This page serves as a recap of our first Almost Heaven Classic in Canaan Valley.
We have already opened registration for the 2024 AHC, and if' you’d like to attend, check out the new page!
The Almost Heaven Classic was a huge success, and we are excited to announce details for AHC 2024 very soon!
In the meantime, C.J. and Cooper have taken the time to review the inaugural event and answer some of your most frequently asked questions.
Q1: Mountaineer Media planned the Almost Heaven Classic over a year in advance. Why did you feel like you needed so much time?
COOP: This was our inaugural live event of such a large scale so we wanted to diligently consider every detail. We also aimed to allow as many passionate and influential West Virginians as possible to mark this occasion on their calendars.
Now, after launching with the event at Canaan Valley, we hope to make this an annual thing where folks come together to learn, grow and connect in Almost Heaven.
CJ: Because this was the inaugural event—there was no blueprint or game plan. We relied solely on the ideas we generated during the initial planning phase with our Live Events Board members.
We knew we had the tools, creativity and manpower to pull off an amazing event, and that's exactly what we did. So, yes, we needed every second of that year to design this event to the level we wanted.
Q2: Over 200 people showed up for the Friday night summit, were you surprised by the number of people? What will be your lasting memory from the night?
COOP: I’m not going to lie, I was quite surprised! With events like these, ya never truly know what the turnout will be, and with over 75% of our attendees traveling over 2 hours on country roads to get there, we were blown away by the support and enthusiasm in the room.
For me, it’s a feeling of validation that folks are hungry for pragmatic solutions, nuanced conversations and community building. Those are the core pillars of Mountaineer Media and seeing it manifest in real life with over 200 people in the room was magical.
CJ: Yes, I was absolutely surprised. About 15 minutes before the event began, someone mentioned a sizable crowd was gathering outside. Initially, I expected around 30-40 people eagerly waiting to enter, but to my disbelief, over 100 individuals were lined up, ready to walk in as soon as the doors opened.
That is when I realized we were in for a fantastic crowd. It was an unreal experience to witness over 200 people show up, considering we were deep in the mountains, hours away from the state's major cities. That night will always be etched in my memory.
Q3: Brad D. Smith, Sarah Biller, and Brandon Dennison sat on your keynote panel. What were your favorite takeaways from that discussion?
COOP: My key insight is that the movement towards prosperity and growth in West Virginia is already in full swing. While we often discuss the future as if it's a distant dream, it's actually being built incrementally every day by dedicated individuals.
With Sarah, Brad, and Brandon all presenting impressive updates about their current work, it seems inevitable that West Virginia is on the rise. Now, all that remains is to do the necessary work.
CJ: My biggest takeaway is the incredible insight they provided into what a future West Virginia can look like when we have a collective goal: building back the state by meeting the demands of today's world.
Not only did they bring impressive credentials but also showcased exceptional stage chemistry, thanks to their pre-existing relationships with each other. The panelists came prepared and delivered.
Q4: The Golf Tournament was very different from most scrambles. There was:
A live performance of the Star Spangled Banner
A custom Tony the Tailor Jacket for the winners
A custom Bear Wood trophy for the winners
A high-stakes putting contest championship for a WV-themed putter
A falconer showing off his birds
A chance to win $10,000
Where did you come up with some of these ideas? Did you feel like it was successful? What would you tweak, add or subtract from next year's tournament?
COOP: As a self-proclaimed golf addict, I have a decent understanding of what golfers seek from an amaetur tournament. But normally you only see these things on social media in bigger metro areas. We wanted to bring a world class experience to West Virginia. Mountaineer Media was also fortunate that Logan Garrison and Andrew Montes, members of our Live Events Board, were dedicated and instrumental in planning and executing the AHC.
We were committed to promoting West Virginia as much as possible. This involved meticulous attention to details, such as offering locally-made pepperoni rolls in the golf carts, employing a West Virginia company for all tournament materials and signs, and showcasing local companies for tournament prizes.
Our ambition is to host this tournament throughout the state on the picturesque courses of Almost Heaven. In doing so, we aim to provide a significant boost to the local economy. This endeavor should result in a win-win situation for all attendees, neighboring towns, and host venues.
CJ: Super successful! I haven't had anyone negatively speak about the weekend. However, I do regret not being able to personally greet every single person who attended the Friday networking event.
I really wanted to shake hands with each individual, but unfortunately, time constraints made it challenging. Adding an additional thirty minutes to the networking event on Friday could greatly benefit future editions. Overall, I couldn't have asked for a better experience over the course of both days.
Also, echoing what Cooper said: NONE of the Almost Heaven Classic would be possible without the support of so many small businesses around the state.
We owe them a ton of credit, and we are fully committed to promoting them, as well.
Q5: Looking ahead to next year, do you have a location in mind? Is there anything you'd like to share before we get “full" details about AHC24?
COOP: We have not yet settled on a venue, but like many West Virginians, I am completely captivated by the investment in our state's newest national park, the New River Gorge! It would be very cool to bring this to southern West Virginia.
CJ: While nothing is set in stone, setting up a shop in the NRG area would be a dream. We envision the Almost Heaven Classic as a destination trip. So, it would be incredible to attract participants to the most iconic parts of the state....sooooo, if you happen to know anyone who can assist us in achieving this goal, we would greatly appreciate it.