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Moundsville Penitentiary operated for 129 years as a maximum-security prison. Numerous accounts of violent riots, murders, and even paranormal episodes have been documented. Prisoners faced inhumane conditions, and neglect, alongside traumatic experiences, led many to believe that the spirits of the deceased inmates still haunt the premises. Over the course of its operation, the penitentiary recorded nearly a thousand deaths, including 94 executions—contributing to its reputation as a site of despair.
Robert Sarver, the former West Virginia Director of Corrections, once described the penitentiary as "a frightening trauma-producing monstrosity." Today, the ruins of this once-feared institution stand not merely as a historical site but as a beacon for those fascinated by the unknown.