Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia. Today is Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. …and now for the rest of the stories…on today's daily304.com! #1 – From WV PRESS – Spend the night 80 feet above Almost Heaven Looking for a room with a view? This one is going to be tough to beat. The restored Red Oak Fire Lookout in the Monongahela National Forest near Cowen is now available for overnight stays. The 14-by-14-foot cabin sits atop an 80-foot steel tower on the 3,705-foot summit of Red Oak Knob, overlooking the Cranberry and Williams river watersheds. The $100-a-night rental sleeps two in the tower and includes two ground-level campsites that can accommodate up to 10 additional guests. Getting to the top requires climbing 112 steps. Once there, guests get a wraparound deck and panoramic views of the surrounding forest. Just remember to bring water. There isn't any drinking water at the site. The Forest Service spent years planning the project, with restoration beginning in 2020. The result has been popular. The tower's first rental season booked solid through November 30 within days of opening. Reservations for the 2027 season reopen January 1. Read more: https://wvpress.org/breaking-news/high-in-the-airbnb-renovated-fire-tower-open-for-stays-in-monongahela-forest/ #2 – From WV GAZETTE-MAIL – Holly Jolly Brawley is getting ready to light up Charleston Christmas is coming to downtown Charleston, and businesses and organizations that want to be part of the display shouldn't wait. Trees are going on sale for Holly Jolly Brawley, the annual holiday celebration that transforms City Center at Slack Plaza, Brawley Walkway and the surrounding downtown area into a winter wonderland. The tradition has grown dramatically. What began with a few dozen decorated trees has become a signature downtown holiday attraction featuring more than 150 trees decorated by businesses, nonprofits and community organizations. The celebration also brings holiday shopping, entertainment and family activities downtown. The trees are popular, and the Gazette-Mail reports they go quickly. So if your business, organization or family wants to add a little Christmas spirit to downtown Charleston, now is the time to get one reserved. Read more: https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/kanawha_valley/in-the-know-trees-go-on-sale-for-holly-jolly-brawley-dont-wait-they-go/article_7fbd37f6-fcda-4071-a328-f6792ca7f323.html #3 – From WV EXECUTIVE – Bold flavor meets West Virginia hospitality At 404 Market Street in Parkersburg, entrepreneur Zak Huffman is bringing a new dining experience to downtown. Huffman's Prime Steakhouse opened in 2025 around a simple idea: food, family and friends are worth celebrating. The menu centers on prime steaks seared at 1,800 degrees, but also includes pasta, burgers, fresh seafood, sushi, cocktails and rare whiskeys. Huffman has built businesses in photography, real estate development, oil and gas services and title work. But hospitality has long been a passion. He describes the restaurant's dining room as an extension of entertaining guests in his own home, with details designed to make diners feel cared for from the moment they arrive. And when some members of his team suggested nearby Marietta, Ohio, might be a better location, Huffman chose Parkersburg. For him, West Virginia hospitality was part of the point. Read more: https://wvexecutive.com/bold-flavor-refined-taste/ Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty, and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.
