Carbondale

West Virginia's ghost towns are coal company towns, owned outright by the mine and abandoned the same way.

Carbondale is an unincorporated community and coal town in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States. The community most likely was named for the production of coal, a carbon-based fuel. Carbondale is located within the city boundaries of Smithers.

The on-the-ground condition of Carbondale is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Carbondale is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.