Upcoming Events at West Virginia Penitentiary
Fri Jul 8, 10:00 PM - Sat Jul 9, 6:00 AM
West Virginia Penitentiary
818 Jefferson Avenue, Moundsville, WV 26041
Community: Wheeling
Description
The Haunted West Virginia Penitentiary is the one the most harrowing locations you’ll ever visit!
Event Details
Our overnight Ghost Hunts at this location will test your nerve as we investigate all of the most active areas.
We have exclusive overnight access to the whole prison, including access to the “Sugar Shack”, “North Hall” and “Psych Ward
Where will you spend your free time investigating?
West Virginia Penitentiary Ghost Hunt image
Location History:
When Virginia seceded with the South during the Civil War, West Virginia remained with the Union and therefore needed to build their own public institutions. The prison was built in Moundsville, WV opened its doors in 1876 and was in full operation until 1995.
During the life of the prison it was considered one of the most violent correctional facilities with over 36 inmate on inmate deaths. Perhaps the most notorious location within the facility was the prisoner recreation room known as “The Sugar Shack.”
The walls hid the deep dark secrets and illegal activities such as gambling, fighting, rape and murder.
One of the most violent deaths of an inmate was R.D.Wall, a known snitch. On October 8, 1929, Walls was jumped by three fellow prisoners who stabbed him to death with shivs.
The bloody massacre did not leave much for the guards to identity and rumor has it that this murder is linked to one of the first ghostly sightings within the walls of West Virginia Penitentiary.
Not all deaths were laid at the feet of inmates. West Virginia Penitentiary sent over 85 men to the gallows before it was ruled as cruel and unusual punishment in the 1950’s. All the hangings were public affairs where the community would gather to watch the inmates take their final swing.
When reviewing the cases of botched hangings there was a report of one prisoner who had been decapitated in the process.
The electric chair that was designed by an inmate to take the place of the gallows is still on display within the walls. Before Capital Punishment was outlawed by the state of West Virginia in 1965, 9 more prisoners met their fate in “Old Sparky.”
The violence of riots was commonplace, particularly in light of the overcrowding. One of the highly documented riots took place on March 20, 1973.
We have exclusive overnight access to the whole prison, including access to the “Sugar Shack”, “North Hall” and “Psych Ward
Where will you spend your free time investigating?
West Virginia Penitentiary Ghost Hunt image
Location History:
When Virginia seceded with the South during the Civil War, West Virginia remained with the Union and therefore needed to build their own public institutions. The prison was built in Moundsville, WV opened its doors in 1876 and was in full operation until 1995.
During the life of the prison it was considered one of the most violent correctional facilities with over 36 inmate on inmate deaths. Perhaps the most notorious location within the facility was the prisoner recreation room known as “The Sugar Shack.”
The walls hid the deep dark secrets and illegal activities such as gambling, fighting, rape and murder.
One of the most violent deaths of an inmate was R.D.Wall, a known snitch. On October 8, 1929, Walls was jumped by three fellow prisoners who stabbed him to death with shivs.
The bloody massacre did not leave much for the guards to identity and rumor has it that this murder is linked to one of the first ghostly sightings within the walls of West Virginia Penitentiary.
Not all deaths were laid at the feet of inmates. West Virginia Penitentiary sent over 85 men to the gallows before it was ruled as cruel and unusual punishment in the 1950’s. All the hangings were public affairs where the community would gather to watch the inmates take their final swing.
When reviewing the cases of botched hangings there was a report of one prisoner who had been decapitated in the process.
The electric chair that was designed by an inmate to take the place of the gallows is still on display within the walls. Before Capital Punishment was outlawed by the state of West Virginia in 1965, 9 more prisoners met their fate in “Old Sparky.”
The violence of riots was commonplace, particularly in light of the overcrowding. One of the highly documented riots took place on March 20, 1973.
