06/27/2025
A few winter snapshots of the South Acid Area; a pivotal section of the former West Virginia Ordnance Works (WVOW), often known locally as the “TNT Plant” near Point Pleasant, WV. Taken in an oddly warmer late December trip to Point Pleasant in 2023, days before Christmas, we were able to walk around freely with sweatshirts and jeans; not your usual situation for that time of year.
Some history on the now abandoned complex:
Origins and WWII Operations
Built in early 1942 on roughly 8,300 acres of farmland north of Point Pleasant, the WVOW was constructed for large-scale TNT production during World War II. Situated along the Ohio River for easy shipping access, the site included ten production lines capable of churning out hundreds of thousands of pounds of trinitrotoluene daily. The South Acid Area and adjacent toluene storage and cooling facilities made up Operable Unit 10, instrumental in the chemical processes needed to synthesize TNT.
Post‑War Transition and Abandonment
Following Japan’s surrender in September 1945, TNT production ceased and the site was declared surplus. Much of the plant was demolished before 1968, leaving behind foundations, tank cradles, and remnants of its past industrial glory . Over the years, parts of the old industrial lands found new life: sections became the McClintic Wildlife Management Area, the Mason County Airport, agricultural plots, industrial parks, and even a landfill.
Environmental Cleanup and Legacy
By the early 1980s, red‑tinged water seeping from the site signaled trouble—TNT, DNT, and other chemicals had contaminated soil, ponds, and groundwater. In 1983, the site was listed on the National Priorities List (Superfund), and the Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, and WVDEP launched a remediation effort focused on key areas like the South Acids, toluene storage, and cooling tower zones. Though most structures were removed, contaminated soil and buried tank bases remain under ongoing remediation.
Today’s Landscape and Cultural Memory
Today, the South Acids Area lies within a mix of wooded buffers and reclaimed land. Trails weave through scattered foundations, concrete cradles, and drainage ditches that whisper of its explosive past . Ironically, the area’s isolation and industrial detritus fueled local folklore—most famously, the Mothman sightings of the late 1960s emerged near the old TNT igloos. Now part historical curiosity, part haunting landscape, the South Acid Area continues evolving; part wetland refuge, part environmental case study, vegetation-choked concrete ruins and all a testament to one of Point Pleasant’s most intriguing legacies.
Enjoy this small view of the vast tracts of ruins that actually exist in this area, much of which would require a machete to get to in any season. I also included two public domain historical photos to show what it looked like during construction and during World War II -Mr. P.
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