West Virginia’s Eerie ‘Paranormal Trail’ Is Back With 4 New Sites—and It’s Full of Haunted History

In West Virginia, the mountains are rich with folklore and dotted with sites time has left behind. These haunted hollows are united by their dark, whispered histories and their inclusion on the West Virginia Paranormal Traila curated collection of the state’s most spine-tingling destinations.

This year, the trail has expanded with four new sites, bringing the total to 21.

“We are so excited to bring back the Paranormal Trail this fall, featuring four new mysterious stops for travelers to explore,” West Virginia Department of Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure. “When planning your leaf-peeping trips to the Mountain State, be sure to add some of these spooky adventures to your list. From stunning color to one-of-a-kind experiences, I have a feeling this autumn will be one of the best we’ve ever had.”

The new stops on the trail include the Apollo Civic Theatre in Martinsburg, which was built in 1913 and has welcomed many great names to its stage—including some who never left, according to the West Virginia Department of Tourism. Meanwhile, flickering lights and unexplained footsteps are the norm at Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg, another new site on the trail. And in the Greenbrier Valley Theatre, a 19th century murder and spectral testimony remains one of Appalachia’s most haunting legends.

The final new addition to the paranormal trail may be the most fascinating: Seneca Caverns in Riverton has long been prominent in local lore due to its role as a gathering place and ceremonial space for the Seneca, an Indigenous group. Mysterious sounds are often heard in the cavern, which houses the largest flowstone formation in the state.

Other stops on the trail include a visit to a now-closed penitentiary known for riots and more than 90 executions along with a Gothic-style asylum that became severely overcrowded and remains haunted by patients and staff.

The best way to experience West Virginia’s paranormal trail is by registering online for a free digital passport. The more sites you visit, the more prizes you can win.

Beyond West Virginia, there are spooky destinations travelers can visit all over the country from churches haunted by the spirits of former priests in New Orleans to the location of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in Chicago, a hotel in Colorado that served as the inspiration for Stephen King’s novel “The Shining,” the site of the Civil War’s bloodiest battle in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and more haunted destinations.