Lignite
The Iron Ghost
State: Virginia
County: Botetourt County
Founded: 1880s
Abandoned: 1920s
Peak Population: 3,000
Lignite was a company town for the Alleghany Ore and Iron Company. At its peak, it had hundreds of houses, a hotel, and a theater. When the mines closed in the 1920s, the town was dismantled. Foundations and slag piles are hidden in the George Washington National Forest.
Plan Your Visit
Best Time: Winter (visibility)
Difficulty: Moderate
Time Needed: 2 hours
Quick Facts
- Named after low-grade coal
- Population of 3,000 vanished
- Hidden in National Forest
Location
Address: Lignite Rd, Oriskany, VA
Coordinates: 37.7333, -79.9333