SPRUCE, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Passenger service is making a long-awaited return to the ghost town of Spruce for the first time since 2019.
Situated as the highest and coldest incorporated town east of the Mississippi, Spruce has emerged as a sought-after destination for those intrigued by its eerie past.
The journeys to Spruce will be powered by historic Western Maryland Shay No. 6, the final and largest surviving Shay locomotive.
In 1902, the West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company strategically selected Spruce’s remote location at the headwaters of Shaver’s Fork of Cheat River to establish a complex for supplying pulpwood to its paper mills in Covington, Virginia, and Luke, Maryland.
During its peak, Spruce boasted a thriving community with a mill, locomotive shop, company offices, hotel, and row houses illuminated by electric lights—a rarity at the time.
Following the mill’s closure in 1926, Spruce faced an uncertain future until the Western Maryland Railway capitalized on the region’s coal industry boom.
However, by 1949, the railway abandoned its Spruce facilities, prompting the remaining families to depart. Today, only the remnants of Spruce’s once-bustling community remain visible.
Departing from Cass, passengers begin on a scenic journey along the Cass Scenic Railroad.
Along the route, tracks diverge at milepost 6.7 to parallel the Shavers Fork’s headwaters. During the layover at Spruce, passengers are invited to explore the town site, where informational displays provide insights into its history.
As part of the experience, guests will enjoy a rustic “King of the Road” hobo lunch, featuring a cold sandwich, chips, cookie, applesauce, and bottled water.
Children aged 3 and under receive a complimentary serving of applesauce, chips, and a cookie, though parents are advised to bring additional provisions.
Save the dates for the 2024 excursions: May 18, July 13, August 10, and September 7.
Departure is scheduled for 11 AM from the Cass Depot.
Tickets may be purchased here.
