Royal Ghost Town
Raleigh County, West Virginia37.8528, -81.0678
Can you visit?
Public land, open access
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve · Open to visitors
- Nearest town
- 5.1 miStanaford, WV
- Mild months
- Apr–Oct7 of 12
- Elevation
- 1,240 ft379 m
Royal is a former settlement in Raleigh County, West Virginia, listed among the ghost towns of West Virginia. It lies at about 1,240 feet above sea level.
On the map
- National Park Service
- Private or unlisted
Star: Royal. Dots: other ghost towns within 40 miles, colored by land manager. Squares: towns over 1,000 people. Rings are straight-line distance. Live map: © OpenFreeMap, OpenMapTiles, OpenStreetMap contributors.
The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Stanaford, WV, about 5.1 miles southwest in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Roanoke, VA, 73 miles away.
Ghost towns nearby
- Stonewall3.8 mi southwest
- Glade3.9 mi east
- Greenwood4.7 mi east
- Dunloup4.9 mi west
- Turkey Knob5.6 mi northwest
- Layland5.8 mi northeast
- Meadow Fork5.9 mi north
- Pinepoca6 mi southwest
Distances are straight lines. Roads to ruins are often dirt, and a 20-mile hop can take an hour.
Who owns the land
National Park Service: New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
PAD-US places this spot on New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, land managed by the National Park Service. PAD-US marks it as open to the public. Park rules, fees and seasonal closures can still apply. Another parcel starts within a quarter mile: Private Land Owner 1. Ruins often spread across more than one owner.
The point is the town location from Wikidata, and the land record is from PAD-US 3.0 (USGS). Ruins can spread past that point, and land changes hands faster than the database. How we read PAD-US.
Weather by month
Mild months here run April to October, judging by NOAA normals from Oak Hill.
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from the Oak Hill station (USC00466591), 9.4 miles away. The town sits about 800 feet lower than the station, so expect it to run warmer. About 47.9 inches of precipitation a year.
Facts
| Location | Raleigh County, West Virginia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37.85280, -81.06780 |
| Elevation | 1,240 ft (379 m) |
| Also known as | Royal, West Virginia, Royal, WV |
| Sources | Wikidata Q7373563 · Wikipedia article |
Questions
Where is Royal ghost town?
In Raleigh County, West Virginia, at 37.8528, -81.0678. The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Stanaford, WV, about 5.1 miles southwest in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Roanoke, VA, 73 miles away.
Can you visit Royal?
Public land, open access. PAD-US places this spot on New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, land managed by the National Park Service. PAD-US marks it as open to the public. Park rules, fees and seasonal closures can still apply. Another parcel starts within a quarter mile: Private Land Owner 1. Ruins often spread across more than one owner.
When is the best time to visit Royal?
Mild months here run April to October, judging by NOAA normals from Oak Hill.
Are there other ghost towns near Royal?
Yes. Stonewall (3.8 mi), Glade (3.9 mi), Greenwood (4.7 mi), Dunloup (4.9 mi).
