Elk Creek Coal Company Preparation Plant

Not much is known about this relatively modern preparation plant in Emmett, West Virginia. Once a bustling coal camp town, it was owned by the Elk Creek Coal Company (which in turn was owned by Guyan Eagle Coal Company). Over the years, the lands above Emmett was mined and required the demolishment of a large segment of Emmett. The preparation plant was owned by the Island Creek Coal Company to process coal that came out of their Number 10 mine. CONSOL purchased it years later and renamed it to the Elk Creek facility and was active until 1997 when it was put into idled status.

Today, the plant is abandoned with all electic lines disconnected to the former preparation facility. The rail spur from the mainline Chesapeake and Ohio rail line (Stollings to Gilbert) was abandoned at this time. The rails are in decent shape, although vegetation such as trees and various shrubs are slowly taking over the line. The mainline from Stollings to Gilbert was very recently abandoned and the rails are in very good condition (as of October 2005) with only the crossings on WV 80 being paved over.