Volcano

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

Volcano is a ghost town in Wood County, West Virginia. It burned to the ground on August 4, 1879, in a fire that was believed to be intentional. According to The New York Times, "There were two attempts made a short time ago to burn the town, and since that time watchmen had been placed on duty. This fire was discovered just after the watchmen retired." The fire was said to have spread "rapidly" before the nearby oil-tanks burst, spreading the oil and fire throughout the rest of the town. It was never rebuilt. It was a petroleum town.

The on-the-ground condition of Volcano 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 Volcano 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 Volcano is roughly 39.2328, -81.2847 — 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.