The WVU Mountainlair
may have turned half a century old this year, but to students
and alumni the beloved campus gathering place resounds with the
forever-young heartbeat of WVU life.
From 1948, when the student union building was a navy surplus recreation center, to today, when the WVU Mountainlair is recognized as one of the top student unions in the world, hanging out at the Lair has been a shared experience and bond between every WVU student.
During its early years in the former Stadium Loop (now the grassy area below the College of Business and Economics), the Lair in its war surplus building was less than splendorous. But students of that era remember its charmingly informal ambiance.
Despite its utilitarian origin, that Lair offered many diversions and services. It contained a bowling alley and swimming pool, a snack bar, a dance studio, and small meeting rooms.
There were table tennis battles in the gymnasium by day and
dances in the same room, crepe-papered, by night. The Tommy Dorsey
and Duke Ellington orchestras
provided music, as did a host of other great and lesser talents
over two decades.
In 1968, a new three-story, $3 million 
Mountainlair
was built at the current University Avenue location, across from
historic Woodburn Circle. The creation of the new Lair created
new traditions and memories for WVU students.
For some, it was hanging out in the darkened ening Room enjoying a favorite album in multilayered stereo sound. For others it was relaxing in the Blue Tic Tavern with a plastic pitcher of cold beer and live acoustic music to keep scholarly tensions at bay.
The Mountainlair Theater, now the Gluck Theater, gave many their first real taste of nightlife and professional entertainment. In the lower level, game room facilities allowed study-weary students an opportunity to perfect pool, bowling, table tennis, and arcade techniques.
A $4.8 million facelift begun in 1989 gave the Lair its current look and helped it earn a place among the world's top college student unions. This designation was bestowed by the Association of College Unions International, which evaluates student union services and facilities.
Completed in 1991, the renovations added 30,000 square feet
of space to the building, with natural lighting 
and
a completely new front facade. A two-level addition in the Sunken
Gardens replaced the bubbling "wish" fountain, and a
glass-enclosed food court increased seating from 750 to about
1,300.
Four eateries—Wendy's, Sbarro's, Taco Bell, and The Great Wall—now occupy the food court. On the main floor are a convenience store, bakery, ice cream shop, delicatessen, television lounge, copy center, ATM machines, and post office. The Barnes and Noble bookstore and Hatfield's restaurant are popular with students, faculty and staff, and campus visitors.
Some of WVU's 250 student organizations have
offices in the Lair, and an art gallery, outdoor recreation center,
career services center, and computer lab are also among the attractions.
Since 1982, the Lair has been home to campus radio station WWVU-FM,
or U-92 for short.
New programs are increasing the Lair's popularity. It's now home to FallFest, a welcome-back extravaganza held on the first night of the fall semester that features an outdoor concert, cookout, and legal beverages.
Another new program called "Up All Night" has quickly become a weekend favorite of WVU students. It includes special all-night hours, discount prices on bowling and pool, free food, movies, and live music.
—Karen Zeller