By: Kristen Murphy

West Virginia is known for her beautiful scenery, ranging from the mountains to lakes. Many people travel the state to take in all she has to offer; we’re known as “Almost Heaven” for a reason. What many don’t know is that West Virginia also has a dark past in some counties. In Mercer County, there is an abandoned amusement park called “Lake Shawnee,” but what happened their makes heads turn.

In 1783, a Native American tribe killed two children and burnt one at the stake; they were siblings and this commonly became known as The Clay Incident. After the slaughter of Mitchell Clay’s children, along with other settlers, the settlers killed many Native Americans, and the area was changed forever. The property, however, didn’t receive much recognition until it was bought in the 1920s by C.T. Snidow, who turned it into a park. Things took a turn for the worse once a little girl died on the swings and a young boy drowned in the pond. It’s said that six visitors were victims of this amusement park. After these mysterious deaths, the park was abandoned in 1966. The bones and artifacts left from the Native American tribe was located 20 years later once Gaylord White bought the property and had construction crews tear into the grass and soil to prepare a neighborhood.

The White family didn’t stay at Lake Shawnee, and everything was kept the way it was found. This area is a highlight to Mercer County and has attracted ghost hunters and other experts. It’s said to be one of the “Most Terrifying Places in America,” as well as one of the “10 Most Haunted Places in the World.” The park is on private property but there are tours throughout the year, October seems to be the best time because of the Dark Carnival. If interested on the history of this amusement park, visit https://visitmercercounty.com/lakeshawnee/