Ghost TownUSA

Ghost Town · West Virginia

Ennis

A ghost town of unknown status in McDowell County, West Virginia.

By the Ghost Town USA research team Last reviewed September 2026

Ennis ghost town, West Virginia
Plate I — Ennis, West VirginiaPhoto: Nyttend (Public domain) via Wikimedia Commons

You don't stumble onto Ennis by accident. That's rather the point. Ennis is an unincorporated community in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States. Ennis lies on U.S. Route 52, west of Switchback.

McDowell County holds 19 documented ghost towns, including Algoma, Bartley, Beartown — Ennis keeps them company on the map.

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The story of Ennis

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

Ennis is an unincorporated community in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States. Ennis lies on U.S. Route 52, west of Switchback. The community most likely was named after a local resident, Joanna Ennis McQuail, wife of coal operator William McQuail.

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What you'll find today

The on-the-ground condition of Ennis 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.

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Getting there

Here's the honest truth: access to Ennis 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. The mapped point for Ennis is roughly 37.3758, -81.3928 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

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Good to know

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.

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Survey Map

Approximate position — verify access locally before visiting

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Ennis FAQs

01Where is Ennis located?
Ennis is in McDowell County, West Virginia, mapped near 37.3758, -81.3928.
02What county is Ennis in?
Ennis sits in McDowell County, West Virginia. See our full guide to ghost towns in McDowell County for its neighbors.
03What is the history of Ennis?
Ennis is an unincorporated community in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States. Ennis lies on U.S. Route 52, west of Switchback. The community most likely was named after a local resident, Joanna Ennis McQuail, wife of coal operator William McQuail.
04What remains at Ennis today?
The on-the-ground condition of Ennis 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.
05Can you visit Ennis?
Here's the honest truth: access to Ennis 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. The mapped point for Ennis is roughly 37.3758, -81.3928 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Sources: account based on Wikipedia (“Ennis, West Virginia”), CC BY-SA.

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More in McDowell County

All 19 ghost towns in McDowell County →