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The Palace of Gold: West Virginia’s Hare Krishna Utopia Turned Hell

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Manage episode 514782310 series 3619891
Content provided by J.D.. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by J.D. or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

This week, I’m diving into one of the most bizarre, beautiful, and ultimately broken places in West Virginia: The Palace of Gold.
Perched above the hills near Moundsville, what began as a spiritual sanctuary for Hare Krishna devotees became a national headline factory in the 1980s—complete with FBI raids, murder plots, fraud, racketeering, and one of the most surreal downfalls in religious history.
I’ll walk you through:
-How a WV hilltop became a marble-and-gold mecca built by hand
-The rise of Swami Bhaktipada (Keith Ham) and the New Vrindaban community
-The power, control, and devotion that blinded many followers
-The violence, manipulation, and financial corruption that eventually tore it apart
This is the story of faith, excess, betrayal, and collapse—all set in the heart of Appalachia.
#PalaceOfGold #NewVrindaban #HareKrishnaWV #Creepalachia #WestVirginiaMysteries #AppalachianTrueCrime #CultCrimes #SwamiBhaktipada #WVHistory #FaithAndCorruption #TrueCrimePodcast #HauntedAppalachia #WVStrangeHistory #DarkReligion #CreepyWestVirginia
Like this video, subscribe to Creepalachia, and comment your experience below!
Review the Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
Follow Our Things! https://linktr.ee/Creepalachia
Merch! https://creepalachia.shop/
Website! https://creepalachia.tv/
Other Interviews - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxM_meUps8eNIjb64yLAS3Z2N9YRDUGMz&si=pQEw9jDJAP_Z4_95
True Crime - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxM_meUps8eNql44CayXCCBsW-6zIeWsA&si=3teIk_jc4MrmsUUe
Solo Stories - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxM_meUps8eOSFgB6XFmefueia2ZvRc4G&si=1wL1ft-UVhM_PiAN
Mysteries - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxM_meUps8eN0mOcv-OBjI1MqeQgoMi9W&si=wA7zLRkT5MiUQIlC
Hauntings - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxM_meUps8ePTwq7hLiYjlzSs-UqWtrfp&si=ddRW_lx1pXQrxLUC
Creepalachia was started and will remain as a show diving into the dark, strange, unknown, tragic, and heroic stories of J.D. 's homeland. These hills have stories. LONG LIVE APPALACHIA!
Disclaimer:
The stories, views, and opinions shared by guests on Creepalachia are solely those of the individuals speaking and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or the show. Creepalachia does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of guest statements and is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or outcomes related to their content. All discussions are presented for storytelling, educational, and entertainment purposes only. Viewers are encouraged to research and form their own conclusions.

Support the show

Are you an Appalachian with a creepy experience to tell? Email us at [email protected] and tell us all about it. We could possibly get you on the show!

  continue reading

114 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 514782310 series 3619891
Content provided by J.D.. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by J.D. or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

This week, I’m diving into one of the most bizarre, beautiful, and ultimately broken places in West Virginia: The Palace of Gold.
Perched above the hills near Moundsville, what began as a spiritual sanctuary for Hare Krishna devotees became a national headline factory in the 1980s—complete with FBI raids, murder plots, fraud, racketeering, and one of the most surreal downfalls in religious history.
I’ll walk you through:
-How a WV hilltop became a marble-and-gold mecca built by hand
-The rise of Swami Bhaktipada (Keith Ham) and the New Vrindaban community
-The power, control, and devotion that blinded many followers
-The violence, manipulation, and financial corruption that eventually tore it apart
This is the story of faith, excess, betrayal, and collapse—all set in the heart of Appalachia.
#PalaceOfGold #NewVrindaban #HareKrishnaWV #Creepalachia #WestVirginiaMysteries #AppalachianTrueCrime #CultCrimes #SwamiBhaktipada #WVHistory #FaithAndCorruption #TrueCrimePodcast #HauntedAppalachia #WVStrangeHistory #DarkReligion #CreepyWestVirginia
Like this video, subscribe to Creepalachia, and comment your experience below!
Review the Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
Follow Our Things! https://linktr.ee/Creepalachia
Merch! https://creepalachia.shop/
Website! https://creepalachia.tv/
Other Interviews - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxM_meUps8eNIjb64yLAS3Z2N9YRDUGMz&si=pQEw9jDJAP_Z4_95
True Crime - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxM_meUps8eNql44CayXCCBsW-6zIeWsA&si=3teIk_jc4MrmsUUe
Solo Stories - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxM_meUps8eOSFgB6XFmefueia2ZvRc4G&si=1wL1ft-UVhM_PiAN
Mysteries - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxM_meUps8eN0mOcv-OBjI1MqeQgoMi9W&si=wA7zLRkT5MiUQIlC
Hauntings - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxM_meUps8ePTwq7hLiYjlzSs-UqWtrfp&si=ddRW_lx1pXQrxLUC
Creepalachia was started and will remain as a show diving into the dark, strange, unknown, tragic, and heroic stories of J.D. 's homeland. These hills have stories. LONG LIVE APPALACHIA!
Disclaimer:
The stories, views, and opinions shared by guests on Creepalachia are solely those of the individuals speaking and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or the show. Creepalachia does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of guest statements and is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or outcomes related to their content. All discussions are presented for storytelling, educational, and entertainment purposes only. Viewers are encouraged to research and form their own conclusions.

Support the show

Are you an Appalachian with a creepy experience to tell? Email us at [email protected] and tell us all about it. We could possibly get you on the show!

  continue reading

114 episodes

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