Legend has it there’s a haunted railroad tunnel in Vinton County, Ohio. So of course we had to walk through it at night. On Halloween. Now dotted with graffiti and loaded with haunted hype, Moonville Tunnel strikes an imposing image as you approach. Moonville was a small mining and railway town that popped up during the 1800s iron boom, yet totally disappeared years later. Barely a trace left behind.
Haunted history
According to local legend, the ghost is that of a railroad worker who was crushed by an oncoming train in the spring of 1859. Those who claim to have seen him say he carries a lantern and often appears as a hovering orb of light. Others say the tunnel is haunted by the ghost of a pregnant woman struck by a train. Four other souls were reportedly killed at the tunnel as well.
The dead of night
Whatever you believe, you can definitely feel a macabre sense of mystery as you approach the tunnel’s gaping maw. Not gonna lie, it’s pretty spooky. Especially after a 10-mile hike on Halloween night went longer than expected, forcing us to walk back through the empty tunnel in the pitch black of late October. Your footsteps seem to echo louder in the dark, and the dim light at the end of the tunnel feels impossibly far away. Yikes.
Fortunately, the area surrounding the Moonville Tunnel is gorgeous, lush…and filled with life. Nearby Lake Hope State Park and Zaleski State Forest are loaded with amazing hiking trails. Some of the best in Ohio. And Moonville is just a 30-minute drive from the natural wonders of the popular Hocking Hills region. The history and biodiversity of the area are spectacular and well worth witnessing.
Just keep your ears open for the haunted whistle of a ghost train echoing in the distance.
