We’ve written many articles about haunted places around the country, like the most haunted road in America, the Wilson Castle in Vermont, and the Norwich State Hospital in Connecticut. Today, we’re sharing the history behind the Moonville Tunnel, the legends of ghost activity, and other nearby places for outdoor recreation fun. Let’s dive in!
Where Is the Moonville Tunnel?
The actual city where the Moonville Tunnel is located is McArthur, Ohio. It’s right outside the Zaleski State Forest. Moonville was a coal mining town founded in 1856. But now it’s one of Ohio’s ghost towns.
The tunnel is southeast of the community of Hope and Lake Hope State Park. Columbus is about 75 minutes northwest of the Moonville Tunnel. The Ohio River, forming a natural border between Ohio and West Virginia, is less than an hour southeast of Hope.
HOT TIP
Check out these 5 Trendy RV Parks Near Columbus, Ohio, before planning your trip out to the Buckeye State.
How Do You Get To the Moonville Tunnel?
The Moonville Tunnel parking lot is on the Moonville Trail Rail. You’ll take Highway 278 towards Lake Hope State Park. If traveling from the north, you’ll pass the state park on the right and turn left onto Shea Road. If traveling from the south, you’ll turn right onto Wheelabout Road before reaching the state park.
Almost immediately, stay straight to merge onto Shea Road. Wheelabout Road veers to the right. In approximately one mile, Shea Road turns into Hope-Moonville Road. This part of the road follows Raccoon Creek. After about 1.5 miles, you’ll see the parking lot for the Moonville Tunnel on the left. The total drive time from Lake Hope State Park to the Moonville Tunnel is about ten minutes.
We suggest spending the day in the area and enjoying the activities at Lake Hope State Park in addition to visiting the Moonville Tunnel. The state park is a 2,983-acre park within the Zaleski State Forest. Visitors can boat, camp, fish, hike, picnic, swim, mountain bike, and enjoy winter recreation like ice fishing, ice skating, and sledding.
What’s the History Behind the Moonville Tunnel?
From the mid-1850s to the early 1900s, Moonville was a small but busy community in southeastern Ohio, thanks to the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad, whose tracks crossed here. This was purely a business decision by both the railroad company and the landowner, Samuel Coe.
He allowed the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad to build a line across his property, giving him easy access to ship coal. The railroad company got the land for free, and the route was now faster from Marietta to Cincinnati.
For people living in the more remote areas of Ohio, Moonville was the closest depot. But the residents of Moonville were coal miners who worked at Hope Furnace. Some railroad workers also lived here. Moonville reached its peak at about 100 residents in the late 1800s.
However, as the coal mining industry began to decline, so did the population of Moonville. Like the West’s ghost towns that sprang up because of the gold and silver rush, Moonville became an abandoned community. Today, the old schoolhouse’s foundation, the train tunnel, and the community cemetery are all that remain of Moonville, Ohio.
Is the Moonville Tunnel Haunted?
Maybe! Many people claim the Moonville Tunnel is haunted. One story is that engineer Theodore Lawhead’s ghost haunts the place where he was killed. His train collided with another train in the 1880s. Some people believe his ghost, with a lantern in hand, floats around the Moonville Tunnel.
Another tragedy is that of a brakeman who was crushed by an oncoming train in 1859. Perhaps it’s his ghost with a lantern that haunts the Moonville Tunnel.
Over the years, stories of other deaths have surfaced. Because of the narrow design of the tunnel, neither a train nor a pedestrian could travel through safely. This resulted in several unfortunate fatalities.
Are There Other Haunted Places Near the Moonville Tunnel?
The Sedamsville Rectory in Cincinnati, Ohio, is one of the more famous haunted locations near the Moonville Tunnel. Once belonging to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, the building closed in 1989.
It has been featured on television shows like “Haunted Collector,” “My Ghost Story,” and “Ghost Adventures.” Paranormal investigators believe negative energy resides in the Sedamsville Rectory. Whether it’s ghosts or demons, they don’t know. But it’s clear to some people that unnatural disturbances undoubtedly haunt it.
You can read more about Ghost City Tours and their overnight ghost hunts at the rectory here.
What Other Outdoor Recreation Is There Near the Moonville Tunnel?
Since a visit to the Moonville Tunnel won’t take long, we recommend enjoying outdoor recreation near the site for the day. You can head to the Zaleski State Forest, Lake Hope State Park, or Uncle Buck’s Riding Stable & Dance Barn for outdoor fun and activities. Whether you’re a solo traveler, a family of six, or a retired couple, we know you’ll find something to suit your adventurous spirit!
Zaleski State Forest
The Moonville Tunnel is to the east of the Zaleski State Forest. Before viewing the tunnel, you could easily enjoy a few hours of hiking in the state forest. One of the best hikes is the Zaleski South Loop, a strenuous 10.5-mile loop that increases in elevation by almost 1,400 feet. Some hikes connect to the Moonville Tunnel rail trail, so you don’t have to drive to see the tunnel.
Lake Hope State Park
We mentioned that Lake Hope State Park is an excellent spot to visit in this part of Ohio. We suggest camping here to explore the area for several days. There are electric and non-electric sites, heated showerhouses, flush toilets, pit latrines, laundry facilities, picnic tables, and fire rings. If you camp here, you’ll have easy access to other things in the area, including Zaleski State Forest hiking and horseback riding at Uncle Buck’s.
Uncle Buck’s Riding Stable & Dance Barn
Only two miles from the Moonville Tunnel is Uncle Buck’s Riding Stable & Dance Barn. They offer a 2-hour Moonville Tunnel horseback ride for $90. If you prefer a longer ride, they also have a 3-hour excursion that takes you along the Moonville Rail Trail to the Kings Hollow Tunnel. A 1-hour ride is also available along the Coal Bucket Trail.
Explore Ohio’s Moonville Tunnel If You Dare!
We think you’ll enjoy visiting the Moonville Tunnel in Ohio if you like local history and embrace the paranormal. There’s not much to the tunnel itself, and it’s pretty run-down. But we think it’s a cool stopover while staying at Lake Hope State Park. And who knows? Maybe you’ll see the engineer’s ghost floating around with a lantern and have an extraordinary story to tell your friends when you return home!
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