West Virginia is a land steeped in rich lore and enduring legends that captivate the imagination of visitors and locals alike. From the mysterious Mothman sightings in Point Pleasant to the ghostly tales surrounding the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, West Virginia is a treasure trove of Appalachian folklore. Deep in its misty hollows and rugged mountains, stories of supernatural creatures, haunted locations, and mysteries have been passed down through generations. These chilling yet fascinating tales make West Virginia a top destination for paranormal enthusiasts and fans of folklore. Whether exploring ancient Native American myths or Civil War ghost stories, West Virginia’s legends add an eerie charm to its scenic beauty.
GAULEY BRIDGE, W.Va. — Though beautiful, the following tale of Kanawha Falls in West Virginia may not have originated with the Shawnee, as its unknown author purported, but around the campfires where storytellers practiced their art. The tale appears to show up in no other circumstance in Mountain State lore.* Kanawha Falls and nearby Cathedral … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Long before Interstate 77 became the modern four-lane highway travelers know today, state troopers and maintenance workers along the West Virginia Turnpike were telling some remarkably strange stories. One officer described a glittering object hovering above the mountains. A maintenance supervisor who insisted he didn’t believe in ghosts recalled an antique military … Read more
HARTFORD CITY, W.Va. — Old-timers still tell of the ghosts that are said to haunt Sliding Hill in Mason County, though only the very oldest now recall it. But a historian who hopes to memorialize the tale says there’s reason to believe much of the legend is true. “I heard the story from my great-grandmother,” … Read more
CUNARD, W.Va. — Tales of a “monster” said to haunt the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia have surfaced in recent years, and a lodging entrepreneur who’s developed a cryptid-themed vacation rental is looking for corroborating stories. “There’s something in the New River Gorge—at least on paper there is,” says Nate … Read more
POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — America’s quintessential Atomic Age monster, Mothman continues to attract attention in the Ohio Valley, so much so that more than 30,000 visitors attended the annual Mothman Festival in West Virginia. As much as people might know or suspect about the legendary beast, which made its first recorded appearance in 1966, three … Read more
PINCH, W.Va. — The legend of a now well-publicized West Virginia monster known regionally as the “White Thing” may have first been documented by a folklore student from Kanawha County in the late 1950s. The tale of the mysterious “malevolent” creature, which was alleged to haunt the hills of western West Virginia, appeared to defy … Read more
SUTTON, W.Va. — Sightings of a bigfoot alleged in the wilderness surrounding Sutton Lake in central West Virginia may have a historical precedent. According to Andrew Smith, executive director of the Braxton County Convention and Visitors Bureau, old news clippings that refer to a “wildman” and more recent stories of an ape-like creature imply that … Read more
PROCIOUS, W.Va. — The strange name of Twistabout Creek in the mountains of central West Virginia may still be a mystery, says a historian questioning a popular local origin story. Cascading down from Twistabout Ridge to join the Elk River in a particularly scenic stretch, the uniquely named stream has been attracting the attention of … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — One enduring West Virginia legend posits that the first person of European descent to visit the land now within the boundaries of the Mountain State was a “lunatic.” The late Jim Comstock, publisher of the celebrated West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia, briefly mentioned the tale in his work, though little is known of … Read more
CRANY, W.Va. — How did the grave of a soldier from the Shenandoah Valley wind up in one of the most remote and rugged mountain regions in southern West Virginia? According to the legend, as it’s come to be told, a band of marauding Shawnee burned Ralph Stewart’s father at the stake, and so no … Read more
