Kaymoor WV, also called Kay Moor, was a coal camp that operated from 1899 to 1962. The town was actually built in two sections, Kaymoor Top and Kaymoor Bottom. Most of the remains of the Kaymoor WV ghost town that can be seen today are from Kaymoor Bottom, and it's come to be regarded as one of the most beautiful abandoned towns in West Virginia.
In 1960, most of Kaymoor Bottom was destroyed in a fire, and the mine was closed a couple of years later. The abandoned remains of the town are now owned by the National Park Service.
After a short but intense one-mile hike, you'll find the remains of Kaymoor down a long staircase.
There are 821 steps in all!
Several of the buildings from the coal camp still remain.
This is the Kaymoor Powder House.
This well-preserved building was used to store explosives.
This building was the old coal tipple.
It has since been torn down for safety reasons, but this picture gives a glimpse of the past mining operations.
Old mining equipment can still be seen.
These are the remains of old coal carts.
Perhaps the most chilling remains of this town are the reminders of how dangerous the job was for the workers.
The signs are eerie when you know how difficult it was to work safely, and how many miners lost their lives. In the United States, more than 100,000 coal miners were killed in accidents in the 20th century.
This safety board tracked incidents and provided warnings, but accidents were still frequent in Kaymoor.
Unlike other nearby mines, there were no explosions in Kaymoor, but miners died from roof falls, fires, and electrocutions.
For all the hard work and dangerous conditions, miners weren't even paid entirely in cash.
More than a third of the payment received was in scrip, redeemable only in the company store. Isolated conditions and inflated prices often meant corrupt mining companies could use scrip as another form of control over their workers.
If you visit this old mining town, be aware of your own safety.
Keeping off of the buildings and equipment will not only keep you safe, but also help preserve this part of history for others to see.
Here's a video about Kaymoor WV from West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
To get to the trailhead: From US 19, follow WV 16 south through Fayetteville. Turn left on Gatewood Road (park signs indicate Kaymoor and Cunard). Follow Gatewood Road 2.0 miles, and turn left at the Kaymoor sign (Kaymoor No. 1 Road). Follow this road about one mile to the "T" intersection; turn left. Parking is 50 yards on the right. You'll find the Kaymoor site about a mile down the trail, and the remains of this abandoned town in West Virginia can be reached after descending 821 steps.
Have you ever been to Kaymoor West Virginia? If so, tell us all about your experience in the comments! Are there any other abandoned towns in West Virginia worth visiting? Be sure to nominate them for a chance to see them featured in an upcoming article. If you'd like to see another amazing ghost town in West Virginia, check out the mostly abandoned town of Thurmond. And, if you're planning to drive to any of these places, don't forget to check out our road trip essentials packing list!
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