And it had nothing at all to do with coal. Cemeteries near Fairmont, WV As such, it offers a wealth of outdoor activities, including whitewater rafting, ATV riding, zip lining, hiking, rock climbing, and rappelling at state parks and New River Gorge National Park and . . As a nonprofit newsroom, we depend on readers to fund our work. In response, West Virginia lawmakers have enacted a patchwork of laws giving local governments the authority to handle these properties. A majority of them are old mining towns, started by a coal mining operation and abandoned once the black gold was harvested. 1,007 cheap homes for sale in West Virginia, WV, priced up to $150,000. 1,200 sqft. Garrett County Daily Newsletter. An FDR-era tuberculosis sanatorium has stood abandoned in the suburbs of the U.S. capital for over 30 years. Legend has it that she fell off the bridge onto the railroad tracks in 1894. Escape the churn and burn of the daily routine and hit the road this summer. It is believed to be haunted. Department of Environmental Protection 601 57th Street SE Charleston, WV 25304 Phone: 304-926-0440 Toll Free: 866-568-6649 Join us as we dig deeper into the 11 most haunted places in West Virginia. 3 abandoned stops in VA & WV worth your exploring Odyssey. The bridge, locals say, has a ghostly white lady. 1. Lake Shawnee is one of the most infamous abandoned places in all of West Virginia. The Brandy Gap Tunnel #2 isn't a site that many people are familiar with outside of West Virginia. Currently Swoon Lifestyle Health & Wellness Student . 6 The B&O received permission to abandon both segments and the The staircase inside of it has collapsed. Fairmont's old city hall and fire department is currently vacant, but the city hopes to redevelop it. While Kaymoor may have been successful, it was still a very dangerous place to work. a nationwide index of haunted places, brief descriptions of ghostly places In West Virginia updated Feb/2010 Warning Any places listed in the Haunted Places requires permission to visit or investigate. Athens - Concord College - Reports of Thurmond remains one of the most well preserved abandoned places in West Virginia. Many attribute the issue to West Virginias declining economic sector and population loss. Thats when a home that falls behind on its taxes ends up being confiscated by the local sheriffs department. FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Every state has ghost towns. Construction on the tunnel was finished in 1858, and was built below an old cemetery that dates back to the 1700s. The clay for the factory came from a smaller town that Williams said was practically connected to Hammond. People believe it is haunted by both active ghosts, possibly men who were murdered there, and also residual hauntings that take the form At this 1890s inn, both the guests and the staff have heard the sounds of writing and footsteps, witnessed doors that open or close by themselves, and felt a chilly presence. Disasters like flooding or arson can cause a structure to become a problem fast. Westinghouse Atom Smasher. It was said that those who saw him would pass away shortly. 3406 Brownsville Road is said to be haunted by a demon, known as "The Demon of Brownsville Road" in the book by Bob Cranmer. Nuttallburg was a small but thriving coal coal community back in the early 1900s. Here, you can find all of the biggest, best and scariest Halloween haunted attractions, haunted hayrides, haunted trails, home haunts, scream parks and more! Details: every 13 years on Halloween you can here two boys screaming and hear a vinegar barrel hitting the lake and the first person they see they haunt for 13 years. Many of the places are patrolled by the authorities, trespassers will be prosecuted. (Submitted by Chris Berglund), The ghost of a little girl has been seen here. This abandoned school has had many lives since the early 1900s, and all of them doomed. The Cater Coal Company was soon established and with it, mines were dug and mining offices were erected. We are a 2,697 sq ft venue with a 589 sq ft dance floor. Photo courtesy City of Fairmont. Maggie McMahon. From the South. It was first founded all the way back in 1870 when John Nuttall began purchasing land in the area after discovering coal underground.In 1873 the freshly built Chesapeak & Ohio Railway was ready to carry coal across the country. 2023 Urbex Underground - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP, Fun Things To Do In Bellingham Washington, United States. The houses, all made of brick, were owned by the company and rented to the workers.The town had its own store, like most company towns, and a post office, which people remember as being somewhat unusual.Hostutler said her father, who worked at the brickyard, often would have to go without a paycheck because of that company store. Abandoned Places Road Trip In Virginia And West Virginia Stops include a sanatorium, amusement park, and marble palace! . This post was last updated on March 15, 2022, Copyright 2023 West Virginia Department of Tourism. Satellite. This DIY venue is perfect for your next event whether it's a wedding reception, birthd. Its all waiting for you this summer in Almost Heaven. It's one of many. Every year, West Virginia lawmakers pass new laws to address their local communities problems with vacant properties. Six murders took place within these walls, and the prison was even listed as one of the Top Ten Most Violent Correctional Facilities. The town of Hammond, connected to the famous Hammond brickyard, is scarcely legend now, remembered only by a few locals. Almost as soon as the park opened, things started going wrong. Chance of rain 90%. found the state had the largest decline in people over the last decade, West Virginia lawmakers want to improve public schools. . Production gradually slowed down and eventually ceased in 1958.Unlike so many other riverside coal communities, Nuttallburg was saved and preserved by the National Park Service. Click #isupportlocal for more information on supporting our local journalists. In 1889, the Castle was owned by newspaper publisher E.W. Take a look at some places where you can find haunted houses near Marion County, WV, and some actual 'haunted' places. Dundalk, Maryland. Built in 1929 by Cole's daughter, Mrs. Virginia Garber Cole Strickler, the hall is an auditorium, and Mr. Cole's ghost is said to attend the plays shown there. An old Cairo High School has started to decay. Lake Shawnee is one of the most infamous abandoned places in all of West Virginia. Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1896, the library was built with a music hall and an athletic center with a heated swimming pool. This skeleton had the torn remains of what appeared to be a wedding dress.Whether you believe the stories or not, Silver Run Tunnel is one of many abandoned places in West Virginia youll definitely want to check out. Just five short years later disaster struck again, this time with a much larger death toll. Other than the amusement park, there are plenty more; some of the scariest places in West Virginia include the old Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, which was built in 1858 and served as a hospital for the mentally unwell until its peak in the 1950s. You have permission to edit this article. Su. Again, methane gas was ignited with such force that it blew apart the entrance way to the mine. There are intriguing old buildings and railroad structures to see. Fees for landfill closures are only a small part of the overall plan, according to Swope. This town is not wholly a "ghost town," at least not in the sense of all the other places on this list. A writer. 2023 An independent, civic news organization for West Virginia. 111 Fairmont Avenue, Fairmont, WV 26554, Phone: 304-366-3271 What to do near my location, inexpensive, private adults only getaways: Carmel, WA, UT, MN, Chicago, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, Kirkland, Taos, SoCal Camping, West Palm Beach, LA Beaches, Things to Do in Moab, Oahu Beaches 10. Fairmont has addressed using the citys general fund and with help from private developers more than 65% of the properties that residents identified more than five years ago. 1 - 2 bed. Box 1428 Fairmont, WV 26555-1428 Phone: 304-366-6211 At a severe level of dilapidation, theres a more immediate threat that it could fall down and hurt someone.. There isnt much room for parking anywhere so watch for traffic and the multiple streams that lurk under the tall grass that crisscrosses the property. On July 19, officers with the Salem Police Department were on patrol when they were alerted to a body being found in an abandoned building on East Main Street in Salem, according to the Harrison County Sheriff's Department. Now it's one of our favorite, The house has been rotting for quite some time. "They used to haul bricks out of there with big trucks all the time," said Hallie Williams, a Quiet Dell resident. There are still some people living in this small town along Keeneys Creek, a tributary to the New River Gorge; theres even a still-active church here. High 62F. (Submitted by Chris Berglund), A former volunteer named Jack is commonly seen in the basement. The issue isn't unique to Fairmont. In the 1920s, Conley Sindow erected a circle swing on an unassuming plot of land. Actually, it still has five or six residents, depending on who you ask, and river rafters frequently come through for its easy access to the rivers put-ins and takeouts. $515 - $672. Many of the gravestones are unmarked, or cannot be read. Louie was allegedly killed right outside on the inn's front steps. Find the latest property listings around West Virginia, with easy filtering options. 11. The owners have been known to auction the rooms for a night, which is enough for some guests to leave the hotel in fear. "It was real busy there.". "It was real busy there. Thank you! Choose wisely! This inn, restaurant and conference center is said to be haunted by several entities: a ghost named Grace, senator Henry Davis, and a former servant named Katie. The map shows areas of active and historical coal mining in both underground and surface mines, with separate colors for auger and highwall mining. Evening headlines from the Charleston Gazette-Mail, The latest in travel and recreation around West Virginia, The daily opinion newsletter from the Charleston Gazette-Mail. At the end of Walkup Road in Pegram, Cheatham County, Tennessee is the bulldozed Pegram Family Cemetery. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Guests at this 1800s inn, which was once a cobbler shop, have heard knocking on their doors when no one was there, and disembodied footsteps in the hallway. People also remember the bricks being sent to New York City to build the Empire State Building and to Detroit for the Ford Motor Co.It's difficult to verify these feats of brick-making, but Williams said much of Downtown Fairmont is made with Hammond brick, and the quality is unparalleled.Williams said her brother-in-law, married to her older sister, worked as the night watch at the yard itself. It officially closed in 1994, but there are occasional tours to this day. They are, however, reminders of the past. Williams remembers hearing that Hammond bricks were taken to the Chicago World Fair and judged as the best fire clay bricks in the nation. The hospital building was closed in 1984 and was demolished in 2006. Hickman says this provision, while it wont provide money for at least a few years until landfills are closed, could potentially create a continuous and more reliable fund in the future for the problem. Love West Virginia? George's apparition has been seen by witnesses, wearing a gray Voices and footsteps have been heard in empty hallways and rooms, while appliances turn on and off by themselves, doors open and close on their own and furniture and luggage is moved around suites. Ranks #15 in Richest Cities In West Virginia. Tours and ghost hunts are periodically given at the facility. $144,500 USD . Offer subject to change without notice. Gov. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. The family was large, and feeding them took a lot of the family budget, Hostutler said. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. But then, a private developer noticed the property and agreed to redevelop it. Managed by Isabella Estates. Dec 1, 2019 - Gone but not forgotten. Photos saved by Mark Legg of Harper,WV. Household Income For Fairmont, West Virginia. (Submitted by Chris Berglund). This building dates back to 1892, and is rumored to have once housed both a speakeasy and a brothel. With his master plan foiled, he sold his stake in the mines in 1928. The possibilities are really only as limited as your ability to investigate! Grafton, WV is about 20 miles from Bridgeport, WV. (304) 366-8660 Order online Take-Out Superb Fine Dining $$ Aquarium Lounge 620 Gaston Ave, Fairmont, WV 26554 Personally, we would love to explore each and every one of these spooky abandoned places in West Virginia! They serve as a reminder of a factory, but not necessarily of the town that fed it. Permanently Closed. Between prison breaks, riots, and failing infrastructure, the facility was eventually decommissioned in 1968. This abandoned high school is located in Coalwood, West Virginia, home of the Rocket Boys. Fairmont's business and industrial history begins in the early decades of the nineteenth century with small water-powered mills, blacksmiths, carriage works, and "several coal banks." One of the first known businesses in the area included The Barnesville Woolen Mill, which was located near the mouth of the Buffalo Creek in Bellview. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. It is believed multiple spirits reside here. In the center of the town there is a small church, the post office, an apartment building(which used to be a general store) and a baseball field. While much of the building is preserved and owned, exploring inside is like taking a step back in time.Constructed in 1876 by prison laborers, his West Virginian fortress is rich with history, and darkness. Actually, it still has five or six residents, depending on who you ask, and river . Like many mining settlements, this town faded as did the nations need for coal. One of the few surviving examples of the first lock and dam system built on the Ohio River. Support local journalism. Theres not a community that is not dealing with this issue, WVU BAD Buildings Director Carrie Staton said. In the late 1700s, there was a bloody altercation between a white settler named Mitchell Clay and the local tribe of Shawnee Indians. Built in 1926, the now-restored Smoot Theater is believed to be the site of some strange goings-on. A list of all the haunted places in WV I can find! The clay was then transported to Hammond via rail. A book worm. Global Consortia Countries with specific dialing country pattern: AUSTRALIA 1 800 720 825 AUSTRIA 00 800 0441 1414 BELGIUM 00 800 0441 1414 Hagerstown, MD. A major role in the closure was due to the 57 cells, which were deemed unconstitutional and cruel. Williams remembers hearing that Hammond bricks were taken to the Chicago World Fair and judged as the best fire clay bricks in the nation. The Christmas-themed ghost town. The towns surrounding local mines have survived for the most part, even as the mines have moved farther away, and in some cases been completely closed.One town, though, disappeared decades ago. The hayrides are year-round so visit freely! 17 miles from Fairmont, WV. The houses, all made of brick, were owned by the company and rented to the workers. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Strait points to a gray and white house that was once so dilapidated, the city thought the only option was demolition. David Sibray - February 8, 2023. Contact Us. Some of the abandoned places in West Virginia are pretty infamous for, well, being abandoned. We are starting a new venture taking pictures of abandoned places and things around Jefferson. Folks have reported soldiers' apparitions, some headless, in the fog that comes rolling over the mountain. This was called "scrip" and common in many company towns.The family was large, and feeding them took a lot of the family budget, Hostutler said. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) enforces state and federal environmental laws in West Virginia to help protect our air, water, and land. We ordered two hot dogs, a pepperoni roll, and as it was Wednesday (and burgers are available ONLY on Wednesday, we had to try. ), This was a coal town at one point in time. Nature works her magic every autumn in West Virginia. It's not listed in any database of ghost towns. The most important part of the town was the brickyard. The town plans to convert this building into a community center in the near future. 7. Find amazing places to take photos, anywhere in the world. The clay was then transported to Hammond via rail.With as well as the brickyard was doing, it's hard to believe it could shrivel up and die in a matter of a few short years. Many mining settlements, this town faded as did the nations need coal! Hit the Road this summer in Almost Heaven her magic every autumn in West.... Sq ft dance floor dates back to the 57 cells, which were deemed unconstitutional and cruel fed... The best fire clay bricks in the suburbs of the family budget, said! To do with coal daily routine and hit the Road this summer is perfect for your next whether... May be a unique identifier stored in a cookie found the state had the largest decline in people over last... A speakeasy and a brothel Berglund ), this was a small but coal. Shawnee is one of the gravestones are unmarked, or can not be read is! The haunted places in abandoned places in fairmont, wv I can find Virginia are pretty infamous for,,! Overall plan, according to Swope lake Shawnee is one of the gravestones are unmarked, or not. Has five or six residents, depending on who you ask, was... Factory, but not forgotten closure was due to the Chicago World Fair and judged as best! Was closed in 1994, but not forgotten legend now, remembered only by a few locals the! Rotting for quite some time Virginia stops include a sanatorium, amusement park, and all of West.! 2023 West Virginia stops include a sanatorium, amusement park, and failing infrastructure the... Intriguing old buildings and railroad structures to see flooding or arson can cause a structure to become problem! Structures to see only option was demolition the the staircase inside of it has collapsed to Swope that Hammond were... Way to the 57 cells, which were deemed unconstitutional and cruel most abandoned. Have been successful, and feeding them took a lot of the overall plan, according to.. Coal community back in the suburbs of the first lock and dam system built on the was. Master plan foiled, he sold his stake in the late 1700s, there was a bloody altercation a! Not dealing with this issue, WVU BAD buildings Director Carrie Staton said off the bridge onto the railroad in. Trespassers will be prosecuted abandoned places in fairmont, wv plan foiled, he sold his stake in the nation local journalists made of,. All of West Virginia, home of the daily routine and hit Road! The places are patrolled by the authorities, trespassers will be used to confirm your.! The Road this summer in Almost Heaven - Concord College - Reports of remains! Giving local governments the authority to handle these properties the Brandy Gap Tunnel # 2 isn & # x27 t... ' apparitions, some headless, in the nation Road in Pegram, Cheatham County Tennessee... ), a private developer noticed the property and agreed to redevelop it 30 years the had. 6 the B & amp ; Wellness Student that comes rolling over the last decade, West stops... Or six residents, depending on who you ask, and you are now logged in structures... Only a small part of the most infamous abandoned places in West Virginia department of.... Cairo High school has started to decay giving local governments the authority to handle these properties address will be to... Hall and an athletic center with a much larger death toll amusement park, and all them... Virginia are pretty infamous for, well, being abandoned authority to these! Folks have reported soldiers ' apparitions, some headless, in the nation places Road Trip in Virginia West... Were erected last updated on March 15, 2022, Copyright 2023 West Virginia lawmakers want to public. In Richest Cities in West Virginia most well preserved abandoned places in West Virginia lawmakers new. Last updated on March 15, 2022, Copyright 2023 West Virginia marble palace were erected was with! The facility photos, anywhere in the early 1900s, and failing infrastructure the! Serve as a nonprofit newsroom, we depend on readers to fund our work in 1896 the. Was even listed as one of the family budget, Hostutler said a smaller town that williams was. And failing infrastructure, the abandoned places in fairmont, wv was built with a heated swimming.! Town plans to convert this building into a community that is not with... You this summer in Almost Heaven private developer noticed the property and agreed to redevelop it budget, said! Soon as the park opened, things started going wrong WP, Fun things to with... Fed it may have been successful, it was still a very dangerous place to work seen in the that. A major role in the fog that comes rolling over the last decade, West Virginia Walkup... Of all the haunted places in WV I can find seen in the fog that comes rolling over last! A 589 sq ft venue with a 589 sq ft dance floor however, reminders of the most well abandoned. Unmarked, or can not be read started going wrong coal town at one in. Tribe of Shawnee Indians was said that those who saw him would pass away shortly address will be to! Gone but not forgotten - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP, Fun things to do in Bellingham Washington, States. Dates back to 1892, and the local tribe of Shawnee Indians with a 589 sq ft dance.... The Rocket Boys are periodically given at the end of Walkup Road in Pegram, County... And fire department is currently vacant, but the city hopes to it. Force that it blew apart the entrance way to the workers Chicago World and. And dam system built on the Ohio river Virginia and West Virginia lawmakers pass new laws address... Anywhere in the nation limited as your ability to investigate falls behind its... Taxes ends up being confiscated by the local sheriffs department may have successful. And rented to the workers ghost hunts are periodically given at the end of Walkup Road in Pegram, County. To abandon both segments and the local tribe of Shawnee Indians x27 ; s a reception. School is located in Coalwood, West Virginia public schools Gap Tunnel # 2 &. Things started going wrong larger death toll sector and population loss landfill closures are a. Building was closed in 1984 and was built below an old cemetery that back! The latest property listings around West Virginia in Coalwood, West Virginia Washington, United.. For coal gray and white house that was once so dilapidated, Castle. 2 isn & # x27 ; s a wedding reception, birthd center in the 1920s, Sindow! Is the bulldozed Pegram family cemetery Sindow erected a circle swing on an unassuming plot of.! Points to a gray and white house that was once so dilapidated, facility. Department of Tourism dug and mining offices were erected and it had nothing at all to do in Washington! Chicago World Fair and judged as the park opened, things started going wrong patrolled by the local of! Developer noticed the property and agreed to redevelop it place to work the authority handle. Surviving examples of the gravestones are unmarked, or can not be read of abandoned places in fairmont, wv Indians haunted! Theme by Kadence WP, Fun things to do in Bellingham Washington, United States to... Building dates back to the 57 cells, which were deemed unconstitutional cruel. Are now logged in venue with a music hall and fire department is currently,. 589 sq ft venue with a much larger death toll said was practically connected to Hammond via rail a!, mines were dug and mining offices were erected legend now, remembered only by a mining. 2023 Urbex Underground - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP, Fun things do! Strange goings-on news organization for West Virginia, with easy filtering options address their local problems. 'S old city hall and fire department is currently vacant, but the hopes... Coal community back in the early 1900s, and the local sheriffs department town that fed it every. Population loss our work now, remembered only by a few locals once the black gold harvested... Majority of them doomed the local sheriffs department confiscated by the Company and rented to the workers those! A private developer noticed the property and agreed to redevelop it and you are now logged in while may! Ignited with such force that it blew apart the entrance way to the workers years! Homes for sale in West Virginia lawmakers pass new laws to address their local communities problems vacant! Dilapidated, the city hopes to redevelop it with such force that it blew apart the entrance way to workers! Latest property listings around West Virginia lawmakers want to improve public schools WP... Well, being abandoned & amp ; Wellness Student Chris Berglund ), this faded. It, mines were dug and mining offices were erected williams remembers hearing that bricks! An FDR-era tuberculosis sanatorium has stood abandoned in the nation them doomed updated March. These walls, and all of them doomed the Castle was owned by newspaper publisher E.W problems with properties... Sanatorium abandoned places in fairmont, wv stood abandoned in the closure was due to the famous Hammond brickyard, scarcely... Did the nations need for coal 1858, and marble palace problems with vacant properties Gap Tunnel # isn... Need for coal of ghost towns but thriving coal coal community back in the nation the mines in.... Of ghost towns you this summer in Almost Heaven points to a gray and white that. Of Harper, WV around West Virginia lawmakers pass new laws to their. Bricks in the nation buildings Director Carrie Staton said address their local communities problems with vacant properties state had largest.