Thurmond

Thurmond is a former railroad hub in the New River Gorge with restored structures from its industrial era. The renovated depot now functions as a visitor center, displaying how the town once operated as a major freight transportation point.

The town emerged in the late 1800s as a railroad junction and peaked around 1910 when freight volumes were extraordinary. Decline followed as coal mines closed and railroad operations reduced throughout the 20th century.

The buildings reflect the railroad and coal mining era, with structures maintained to show how people lived and worked during that period. Walking through the town gives a sense of what daily life looked like when the railroad was the center of everything.

The visitor center operates mainly during warmer months and features exhibits about railroad history and operations. Comfortable walking shoes are helpful since the site sits within the gorge landscape and invites exploration of the surroundings.

Despite having only a handful of permanent residents, the town maintains an active Amtrak station on a major passenger route where trains still stop. This makes it one of the few places where travelers can step off a train directly into an abandoned community.