THURMOND, WV (SWVO) – After nearly three years of planning, the National Park Service is preparing to begin the demolition of more than a dozen historic structures in and around Thurmond, despite growing public opposition, a pending legal challenge and questions about whether the buildings could be preserved.
A project schedule obtained by Southern West Virginia Online shows equipment is expected to begin moving into Thurmond around November 15, with demolition activities continuing through the winter and into March 2027.
The plans have attracted increasing attention on social media, with former residents, preservation advocates and members of the public expressing concerns about the permanent loss of buildings that have stood in the historic railroad community for generations.
However, some information circulating online has incorrectly suggested that the entire town is being demolished.
That is not the case.
Thurmond’s historic Commercial Row, railroad depot and several other homes and structures are not included in the demolition plans and will remain standing.
Nevertheless, the project calls for the removal of more than a dozen historically significant structures, including houses and other buildings that remain standing on their foundations and have not collapsed. Preservation advocates argue that some of these structures could still be rehabilitated rather than demolished.
A plan years in the making
The demolition proposal was first publicly introduced by the National Park Service in December 2023, during President Joe Biden’s administration.
The agency subsequently released an environmental assessment in October 2024, outlining the proposed removals and allowing additional public review.
On July 18, 2025, during President Donald Trump’s administration, the National Park Service signed a Finding of No Significant Impact, formally approving a revised version of the demolition plan. The decision was publicly announced on July 24, 2025.
The timeline is significant as misinformation has circulated suggesting the demolition proposal originated under the Trump administration. In reality, the proposal was developed by the National Park Service during Biden’s presidency, although final approval came after Trump returned to office.
Questions about preservation promises
Much of the opposition centers on the history of the National Park Service acquiring properties in Thurmond.
Over several decades, the federal government purchased homes and other structures in the community as part of efforts to preserve and manage the historic town within New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
Former residents have said they understood that the buildings would be maintained and preserved, rather than eventually demolished.
The National Park Service itself previously undertook stabilization efforts in Thurmond, including a program beginning in 2003 intended to protect deteriorating buildings until they could be rehabilitated or restored.
For those who once called Thurmond home, the proposed demolitions represent more than the loss of aging structures. They represent the disappearance of places connected to generations of families and the community’s railroad history.
The National Park Service, meanwhile, has cited deteriorating conditions, safety concerns and the substantial costs associated with rehabilitating and maintaining the buildings. The agency has maintained that removing selected structures would allow limited resources to be directed toward preserving other historic properties.
Leasing opportunities remain unresolved
Another point of controversy involves potential leasing opportunities that could allow some structures to be preserved.
In its final decision, the National Park Service identified the Tom Kelly House, Dun Glen Mini Ark and Dun Glen Boat Storage Rack as properties that could potentially be retained through leasing arrangements.
However, as of November 8, formal Requests for Proposals for those leasing opportunities had not been issued, despite the approaching demolition schedule.
The absence of those solicitations has raised concerns about whether interested individuals or organizations will have a meaningful opportunity to pursue preservation alternatives before work begins.
Demolition schedule outlines months of work
The project schedule obtained by Southern West Virginia Online provides a detailed timeline for the demolition of individual structures, beginning in November 2026 and continuing into March 2027.
According to the schedule, the following work is planned:
- November 15–22: Preliminary site preparations, access investigations, utility coordination, permitting and hazardous-material surveys.
- Late November: Equipment mobilization in Thurmond and demolition of the Charles Ashley Outbuilding and Garage.
- Late November–early December: Demolition of the Harold Smith House.
- December 2026: Demolition of the May Bagoski House and Sidney Allen Ward House.
- Late December–early January: Demolition of the Wedzel Young House.
- January 2027: Demolition of the Pugh Rental House, James Humphrey Sr. House and McGuffin Garage.
- Late January–early February: Demolition of the McClung Meadows House, along with land restoration and final inspections in Thurmond.
- Mid-February: Demobilization of equipment from Thurmond.
- Late February–early March: Demolition of the Prince General Store in Prince.
- March 2027: Demolition of the Brookside Pool Building, followed by land restoration, inspections and final project documentation.
The schedule includes additional time for potential weather-related delays, with final activities extending toward the end of March.
According to project documentation, a restricted perimeter extending 150 feet around each structure will be established while demolition activities are underway.
The work is being scheduled during the winter months to accommodate environmental considerations involving bats.
The schedule is subject to change depending on weather, site conditions and other factors.
Legal challenge and petition seek to stop demolitions
The Town of Thurmond has filed a legal challenge seeking to stop the demolitions. As of November 8, no court decision on that challenge has been confirmed.
Meanwhile, public opposition continues to grow as more people learn about the project.
An online petition opposing the demolitions has gathered numerous signatures, with preservation advocates encouraging residents and others interested in Thurmond’s history to make their voices heard.
The petition is available here.
The Fayette County Commission has also expressed opposition to the demolition plans, adopting a resolution in October encouraging the National Park Service to pursue preservation and stabilization alternatives.
Although the National Park Service revised its original proposal to spare certain structures, including the Marilyn Brown House, many other historic buildings remain scheduled for removal.
For preservation advocates, the central concern is not that every building in Thurmond is being destroyed, but that a significant portion of the community’s remaining historic buildings could be permanently lost.
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