Take A Thrilling Road Trip To The 7 Most Abandoned Places In West Virginia
Abandoned places intrigue us with their sad histories and hidden stories. Here’s where to find some fascinating abandoned places in West Virginia. Some are slowly returning to nature, so visit soon before they are lost forever.
Some of the locations on this list are on private property. As always, use caution around ruined buildings and be safe, and also get permission before entering any buildings on private property. It’s exciting to learn all about the abandoned places in West Virginia, but you want to make sure you take proper precautions to experience them at their peak.
Check out our interactive map.






See what it’s like to explore this abandoned amusement park:

Get an in-depth look at the history of Thurmond:

Have you seen any of these abandoned places in West Virginia? Tell us about your experience in the comments.
Some of the creepy places in West Virginia aren’t quite abandoned but are available for tours and ghost hunting. Take a look at West Virginia State Penitentiary or the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.
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Abandoned Places In West Virginia
What are the most famous abandoned places in West Virginia?
The most famous abandoned places in West Virginia include:
- Coalwood Machine Shop
- Point Pleasant TNT Bunkers
- Nuttalburg
- Silver Run Tunnel
- Lake Shawnee Amusement Park
It’s hard to choose the most famous abandoned place in West Virginia since there are truly a number of surreal, abandoned places in the state that you simply have to visit to believe they exist. From the Coalwood machine shop that’s laced with ivy and abandoned to the TNT Bunkers in Point Pleasant where the legendary Mothman has been said to frequent. There’s even a guided tour of the area where it was first sighted! The old coal mining community of Nuttalburg has long since been lost to time, and you simply can’t miss out on experiencing the Silver Run Tunnel in Cairo, where the ghost of Silver Run has been spotted for centuries. Even the Lake Shawnee Amusement Park in Princeton is haunted after a handful of accidental deaths shuttered the park for good in 1966. It’s since become an eerie ode to a time gone by, and you might even hear the distant laugh of children if you visit. Creepy!
Learn about these and more of the most famous abandoned places in West Virginia.
What is the most haunted place in West Virginia?
The most haunted place in West Virginia is the Lake Shawnee Amusement Park.
Although it is questionable whether it’s the most haunted place in a state that’s full of ghosts, the Lake Shawnee Amusement Park is considered an eerie place to visit. The land itself has a dark story, with two children murdered and one burned at the stake on the Clay property. Conley T. Snidow purchased the land and built the Lake Shawnee Amusement Park, but when six people died on the rides it ultimately had to close. It remains one of the eeriest abandoned places in West Virginia, and locals claim that the property is haunted by the children that once used to wander the rides in search of a bit of fun. Before they realized it was deadly, of course. It’s been featured as one of the Travel Channel’s Most Terrifying Places in America, and some even consider it one of the most haunted places in the world.
Discover more about the most haunted place in West Virginia.
Can I go ghost hunting in West Virginia?
Yes, you can go ghost hunting in West Virginia at the West Virginia Penitentiary Ghost Hunt
Overnight investigations are a must for ghost hunters in West Virginia, and the West Virginia Penitentiary Ghost Hunt with Ghosts N’at is perhaps one of the best opportunities to do so. This innovative travel company will lead you through the West Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville, a location featured by Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures, and you’ll spend the night amidst the haunted. Eerie!
Find out more about ghost hunting in West Virginia.