West Virginia is a treasure trove for fans of the creepy and macabre, offering numerous haunted sites, eerie legends, and paranormal hotspots. Here are 11 must-visit places in the Mountain State:
1. Lake Shawnee Amusement Park (Rock)
This abandoned amusement park is infamous for its tragic history, including fatal accidents and Native American conflicts in the late 1700s. Visitors have reported seeing ghosts, including a little girl in a pink dress near the rusted Ferris wheel. Paranormal tours are available.
2. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (Weston)
This Civil War-era Gothic asylum housed thousands of patients under grim conditions before closing in 1994. Today, it offers ghost tours where visitors may encounter spirits of former patients wandering its corridors.
3. West Virginia Penitentiary (Moundsville)
One of America’s most haunted prisons, this site saw riots, fires, and nearly 100 executions during its operation. Visitors report sightings of phantom inmates and unexplained cold spots. Overnight ghost-hunting sessions are available for the brave.
4. Point Pleasant and the Legend of Mothman
Point Pleasant is home to the legendary Mothman—a winged cryptid with glowing red eyes first sighted in 1966. The town features a 12-foot Mothman statue and a museum dedicated to the creature’s lore.
5. Silver Run Tunnel (North Bend Rail Trail)
This curved, dark tunnel is said to be haunted by a spectral woman in white who vanishes mysteriously. It’s a chilling spot for hikers and paranormal enthusiasts alike.
6. Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park (Pocahontas County)
The site of West Virginia’s last major Civil War battle is reportedly haunted by ghostly soldiers, including a headless Confederate figure. Visitors have also heard eerie cannon fire.
7. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
This historic town is teeming with ghostly tales from the Civil War era, including sightings of soldiers and Screaming Jenny—a fiery apparition on railroad tracks. Evening ghost tours guide visitors through its haunted streets.
8. The Mystery Hole (Ansted)
A quirky roadside attraction with gravity-defying optical illusions, this site has an unsettling atmosphere that intrigues visitors seeking something strange.
9. Haunted Haymond House (Sutton)
This historic house is known for its haunted mirror and sightings of shadowy figures and apparitions. Guests can book overnight stays or tours to explore its eerie halls.
10. Whipple Company Store (Fayette County)
Once central to coal camp life, this building hosts flashlight tours through its spookiest areas, including an embalming room and basement where unexplained noises are common.
11. Lewisburg Ghost Tours
This candlelit walking tour explores Lewisburg’s paranormal hotspots, including the Old Stone Church and General Lewis Inn—both rumored to be haunted by mischievous spirits.
These locations showcase West Virginia’s rich history intertwined with spine-tingling tales that will captivate anyone interested in the creepy and macabre!
Sources:
- https://industry.travelsouthusa.com/five-most-haunted-locations-west-virginia/
- https://www.letsroam.com/explorer/haunted-places-in-west-virginia/
- https://www.worldatlas.com/places/9-of-the-strangest-landmarks-in-west-virginia.html
- https://pocahontascountywv.com/the-paranormal-sites-of-pocahontas-county/
- https://wvpublic.org/paranormal-trail-draws-visitors-to-w-va-with-spooky-attractions/
