Ames

West Virginia's ghost towns are coal company towns, owned outright by the mine and abandoned the same way.

Ames is an unincorporated community in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States. It was also known as Elmo, a now defunct coal town. The last production of coal was reported in 1963.

The on-the-ground condition of Ames is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Ames is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.