West Virginia Penitentiary
4.8(2.5K)google
4.5(89)yelp
HistoryHistoric BuildingEerie & HauntedGuided TourQuirky
Overview
The West Virginia Penitentiary, located in Moundsville, West Virginia is now a withdrawn and retired gothic-style prison that operated from 1866 to 1995. The site is now being maintained as a tourist attraction, museum, training facility, and filming location.
Practical Info
Mon9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tue9:45 AM – 4:00 PM
Wed9:45 AM – 4:00 PM
Thu9:45 AM – 4:00 PM
Fri9:45 AM – 4:00 PM
Sat9:45 AM – 4:00 PM
Sun9:45 AM – 4:00 PM
Suggested Duration1.5-3 hours
Best TimeOpen for historic tours year-round, but the definitive bucket-list window is a late October night. Regarded as one of the most haunted structures in America, the prison hosts 'Dungeon of Horrors' events in October. Touring the dark cellblocks and execution chambers between 8:00 PM and midnight is intensely spine-chilling.
Getting ThereLocated directly in downtown Moundsville at 818 Jefferson Ave. Accessible via car; drive along the Ohio River scenic corridor on Route 2, turn east onto 8th St for two blocks, and the massive, fortress-like castellated stone walls will appear. Ample free parallel and angled diagonal customer parking faces the main gate.
Travel Tips
- Standard history tours and overnight paranormal investigations require advance online booking. The historic prison lacks modern HVAC, making it stifling hot in summer and freezing cold in winter; dress and hydrate accordingly.
- To protect structural integrity and guard against lead paint hazards, visitors must stay strictly with the guide on designated walkways. Straying into unrenovated cell blocks or touching peeling walls and rusted iron is forbidden.
- Free street parking near the prison is extremely limited and subject to local resident time restrictions. Use the designated paid lot directly opposite the main entrance, or park at the nearby Grave Creek Mound lot and walk over.
Reviews
Positive
- This massive Gothic Revival prison is historic and eerie; walking past tight solitary cells and gallows delivers an intense impact.
- The late-night paranormal ghost hunts are highly thrilling, letting you explore pitch-black historic cell blocks with a flashlight.
- The guides possess masterful knowledge regarding heavy convict history and violent riots, keeping the storytelling intensely engaging.
- The artifacts room displays homemade weapons and the authentic electric chair, offering a graphic, profound look at prison history.
Heads up
- With zero modern climate control inside the stone fortress, cell blocks get uncomfortably hot and stuffy during peak summer tours.
- The explicit narratives of execution and harsh punishments are not suitable for young kids, potentially causing distress.
- The standard daytime walk is fast-paced and strictly regimented; tourists must keep moving, leaving zero time for self-paced photos.
- Surrounding street spaces get severely congested during local events, and the prison's dedicated gravel lot is small and uneven.