HATFIELDS & MCCOYS New Spotlight On An Old Feud Could Mean Tourism Dollars For Southern West Virginia
Reported by: Kennie Bass
Videographer: Matt Durrett
Web Producer: Kennie Bass
Reported: May. 30, 2012 6:26 PM EDT
Updated: May. 30, 2012 6:37 PM EDT
EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO C L I C K T O P L A Y
Williamson
, Mingo County
, West Virginia
Starring Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton, the History Channel mini-series "Hatfields & McCoys" is generating staggering ratings.
Nearly 14 million people watched Monday night's part one. Another 13 million caught part two on Tuesday night. The episodes are the second and third highest-rated non-sports programs in cable television history.
With that many people watching, Mingo County Hatfield & McCoy historian Bill Richardson says interest about the feud and the area in which it took place is heating up.
Joe Phillips and his wife are visiting West Virginia. They moved from Mingo County to Washington state about 25 years ago. Recent attention on the feud led Phillips to learn about his family tree. He's the great grandson of feud participant Frank Phillips, who is featured in the History Channel mini-series.
Emails and phone calls are pouring in to the Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce. Hatfield and McCoy tours are booking through the summer..and stories about the feud are being snatched up. All of that could translate into tourism dollars being spent in Williamson and the surrounding areas.
For more information about visiting the Tug Valley or to take a tour of the Hatfield-McCoy feud locations, you can visit these websites:
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Kennie Bass
