Perhaps the tiny (almost) ghost town of Thurmond does a little of both for most people. Elmo was once a booming mining town for gold and silver in the Sawatch Range. Doddridge. . The Ghost Town of THURMOND, WV - A Good Town Gone Bad Part-Time Explorer 303K subscribers Subscribe 47K 2. Gilmer. THURMOND, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Do you believe in ghosts? If you’re seeking a spine-tingling adventure, look no further than ACE Adventure Resort’s upcoming Thurmond Ghost Hunt. Thurmond Ghost Town: Historic and Quaint - See 99 traveler reviews, 225 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. By 1950, the area was considered a ghost town. Wikipedia/Brian M. $110. Is this your business? 104 ReviewsOne of the deserted places that is now considered a ghost town is the town of Thurmond in West Virginia. Thurmond, West Virginia, is a ghost town located. Thurmond is a town in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States, on the New River. Thurmond Ghost Town: Train Town w/ a rich history! - See 102 traveler reviews, 235 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. Thurmond Ghost Town. Flickr Ron Cogswell. You can get more information from: National Park Service-New River Gorge National River P. Thurmond Ghost Town: Interesting - See 98 traveler reviews, 225 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. Ghost Towns. Take an immediate left, and go 0. You can get more information from: National Park Service-New River Gorge. This was a coal town at one point in time. Perhaps the tiny (almost) ghost town of Thurmond does a little of both for most people. Thurmond Ghost Town, Thurmond: See 100 reviews, articles, and 225 photos of Thurmond Ghost Town, ranked No. Serving as a railroad town, Thurmond was at its heyday in the 1920's with more coal running through it than Cincinnati, Ohio. About. per adult. Courtesy of Tighe Bullock/City of Thurmond. $20. Review. Thurmond Ghost Town: Thurmond visit (school retreat 2016) - See 102 traveler reviews, 235 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. Thurmond-Southside Trail. The mountains make for great ATV rides, sure to offer breathtaking views. Technology advancements and the Great Depression were just two of the elements that contributed to its quick downfall. The hotel was owned by the McKell family in a town that was often referred to as the Las Vegas of its time. 80757. The ghost town was a great half day trip. Talia Lakritz. Thurmond Ghost Town: This place is Amazing! ! - See 98 traveler reviews, 225 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. Shepherdstown is the oldest town in West Virginia. per group (up to 10) Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Charleston by Operation City Quest. The population was five at the 2020 census. Hiking Trails. The once mining town was one of the most prosperous of the region, serving the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, after its founding by Captain W. Thurmond, West Virginia i s tucked away in a dark, deep winding part of the New River Gorge National Park. 1,193 Followers Follow. First settled in 1844 by W. The town was known for drinking, gambling, and prostitution, with Dun Glen being the hub for all such activities. 1 on Tripadvisor among 3 attractions in Thurmond. Thank you for watching us as we explored the historic ghost town of Thurmond, WV. One town in the New River Gorge, called […]One of the better-known ghost towns of West Virginia is Thurmond in Fayette County. — Traffic didn’t stall when a long freight train ran through downtown at 5:43 p. 21. Last Updated on October 8, 2023 by Urbex Underground If you’re searching for ghost towns in Montana, we’ve got you covered! Below are 17 different. First settled in 1844 by W. Today, a ghost town with a population of 5 (in 2020), it was one of the greatest and most infamous railroad towns along the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad at the turn of the century. According to the 2020 Census, the population of Thurmond had fallen to only five inhabitants. WORKSHOPS; ONE-ON-ONE COACHING. Review of Thurmond Ghost Town. This West Virginia city, a major stop on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, generated more than 20 percent of the company’s revenue in 1910. A few residents still live in Thurmond (only 4 according to the internet). $150,000 USD View Details. Head out on this 7. 29 reviews. Thurmond, West Virginia. | YouTube, West VirginiaHidden in the woods just across the New River from the Thurmond Depot in the nearly abandoned town of Thurmond, West Virginia is an old wooden church. Thurmond, West Virginia, then and now. Thurmond is located on the New River in Fayette County, West Virginia Today, according to the 2020 census, Thurmond has a population of five. Comments. A TOUR AROUND THURMOND, WV. What This Drone Footage Captured At This Abandoned West Virginia Hotel Is Truly Grim. In fact, in 1995 the NPS took over the old Thurmond, WV railroad depot and turned it into an NPS visitor center. The town’s founder, William Dabney Thurmond, worked hard to keep the town clean and upright, but a seedy hotel across the river changed Thurmond’s reputation. Thurmond, West Virginia, then and now. Thurmond was once a booming town, but it is now a ghost town. Va. Thurmond Ghost Town: Ghosts??? An interesting piece of history. The (near) Ghost Town of Thurmond, West Virginia. - See 98 traveler reviews, 225 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. 081954. Advancements in technology and the Great Depression are just two of the. By Urbex Underground August 29, 2020 September 20, 2020. Thurmond meant excitement, danger, and pleasures of the hell-raising. Make the most of your visit to the historic ghost town of Thurmond, WV. Thurmond Ghost Town: Ghost town - See 101 traveler reviews, 235 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. Thurmond was once a booming town, but it is now a ghost town. Thurmond, deep in West Virginia's New River Valley, was long the busiest point on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, but those days are long past and it's now a not-quite-ghost town. We enjoyed the drive to Thurmond because of the various small waterfalls we were able to stop and see. During the heyday of coal mining in the New River Gorge, Thurmond was a prosperous town with a number of businesses and facilities for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway . 10 Thurmond, West Virginia. Watch more Mountain Roots:Exp. Shamrock is a small unincorporated community located in Creek County, Oklahoma, on Oklahoma State Highway 16. It was also often referred to as “Hell. Trips Alerts Sign inThurmond Ghost Town: Ghost town - See 99 traveller reviews, 225 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. Prince, the ghost town of West Virginia, had a population of only 235 people in 1910. About 20 buildings remain in the former coal town of Thurmond, where less than 10 residents still live in the hills. There were hotels, banks, the depot, and a commercial business district. Only 4 people still live here. If you want to have a memorable adventure, this state’s ghost towns are t. Thurmond, West Virginia, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is in the heart of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. We ran across information on Thurmond while visiting Beckley, West Virginia. ACE Adventure Resort where we will drive to the New River and take a short hike up the Southside Junction trail to the town of Thurmond. Thurmond Ghost Town: Visit to ghost town was highlight of coal area trip. 295. A coal miner’s dream town. The New River Gorge in West Virginia attracts adventurers from all over the Blue Ridge, thanks to its sheer abundance of premium whitewater and sandstone. Thurmond, West Virginia, The Heart of the New River Gorge, was established by Captain William D. The National Park Service owns and maintains the town and it is on the National Register of Historic Places. 1. Prince, WV 25813, USA. A few residents still live in Thurmond (only 4 according to the internet). Thurmond. According to Ripley’s Believe It or Not, the longest poker game ever lasted 14 years and was played at Dun Glen, one of two hotels in Thurmond, WV. 1 on Tripadvisor among 3 attractions in Thurmond. Discussion. Though it is considered a ghost town, a handful of residents still live among the old buildings as the town usually survives on tourism. Serving as a railroad town, Thurmond was at its heyday in the 1920's with more coal running through it than Cincinnati, Ohio. Today it is practically a ghost town with a population of three. Thurmond Ghost Town: WOW !!! - See 99 traveler reviews, 225 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. Coal Mining Ghost Town - 174 Main St. Thurmond, West Virginia. Event by ACE Adventure Resort. How Can You Visit Thurmond, West Virginia. Having many coal barons among its patrons, Thurmond's banks were the richest in the state. . In 2020, it had a population of five, and most of its buildings are slowly getting reclaimed by nature. from . Website: 6: Terlingua, Texas Flickr/Stephen Farris. Thurmond, West Virginia’s once-thriving ghost town, is deep in the mountains. As with many other ghost towns on this list, Thurmond is part of the National Park Service. Both towns were built along the railroad, with the tracks in Thurmond acting as a “main street” for its commercial strip. . Thurmond is a famous company town in Fayette County, north of West Virginia’s Beckley. Thurmond Ghost Town: Not much here - See 100 traveler reviews, 225 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. Visit the New River Gorge National Park and Thurmond, West Virginia, where you can learn the history of a now abandoned ghost town. NPS, Malachi Jacobs/Shutterstock. Thurmond is a ghost town from West Virginia’s better days. Participate in a Fun Scavenger Hunt in Charleston WV by Zombie Scavengers. Apr 2021. It was once a town big enough for a grand hotel that eventually burnt down. Nuttallburg. Make sure you visit Mike, one of the volunteer guides at the station! Great guy with loads of information about Thurmond and pretty much anything associated with the area. Discover Thurmond, West Virginia in Thurmond, West Virginia: Once connected to the outside world by a single train track, this ghost town is looked after by the National Park Service. By 1950, Thurmond was a ghost town. Abandoned Railroad Ghost Town in Appalachia, Thurmond West Virginia. It is situated along the Potomac River in the breathtaking Shenandoah Valley. Thurmond and incorporated in 1903. 5. 1. Restaurants near Thurmond Ghost Town, Thurmond on Tripadvisor: Find traveler reviews and candid photos of dining near Thurmond Ghost Town in Thurmond, West Virginia. In 1904, gold was found within its quartz (rhyolite is a silica-rich volcanic rock that. Here, he erected the Dunglen Hotel at the turn of the twentieth century. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The town can be reached from West Virginia Route 25. Louis Zoo International UFO Museum and Research Center Una National Park Chic's Beach Flying dress photoshoot cancun Self-Guided Tour of Hollywood in Los Angeles with Fun Facts and. D. Thurmond Ghost Town: Fun visit off the beaten path - See 97 traveler reviews, 221 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. Today, only 5 people (according to the 2010 census) call the town of Thurmond home. Advertisement. By 1917, there were nearly 90,000 documented coal miners in the state. That being said, this town is a reminder of when coal was king and, as a result, communities popped up. Apr 2021. By the 1950s, Thurmond had virtually become a ghost town. Body, who discovered deposits of the precious metal in 1859 in nearby hills, Bodie is a ghost town preserved in a state of. It was a small, incorporated commercial center in the New River Gorge serving the surrounding coal mining towns. Skip to main content. Thurmond is a cool, little train town located on the backroads of WV that will satisfy fans of history, lovers of trains, and/or adventurous spirits. Thurmond Ghost Town: Must go! - See 98 traveler reviews, 225 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. By Kristen. One of the most famous of its ghost towns is the (almost) ghost town Thurmond. By 1950,. Beautiful scenery all around the town and a beautiful part of New River Gorge National park lies just outside the abandoned town. Until 1921 those tracks were the only way to access the town, which served as a thriving. 1 on Tripadvisor among 3 attractions in Thurmond. Thurmond. Ghost Towns in Thurmond. Last Updated on September 20, 2020 by Urbex Underground Looking to explore Thurmond West Virginia? Or maybe learn more about it’s history? If so, you’re in the right place. While those pursuing outdoor activities will still find plenty to do around Thurmond, WV, the town is a ghostly memory of its once bustling population. Today, Thurmond quietly rests on the edge of the New River Gorge with many of its buildings boarded and sealed up. It was a coal town, though. 104. Which hotels near Thurmond Ghost Town in Thurmond have a bar or lounge on-site? Hotels near Thurmond Ghost Town, Thurmond on Tripadvisor: Find 2,931 traveler reviews, 1,144 candid photos, and prices for 26 hotels near Thurmond Ghost Town in Thurmond, WV. Skip to main content. . : Coal Mining Ghost Town. Thurmond Ghost Town: Kind of cool, but there is not much there there - See 98 traveler reviews, 225 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. Thurmond began to decline during the great depression when businesses started to close and two large fires. Thurmond Ghost Town: Delightful Surprise - See 98 traveler reviews, 225 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. from . Two hotels, two banks, a post. Advertisement. 2170. Serving as a railroad town, Thurmond was at its heyday in the 1920's with more coal running through it than Cincinnati, Ohio. Discover Thurmond, West Virginia in Thurmond, West Virginia: Once connected to the outside world by a single train track, this ghost town is looked after by the National Park Service. Our second day trip took us north and east of Beckley to the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, where we found the historic town of Thurmond. In the 1960s, the town became home to Wildwater Unlimited, a commercial rafting company operating along the New River. Va. Self-guided Tours. (Photo courtesy Joe Green) Sponsors. Hotels near Thurmond Ghost Town Hotels near Thurmond Depot Visitor Center. Again great quick trip for a little WV. Here are a few of those ghost towns in WV worthy of exploration: 1. These prospects alone make this National River an essential destination for anyone with merely. Thurmond Ghost Town: Excellent place to visit - See 104 traveler reviews, 238 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. The story of Thurmond town in West Virginia started a long time ago as it grew due to coal mining, which brought a lot more revenue than other areas. History . Thurmond Ghost Town: Both exciting and disappointing - See 98 traveler reviews, 225 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. The Spooky (Almost) Ghost Town In West Virginia With Fewer Than 10 Residents. Not only does the town have the most spots of things to see (here’s an awesome guide on the Thurmond Walking Tour), you can also join river rafting tours . That's especially true near the nearly abandoned town of Thurmond, West Virginia, where the New River makes a dramatic hairpin turn, and you can get an amazing view of this stunning bend in the river from nearby Concho Mountain. Thurmond Ghost Hunt. D. Fun & Games. Thurmond Ghost Town: Off the beaten path - See 99 traveler reviews, 225 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. Trips Alerts Sign inThurmond Ghost Town: Amazing View Into History - WORTH the trip - See 98 traveler reviews, 225 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. Real. Thurmond, WV. THURMOND, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The New River Gorge National Park & Preserve is full of both beauty and history. Beautiful scenery all around the town and a beautiful part of New River Gorge National park lies just outside the aba. It is on the east side of the New River, 12 air miles northeast of Beckley. History:. (Spring, TX) This was posted on Facebook. Thurmond West Virginia United States. Thurmond, West Virginia, The Heart of the New River Gorge, was established by Captain William D. DRIEST. This is the first video in my new series on day trip destinations in West Virginia. The banks had many coal barons as clients making the banks the richest in the state. Fayette and South Fayette. We ran across information on Thurmond while visiting Beckley, West Virginia. Barnes Ian/ShutterstockThurmond Ghost Town, Thurmond: See 102 reviews, articles, and 235 photos of Thurmond Ghost Town, ranked No. One of the most famous of its ghost towns is the (almost) ghost town Thurmond. 37. Today, around 80 percent of Thurmond is owned by the National Park Service for the New. Construction of the New River Gorge bridge in 1977 also allowed visitors better access the once-isolated town. Thurmond, West Virginia, located in Fayette County, went from a prosperous small town to a near-ghost town with just five inhabitants. Address: 470 Matoaka Rd Rock, West Virginia, 24747, United States. Thurmond Ghost Town: Favorite Destination in the New River Gorge Area - See 98 traveler reviews, 225 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. Whether it be North Brother Island, a ghost town in the middle of New York City, or Alabama’s old state capital Cahawba, we round up 10 of America’s eeriest ghost towns. 310 people responded. Now one of Colorado 's best preserved ghost towns, St. About 20 buildings remain in the former coal town of Thurmond, where less than 10 residents still live in the hills. A better-known ghost town in West Virginia, Thurmond in Fayette County rests along the New River in the New River Gorge National Park. But this wasn't always the case. Station Hours. Currently, the town of Thurmond is the least populated town in West Virginia. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in November. Thurmond hosted the Guiness Book of World Record's longest poker game, is one of. It took some mapping. From Glen Jean, take State Highway (SH) 25 east, down to the bottom of the New River Gorge. The town of Thurmond quietly sits on the edge of the New River Gorge in West Virginia, and remains one of the most well preserved ghost towns in the Midwest. Fayette and South Fayette can be. Thurmond, West Virginia is one such place—known as the Heart of the New River Gorge, the town is now virtually abandoned yet still stands as a relatively untouched testament to its illustrious past as a railroad town. Come explore this abandoned & forgotten coal town with us. West Virginia is riddled with ghost towns that will either give you the creeps or fill you with intrigue. Map; Just as most of these other ghost towns, Terlingua was a mining town near the Rio Grande River, and it was completely abandoned around the beginning of the Second World War, more. Thurmond, a surveyor who eventually served in the Confederate Army, the town of Thurmond was incorporated in. Thurmond Ghost Town: Ghost Town is a Stretch ? - See 97 traveler reviews, 221 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. 556. With the huge amounts of coal brought in from area mines, it had the largest revenue on the Chesapeake &. 25. Restaurants near Thurmond Ghost Town, Thurmond on Tripadvisor: Find traveler reviews and candid photos of dining near Thurmond Ghost Town in Thurmond, West Virginia. In coal mining's heyday, it had many prosperous businesses and facilities for the. Gino's Pizza & Spaghetti House. A better-known ghost town in West Virginia, Thurmond in Fayette County rests along the New River in the New River Gorge National Park. Established: 1962. West Virginia is home to a deserted mining town that is hauntingly beautiful — especially during the fall. The town originally functioned as a dry. Thurmond Ghost Town: Rail History - See 97 traveler reviews, 221 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. Map. Local. Thurmond is unique in the fact that It was never a coal camp, but it was a coal town. A must see. Today it’s a ghost town, with seven residents remaining, along with a restored train depot and. from. O. Fayette County, West Virginia. Gary B. Reviewed April 29, 2021. It was a boom town from approximately 1900-1920. Thurmond, West Virginia As of the 2020 Census,. At the height of Thurmond’s boom fifteen passenger trains stopped at the historic train depot daily, but with every boom there is a bust, and once the coal industry began to wane, Thurmond could not survive. Thurmond Ghost Town: do not miss it - See 104 traveler reviews, 238 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. Now just five people live in the. “The Ghost Town of Thurmond, WV – A Good Town Gone Bad” takes you on a journey through the rise and fall of Thurmond, a once-thriving railroad town in West Virginia. A train comes through Thurmond, West Virginia, by Kathy Alexander. Thurmond is an old mining town that is now a ghost town. It's Halloween weekend and we decided to take some advice from a fellow subscriber and visit the Ghost Town of Thurmond West Virginia. Abandoned And Frozen In Time, Explore The Ghost Town Of Thurmond, West Virginia. from $112/night. OSM Map; General Map; Google Map; MSN Map Population in 2021: 3 (0% urban, 100%. Thurmond was also a railroading center. Thurmond, West Virginia’s once-thriving ghost town, is deep in the mountains. Thurmond, WV 25901, USA. 4 mi Ghost Towns. By 1950, the area was considered a ghost town. Thurmond has been a creepy ghost town since around 1950. Fires hit and wiped out the businesses and made Thurmond a ghost town. West Virginia’s Cultural Crown! 1. Other trails in the area near Thurmond are the:Thurmond is a modern day ghost town located in Fayette County, West Virginia. 17 Thurmond, West Virginia Has Only Five People Living There. Thurmond Ghost Town, Thurmond Source: DSBurnside / shutterstock Thurmond Ghost Town, Thurmond. Thurmond Ghost Town: Goats - See 97 traveler reviews, 221 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. 1 Concho road, Oak Hill, WV. 323 N Court St. Thurmond Ghost Town: Great road trip destination - See 104 traveler reviews, 238 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. Thurmond Ghost Town. Address: 168 Church St, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, 25425, United States. Trips Alerts Sign inCreepy photo taken in the town of Thurmond WV . D. The structure burned in 1963. Friends. Hey you guys, Chet the Dream Poet here. Thurmond and incorporated in 1903. Thomas G. We aren’t paid for reviews. Beautiful scenery all around the town and a beautiful part of New River Gorge National park lies just outside the aba. December 23, 2018. Today it is practically a ghost town with a. We will visit (2023-09-23 20:00:00) Get Your Free Travel Guide Thurmond is located in West Virginia, 25901, USA. 961016, -81. Thurmond and incorporated in 1903. 5. Kelly's Saloon in Garnet, Montana, is said to be haunted, with reports of music and laughter coming from the empty building. Thurmond Ghost Town: History - See 98 traveler reviews, 225 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. The Hatfield-McCoy Trails are a popular trail system almost exclusively known for the great terrain it offers the off-roading community. Address: Nuttallburg. You can park and see the few buildings of a once active coal mining town. Elkhorn, Montana. . Back in the 1920s, Thurmond was a bustling, thriving coal town and an important stop on the Chesapeake and Ohio. Powell. Thurmond, West Virginia. 100 years ago this place was a booming railroad community feeding the local coal mining industry. Thurmond hosted the Guiness Book of World Record's longest poker game, is one of Travel & Leisure's coolest ghost towns in America, is where the movie Matewan was filmed, and is a put-in for the upper New River. . Actually, my husband and I learned that people still live in Thurmond, WV. Despite rocky and narrow roads, a hike through the river gorge is a good idea when the weather is good. Skip to main content. Thurmond Ghost Town: Ghost Town - See 98 traveler reviews, 225 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. The town was actually built in two sections, Kaymoor Top and Kaymoor Bottom. Also, 78 coke ovens were. Founded during the Gold Rush by prospector W. The Thurmond train depot remains an active passenger station, as well as a historical exhibit and visitor information center. And then came the Great Depression, setting off a chain of events that inevitably led to Thurmond becoming a ghost town. This is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and mountain biking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Thurmond, WV. 18 Ghost Towns In Montana [MAP] By Urbex Underground June 25, 2022 October 8, 2023. While Thurmond was a virtual ghost town by the 1950s, efforts have been made to draw tourists to the area. Fifteen passenger trains a day came through. This is the first video in my new series on day trip destinations in West Virginia. Welcome to your new project and future dream home in the charming town of Meadow Bridge, WV. The Thurmond Depot now operates as a summer visitor center. Many of the buildings are still intact, although you cannot go inside it. Thurmond, West Virginia truly is a ghost town 👻 🏠 this former boomtown is now a hidden gem of tourist destination’s in West Virginia. Of course, the effects of the Great Depression were felt far and wide—and virtually in the whole country. In the ghost town of Kennecott, Alaska, visitors have reported vanishing tombstones and hearing long-dead miners' voices. You can even visit the ghost town of Thurmond by train, Amtrak still makes a stop 3 times a week in Thurmond, on the same rails that thousands of people once rode into West Virginia on. This town is not wholly a “ghost town,” at least not in the sense of all the other places on this list. 1 on Tripadvisor among 3. The Spooky (Almost) Ghost Town In West Virginia With Fewer Than 10 Residents. Goodman-Kincaid Building. Serving as a railroad town, Thurmond was at its heyday in the 1920's with more coal running through it than Cincinnati, Ohio. Here's Episode 15 in our new Exploring Appalachia series! In this episode I travel to Thurmond West Virginia- a once booming railroad coaltown. As a political debate over mining’s future roils West Virginia, the. The blaze, history says, began the slow demise of Thurmond and by the 1950s it was virtually a ghost town. Once a big stop on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, the invention of the diesel locomotive in the 1950s. Thurmond, W. Attractions. Skip to main content. According to the 2020 Census, the. Thurmond Ghost Town: One of my favorite places in West Virginia - See 98 traveler reviews, 225 candid photos, and great deals for Thurmond, WV, at Tripadvisor. Transcript. West Virginia | 31K views, 892 likes, 101 loves, 134 comments, 211 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Mountain Roots: Here's Episode 15 in our new Exploring Appalachia series!. What once was an area made up of coal towns (with Thurmond at the center), is now a ghost town; however, visitors are still drawn to the area because of its.