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New River Gorge National Park & Preserve - Thurmond

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New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is best known for whitewater rafting and other forms of adventure tourism.  Yet, found in the hollows and isolated valleys are quiet farms and former coal mining towns.  Well off the beaten path and isolated from much of its surroundings, Thurmond provides a unique view into Central West Virginia's industrial past.

Thurmond began as a railroad town in the late 1800s.  Sparked by the arrival of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad and the local coal industry, Thurmond quickly grew into a sizeable transportation and coal center.  When it incorporated as a town in 1903, Thurmond was a full-fledged community - home to two banks, two hotels, and many other services and stores.

A CSX freight train passes the old coaling tower in Thurmond.  It was here that many steam locomotives would refill and refuel.

Thurmond was home to a C&O railyard which serviced the numerous steam engines passing through the narrow valley.  Thurmond was not only a coal freight hub - several branch lines converged here - but also saw a significant share of passenger traffic.  In 1910, 75,000 passengers came through at Thurmond, with 15 scheduled trains per day.  Thurmond's freight receipts in the early 1910s outpaced the C&O's Cincinnati and Richmond yards.

The Bank of Thurmond Building (left), Goodman-Kincaid Building (center), and Mankin-Cox Building are all that remain of Thurmond's once thriving commercial district.

Beginning in 1920, Thurmond began a slow withering along the vine of the C&O railroad.  The growth of the automobile, the Great Depression, and finally the transition from steam to diesel engines nearly brought all commerce to a halt.

Like much of the New River Gorge region, Thurmond began to focus on the recreation industry.  In 1968, three brothers, Joe, Chris, and Tom Dragan, began operation of Wildwater Unlimited in Thurmond.  Their company began offering whitewater rafting tours along the New River, beginning a new era of recreation and adventure tourism in the area.  Ten years later, the New River was designated a National Scenic River, and over the next decade, much of Thurmond came under the control of the National Park Service.

A CSX locomotive sits idle near the Thurmond Depot.  The Depot serves as a Visitor Center for New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, and also as a passenger station for the 3x weekly Amtrak Cardinal.

In the 1980's, many Thurmond residents would voluntarily sell their homes and property to the National Park Service.  The NPS' goal was to preserve much of Thurmond similar to Harpers Ferry.  Places like the former rail depot were converted into a visitor center.  The former commercial district was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.  New River National Scenic River became a national park in 2020.

Former homes in Thurmond - now owned by the National Park Service and planned for removal.

While a handful of Thurmond's buildings have been restored, many have not.  In 2024, the National Park Service announced plans to demolish 19 structures within or near Thurmond.  A year later, the NPS announced that 14 structures, mainly former homes, would be removed.  Three would be retained, and two others would remain if a viable lease proposal were made to the Park Service.  Preservation groups hope to preserve more of Thurmond's past.

Access to Thurmond is limited to a one-lane vehicle addition to the Southside Junction Rail Bridge.

Visiting Thurmond is a unique experience.  Considered by many to be a ghost town, Thurmond, with a current population of 4, still has a mayor and elected town officers.  It is serviced thrice weekly by Amtrak's Cardinal Service.  The town annually hosts a triathlon every June.  Visitors to Thurmond range from railroad and outdoor enthusiasts, preservationists, and sightseers.  The remaining commercial buildings combine an Old West and industrial feel mixed in with century-old homes.  

Thurmond is a special place with an amazing story ready for your interpretation.

All photos taken by the post author - September 25, 2025, unless otherwise noted.

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