Secret Places In West Virginia!
Unveiling The Mysteries Of Secret Places In West Virginia!
West Virginia has some rich stories. Most of the beautiful secret places in West Virginia are abandoned now. West Virginia is highly underrated for visiting!
West Virginia seems to welcome visitors but doesn’t over-actively promote tourism because they don’t want too many visitors spoiling what West Virginians have- tranquillity.
Their forests are like fluffy, green cotton balls. Of course, you can’t touch on all the wonders of this state. It’s like a hidden, mysterious state. Yup! Almost heaven.
Whether you are a history buff or an outdoor enthusiast, here are some must-visit destinations you should check out. Let’s jump right into the secret places in West Virginia.
Thurmond Ghost Town
It was a railroad town. It was the only actual railroad in the New River Gorge. Thurmond is legit, too. There are homes nearby, but the main strip is more or less abandoned. It’s an old-fashioned town.
It’s nearly like a historical museum. Thurmond was a classic boom town during the first few decades of the 1900s. With the massive amount of coal from area mines, it had the most considerable revenue on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.
When the railroad switched to diesel engines in the 1950s, demand for steam engines decreased. Combined with a reduction in coal, Thurmond went into significant decline. After that, all the hotels, stores, movie theatres and other commercial businesses eventually folded and were abandoned.
If you like the paranormal, spooky stuff, check out this place soon. Please let me know if you see any ghosts I missed while visiting Thurmond!
Featured Hotels near Thurmond Ghost Town
Lake Shawnee Amusement Park
This mystical abandoned place is a private property that you must book a tour. Chris White, the current keeper of the Lake Shawnee, purchased this property in 1985. He intended to open it as an amusement park.
It is said by the locals that children drowned in the lake. You can also find a cement swimming pond here; children have drowned in it, too. I don’t know how paranormal this place is. People come down here to investigate and explore and see if they can see something different.
Some places in the park left me feeling that there might be something happening that is hard to explain.
Discover the lake. I hope you won’t meet any ghosts or zombies all alone.
Flights to West Virginia
West Virginia Penitentiary
It is located off Jefferson Avenue in Moundsville, West Virginia. It is a historic prison turned a tourist attraction and law enforcement training facility with mock riot drills while offering tours, events, and even attractions of paranormal variety.
Nearly a thousand deaths were on site, and not surprisingly, reports of haunted activity began while the prison was still in operation. Inmates and guards trade stories of disembodied whispers, footsteps from empty halls, phantom sounds of keys jingling and extreme temperature fluctuations.
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
I visit this place every Halloween. This place is also known as Weston State Hospital. The central building is claimed to be the largest hand-cut masonry structure in the US.
I went to one room where a man killed another man with a bedpost by jumping up and down on the bed. Somebody grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back as I left that room. I turned back to my mom and asked if she touched me.
The thing is, she didn’t; she was far behind me. I get a weird feeling around me whenever I go into that room. Is there a story behind why the ghosts are there in secret places?
There is a child area of the asylum and a room full of toys. At that place, my mom said she saw a ball spin in circles in the room. But there were no windows open and also no draft. I recommend going there to explore spooky places. It was exciting.
They also have a haunted house every year at Halloween.
Nuttallburg
The Nuttallburg coal mine belonged to Henry Ford. It is located in the New River Gorge National River in Fayette. The new river is rugged white water flowing northward through the deep canyons.
You must ascend off the beaten path on a narrow, winding Keeny Creek road. The road dead ends into a tiny parking lot at Nuttallburg. It features a tipple where coal is sorted before being loaded into rail cars.
While walking, you will find remains of old structures, such as several stone foundations where homes used to be constructed. Along with the ovens, these areas also have many other visible structures from past coal mining.
It is in such good shape because it has been restored now to a federal park.
Spruce Knob
The main overlook has a breathtaking view. The view from the highest point in Riverton, West Virginia, is stunning. The layers of rock, green trees, rolling mountains and blue sky with clouds are undoubtedly worth the climb.
You can imagine the aroma of all those pine trees while hiking through the woods. That must have been nice to smell. Flat rocks are unique. If you want to see how different backpacking West Virginia can be, check out the Huckleberry, Lumberjack and Seneca trails and do some section hikes.
Mystery Hole
It’s supposed to be a magical place located in Ansted. In 1973, Donald Wilson opened this place to the public. It is forbidden to take videos or pictures when you reach their doorstep.
It’s probably the best-kept secret in West Virginia. It is said that the underground area of this place works against the rule of gravity. You will stand there in a slant position.
Pieces of Furniture can stand there on an impossible surface, creating an optical illusion. You will find a gift shop which is pained with most bright colours. If you are included, people with heart problems, seizures, balance issues or vertigo are not allowed to enter. Be prepared for an exceptional experience.
Featured Hotels near Mystery Hole
Harpers Ferry
John Brown Fort is the best historical place to know American history. It was built as a fire engine house to fight against slavery in the Civil War.
I forgot to mention a beautiful, haunted ruin at Hasper’s Ferry, The Hill Top Hotel. It was built in the early 1800S and visited by presidents. It sits in ruins today high above the town.
Blackwater Falls State Park
It looks more beautiful on a bright sunny day. It is a breathtakingly beautiful waterfall, and a well-maintained park with disabled access to the falls, too, is a plus. This might be the place to check out with the hubs and kids. Before visiting this place, please note that it is only open from April to October. So, don’t forget to keep it on your bucket list this autumn.
Mothman Museum
I have always been intrigued by the Mothman stories. I have a Mothman T-shirt too. You will find an ornate statue outside the museum that is over 12 feet tall. The inhabitants of Point Pleasant once reported they had seen a man flying overhead with big red glowing eyes and a giant wing resembling a moth.
It reminds you of the creature from the horror film Jeepers Creeper. You can also get the original movie “ The Mothman Prophecies”. You can find newspaper cuttings, artwork, and dummies in this museum.
These are the secret places in West Virginia on my list to explore. I think out of all of these, Spruce Knob is my favourite. I remember going there every spring with my girls’ scout troop and collecting cooling rocks.
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