Exploring the Forgotten Town of Thurmond (Abandoned Ghost Town)

Today we visit one in the United States last remaining GHOST TOWN. Today we will explore the forgotten town of Thurmond.

Incorporated in 1900, named for Captain William Dabney Thurmond. Thurmond moved to the area in 1844 and after he had surveyed land and was given land for payment.

The C&O railroad was completed through the area in 1873. Owing to its isolated location, just one house was built in Thurmond at that time. Throughout the years of the 1870s to the 1920s. More than 26 mines were established around thurmond, being named the coal capital of the area.

At this time Thurmond became a center for local commerce, having banks, restaurants, stores and multiple hotels.The surge was so great that during the first two decades of the 20th century, Thurmond handled more freight per year than Richmond, Virginia, and Cincinnati, Ohio combined  .

Additionally, at its peak, nearly 95,000 passengers traveled through the depot each year.

In 1901 the 100-room Dun Glen Hotel was constructed and open for miners and town visitors, boosting the towns economy. The hotel, which became infamous for hosting the world’s longest-lasting poker game at 14 years long.

By 1910, Thurmond was producing $4.8 million of freight revenue for the C&O. This was Thurmonds peak.

Prohibition being passed in 1914 curtailed much of the “boom town” rhetoric and effectively ending most of the businesses downtown. In 1922, a large fire destroyed parts of Thurmond, and in 1930, the Dun Glen Hotel burned to the ground mysteriously and most Businesses left by the 1930s as the Great Depression overtook the country.


Thurmond did have a second wind for a short time, being a center for coal for the efforts for WW2 before the discovery of diesel fuel.

Over the years though, the population decreased.

In 1940 there was 339
And in 1990 only 39.

With people leaving, thurmond became a place of the past.

With most buildings being abandoned for decades, it took 35 million dollars to turn Thurmond into a tourist attraction for history lovers.

Today, Thurmond has a population of 5 who inhabit this forgotten coal Town. The national park service has preserved most buildings for viewing pleasure while maintaining the areas history, today we will be looking at what remains as we wander these old historic streets.

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