Do you believe in ghosts? If so, you might be interested to see where in West Virginia you might find one. Here are 10 of your best bets.
- Droop Mountain Battlefield
Sonja/flickr November 6, 1863 was a terrible day for Confederate soldiers here. Many died in this spot, which is now commemorated as a state park. Visit during dusk and you might hear the thundering hoofs of horses…and see a headless man, dressed in a Confederate uniform.
- Blennerhassett Mansion
Josh/flickr Harman and Margaret Blennerhassett built their mansion on Blennerhassett Island in 1800. Margaret gave birth to a baby girl there, who died when she was two years old. The Blennerhassetts buried their daughter on the grounds. The mansion burned to the ground in 1811, and Margaret died much later in New York City. However, in 1991 a replica mansion was completed and opened to tourists, many who have claimed to see Margaret wandering through the house and grounds. Some say that she’s looking for her daughter’s grave.
- North Bend Rail Trail Tunnel #19
Mike/flickr The tunnels along the North Bend Rail Trail can be pretty creepy, but #19 is amongst the creepiest. You’ll need a headlamp to get through the 1,376-foot long tunnel, which has a curve that blocks out the sunlight. Be aware that you might see a woman dressed in white dress. When this was still a railroad tunnel, many train engineers stopped their trains to avoid the woman, who was standing on the tracks. Hikers and cyclists report seeing her still today.
- Riverview Cemetery, Parkersburg
gsamx/flickr The ghost of an old sea captain is supposedly found wandering through the gravestones in this cemetery. You’ll likely see him right before a storm. He’s always polite, but keeps his distance.
- 22 Mine Road, Near Logan
Doug Kerr/flickr Mamie Thurman, a resident of Logan, went missing in 1932, and her body was found along 22 Mine Road on June 21 of that year. While a local handyman was charged with her murder, many believe that she was actually killed by a prominent town banker, with whom she was having an affair. Her body disappeared, and there is no known gravesite for Mamie. Some say that if you drive this road at night, you’ll see her ghost.
- General Lewis Inn, Lewisburg
Robert B./Trip Advisor The General Lewis Inn was once a home; the building was completed in 1834. A slave was hanged in the area of the home that is now the dining room, and guests and staff report seeing “Reuben” sitting at one of the dining room tables. The Lady in White is said to occupy room 208, where her portrait hangs. She floats above the floor, wearing a Civili War-era gown.
- Boone County Bridge
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/flickr This bridge crosses the Guyandotte River and is supposedly haunted by two small children. People claim to have heard the cries of children, then see a small boy and girl disappear into the trees near the bridge. While no one is sure how these two ghosts came to haunt this place, some think they may have drowned in the river below.
- Whipple Company Store, Scarbro
Coal town guy/Wikimedia This store served the miners of the New River Company Whipple Mine as early as 1890. The store provided everything the miners needed, and its basement even served as the town morgue. Today it operates as a museum, and is said to be haunted by several of the miners who died. Some visitors have even reported seeing the full apparitions of miners here.
- West Virginia State Penitentiary, Moundsville
Tabor Andrew Bain/flickr Said to be the most haunted prison in the United States, the West Virginia State Penitentiary was the site of 94 executions between 1899 to 1859. Prison guards and inmates often reported seeing ghostly figures walking down the halls, and the appearance of a shadow man. The prison closed in 1995, but is now open as a tourist attraction, and visitors still report these ghostly apparitions.
- Lake Shawnee Amusement Park
Dustin/flickr Lake Shawnee Amusement Park was abandoned in 1966, after several people died there. One little girl, who died while riding the swings, is said to still be present on that ride. Visitors report seeing one swing moving on its own; others have seen the little girl standing nearby, wearing a bloody dress.
Have you visited any of these places? If so, do you think they’re haunted? We’d love to hear your comments!
Sonja/flickr
November 6, 1863 was a terrible day for Confederate soldiers here. Many died in this spot, which is now commemorated as a state park. Visit during dusk and you might hear the thundering hoofs of horses…and see a headless man, dressed in a Confederate uniform.
Josh/flickr
Harman and Margaret Blennerhassett built their mansion on Blennerhassett Island in 1800. Margaret gave birth to a baby girl there, who died when she was two years old. The Blennerhassetts buried their daughter on the grounds. The mansion burned to the ground in 1811, and Margaret died much later in New York City. However, in 1991 a replica mansion was completed and opened to tourists, many who have claimed to see Margaret wandering through the house and grounds. Some say that she’s looking for her daughter’s grave.
Mike/flickr
The tunnels along the North Bend Rail Trail can be pretty creepy, but #19 is amongst the creepiest. You’ll need a headlamp to get through the 1,376-foot long tunnel, which has a curve that blocks out the sunlight. Be aware that you might see a woman dressed in white dress. When this was still a railroad tunnel, many train engineers stopped their trains to avoid the woman, who was standing on the tracks. Hikers and cyclists report seeing her still today.
gsamx/flickr
The ghost of an old sea captain is supposedly found wandering through the gravestones in this cemetery. You’ll likely see him right before a storm. He’s always polite, but keeps his distance.
Doug Kerr/flickr
Mamie Thurman, a resident of Logan, went missing in 1932, and her body was found along 22 Mine Road on June 21 of that year. While a local handyman was charged with her murder, many believe that she was actually killed by a prominent town banker, with whom she was having an affair. Her body disappeared, and there is no known gravesite for Mamie. Some say that if you drive this road at night, you’ll see her ghost.
Robert B./Trip Advisor
The General Lewis Inn was once a home; the building was completed in 1834. A slave was hanged in the area of the home that is now the dining room, and guests and staff report seeing “Reuben” sitting at one of the dining room tables. The Lady in White is said to occupy room 208, where her portrait hangs. She floats above the floor, wearing a Civili War-era gown.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/flickr
This bridge crosses the Guyandotte River and is supposedly haunted by two small children. People claim to have heard the cries of children, then see a small boy and girl disappear into the trees near the bridge. While no one is sure how these two ghosts came to haunt this place, some think they may have drowned in the river below.
Coal town guy/Wikimedia
This store served the miners of the New River Company Whipple Mine as early as 1890. The store provided everything the miners needed, and its basement even served as the town morgue. Today it operates as a museum, and is said to be haunted by several of the miners who died. Some visitors have even reported seeing the full apparitions of miners here.
Tabor Andrew Bain/flickr
Said to be the most haunted prison in the United States, the West Virginia State Penitentiary was the site of 94 executions between 1899 to 1859. Prison guards and inmates often reported seeing ghostly figures walking down the halls, and the appearance of a shadow man. The prison closed in 1995, but is now open as a tourist attraction, and visitors still report these ghostly apparitions.
Dustin/flickr
Lake Shawnee Amusement Park was abandoned in 1966, after several people died there. One little girl, who died while riding the swings, is said to still be present on that ride. Visitors report seeing one swing moving on its own; others have seen the little girl standing nearby, wearing a bloody dress.
To see more of West Virginia’s haunted places, take our road trip!
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