7 Bizarrely Named Towns In West Virginia

West Virginia is celebrated for its stunning Appalachian landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Established during the Civil War, it became the 35th state in 1863. As the third most-forested state in the U.S., the Mountain State boasts vast woodlands, including the massive Monongahela National Forest. While the state's economy has deep roots in coal mining, tourism attracts outdoor enthusiasts to its national parks and scenic hiking trails today. Travelers seeking unique destinations will love exploring these seven bizarrely named towns off the beaten path in West Virginia.

Hurricane

Hurricane is a mix of small-town charm, about 30 minutes from the state capital of Charleston. Named after nearby Hurricane Creek, historical murals adorn several downtown buildings by local artists and pay tribute to the town’s history as a railroad town, as does The Caboose, a retired C&O Railcar that houses railroad memorabilia and artifacts. Downtown Main Street has been revitalized into an eclectic shopping district featuring shops like Bear Wood Company, a small woodworking company specializing in telling stories with reclaimed wood, Putnam Provisions Co. coffee shops, and Good Horse Scents, a handcrafted soap company.

The town offers numerous opportunities for outdoor adventure. It features various parks and playgrounds, including the newly opened Hurricane Bridge Park, which boasts pickleball courts, a 36-hole disc golf course, walking trails, and more. Hurricane City Park offers picnic tables, a walking and jogging trail, a skate park, and the popular Sprayground. There’s also a friendly fishing pier where locals fish in the Hurricane Reservoir.

Nitro

Nitro is about fourteen miles west of Charleston, the state capital. Calling itself a “Living Memorial to World War I,” the U.S. government built the town to manufacture smokeless gunpowder called Nitro-Cellulose for the war effort. Nitro’s history books note that another name under consideration at the time was “Redwop,” which is powder spelled backward, but settled on Nitro instead. By the time the manufacturing facility, "Explosive Plant C,” was complete, it was operational for one week before the war ended. Military enthusiasts can learn more about the town’s history at the Wars Museum, which features an extensive collection of memorabilia and artifacts, including a replica of a WWI trench. Near the museum, there’s a Nitro Antique District with shops like Brown’s Antique Mall, the Next Chapter Antiques & Things, and Somewhere in Time.

Left Hand

Left Hand was named after the nearby Lefthand Run Creek. The small community has less than 500 residents, but the small one-room post office is still open. While Left Hand may not have many activities, the town is less than 20 miles via Route 36 through the bizarrely named town of Looneyville to Spencer, home of The Robey Theatre, the longest continuously operating theatre in West Virginia. Built in 1907, the theatre opened in 1911. For outdoor recreation, Charles Fork Lake is a popular destination in Spencer, with more than 1,600 acres and 21 miles of trails in the Appalachian backcountry for hikers to explore. Hikers are encouraged to take the 1.9-mile Ben’s Run Trail loop through the forest to discover an abandoned dam slowly being reclaimed by nature.

For mountain bikers, another section of Ben’s Run is 6 miles of beginner and intermediate to advanced bike trails, with the Chestnut Ridge Winery conveniently located at the trailhead. Finally, Charles Fork Lake is great for paddling and a hotspot for local anglers looking for bass, walleye, and musky.

War

War is the only town in the United States named “War,” whose name comes from nearby War Creek. War is the southernmost city in the Mountain State. One of the biggest draws of the small community of about 800 residents is its proximity to the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System. Named after the historic Hatfield-McCoy feud, the system comprises 11 distinct trail systems with even more quirky names like Bearwallow, Rock House, Ivy Branch, and the Warrior Trail System in the town of War. It is one of the largest off-road vehicle trail systems in the world, with over 1,000 miles of trails catering to ATVs, UTVs, ORVs, and off-road motorcycles. Hungry trail riders can stop at Taco Todd’s, Bunky’s Burgers, or The Owl Drive Up Restaurant near the Warrior trailhead in War.

For visitors who prefer the safety of seatbelts and cruise control, the Coal Heritage Trail is a driving trail that winds its way through 13 counties and 187 miles. Along the way, visitors can see the history of the coal industry unfold in small towns, company stores, railroad yards, and mining museums, like the Beckley Exhibition Coal Museum. The entire trail can be completed in 4.5 hours but can also be spread over two days for a more leisurely adventure.

Droop

Named for nearby Droop Mountain, the community of Droop in Pocahontas County is historically significant as the site of the Battle of Droop Mountain during the Civil War. The battle on November 6, 1863, is considered one of the largest and most important in West Virginia’s history, with the decisive victory by the Union forces. Today, the iconic Droop Mountain Tower marks the spot of the battle in Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park. The state park is part of the Civil War Discovery Trail, only one site of over 300 sites across 16 states that commemorate the Civil War and its impact on the U.S. A must-see for Civil War historians or military enthusiasts, the park contains several haunting sites, including Overlook Trail where visitors can see Civil War trenches, Horse Heaven Rock where horses killed in battle were disposed of, and Musket Trail where stumps of American chestnut trees alive during the war remain stunted in time.

Visitors to Droop and the historic state park can stop a few miles up the road at the Hillsboro Public House, a restaurant housed in an early 20th-century building called Moore’s General Store, serving locally sourced and seasonal food. After lunch, literature lovers can see the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Museum, which preserves the home of West Virginia’s only Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winner.

Paw Paw

Named after the pawpaw fruit tree, which grows in the region and produces a banana-like fruit, the main attraction in town is the nearby Paw Paw Tunnel, a short drive or walk away. Although the tunnel is found across the Potomac River in Maryland, it draws engineering enthusiasts to the small community of 400 residents. The tunnel was built initially to bypass a six-mile stretch of the river known as the Paw Paw Bends. Construction on the 3,118-foot tunnel began in 1836 and took twelve years to complete. Today, it is a highlight of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park. After exploring the tunnel, thirsty travelers can stop at Big & Tiny’s Tavern, a local bar known for its chicken wings. For cyclists and hikers visiting the C&O Canal, Canal Cabins offers fun glamping options for an overnight stay in a sleek, remodeled sleeper van called The Bus.

Paw Paw is also the gateway to the Washington Heritage Trail, a 136-mile-long National Scenic byway that runs along the Potomac River, passing through three historic districts. Following George Washington’s footsteps, visitors can stop at landmarks like George Washington’s Bathtub, Harper’s Ferry National Historical Park, and the 23,000-acre Sleep Creek Wildlife Management Area.

Moundsville

Moundsville is named for the Adena Burial Mounds, particularly the Grave Creek Mound, one of the largest conical burial mounds in the United States. The town pays tribute to the state's archaeological history at the Grave Creek Archaeological Complex, a National Register of Historic Places site, museum, and research center. At the heart of the center is the conical mound, built by the Adena people more than 2,000 years ago.

Downtown Moundsville is home to a variety of unique shops and eateries, including Mindful Making, Living My Best Cigar Life, and The Grand View General Store, which offer visitors a glimpse into the region's cultural heritage. Try the Prima Marina and the Mason-Dixon BBQ Co. for local cuisine. The town’s most famous landmark is the West Virginia Penitentiary, renowned for its spooky Gothic architecture. Built in 1866, it was a maximum security prison housing some of the state’s most dangerous criminals and executing 94 of them until it closed in 1995. Today, it is a creepy tourist hotspot that hosts twilight tours, escape games, paranormal investigations, and the upcoming Horror & Paranormal Convention in April 2025.

Unusual Towns with Stories to Tell

West Virginia is home to a surprising number of towns with names as unusual as their histories. These communities unravel the state's cultural and coal mining history from the curiously named Hurricane to the whimsically titled Left Hand. Exploring locales like Nitro, with its World War I origins, or the southernmost town of War, is like listening to whispered stories that have shaped the Mountain State. Each bizarrely named town, such as Droop, Paw Paw, and Moundsville, has its own tale, contributing to the diverse and fascinating identity of West Virginia.