Moonville Tunnel
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Moonville Tunnel near Zaleski State Forest in McArthur, southeast Ohio is a reminder of the coal mining village of Moonville. It has a reputation of being haunted by railroad workers.
Visit Moonville Tunnel
Moonville was a small mining community along the tracks of the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad tracks. During the 1800s, logging companies, iron furnaces, and coal mines were prosperous in the region.
Visitors can hike portions of the abandoned railroad line which are being converted into walking and biking trails. From the parking lot at Moonville, there is a 3.6-mile one-way route from the tunnel through King Tunnel and on to Mineral.
Uncle Buck’s Stable offers a horseback tour that includes riding through Moonville Tunnel if you would like to experience it from a different perspective!
- Check out our article about Uncle Buck’s Stable!
Cindy’s Insider Ohio Tips!
You can access Moonville Tunnel from an easy bridge or if you want to take the scenic route you can book a trail ride from Uncle Bucks. Be sure to take a flashlight into the tunnel for optimal viewing.
Ghost Stories
Rumors that a plague killed all the residents of Moonville are untrue and any ghostly sightings are not from plague-infected inhabitants! There are, however, many reports of a ghost carrying a lantern who was a train engineer killed in a crash in 1880.
There are also reported sightings of a woman who was hit by a train and goes by the name Lavender Lady. Another ghost is said to be the town bully who died along the tracks near Zalenski and Hope Furnace Station.
Other ghost stories have been passed down through the last 140 years and newspaper articles confirm some of the fatalities along the path from Moonville to Mineral.
Photo credits: Cindy Gordon of VisitOhioToday.com
Events
There are Haunted Hikes and Ghost Hunt events held on Friday and Saturday nights throughout September and October. Walk an out-and-back section of the Moonville Rail Trail from Moonville to Ingham Station/Bear Hollow with Jannette Quackenbush who is the author of ‘Moonville Ghost Stories and Haunts Along the Railway’ and ‘The Little Book of Moonville’.
Here is a quote from someone on the Moonville Ghost Hunt:
It was deathly quiet for about 5 minutes except for the Katydids and the soft chatter of ghost hunters. Somebody asked if Baldie was here. Someone else said they got hit by a pebble, then BAM! The equipment started to light up like the 4th of July fireworks.
Where is Moonville Tunnel Located?
- Address: Hope-Moonville Rd, McArthur, Ohio 45651
- Website
Location Map for Moonville Tunnel
Let’s Visit Moonville Tunnel
Have you been to Moonville Tunnel? Did you go before or after you knew about the ghosts there? Leave a comment below and share your experience!
If you like learning about the history of Ohio, you might enjoy discovering Indian Mounds in Ohio, Ohio Caverns, Ohio Village, and Historic Clifton Mill.
Hello! We have done our very best to ensure that the accuracy of events, hours, addresses, etc, are up to date. Please know that information can change due to weather, updated health and safety challenges, etc. If you find incorrect information, please send us an email at [email protected], and we can get it updated.
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