We're pretty familiar with tunnels and abandoned places here in Cincinnati. In fact, you can tour one of the most famous in our city here, and it's fascinating to learn about the history of this somewhat creepy tunnel. Not far from Cincinnati, east of town, you'll find another abandoned tunnel and town that is filled with history and even a ghost story or two. Moonville was once a small town along a dangerous rail line that connected Cincinnati and Marietta. Today, there are remnants of this ghost town that you can see for yourself, that is if you're willing to take the chance of running into a few residents who decided to never leave.
Moontown was once a small mining town in southeastern Ohio, located along the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad. While the town was never thriving, it was known as a place along the railway that was difficult to pass through, given its thick forest and dark sight lines.
The town's prime was in the late 1800s when trains often passed through and locals were working in the mines and other nearby industries. However, the railroad itself was an incredibly dangerous place within the town, as this was before the days of well-lit areas and railroad crossing lights. Even today you can see how this track once traveled through a canopy of forest, making it difficult on both the engineers and those walking near the tracks.
By the mid-1900s, the coal mines in Moontown had all closed and the town was basically abandoned. All that remains are the grave sites of those who once lived there and of course the train tunnel, which is the source of many haunted tales.
There are many ghost stories tied to this creepy tunnel, but the main one has to do with a brakeman (or perhaps another person on the train — the story varies). It's said that the man was crushed by a train in the Moontown area. There are several reports (and even some very unnerving photos) that tell of a light appearing in the tunnel shown above. When the light is approached, it's as if a lantern is being swung, yet no one is holding it. There are other ghost stories swirling around this tunnel, and they've been told for over a century.
The area surrounding the tunnel is as desolate as it gets and it does require a bit of a hike to reach the town remnants.
It's actually a naturally beautiful area that many enjoy walking through and even horseback riding around. Tt's hard to imagine that it was once a town of miners with a very active train line right through it.
The tunnel itself and all other remains of the town have unfortunately been vandalized with graffiti, although in some ways it does add to its creepy factor.
Like many small towns from the past, especially those that relied on coal mining and the railroad, it has long been abandoned. But in the case of Moonville and its many haunted tales, this ghost town has not been forgotten.
For more images and information about Moonville, check out this chilling video:
Moonville is an infamous spot in Ohio, that's not far from Cincinnati, so if you're ever in the area and enjoy experiencing history and a good ghost story, be sure to stop by and check it out. For more information on this ghost town, including directions and tips on reaching it, click here.
And for more haunted places around Cincinnati, check out our previous article here.
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