Ever since I was a child, I've been fascinated by abandoned places. In my neighborhood, there was an abandoned barn where my sister and I would spend time playing. Surprisingly, the shabby exterior wasn't creepy enough to deter two kids from going inside and checking things out. Old tools and other items littered the interior, and we loved it! Abandoned places may be long forgotten to some but are utterly beguiling to others, especially if you're into urban exploration like I am. If you've ever been to Wheeling, West Virginia, perhaps you've visited the intriguing abandoned castle that's been left to decay for nearly a century. Mount Wood Castle has a fascinating story behind it and I am certain you'll want to see it in person one day.

If you love creepy content, Only In Your State’s Vacant series – which partners with talented photographer Johnny Joo – explores a dozen other fascinating abandoned places just waiting to be discovered. 

Editor’s Note: Due to the nature of abandoned destinations, many of the places featured in this series are off-limits to visitors or have actually been demolished. We do not condone trespassing and other illegal activity but rather encourage readers to enjoy learning about these fascinating destinations. 

To give a little background on Wheeling, West Virginia, it is home to Fort Henry and was founded in 1769. By 1795, it was established as a town, and in 1818, the National Road brought commerce to Wheeling. Due to its location on the Ohio River, Wheeling also became a popular trading route stop in the 1880s.

As you can probably tell, Wheeling is quite a historic town. Like most historic towns, there are preserved and not-so-preserved remnants of the past. For preserved historic sites, there's Mt. Wood Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in town, established in 1848. Overlooking Wheeling Creek Valley and the Ohio River Valley, it's the perfect spot for scenic views. In 2013, Mt. Wood Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Across from Mt. Wood Cemetery are the mysterious remains of a home that was never fully built and a dream that was never fully realized. Construction of what's now known as the Mt. Wood Castle began in 1921 and it was to be the home of Dr. Andrew Jackson Harness and his wife and two daughters.

Harness was a doctor who was completely devoted to his patients. No plan for the home was ever drawn up but it's surmised that the home would have been both a residence to the Harness family and a live-in clinic for patients once completed. However, we will never really know.

In 1925, construction on the stately home ceased when Dr. Harness was arrested. His crime? Illegally selling narcotics cocaine and morphine to a couple of patients. These patients claimed to be in dire straits and could not afford to obtain these narcotics legally so Harness helped them out, not realizing that his good deed would not go unpunished. In fact, the patients who sought his help were actually undercover narcotics agents set on enforcing the Harrison Narcotics Act of 1915.

With the subsequent imprisonment of Dr. Harness, the Mt. Wood estate was left to the elements. Today, you can visit its crumbling remains, much of which has been vandalized and covered with graffiti over the years. Layer after layer of spray paint has adorned the walls, the stairs, and the floors of a home that was never meant to be finished in the first place. However, efforts are in place to preserve the history of both Mt. Wood Castle and the neighboring cemetery.

Mount Wood Castle is a compelling piece of history in Wheeler, West Virginia, and its crumbling facade is what remains of a home that had so much potential if its construction had been completed. If you plan to take a getaway to Wheeler, WV, consider staying at the Luxe Centre Market 3-Bedroom Rowhouse.

Special thanks to Cleveland-based photographer Johnny Joo of Odd World Studio for the photos used in this article. To discover more creepy and abandoned places, check out his website, Architectural Afterlife.