Gad

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

Gad is an extinct town in Nicholas County, West Virginia, United States. The community was located on McKee's Creek, but was purchased by the US Army Corps of Engineers for the construction of Summersville Lake, which opened on September 3, 1966. The site of the town is now located under the lake near the marina. The community most likely was named after the Gadd family. Next to Gad was a town named Sparks, which also saw residents relocate and is now covered in water.

The on-the-ground condition of Gad 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 Gad 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 Gad is roughly 38.2397, -80.8842 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

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.