FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (SWVO) – The New River Gorge is steeped in history and folklore, but one of its lesser-known tales involves sunken railcars said to be full of whiskey.
The story dates back to the boom days following the completion of the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Railway in 1873, when the gorge transformed into a bustling industrial hub.
From Gauley Bridge in Fayette County to Hamlet in Raleigh County, towns thrived on coal, timber, bottling, and the lifeline of the railroad. For decades, nearly every good—livestock, food, household items, and whiskey—arrived by train.
According to local legend, during the early years of the C&O Railway, a freight train hauling railcars of whiskey derailed near Blue Hole, a deep stretch of the New River between Cotton Hill and Gauley Bridge.
The cars plunged into the water and, the story claims, were never recovered.
Though no official records confirm the incident, whispers persist.
Some say that over the years, bottles of whiskey have mysteriously appeared on the riverbank near Gauley Bridge, fueling speculation that a forgotten treasure still rests beneath the river’s surface.
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