The Appalachian mountainsides of West Virginia harbor secrets that the dense forests and winding roads have tried to reclaim—but some histories are too heavy to stay hidden.

Standing as a silent sentinel over the town of Williamson, The Old Hospital on College Hill is a monument to a century of survival, innovation, and unresolved trauma.

A Phoenix from the Ashes (1928)

The story of the current structure begins in tragedy. In the winter of 1926, a massive fire consumed the original hospital downtown.

The escape of the patients became local legend: stories tell of a mother throwing her newborn from a third-story window into the waiting arms of a man on the street, and nurses leaping onto piles of mattresses to survive.

In March 1928, the "new" Williamson Memorial Hospital opened on the hilltop. It was a state-of-the-art, fireproof facility built with funds raised by local business owners.

For 60 years, it was the medical heartbeat of the region, treating coal miners, railroad workers, and families through the industrial boom of the 20th century.

The Weight of History

The hospital wasn’t just a place for routine care; it was a front-row witness to the region's hardest days:

• The 1956 Train Derailment: When the famous "Pocahontas" steam engine crashed nearby, the hospital was flooded with the injured and dying, turning the hallways into a triage center of chaos.

• The Fall of Mose Blackburn: In 1962, a man named Mose Blackburn—who had just murdered a police officer—was brought to the hospital for his own wounds. Rather than face trial, he leaped from a third-story window in an apparent suicide attempt, succumbing to his injuries weeks later.

• The Clinical Segregation: True to the era, the hospital was built with seven separate wards to maintain segregation between African-American and white patients, a reminder of the social scars etched into the building's blueprint.

From Medicine to Mystery

As modern medicine moved on, the facility was replaced by a newer complex in 1988. The building served as physician offices until 2014, then fell into a decade of decay. In 2020, it was purchased by private investors.

By 2021, the hospital gained national notoriety, featured on the Travel Channel’s Destination Fear.

Today, it is recognized as one of the most active paranormal sites in Appalachia.

What Remains: The "New Patients"

Investigators and locals report that many of the thousands who passed through these halls never truly checked out:

• The Phantom Nurse: A figure in white is frequently seen on the 4th floor and in the basement. Legend says she was a dedicated nurse who died in a car accident on her way to work and continues her rounds in the afterlife.

• The Unfriendly Entity: In the basement X-ray room—once the site of trauma and amputations—a malevolent male spirit is said to dwell. Visitors report feeling a crushing heaviness, and some have even seen a face manifesting within the walls.

• The Elevator to Nowhere: The hospital houses the oldest operating elevator in Mingo County. It is known to move on its own, stopping at locked, empty floors as if summoned by invisible passengers.

• The Surgeon’s Horse: One of the most bizarre legends involves Dr. Salton, who allegedly loved his horse so much that when it fell ill, he brought it into the hospital, took it up the elevator, and performed surgery on it in a 4th-floor operating room.

Whether it is the residual smoke seen rising from the long-dormant chimney or the shadow figures watching from the upper windows, the Old Hospital on College Hill remains a place where the past refuses to be forgotten.

Just be warned—once you know what’s said to roam these halls, you may think twice before walking them yourself.

The Patient Manifest: A Catalog of the Unexplained

Since opening its doors to investigators and the public, the Old Hospital on College Hill has amassed a chilling record of encounters that suggest the building's medical history is far from over.

From seasoned paranormal teams to skeptical first-time visitors, those who enter the hilltop structure frequently report the following phenomena:

• The Phantom Nurse: Perhaps the hospital's most legendary resident, this shadowy female figure is frequently seen patrolling the 4th-floor corridors. She is often described as wearing period-style nursing attire, appearing to complete her rounds decades after her final shift ended.

• Figures in the Windows: Residents of the town below often report seeing dark silhouettes peering out from the upper-floor windows. These watchful shadows are observed even when the building is entirely empty and locked tight.

• Unexplained Lights: Despite the lack of power manipulation, lights are frequently seen turning on and off throughout the building. These luminous anomalies often occur in sealed rooms where no human presence is possible.

• Phantom Smoke: One of the most persistent visual mysteries is the sight of smoke rising from the hospital’s chimney. Investigations have confirmed there are no active fires or heat sources within the structure to account for the discharge.

• Following Apparitions: A sense of being "escorted" is common here. Guests regularly report the sensation—and occasional visual confirmation—of being followed by unseen entities that shadow their movements from room to room.

• Disembodied Voices: The silence of the wards is often broken by whispering, heavy footsteps, and intelligent responses captured during EVP sessions. These voices are most prominent near the former patient rooms and the narrow, claustrophobic corridors of the basement.

• Sudden Temperature Drops: Investigators frequently document "cold spots"—localized pockets of air where the temperature plunges rapidly without a draft, often coinciding with the feeling of being touched or watched.

The Hospital Hierarchy

While many spirits seem to be residual echoes of the past, others appear to interact directly with those who dare to enter:

• The Basement Entity: The basement, which served as the primary entrance for years, is home to a heavy, oppressive energy. Here, investigators often encounter a malevolent presence that seems protective of the X-ray and surgical areas.

• The Eternal Patients: Many visitors believe the "following" entities are the spirits of long-term patients who died in the facility, reaching out to the living in a desperate attempt to have their forgotten histories validated.

The Old Hospital on College Hill has earned its reputation as one of Appalachia’s most unsettling locations.

Whether it is the dedicated staff still on duty or the patients who never found their way home, the hilltop remains a place where the past refuses to stay buried.

Are you prepared to face the spirits of College Hill, or will you become part of the hospital's growing list of witnesses?

🗝️ Your Exclusive Night of Paranormal Investigation at The Old Hospital on College Hill

Dare to ascend the narrow, winding road to the summit of Williamson, West Virginia, for an intense and immersive overnight investigation of this legendary hilltop infirmary.

Your night is carefully structured to provide both guided exploration and dedicated private investigation time within this 1928 medical landmark—a site where the echoes of coal-era tragedies and clinical hardship still resonate through the concrete.

Wander through the shadowed patient wards, the echoing operating theater, and the notorious basement entrance, each area carrying the weight of nearly a century of life-or-death struggles and medical mystery.

🌙 Guided Paranormal Experience

Your investigation begins with expert guidance to introduce you to the hospital's most persistent residual energies and its harrowing Appalachian past.

• Exclusive Access to Active Areas: Your access covers the entire complex, including the 4th-floor surgical suite, the shadowy X-ray room, and the subterranean boiler area where the "heavy" energy and negative entities are most frequently reported.

• Deep Dive into College Hill History: We will share the full, gripping history of the site—from the devastating 1926 fire and the 1956 train derailment victims to the chilling story of Mose Blackburn’s final leap from the third floor.

• Communication Sessions: Engage in structured attempts to contact the Phantom Nurse and the lingering spirits of patients who spent their final days within these walls, using proven techniques to trigger interactive responses.

🔬 Hands-On Paranormal Investigation

You will participate in small-group vigils across the most active hotspots, utilizing a blend of modern technology and traditional investigative techniques:

• Ghost Hunting Equipment: Get hands-on with professional gear, including EMF Meters, K2 Meters, and digital voice recorders to capture the intelligent EVPs often whispered in the silent hallways.

• Technical Experiments: Participate in guided experiments such as Rem-Pod triggers, spirit box sessions, and flashlight communication within the very rooms where patients once fought for their lives.

• Vigils and Observation: Conduct focused ghost hunting vigils in small groups within the most energetic zones, including the old elevator landing and the original segregated wards.

🔦 Dedicated Private Exploration Time

A significant portion of the night is allocated for solo or small-group free time toward the end of the investigation.

This is your crucial chance to break away and conduct your own private vigil in the most active spots. Will you brave the basement alone, or set up your cameras in the Operating Room to capture the phantom smoke and shadow figures that watch from the windows?

☕ Refreshments

• Late-Night Refreshments: To keep your senses sharp, we provide coffee, cold drinks, water, and light snacks throughout the investigation. We will observe necessary rest breaks to allow you to debrief your findings and recuperate before the "witching hour" begins.

Event Details: The Old Hospital on College Hill

Event Time: 8:00 PM until 4:00 AM (Overnight Investigation) Arrival & Registration: Please arrive promptly by 7:45 PM for registration and a safety briefing.

Location Address: 101 Fourth Ave, Williamson, WV 25661, United States (Perched atop the hill overlooking downtown Williamson)

Tickets: $149 per person Deposit Option: Secure your spot with a $30 per person deposit (Non-Refundable).

Balance Due: The remaining balance is due 4 weeks prior to your event date.

Important Note: All guests will be required to sign a liability and safety waiver upon arrival at the event.

This location features steep stairs and decaying infrastructure; please dress accordingly. Age 18+ only.