How to Visit Thurmond West Virginia: New River Gorge

Spend a morning at New River Gorge visiting Thurmond West Virginia. This unique ghost town is a great place to visit to learn about the history of the New River Gorge area. Thurmond is just a 30-minute drive from Fayetteville.

First, stop by the railroad depot to learn more about the town and its residents. Second, walk around town and check out some of the historic and abandoned buildings. Finally, if you are lucky, watch the trains rumble through town or hop on an Amtrak for a scenic ride.

Did you know that Thurmond still has a few permanent residents? For more fun in the area, check out our New River Gorge Itinerary!

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Where to Stay

🛏️ Fayetteville, WV, is a perfect location to use as your home base while exploring New River Gorge National Park. We recommend booking your entire stay here.

• Cantrell Ultimate Rafting – choose from tent camping, RV hookups, cabins, and bungalows. Walking distance to the village of Fayetteville and five minutes from the New River Gorge Bridge.
• The Historic Morris Harvey House Bed and Breakfast – breakfast included! Close to downtown Fayetteville, this mansion is on the Register of Historic Places.
• Quality Inn New River – run of the mill chain hotel offering free breakfast & a best seller. Outdoor pool on site.
• Rifrafters Campground – RV sites, tent camping, cabins. Pet friendly.
• Check out the options on Vrbo as well!

Before You Venture Out

• It is FREE to visit New River Gorge National Park!
• Parking may be an issue during peak season. Get to the trailheads and points of interest as early as you can to try to guarantee parking.

Weather and General Safety in New River Gorge National Park

• We did encounter service issues in some of the more remote areas of New River Gorge. Cell phone coverage is fairly good in the populated areas.
• Carry plenty of snacks and water. Carry at least 1 liter of water for every 5 miles you are hiking. The easiest way to carry water is to invest in a water bladder.
• Pack PB&J and other snacks to eat around lunchtime on the trails. Snack time is the best time!
• Make a plan to tell at least one person where you plan to be on each day in case something happens, and always carry a first aid kit.
• Be aware of the weather at all times. Check the forecast before you begin your day, so you don’t get caught in a thunderstorm.

Animal Safety in New River Gorge National Park

• New River Gorge National Park is home to many animals, including foxes, chipmunks, deer, black bears (rare), eagles, fish, snakes, and more. The park is home to copperhead and timber rattlesnakes. Both are venomous, however, these snakes are not usually aggressive unless you provoke them.
• Additionally, mosquitoes will also be present in the warmer months. Invest in some good bug spray to make your time outdoors more enjoyable. If you are anything like me, this is definitely necessary. I have been chased out of the woods by swarms of mosquitoes!
• Ticks are present as well, but likely not a huge issue in Thurmond. That being said, do a tick check before you leave!

More About Thurmond West Virginia

The New River Gorge area is famous for coal. Coal mining here in the gorge is basically non-existent at this point, but provided jobs to those in the area while allowing small towns to pop up along the New River.

Many of these small towns are abandoned today, but Thurmond West Virginia, is still here and definitely worth a visit! Thurmond’s history dates back to 1900.

The town quickly grew and was one of the more popular places in the area. Banks, movie theaters, hotels, the railroad, and other stores located here brought in many locals and patrons from afar.

Imagine yourself staying at the Dun Glen Hotel in the 1900s – full of gambling, lawbreakers, and other things that shall not be named! The bustling Chesapeake and Ohio Railway had passenger and freight trains rolling at all hours of the day. Be sure to visit the Thurmond Depot to learn more.

Visit the Railroad Depot

First, when you arrive in Thurmond West Virginia, park at the Thurmond Depot. The Depot is usually open from Memorial Day until Labor Day. Take a look inside and walk around to learn about the history of Thurmond.

Next, get the facts on when the town was incorporated and how it became a bustling coal town. Can you guess how many passengers were served in Thurmond during the height of the area? Subsequently, the fall of Thurmond can be traced to the Dun Glen Hotel burning to the ground and the Great Depression.

Inside the Thurmond Depot, take a look at some old artifacts from the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. Thurmond remains mostly untouched today and is begging for exploration. Next, take a walk around town.

➡️ Read next: How to Hike the Grandview Rim Trail & More: New River Gorge

Walk Around Thurmond

After you visit the Thurmond Depot, go for a walk. From the Thurmond Depot, head northwest in the same direction as the railroad tracks toward the old buildings along Thurmond Road. Here you will find the old Thurmond Bank, Town Hall, and other historic buildings.

Next, keep walking past the Coaling and Sanding Station on your left. Then, head up Hill Road to the right. This will lead you to some abandoned houses.

Turn right at Highland Street and follow this all the way to the Thurmond Church. Eventually, you will end up near Beury Mountain Road. Take this road back toward the historic town where you started.

Watch the Trains

Thurmond West Virginia, is still home to an active Amtrak Station and railroad. If you are lucky, you might see a passenger or freight train barrel through town. You can’t miss them! One of the main railroad lines goes right through town, so hopefully you won’t have to wait long to see a train.

Technically, you can get tickets to take the Amtrak train to another nearby station and back. If that is something you want to do, check out the Amtrak Trip Planner!

Final Thoughts

Thurmond West Virginia, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, so this was a must-see location during our trip to New River Gorge. We spent a foggy morning here exploring the town and watching the trains.

We really enjoyed this location and all the history that came with it. Don’t miss this stop on your trip! Interestingly, you can find an Airbnb guest house here in town to spend the night. Looking back, we totally wish we had stayed here! Next, spend the afternoon visiting the Grandview area of New River Gorge for more hiking.