You’ll find West Virginia’s most mesmerizing ghost towns within New River Gorge National Park, where preserved coal-era relics await exploration. Thurmond’s intact buildings once handled more freight than Cincinnati, while Kaymoor challenges you with 821 wooden stairs descending into abandoned mine tunnels. Nuttallburg showcases a complete mining complex with its original conveyor system, and Sewell hides nearly 200 beehive coke ovens deep in Babcock State Park. For something darker, Lake Shawnee‘s rusting amusement park rides sit atop a Native American burial ground, where multiple tragedies have cemented its reputation as America’s most haunted attraction—each location revealing deeper layers of Appalachian industrial history.
Key Takeaways
- Thurmond offers preserved coal-era buildings, active train tracks, and summer ghost hunts within New River Gorge National Park.
- Nuttallburg features an intact coal mining complex with accessible structures, including a 1,385-foot conveyor system from the 1870s.
- Kaymoor requires descending 821 wooden stairs to explore mining ruins, tunnels, and over 200 beehive coke ovens.
- Sewell contains nearly 200 beehive coke ovens accessible via 6 miles of trail through Babcock State Park.
- Lake Shawnee, a haunted former amusement park, attracts paranormal investigators during summer with its tragic history and rusting rides.
Thurmond: A Living Ghost Town in New River Gorge National Park
Tucked along the winding banks of the New River, Thurmond stands frozen in time—a ghost town that refuses to fully surrender to the past. You’ll discover well-preserved facades where coal barons once ruled West Virginia’s richest town, handling more freight than Cincinnati during its 1920s peak. Eighteen train lines thundered through daily, fueling an empire of hotels, saloons, and opportunity.
Today, you’re free to wander through historical preservation at its finest—the National Park Service protects 80% of this railroad relic within New River Gorge National Park. Explore the restored depot, peer into empty banks, and absorb coal camp history through informative signs. The town earned its notorious reputation as the “Dodge City of the East”, where illegal gambling, high-stakes poker, and saloons thrived alongside its booming railroad operations. The infamous Dun Glen Hotel across the river hosted the world’s longest poker game before the building eventually burned down.
Summer brings ghost hunts capitalizing on haunted folklore born from this eerie landscape where active tracks still slice through abandoned dreams.
Nuttallburg: A Preserved Coal Mining Complex Frozen in Time
Rising from the forested slopes of Keeneys Creek, Nuttallburg sprawls across the hillside like an industrial skeleton—its coal tipple, conveyor system, and weathered structures standing as West Virginia’s most intact mining complex. You’ll discover mining history frozen at this 1870 settlement, where John Nuttall’s $1-per-acre gamble created a smokeless coal empire that once housed 342 residents.
The 1,385-foot rope-and-button conveyor—among America’s longest—still stretches beneath encroaching vines, while foundations and empty buildings mark where immigrant and African American miners extracted 171,000 tons annually from the Sewell seam. Thanks to industrial preservation efforts, the National Park Service stabilized this National Register site in 2011, letting you wander freely through abandoned structures that powered factories nationwide until 1958.
Kaymoor: an 821-Stair Journey Into Mining History
Descending 821 wooden stairs into the gorge, you’ll trace the daily commute of 1,500 miners who once walked this same path between Kaymoor Top and the coal seam carved 560 feet above the New River.
Underground tunnels penetrate the canyon wall where horizontal drift mine entrances once swallowed entire shifts. You’ll discover mining artifacts scattered among ruins—the 1930s preparation plant, hoist house, and over 200 beehive coke ovens that glowed like infernal lanterns during World War I.
The cut stone powder house stands defiant against decades of abandonment. This 62-year settlement outlasted most coal towns by decades, and now its skeleton reveals the raw machinery of extraction. Built in 1899 by the L. More Iron Company, the mining operation extracted 14 million tons of coal before closing in 1962.
The double track incline once carried coal down from the mine to the processing facilities, operating continuously until the mine’s final days. Fire consumed most structures in 1960, leaving only these industrial bones within New River Gorge National Park.
Sewell: Hidden Coke Ovens Deep in Babcock State Park
Six miles of trail through Babcock State Park separate you from nearly 200 beehive coke ovens that operated longer than any others in southern West Virginia. These industrial ruins functioned from 1874 to 1956, transforming coal into coke for iron smelting furnaces.
You’ll discover Sewell’s remnants deep within terrain accessible only by determination:
- Seventy intact coke ovens standing along active CSX tracks
- Brick chimneys and stone foundations from vanished buildings
- Larry car tracks and chain conveyors frozen in rust
- Equipment piles documenting decades of extraction
The town existed until 1973, when its last residents departed. The site originated as Bowyer’s Ferry in the 1790s, serving travelers on the Charleston to Lewisburg road before evolving into an industrial center. Coal arrived via the Manns Creek Railroad from nearby Clifftop mines to fuel the coking operations. Now positioned within New River Gorge National Park boundaries, Sewell rewards those willing to bike, hike, or paddle into its isolated location—a genuine escape from civilization into Appalachian industrial archaeology.
Lake Shawnee: America’s Most Haunted Abandoned Amusement Park
While Sewell’s industrial ruins tell stories of labor and coal, Lake Shawnee Amusement Park in Mercer County reveals something far darker—layers of tragedy spanning centuries that earned it recognition as one of America’s most haunted locations.
Lake Shawnee’s centuries of tragedy—from massacre to amusement park deaths—cement its status as one of America’s most haunted places.
You’ll discover land that served as a Native American burial ground for over a thousand years before Mitchell Clay’s 1783 settlement ended in the Clover Bottom Massacre, where Shawnee warriors killed three of his children.
Historical legend transformed into haunted folklore when developer Conley Trigg Snidow Sr. opened his amusement park here in 1926, unknowingly building atop sacred ground.
Multiple child deaths—including drownings and swing ride fatalities—plagued the park until its 1966 closure.
Today, rusting rides stand frozen among overgrown wilderness, drawing paranormal investigators to experience its undeniably eerie atmosphere.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Safety Precautions Should Visitors Take When Exploring Ghost Town Ruins?
You’ll need sturdy boots and caution around unstable structures. Respect historical preservation by staying outside fenced areas, watch for wildlife in overgrown ruins, and always inform someone of your exploration plans before venturing into remote ghost town sites.
Are Guided Tours Available for Any West Virginia Ghost Towns?
Yes, you’ll find guided tours available—ironic, since “ghost towns” here mean haunted *living* historic towns. Tour guide availability spans Shepherdstown, Harpers Ferry, and Charles Town year-round, offering historical preservation through candlelit walks exploring authentic paranormal tales and architecture.
What Is the Best Time of Day to Visit These Locations?
You’ll find early morning visits ideal for beating West Virginia’s summer heat and humidity, while evening tours from 6-8 PM offer authentic paranormal experiences. Sunset photography captures hauntingly beautiful abandoned structures before darkness reveals their ghostly secrets.
Do I Need Special Permits to Access Ghost Towns in National Parks?
You won’t need special permits for basic ghost town exploration in New River Gorge National Park—it’s free to enter. However, if you’re planning commercial activities or organized group events, park regulations require Special Use Permits with proper authorization.
Are These Ghost Town Sites Suitable for Young Children to Visit?
Thurmond’s historical preservation makes it perfect for young explorers with photography opportunities at every turn. Trans-Allegheny offers kid-friendly tours. However, avoid Nuttallburg’s climbing hazards and Lake Shawnee’s unsettling atmosphere when traveling with little ones.
References
- https://wvtourism.com/west-virginia-paranormal-trail/
- https://visitmercercounty.com/lake-shawnee/
- https://wvexplorer.com/2025/10/19/ghost-towns-in-southern-west-virginia/
- https://wvtourism.com/5-wv-ghost-towns/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIKh2MuA-gY
- https://minskysabandoned.com/2015/07/30/west-virginia-ghost-towns-part-1-nuttallburg/
- https://aceraft.com/2021/07/20/campout-in-a-real-ghost-town/
- https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g59586-d2708213-Reviews-Thurmond_Depot-Thurmond_West_Virginia.html
- https://www.legendsofamerica.com/thurmond-west-virginia/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBKOIRxeNX0
