West Virginia is no stranger to spooky sights. The Mountain State boasts of its haunted happenings. Many of these haunted places are linked to Civil War history or paranormal activity. The places on this list will certainly frighten you—and maybe force you to sleep with one eye open for a bit. Check out the five most haunted places in West Virginia.
5. Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry is a National Historical Park in West Virginia’s eastern panhandle. Best known for its Civil War history and quaint architecture, Harpers Ferry has frequent visitors. For the braver folk, there are evening Ghost Tours where you can learn more about the town’s role in the Civil War. Both visitors and residents alike have claimed to see the ghosts of Civil War soldiers practicing marching drills as well as the abolitionist John Brown. By day, you can enjoy an adorable town. At night, the Civil War ghosts will give you a spooky show. If that sounds like a good time to you, Harpers Ferry is the place to go!
4. E. Moore Hall
Students of West Virginia University are no strangers to this ghostly tale, or perhaps the ghost herself. Elizabeth Moore Hall was constructed between 1926 and 1928. Moore had planned for the building to become an all-girls facility. Many claim that she never left, even after her death, which happened one year before the building opened. Rumor has it that Moore continues to watch after building to this day.
Now, E. Moore Hall is part of West Virginia University. The building currently houses the Dean of Students and the Dance Program in the School of Theatre & Dance. Currently, the front of the building is office space. The back portion, which is over six stories tall despite only having three levels, includes a swimming pool, gym, and dance studio. The faculty housed in E. Moore Hall claim to see her walking down the halls. Once, two students were swimming in the pool and claimed that they saw Elizabeth floating with them in the pool. If you find yourself at the WVU campus, swing by E. Moore Hall and see if you run into the building’s protector.
3. Lake Shawnee Amusement Park
Visiting Lake Shawnee is not for the faint of heart. Local lore insists that the land is cursed. Today, all that remains is an abandoned amusement park in Mercer County. In the late 1700s, the Shawnee Tribe inhabited the land. A bloody debacle between white settler Mitchell Clay and the Shawnee Indians ended in the deaths of three of Clay’s children and several Shawnee warriors.
The land was purchased by Conley T. Snidow in the 1920s, and he decided to turn the area into an amusement park. Over the next several decades, several people died at the park. A young girl died on the swings, and a little boy later drowned in the pond. The park was abandoned in 1966 after multiple deaths. Today, Lake Shawnee Amusement Park is open for paranormal tours. Some say they can hear Native American chants at night. Go see for yourself.
2. West Virginia Penitentiary
Moundsville Prison, also known as the West Virginia Penitentiary, first opened in 1875. The prison is one of the most haunted prisons in the United States. The prison was in operation from 1875 to 1995. Until the mid-20th century, the prison was in good operating condition. In the early 1900s, the prison included a paint shop, wagon shop, brickyard, and hospital. The prison even had a prison coal mine that helped the prison save on energy costs.
However, by the latter half of the twentieth century, things started to get a little dicey. There was a prison break in 1979 and a murderous riot in 1986. In the aftermath, the prison was decommissioned.
Today, the West Virginia Penitentiary is open for tours. Many claim that the prisons’ hauntings date back to the 1930s, but the prison’s dark history lends to many more potential ghost sightings. With over 100 executions, the West Virginia Penitentiary will send a tingle down your spine.
1. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
Hands down, the most terrifying haunted place to visit is the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. The hospital is located Weston, West Virginia. When the hospital was first built, it was supposed to be for the mentally unwell. West Virginia became a state in 1863, which is when the hospital changed its name to “West Virginia Hospital for the Insane.”
The hospital’s name changed several times since it first opened its doors in October 1864. When the hospital opened, there was still construction, which wasn’t officially completed until 1881. The hospital was designed to hold 250 patients, but at its peak, it had over 2,600 people. With low staff, leading to a lack of proper care and sanitation, many patients died at the hospital.
In 2007, the hospital was purchased by an asbestos demolition contractor. He began maintenance projects, and by October 2007, the hospital was opened for a Fall Fest. There were guided historic and paranormal tours. Tours are still available. During the day, historic tours are offered. At night, things get creepy. You can embark on a ghost hunt, but if you’re feeling exceptionally brave, you can also spend the night at the asylum. No matter your fear threshold, the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is sure to give you a night of unforgettable supernatural experiences.
Haunted Destinations in the Mountain State
West Virginia has no shortage of haunted places. With the state’s rich history, some of which is unsettling, it’s no wonder there is a vast supply of haunted places to check out. Whether you need a jolt of fear, or you’re looking to be spooked senseless, these haunted places in West Virginia are sure to give you what you crave.
Source: AZ Minimal
