Prince Station

Prince Station readayy (Atlas Obscura User)

Take a journey on the Cardinal Amtrak train to visit this station hidden in the Appalachian Mountains.

The Prince, West Virginia station was constructed as a Chesapeake & Ohio rail station in 1880. It quickly became a freight and passenger hub, which required expansions to the original wooden depot. In 1917, the station was severely damaged by a fire.

As the 1940s approached, the C&O president built the current red brick building. It was praised for its sleek, modern features and it has remained that way since its unveiling in 1946. If visitors look at the back mural, they will find a photo of the construction of the tracks outside Prince Station. The station contains about 40 seats and bathrooms.

On the floor is C&O’s logo, Chessie the kitten, in terrazzo. This logo was one of the most popular corporate marketing campaigns. The slogan of the campaign was, “Sleep Like a Kitten and Wake Up Fresh as a Daisy in Air-Conditioned Comfort.” This is a popular sight to see amongst train enthusiasts.

Know Before You Go

There is a passenger train that stops at the station a few times a week. Check the Amtrak website for the full schedule. The inside of the station is only open for an hour before the train arrives, so if you want to visit without getting on an Amtrak train, be sure to check the schedule.

As you get closer to the station, phone signals become weak. The area is close to the New River Gorge National Park and Summit Bechtel Family Scout Reserve.