THURMOND, W.Va. – Once a booming stop along a vital steam-engine rail line, Thurmond, West Virginia, is now the smallest town in the state. A century ago, its streets were lined with businesses, families and the constant hum of trains. Today, it stands at a crossroads, shaped by decades of population loss, destroyed landmarks and unfulfilled promises from the National Park Service.
The town’s trajectory shifted in 1987, when the NPS introduced a voluntary property buyout as part of a new economic development plan. Town Councilwoman Melissa “Missy” McCune, one of Thurmond’s four remaining residents, described the NPS’s plan to make the town “a living history museum” similar to Harper’s Ferry. They promised the restoration of key buildings and a path toward renewed tourism and business investment.
However, a staffing shakeup at the NPS shifted priorities. Instead of revitalizing structures, the new goal became to “preserve and protect in place,” even though a large portion of the population had already conceded to the buyout. Today, the NPS owns roughly 80% of Thurmond’s buildings.
Now, numerous structures are scheduled for demolition as early as 2026. In September, West Virginians afraid of losing irreplaceable pieces of community heritage formed the group Preservation Thurmond with the goal of persuading the NPS that restoration, not demolition, is the better path forward.
“We know that, once those structures are demolished, that history is demolished, in essence,” Holly Clark, president of the organization, said. “Our intention is to assess the value of having these structures standing, renovated, and operating as small businesses versus being demolished and having to pay to have all of that uprooted and taken out.”
“It’s important so that we don’t lose our identity and just become a footnote in history,” McCune said, stressing the value of saving her town beyond its economic implications.
In January, residents will push ahead with fundraising efforts to support the film “Almost Ghost Town.” A documentary by West Virginia filmmaker Jillian Howell, the film helps the town of Thurmond share its story and make the case that its history and future are worth preserving.
This article was adapted from a television news story using AI. All reporting, facts and quotes from sources are original. AI was only used to assist with formatting and style for a digital platform.