & Culture
Spotlights on festivals, local makers, hometown personalities, small businesses, and the everyday good happening around us.
Outdoors & Travel
Trails, overlooks, rivers, cabins, parks, journeys, and the destinations that make Southwest Virginia a traveler’s dream.
Heritage & History
The stories that came before us: frontier settlements, rail towns, mountain lore, Revolutionary ties, and the old roads that shaped Virginia.
Business & Tourism
Profiles on regional tourism, local entrepreneurs, outdoor outfitters, artisans, and anyone helping our mountain economy grow.
Occasional Helpful Local Info
Road closures, safety updates, or important county announcements — not news for drama, just news that helps.
What We Don’t Do
We keep it simple and positive.
We’re not here for:
- gossip
- negativity
- political clickbait
- controversial hot takes
- “gotcha” journalism
Plenty of outlets do that.
We’d rather tell the stories that lift this region up.
Our Coverage Area
Counties (18)
Montgomery, Floyd, Pulaski, Giles, Craig, Carroll, Grayson, Wythe, Bland, Smyth, Washington, Russell, Tazewell, Buchanan, Dickenson, Wise, Scott, and Lee.
Independent Cities (4)
Radford, Bristol, Galax, and Norton.
From the New River to the Clinch, the Cumberland Gap to the Blue Ridge Parkway — this region is tied together by shared history, mountain culture, and a sense of home.
Why We Exist
Southwest Virginia deserves a voice that understands the land and loves the people.
Our approach is simple:
- Stories over scandal
- Community over controversy
- Heritage over hype
- Honesty over noise
- Connection over conflict
We believe good stories can strengthen a region.
And Southwest Virginia has no shortage of great ones.
Submit a Story
Have a great place, person, or piece of history we should feature?
Send ideas anytime:
Partner With Us
We collaborate with tourism offices, local governments, outdoor groups, nonprofits, small businesses, and community organizations across Southwest Virginia.
If you’d like to explore partnership opportunities, promotional features, or regional storytelling projects, contact: