Virginia City is an abandoned and up for sale theme park north of Wytheville, VA on Highway 52. The asking price for this place is only $1.5 million!

Hotel Esmarelda at Virginia City
Wytheville, VA
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

The climb up Big Walker Mountain is one of those drives where you expect to find scenic overlooks, old country stores, and maybe a roadside diner or two. What you probably don't expect is to round a bend and suddenly find yourself staring at an Old West town. That's exactly what greeted travelers for years at Virginia City, a quirky mountain attraction that looked as though someone had picked up a frontier movie set and dropped it in the middle of the Virginia mountains.

Old Storefront Virginia City
Wytheville, VA
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

Originally opening as Dry Gulch Junction in the late 1960s, Virginia City was built to give families one more reason to slow down along U.S. Route 52. Before Interstate 77 and Interstate 81 became the preferred routes through the region, Highway 52 carried a steady stream of vacationers winding over Big Walker Mountain. Attractions like this depended on motorists who were willing to trade speed for scenery, and Virginia City fit right in.

Virgina City building
Wytheville, VA
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

The wooden storefronts, false-front buildings, boardwalks, and weathered signs created the feeling of stepping into another century. The biggest attraction was an authentic steam locomotive that carried visitors farther up the mountain, turning an already scenic drive into a memorable excursion. It wasn't trying to compete with the giant theme parks that would later dominate family vacations. Instead, it was exactly the kind of independently owned roadside stop that made exploring America's back roads so much fun.

Another Building
Wytheville, VA
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

As the Interstate highways diverted more traffic away from Route 52, places like Virginia City faced an uphill battle. Fewer travelers discovered the winding mountain road, and eventually the old western town closed. For years the empty buildings sat quietly along the highway, becoming a favorite stop for photographers and curious explorers who appreciated faded Americana as much as busy attractions.

Virgina City Gate
Wytheville, VA
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

The story wasn't over just yet. After sitting abandoned for nearly two decades, the property was brought back to life as Virginia City Gem Mine & Pioneer Town. Visitors could once again wander the wooden streets, try their luck at gem mining, listen to bluegrass music on Friday nights, attend Cowboy Church on Sundays, or simply enjoy the mountain setting. For a while it looked as though the old western town had found a second chance.

Sadly, the revival was short-lived. Following the owner's untimely death, the attraction closed once again. The buildings slowly slipped back into silence as weeds reclaimed the boardwalks and nature began taking over. Passing motorists could still catch glimpses of the empty town through the trees, wondering what stories those old buildings might have told.

Block of Buildings
Wytheville, VA
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

By the time this photograph was taken, Virginia City had become one of those irresistible roadside places where every weathered storefront and empty walkway seemed to invite another photograph. It wasn't polished or bustling anymore, but there was something fascinating about finding an abandoned frontier town perched high on a mountain where travelers least expected it.

UPDATE: The long-abandoned buildings have since been demolished, and the old western town that once welcomed travelers along Big Walker Mountain is now gone. 08-26

Below are more photos of Virginia City as it stands quiet.

Many thanks to Tony Craig for photos and update. 09-10

Back to more Spotlights from the Southeast