Stiltner

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

Stiltner was a small unincorporated community that developed at the mouth of Brush Creek, a tributary of Twelvepole Creek, in Wayne County, West Virginia, United States. In 1969, Stiltner and the surrounding area were permanently submerged under the constructed East Lynn Lake. Stiltner had a Post Office. A former variant name was Fry; the present name honors the local Stiltner family.

The on-the-ground condition of Stiltner 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 Stiltner 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.