There are plenty of tourist attractions around the Mountain State, and some are more bizarre than others. All over the state, there are odd things to see. Here are some strange spots in West Virginia that will probably make you look twice.
- Mummies at the Barbour County Historical Museum, Philippi
Barbour County Historical Museum/Facebook Real mummies, right here in West Virginia. The mummies were made in 1888 by Graham Hamrick, who acquired the corpses from the West Virginia Hospital for the Insane (Trans-Alleghany Lunatic Asylum). For more information on these mummies, visit the Barbour County Historical Museum Facebook page.
- The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Weston
Tim Kiser/Wikipedia Commons Also know as the Weston State Hospital, the asylum was a psychiatric hospital from 1864 until 1994. Now days you can go on historic and even ghost-hunting tours of the supposedly-haunted facility. Creepy! To learn more about the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, read our previous coverage.
- The ghost town of Thurmond
Brian Powell/Wikipedia Commons Once a thriving coal town, Thurmond is nearly empty now. Walking through this town is not unlike going back in time. Read this post to find out more about this ghost town.
- The West Virginia State Penitentiary, Moundsville
Jim Surkamp/Flickr This former state prison was the scene of 36 murders and 94 executions. Now people can tour the facility, which paranormal enthusiasts say is one of the most haunted prisons in the country. To learn more about the West Virginia State Penitentiary, read our past coverage.
- The Exhibition Coal Mine in Beckley
Tripadvisor/marais123 It’s not every day you can tour a vintage coal mine and learn about the trade from veteran coal miners. This is one of the most fascinating hidden gems in West Virginia. Read this post to find out more.
- George Washington’s Bathtub, Berkeley Springs, W.Va.
Warfieldian/Wikimedia Commons The only outdoor monument to a place where a president used to bathe. Washington wrote of his visits to the tub, located in what is now Berkeley Springs State Park, many times. Visit this webpage for more information.
- The Swiss village of Helvetia
Tripadvisor/Jamie R. A little bit of Switzerland in West Virginia? Why not. This village in Randolph County was settled by Swiss immigrants starting in 1859. Because of its isolation, a lot of the Swiss culture is still there today. For more information on Helvetia, read our previous coverage.
- Mothman Statue, Point Pleasant
Flickr/Richie Diesterheft If you’re looking for strange roadside attractions in West Virginia to visit, look no further than the Mothman Statue. You can’t unsee artist Bob Roach’s statue of the monster reportedly seen in Point Pleasant in the late 1960s. Read more about this Mothman mystery in this post.
- The Pumpkin House, Kenova
Frank Pierson/Flickr Each fall, Ric Griffith and an army of volunteers carve about 3,000 pumpkins and put them up at his house in Kenova, W.Va. People come from all over to see it. For more information on the Kenova Pumpkin House, visit the website.
- Lake Shawnee Amusement Park, Rock
Forsaken Fotos/Flickr This abandoned amusement park located in Rock is so creepy it’s almost beautiful. It’s also said to be haunted. Read more about this park in this post.
- The Mystery Hole in Ansted
Mystery Hole What list of West Virginia oddities would be complete without the Mystery Hole? What is it, you ask? Well you might have to figure that one out on your own. You can read more in our previous coverage.
These are not the only strange spots in West Virginia, just a few of them. What other weird places can you think of in the Mountain State? Let us know in the comment section.
Barbour County Historical Museum/Facebook
Real mummies, right here in West Virginia. The mummies were made in 1888 by Graham Hamrick, who acquired the corpses from the West Virginia Hospital for the Insane (Trans-Alleghany Lunatic Asylum). For more information on these mummies, visit the Barbour County Historical Museum Facebook page.
Tim Kiser/Wikipedia Commons
Also know as the Weston State Hospital, the asylum was a psychiatric hospital from 1864 until 1994. Now days you can go on historic and even ghost-hunting tours of the supposedly-haunted facility. Creepy! To learn more about the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, read our previous coverage.
Brian Powell/Wikipedia Commons
Once a thriving coal town, Thurmond is nearly empty now. Walking through this town is not unlike going back in time. Read this post to find out more about this ghost town.
Jim Surkamp/Flickr
This former state prison was the scene of 36 murders and 94 executions. Now people can tour the facility, which paranormal enthusiasts say is one of the most haunted prisons in the country. To learn more about the West Virginia State Penitentiary, read our past coverage.
Tripadvisor/marais123
It’s not every day you can tour a vintage coal mine and learn about the trade from veteran coal miners. This is one of the most fascinating hidden gems in West Virginia. Read this post to find out more.
Warfieldian/Wikimedia Commons
The only outdoor monument to a place where a president used to bathe. Washington wrote of his visits to the tub, located in what is now Berkeley Springs State Park, many times. Visit this webpage for more information.
Tripadvisor/Jamie R.
A little bit of Switzerland in West Virginia? Why not. This village in Randolph County was settled by Swiss immigrants starting in 1859. Because of its isolation, a lot of the Swiss culture is still there today. For more information on Helvetia, read our previous coverage.
Flickr/Richie Diesterheft
If you’re looking for strange roadside attractions in West Virginia to visit, look no further than the Mothman Statue. You can’t unsee artist Bob Roach’s statue of the monster reportedly seen in Point Pleasant in the late 1960s. Read more about this Mothman mystery in this post.
Frank Pierson/Flickr
Each fall, Ric Griffith and an army of volunteers carve about 3,000 pumpkins and put them up at his house in Kenova, W.Va. People come from all over to see it. For more information on the Kenova Pumpkin House, visit the website.
Forsaken Fotos/Flickr
This abandoned amusement park located in Rock is so creepy it’s almost beautiful. It’s also said to be haunted. Read more about this park in this post.
Mystery Hole
What list of West Virginia oddities would be complete without the Mystery Hole? What is it, you ask? Well you might have to figure that one out on your own. You can read more in our previous coverage.
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Address: 13 Museum St, Philippi, WV 26416, USAAddress: 50 S River Ave, Weston, WV 26452, USAAddress: Thurmond, WV 25901, USAAddress: West Virginia Penitentiary, 818 Jefferson Ave, Moundsville, WV 26041, USAAddress: Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, 513 Ewart Ave, Beckley, WV 25801, USAAddress: 127 Fairfax St, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411, USAAddress: Helvetia, WV 26234, USAAddress: Mothman Statue and Marker, 201 4th St, Point Pleasant, WV 25550, USAAddress: Kenova’s Pumpkin House, 748 Beech St, Kenova, WV 25530, USAAddress: Lake Shawnee Abandoned Amusement Park, 470 Matoaka Rd, Rock, WV 24747, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Strange Spots In West Virginia May 03, 2021 Melissa M What roadside attractions can I visit in West Virginia? If you are heading out on a road trip through West Virginia, there are plenty of attractions worth pulling off the road to go and see. The eastern Indian Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold in New Vrindaban was once the home to a Hare Krishna leader and has since been turned into a museum where visitors can learn about its history. Take a tour and stroll the scenic grounds for a lovely time. Do you enjoy visiting the ‘World’s Largest’ objects? Stop in Chester to marvel at the World’s Largest Teapot. You have to love roadside attractions like this one! What are some of the best hidden gems in West Virginia? Since most of us love to explore hidden gems, we have designed this Ultimate West Virginia Hidden Gem Road Trip that will take you to six little-known spots in the state. Along the way, you can stop at Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park in Summersville which is filled with history and close to a lake, as well as Cook’s Old Mill in Greenville which will transport you back to a simpler time. What are some of the most haunted places in West Virginia? Many of us are well aware of the stories of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum and the hauntings there, but there are numerous other places around the state that may shake you to your core. Camden Park is an amusement park that was built atop a burial ground, so you may experience more than a thrilling ride here. Shepherdstown experiences so much paranormal activity that haunted history tours are offered. You can visit these and more along our Haunted Road Trip.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Strange Spots In West Virginia
May 03, 2021
Melissa M
What roadside attractions can I visit in West Virginia? If you are heading out on a road trip through West Virginia, there are plenty of attractions worth pulling off the road to go and see. The eastern Indian Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold in New Vrindaban was once the home to a Hare Krishna leader and has since been turned into a museum where visitors can learn about its history. Take a tour and stroll the scenic grounds for a lovely time. Do you enjoy visiting the ‘World’s Largest’ objects? Stop in Chester to marvel at the World’s Largest Teapot. You have to love roadside attractions like this one! What are some of the best hidden gems in West Virginia? Since most of us love to explore hidden gems, we have designed this Ultimate West Virginia Hidden Gem Road Trip that will take you to six little-known spots in the state. Along the way, you can stop at Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park in Summersville which is filled with history and close to a lake, as well as Cook’s Old Mill in Greenville which will transport you back to a simpler time. What are some of the most haunted places in West Virginia? Many of us are well aware of the stories of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum and the hauntings there, but there are numerous other places around the state that may shake you to your core. Camden Park is an amusement park that was built atop a burial ground, so you may experience more than a thrilling ride here. Shepherdstown experiences so much paranormal activity that haunted history tours are offered. You can visit these and more along our Haunted Road Trip.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
If you are heading out on a road trip through West Virginia, there are plenty of attractions worth pulling off the road to go and see. The eastern Indian Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold in New Vrindaban was once the home to a Hare Krishna leader and has since been turned into a museum where visitors can learn about its history. Take a tour and stroll the scenic grounds for a lovely time. Do you enjoy visiting the ‘World’s Largest’ objects? Stop in Chester to marvel at the World’s Largest Teapot. You have to love roadside attractions like this one!
What are some of the best hidden gems in West Virginia?
Since most of us love to explore hidden gems, we have designed this Ultimate West Virginia Hidden Gem Road Trip that will take you to six little-known spots in the state. Along the way, you can stop at Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park in Summersville which is filled with history and close to a lake, as well as Cook’s Old Mill in Greenville which will transport you back to a simpler time.
What are some of the most haunted places in West Virginia?
Many of us are well aware of the stories of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum and the hauntings there, but there are numerous other places around the state that may shake you to your core. Camden Park is an amusement park that was built atop a burial ground, so you may experience more than a thrilling ride here. Shepherdstown experiences so much paranormal activity that haunted history tours are offered. You can visit these and more along our Haunted Road Trip.
