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.
MOUNT HOPE, W.Va. — Though details are obscure, one of the first UFO sightings reported in the U.S. may have originated in West Virginia over the region that’s now part of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. The encounter allegedly occurred in January 1950 near Beckley, West Virginia, and over what is now … Read more
WHEELING, W.Va. — To the average motorist hurtling through the City of Wheeling on Interstate 70, nothing about the place might seem particularly nefarious. An old rust-belt city, one might suppose its name, “Wheeling,” is associated with the wheel. The city is inextricably tied to the history of American travel and has always been a … Read more
RODES, W.Va. — Tales of a shadow alleged to haunt part of the Grey Flats Trail area near Beckley, West Virginia, could be tied to the ruins of an old farmstead there, say trail builders who have noticed an uptick in hikers in the woods. “I began seeing more hikers there once the story went … Read more
CENTRALIA, W.Va. — While there are many remote campgrounds in West Virginia, few are as remote as Baker’s Run Campground and boast their own ghost. Though only 30 minutes from Interstate 79, this forest campground near Sutton, West Virginia, may feel remote due to how it tucks into the hills on the Elk River at … Read more
PAX, W.Va. — Tales of roadside ghosts account for many of the most famous ghost stories in West Virginia, according to the publisher of the Mountain State’s popular website for the paranormal, West Virginia Ghosts. Jonathan Moore, who has been publishing first-hand tales of the supernatural submitted to the website by visitors since 1999, says … Read more
SUTTON, W.Va. — Many West Virginians have heard of a mysterious incident in Braxton County that involved a possibly celestial creature known as the Flatwoods Monster. It was alleged to have appeared in the darkened woods behind the local grade school in 1952, only moments after a “flying saucer” had been sighted scooting over the … Read more
LIBERTY, W.Va. — Eighteenmile Creek wanders quietly through the low hills of northern Putnam County, revealing not in the least any potential for tragedy along its banks. Yet, tragedy visited a group of hunters camping one night in a cave in the early 1800s. Where precisely this horrific incident occurred is not widely known, though … Read more
GRANT TOWN, W.Va. — If you’ve had the opportunity to descend into a West Virginia coal mine, you might have come away with a new sense of the absolute darkness. The coal itself absorbs what little light might reach into the deep. Though the darkness can inspire dread, the nature of mining can lead the … Read more
GRANTSVILLE, W.Va. — Nights in rural Calhoun County are counted among the darkest in West Virginia, so it’s little wonder that the tale of one of the state’s strangest hauntings comes out of its hills. The phantom, which supposedly manifested in the valley of the Little Kanawha River in the late 1800s, is still a … Read more
MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — The iconic LOVE-HATE tattoos that adorn many thuggish fists in the U.S. are tied to one of the most horrific events in West Virginia history and a blockbuster movie based on it. A murderous preacher, a lonely-hearts serial killer, and the infamous state penitentiary at Moundsville all figure into the twisted tale, … Read more
