Do you know that there’s a building in West Virginia that’s been compared to Hogwarts? Not only does it look like the famous wizard school, but it even used to be an actual high school. Plus, it’s got its own memorable story to tell. Let’s explore this building that is like Hogwarts in West Virginia.

The story begins over a century ago. In 1921, a group of local builders took local sandstone quarried from Arnoldsburg, West Virginia, and built a school in nearby Grantsville.
The 1982 Foundation
A high school. A big high school that served the Calhoun County students and community for years and years.
Nahian Ismail Chowdhury / Google Maps
This was long before the days of Harry Potter, but doesn't this old building look remarkably like Hogwarts?
The 1982 Foundation

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But then, in a sad turn of events in 1998, the Calhoun County High School in West Virginia was abandoned.
The 1982 Foundation
The closing of this school seemed to seal the deal on a downward spiral for its once-thriving community. Businesses closed. The community faltered.
Nahian Ismail Chowdhury / Google Maps
But in 2021, one hundred years after the school was first built, the decrepit building went up for sale. And the Calhoun High School Class of 1982 rallied together and purchased the old structure.
The 1982 Foundation
Now, this group of former students, who formed The 1982 Foundation to help accomplish their goals, has plans to transform the school into a thriving community hub once again, with a community center, a gym, a daycare, office space, an Airbnb, a café, and more.
The 1982 Foundation
There's much work to be done to transform this building into what The 1982 Foundation envisions, though, and anyone interested can definitely jump on the bandwagon and help restore this magnificent old school to its former glory!

See a graduation ceremony from this old high school from 1988:

Check out The 1982 Foundation online to follow the journey of the Hogwarts-like old Calhoun County High School building in West Virginia. An up-and-coming community center isn’t the only thing this Hogwarts in West Virginia has going for it; did you know that you can occasionally see the Aurora Borealis from Calhoun County Park? It’s a wonderful place to hit the trail!

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More to Explore

Intriguing Attractions In West Virginia

William Suphan | September 21, 2023

What are the most unique attractions in West Virginia?

The most unique attractions in West Virginia include:

  • The Mothman Museum. Located in Point Pleasant, this museum is dedicated to the urban legend of Mothman.
  • Lost World Caverns. Some may remember when tabloids used to feature Batboy. This cave is said to be his home.
  • Our Lady of the Pines. This is the smallest church in the nation which is beside an equally diminutive post office.
  • The John Brown Wax Museum. 87 life-sized wax figures are used to illustrate the raid on Harpers Ferry.

Discover more about the most unique attractions in West Virginia. 

What are the most amazing hidden gem attractions in West Virginia?

The most amazing hidden gem attractions in West Virginia include:

  • Museum of American Glass. Located in Weston, this museum is full of the most amazing artwork made entirely of glass. 
  • The West Virginia Farm Museum. This is where you’ll see historic buildings and learn all about this state’s farming history.
  • West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey. This is a museum where you can see a dinosaur skeleton and some rare gemstones.

Find out more about the most amazing hidden gem attractions in West Virginia. 

What are the most incredible sightseeing tours in West Virginia?

The most incredible sightseeing tours in West Virginia include:

  • Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. Veteran miners will take you through this coal mine and show you what working as a coal miner was once like. 
  • Greenbrier Bunker Tour. This massive bunker was built to house Congress if a nuclear war took place. It is no longer intended for this purpose but it’s worth the tour.
  • Gren Bank Observatory. This is the world’s largest fully-steerable telescope on Earth and is taller than the Statue of Liberty.
  • The Wild Cave Tour. Located in Lewisburg, this 45-minute tour will take you deep into the Lost World Caverns.

Learn more about the most incredible sightseeing tours in West Virginia. 

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Featured Addresses
Old Calhoun County High School, School St, Grantsville, WV 26147, USA