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All the United States West Virginia Volcano Historic Boomtown

Volcano Historic Boomtown

Once home to a thriving oil industry, this town now sits eerily abandoned.

Walker, West Virginia

Added By
Robert Titus
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The ruins of Thornhill, built in the shape of a Maltese Cross. It was three stories tall.   rbt45769 / Atlas Obscura User
A foundation for a steam engine which powered the pumping system.   rbt45769 / Atlas Obscura User
These tanks were built like barrels, with riveted metal bands holding them together.   rbt45769 / Atlas Obscura User
Many of the oil storage tanks at Volcano were wooden.   rbt45769 / Atlas Obscura User
A plaque marking the location of Volcano, WV.   rbt45769 / Atlas Obscura User
The trail head is well marked. It is a county park, not a state park.   rbt45769 / Atlas Obscura User
The steps leading to the Stile’s estate are very steep.   rbt45769 / Atlas Obscura User
More ruins. Hiking trails now cross the former estate.   rbt45769 / Atlas Obscura User
A map of Volcano.   rbt45769 / Atlas Obscura User
The endless cable system helped boost oilfield production.   rbt45769 / Atlas Obscura User
Two decaying oil tanks and a pump house in the Volcano, WV oil field.   rbt45769 / Atlas Obscura User
A plaque marking the steps to Thornhill.   rbt45769 / Atlas Obscura User
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The ghost town of Volcano was built in the 1860s in the middle of a developing oil and gas well field. At night, the sky glowed from oil derrick lanterns like erupting volcanos. It was a boom town complete with two newspapers, a bowling alley, and several mercantile establishments including saloons.  

A short-line railroad was built to connect to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, so the oil could be taken to Parkersburg, West Virginia refineries. Depending on the source, the population had grown to nearly 4,000 before disaster struck in August 1879.

A fire of suspicious origin broke out in a downtown building at 4 am and quickly spread to oil storage tanks. The wooden tanks ruptured, spreading burning oil throughout the town. Due to the remote location, difficult terrain and total lack of firefighting equipment the town burned to the ground. The devastated town was never completely rebuilt. Commercial activity resumed, but the town went out of existence by the early 1950s.

The town’s founder was W.C. Stiles, who devised an ingenious method of simultaneously pumping several wells using an endless cable system, adapted from the Philadelphia streetcar system. This new system was widely used by the oil industry—one of Volcano's wells even remained in service until 1974. The ruins of his Volcano estate are part of the Mountwood State Park and are open to the public.

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Abandoned Oil Ghost Towns

Know Before You Go

Visitors can reach the site of Volcano, WV by traveling east from Parkersburg, WV on US 50 for 21.5 miles. You will then take the Mountwood Park exit and follow the signs for County Road 5. In approximately three miles you will arrive at the Volcano plaque. The Stiles Estate Trailhead is a short distance from Volcano on the same road.

There is no admission and a parking area is located at the beginning of the trailhead. It is a 20 minute hike to reach the ruins of the Stiles estate. Please wear durable hiking boots, as the climb to the estate is challenging. 

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rbt45769

Published

October 10, 2022

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Volcano Historic Boomtown
Walker, West Virginia
United States
39.231382, -81.290385

Nearby Places

Mountwood Park

Waverly, West Virginia

miles away

Willow Island Disaster Memorial

St Marys, West Virginia

miles away

Berdine's Five and Dime

Harrisville, West Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of West Virginia

West Virginia

United States

Places 112
Stories 10

Nearby Places

Mountwood Park

Waverly, West Virginia

miles away

Willow Island Disaster Memorial

St Marys, West Virginia

miles away

Berdine's Five and Dime

Harrisville, West Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of West Virginia

West Virginia

United States

Places 112
Stories 10

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