ANSTED, W.VA. (SWVO) – Since 1973, a curious roadside attraction known as the Mystery Hole has puzzled and delighted travelers along U.S. Route 60 near Hawks Nest.
With a bright Quonset hut, a Volkswagen Beetle lodged in the side, and a gorilla statue perched on the roof, the site is hard to miss—and even harder to forget.
The Mystery Hole was the creation of Donald Wilson, a Union Carbide retiree and Navy veteran who transformed the quirky structure into a local legend.
Known for his warm welcomes and entertaining tours, Wilson guided visitors into a space beneath the building where gravity appeared to behave in strange and impossible ways.
Admission was just $1—or free for those who couldn’t pay.
A deeply religious man, Wilson often quoted Proverbs 17:22—”A merry heart doeth good like a medicine”—as he led guests through what he described as a place where the laws of Newtonian physics simply didn’t apply.
His passion for delighting and inspiring visitors helped the Mystery Hole gain a loyal following and national attention. It inspired a song by West Virginia native Ann Magnuson and a painting by artist David Riffle.
Donald Wilson, a retired Union Carbide employee, stands inside the Mystery Hole in 1985. He opened the quirky and popular roadside attraction in 1973. (WV Encyclopedia/Ben Calwell)
After Wilson’s death in 1998, the attraction briefly closed. In 1999, Sandy and Will Morrison purchased the property and reopened it, continuing the tradition of mind-bending fun.
Today, the Mystery Hole welcomes guests from May through October, with hours that vary depending on the month.
According to its website, the Mystery Hole remains “probably the best kept secret in WEST VIRGINIA or maybe in the whole U.S.A.,” offering an experience where “the laws of gravity seem to have gone berserk and your sense of balance is entirely upset.”
The Mystery Hole is located at 16724 Midland Trail, Ansted, WV 25812.
For more information on seasonal hours and visiting details, click here.
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