For Immediate Release
April 29, 2026
Contact: Leah Smith
Phone: 304-368-1123
Email: leah@marioncvb.com
Website: marioncvb.com
PLEASANT VALLEY, W.V — The award winning West Virginia Pepperoni Roll Trail is celebrating its one year anniversary by adding two new bakeries and a new prize for pepperoni roll lovers.
The Marion County Convention and Visitors Bureau released the WV Pepperoni Roll Trail in April 2025, a special initiative directing folks to visit local bakeries to earn points and collect prizes.
The trail includes original places like Country Club Bakery, Tomaro’s and Colasessano’s. After receiving input from Pepperoni Roll Trail lovers throughout the state, the trail will now include stops in Monroe County and Wood County.
The Dough Ball, located in Gap Mills, offers interesting takes on the classic with modifications like jalapeno dough and when in season, ramp dough.
Located in Parkersburg, JR’s Donut Castle offers a modern traditional roll with softer dough, pepperoni slices and choice of pepper jack cheese and pizza sauce.
“It’s exciting to be on the trail and help make pepperoni rolls even more popular throughout the state and welcome newcomers to try them, too,” Aaron Parsons, owner of JR’s Donut Castle, said.
Once a user has checked into all bakeries on the trail, they will earn an 11 x 14 inch print done by local artist Ben Kolb. Kolb, a Mannington resident, owns Nativibes and teaches art classes. In his personal art, he has used coal as a medium with Appalachian inspiration such as mountaineers, nature, fish and maps. He is the creator of the Great Pepperoni Roll Drop and the artist behind the 200 lb pepperoni roll at the event.
“Adding this new prize is another way we can share more of our culture with people who don’t know much about West Virginia,” Leah Smith, Marion CVB executive director, said. “And it’s a very cool prize for West Virginians who love pepperoni rolls and cryptids.”
The print is unavailable through points collected and is based on location check-ins.
To experience all the variations, travelers and locals can register to participate in the WV Pepperoni Roll Trail online and instantly receive the digital passport via email or text. Once downloaded, visitors can check in to bakeries around the state to earn points and unlock exclusive Pepperoni Roll Trail prizes – including an official sticker, food baggie and lunch tote.
Accessing the Pepperoni Roll Trail Passport is easy
- Navigate to https://marioncvb.com/wv-pepperoni-roll-trail/.
- Register to get your West Virginia Pepperoni Roll Trail Passport by filling out your contact information.
- After signing up, the digital passport for the Pepperoni Roll Trail will be delivered to your phone via text or to the email provided.
- Discover the Italian Appalachian bakeries of West Virginia! Open the passport on your phone, scroll to find the location you’re visiting and check in to mark it off your list.
The trail highlights 17 spicy bakeries across West Virginia. The 18th stop, however, is full of pepperoni, but it is not a bakery. The Great Pepperoni Roll Drop is the only non-bakery on the list. Get double points by attending Mannington’s New Year’s Eve Celebration and watch a massive pepperoni roll drop from the sky at 11:59 p.m. Dec. 31.
The trail won the 2025 Governor’s Award for Regional Tourism Impact at the West Virginia Governor’s Conference on Tourism.
For more information on the WV Pepperoni Roll Trail or to register for a digital passport, visit https://marioncvb.com/wv-pepperoni-roll-trail/.
To give your recommendation on what other pepperoni roll bakeries to include, email info@marioncvb.com.
About the Marion County Convention and Visitors Bureau
The Convention & Visitors Bureau of Marion County, Inc. is a nonprofit marketing organization that develops the area’s tourism industry and advances Marion County as a desirable destination using the area’s vibrant culture, history and natural beauty.