Equal parts eerie and fascinating, the ghost town of Thurmond, West Virginia is located in the beautiful New River Gorge National Park. Hit hard by the Great Depression and abandoned by the 1950s, it has been well preserved and it's just waiting for you to explore. The National Park Services maintains around 20 buildings in former coal and rail villages, and you'll want to see every one. To learn more about Thurmond, a ghost town in West Virginia, take a look below.

Paralleling the scenic New River, and nestled within America’s newest national park – New River Gorge National Park, the abandoned town of Thurmond, West Virginia will quickly transport you back in time.

First settled in 1844 by W.D. Thurmond, a surveyor who eventually served in the Confederate Army, the town of Thurmond was incorporated in 1901. A bustling rail town in the early 1900s, Thurmond had the largest revenue on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway with its huge amounts of coal brought in from area mines.

More than 15 passenger trains came through the town each day, and the Thurmond depot serves as many as 75,000 passengers each year. And until 1921, the only way to get in and out of this ghost town in West Virginia was aboard a train.

With the advent of diesel locomotives and less coal coming in from local mines, the town declined, businesses closed, and residents moved on. At the 2020 census, the town’s population was only five, making it the least-populous municipality in West Virginia.

During its heyday, circa 1930, the population of Thurmond was nearly 500. The town was home to two hotels, restaurants, clothing stores, a jewelry store, a movie theater, several dry goods stores, and many other types of businesses. Thurmond's banks were also the richest in the state.

The town continued to thrive through the early decades of the 20th century, but several businesses closed during the Great Depression. Two large fires also wiped out several major businesses.

Today, the National Park Service now owns more than 20 structures around town, and the entire town is a designated historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. The C&O passenger railway depot was renovated in 1995 and functions as a seasonal visitors center for the National Park Service.

As one can imagine, there are reports that Thurmond, West Virginia is haunted. However, we can’t find mention of any specific ghost stories. There's just a "strange presence" that seems to follow you through town. Follow us through Thurmond below.

Have you ever been to the abandoned town of Thurmond, West Virginia? If so, please feel free to share your experience with us in the comments below.

In addition to Thurmond, another ghost town in West Virginia that's worth checking out is Kaymoor. For information about Kaymoor, be sure to take a look at the following article: The Abandoned Small Town Of Kaymoor In West Virginia Is Eerily Beautiful.