National Park Service Plans Demolition of Historic Thurmond Buildings

The National Park Service is scheduled to begin demolishing several historic buildings in the West Virginia ghost town of Thurmond later this month, KMUW reported.

The decision has caused tension between federal authorities and the residents who still live in the canyon town. While the Park Service aims to manage deteriorating structures, local residents argue the move contradicts previous understandings regarding the preservation of the town’s unique legacy.

Thurmond sits at the bottom of a steep canyon carved by the New River, a location defined by its relationship to the railroad that serves as its main street. In the early 1900s, the town functioned as a shipping hub for local mines and an important site for labor history, housing an office for the Baldwin-Felts antiunion enforcers.

Thurmond, West Virginia: Historic Houses Face Demolition

“It’s kind of like having a really bad neighbor, but it’s the federal government,” said Tighe Bullock, a town council member.

The federal government purchased much of the town during the 1970s and 1980s following the decline of the coal industry. The intent was to transform the area into a destination for history enthusiasts and hikers within the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

Bullock, who is also a general contractor, expressed frustration over the condition of the buildings. He said that many residents sold their property to the government with the expectation that their history would be protected rather than dismantled.

One specific structure, the Marilyn Brown house, became a focal point of the dispute. As the only remaining example of an average worker’s residence on the main street, the small home has suffered from neglect, with visitors scratching names into its peeling paint and plywood covering missing doors.

However, following feedback from the town council and various historians, the National Park Service reversed its decision regarding this specific property. The agency now plans to keep the house and perform upgrades, including a new roof and fresh paint.

Thurmond Demolition Update — WOAY TV

“It’s going to get further stabilized to stay in good condition. It’s not going to come to the point where it’s going to be a livable house,” said Derek Hildebrand, acting deputy superintendent of the New River Gorge National Park.

Hildebrand said that most structures in Thurmond currently lack the necessary utility infrastructure to support residential living.

The demolition of the most rundown structures is being driven by a new management plan funded by the Great American Outdoors Act. The agency has struggled to secure the full budget required to comprehensively renovate the entire town.

While some buildings will be repaired, the Park Service maintains that the demolitions are a necessary part of managing the site. Hildebrand acknowledged that the current state of the town can feel like a disappointment to the community.

The ghost town of thurmond in the river gorge national park west virginia

“We collectively have had the big dreams and hopes of the big things that were talked about for design and development plans in Thurmond. I get that. I understand where they see that, you know, feels like a missed opportunity,” Hildebrand told KMUW.

The demolition of the most dilapidated buildings is set to begin soon.