50 States of Wonder
The Dark History of West Virginia in 9 Sites

The skeletal remains of the small Lake Shawnee Amusement Park create an eerie atmosphere, which seems appropriate to the site's dark stories. It is said that the park was built on the site of conflict between Native Americans and white settlers. Later, it became home to an amusement park for the families of nearby coal workers, but closed after the deaths of two children on the park grounds. Since then, the overgrown rides have accumulated stories of hauntings. (Read more.) 

The old Alderson Academy building, built in 1901, has seen better days. Floors are collapsing and many parts of it are completely inaccessible. The historic building has been home to nearly every type of educational institution—from private schools to junior and senior colleges to a high school and then apartments—but none had any lasting success. (Read more.)

The Archive of the Afterlife in Moundsville bills itself as the “National Museum of the Paranormal.” It's packed with oddities that are historical and, in some cases, allegedly haunted or cursed—including a number of unsettling dolls and portraits. There are also mortuary items, including an embalming table and funeral home advertising and signage. (Read more.)

The facility, previously known as the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, operated from 1864 to 1994. Today it stands as a testimony to the ways that mental health treatment has changed over the years. The structure was imposingly designed, like many mental hospitals of the 19th century, with the Kirkbride design, featuring numerous wings and an emphasis on light and air circulation. The design was thought to promote mental health, even as some of the practices employed there are considered inhumane today. Many of the buildings are now structurally unsound, but there are tours—historical and ghost-focused—plus a well-appointed museum and a gift shop. (Read more.)

For a brief period in late 1966 and early 1967, the West Virginia Ordnance Works, better known to locals as the TNT Area, was reportedly visited by the United States's coolest mythical creatures: the Mothman, a flying, insect-human hybrid said to portend disaster. One of the earliest purported sightings of the curious cryptid occurred at the gate of the abandoned munitions storage facility; the rows of World War II–era bunkers and dilapidated laboratories provide the perfect ambiance for a monster. The TNT Area became a Superfund site in 1983 and is still undergoing cleanup and decontamination. (Read more.)

In a storefront on an otherwise typical street corner in Point Pleasant is the only public collection devoted solely to the Mothman. The creature's popularity has grown to the point that he's become an unofficial mascot of the area. The collection includes everything from original newspaper clippings to books, toys, and memorabilia. (Read more.)

The legend of the Mothman has become so well known that this urban cryptid even has his own massive statue. This 12-foot-tall polished steel statue with glowing red eyes is in downtown Point Pleasant, right outside the museum dedicated to the creature, and it pretty much assures that the legend of the Mothman isn't going anywhere. Also: It's the only place where you're guaranteed a sighting. (Read more.)

The city of Wheeling is steeped in a mythology of excess in decline. Once home to more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the country, it's since fallen on harder times. That's the backdrop for the mystery of Mount Hood Overlook, often referred to as “the Castle.” Popular legend says it was a dream house, abandoned mid-construction when the builder's love died unexpectedly. Historians later established that part of the story was true—it was under construction, but it was federal drug trafficking charges that ended things. It's been a ruin ever since, but the Wheeling Arts Commission has established a mission to reclaim the castle from vandals, through a project called “Guerrilla Gardening.” Across the road is Mount Wood Cemetery, with old graves and mausoleums from many of Wheeling's first residents. (Read more.)

Brandy Gap Tunnel #2, also known as the Flinderation Tunnel, is an abandoned train tunnel that is now part of the North Bend Rail Trail, just outside of Salem. The tunnel was completed around 1857, under a cemetery that dates back to the 1700s. Many visitors to the tunnel have claimed to witness various types of paranormal activity, which has made the site a favorite among ghost hunters and curious adventurers. (Read more.)