West Virginia is known for its beautiful scenery and rich history of being wild and wonderful. However, even some of the most beautiful places can have a dark past. West Virginia is no exception to that, and the five places below will show you that you can't always judge a book by its cover.
1. Lake Shawnee Amusement Park
In the 1920's, a businessman decided to buy land in Mercer County and open up an amusement park for families to come to and enjoy. Unfortunately, that didn't exactly go as plan. It turned out that the land this man bought was haunted. Decades before that, Mitchell Clay, a Rock local, and a tribe of Shawnee warriors had a major fight. This resulted in the death of 3 Clay children and plenty of Shawnee warriors. Many assume their souls were never at rest. Plenty of people died over the duration of the park's years of operation. To this day you can visit and see the abandoned remains of Lake Shawnee Amusement Park.
2. Blennerhassett Hotel
This hotel is supposedly haunted by the man that built it, William Chancellor. There have been many reports of children playing in the hallways of Blennerhassett. Visitors and staff also claim to see the reflection of a man dressed in a suit in the mirrors. It's also very common to hear uncommon noises and knocking. If you're interested in checking it out, Parkersburg offers ghost tours and you actually meet at the hotel!
3. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
The building itself is enough to send shivers down your spine. Asylums back in the day didn't exactly have the best reputation for treating their patients with care, and Trans-Allegheny is no exception to that sad truth. On top of cruel treatments and lack of proper care, the building was far over its' maximum holding capacity. It was originally built to house 250 patients, and at one point was the home for 2,400. It's now open as a tourist attraction, but it's safe to say the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is still home to many restless souls.
4. Harper's Ferry
With a rich historical background, Harper's Ferry is arguably the most haunted town in West Virginia. Many of the town's buildings are said to be haunted. One of the most notable buildings is Harper House where a number of people have reported a woman staring down at them from a window. Plenty of other spirits wander around as well including soldiers and a priest. If you listen closely, you might just be able to hear an army practicing marching drills.
5. West Virginia Penitentiary
Last but certainly not least, the West Virginia Penitentiary had paranormal activity lingering in its' halls before it even closed down. Guards and inmates would report hearing and seeing unexplained anomalies. Behind the giant walls, the prison has experienced numerous fires, over 100 executions, and a number of riots. Since its' close in 1995, people have reported seeing the ghosts of previous inmates as well as a popular ghost called "The Shadow Man" lurking in the corridors.
