For some reason, we’re always drawn to the abandoned places. They’re harsh reminders of a once-thriving space, now just slowly being reclaimed by Mother Nature. There are many abandoned places in West Virginia, but few can compare to Coalwood. Coalwood is an incorporated coal town in McDowell County that actually has a handful of residents still living there, but for the most part, it’s another abandoned place in West Virginia. Let’s take a look at the history of this coal mine town and what happened to it:

Highlighting the beautifully eerie work of Cleveland-based photographer Johnny Joo, discover more fascinating abandoned locations across America in our Vacant Series. These unique man-made structures have been left abandoned and are slowly being reclaimed by nature.

Editor’s Note: Due to the nature of abandoned destinations, many of the places featured in this series are off-limits to visitors or have actually been demolished. We do not condone trespassing and other illegal activity but rather encourage readers to enjoy learning about these fascinating destinations.

Special thanks to Cleveland-based photographer Johnny Joo of Odd World Studio for the photos used in this article. For more images, check out his website, Architectural Afterlife. Discover even more spooky places in Vacant: Inside 13 Eerie and Fascinating Abandoned Locations Across America

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