Tunnels and superstition seem to go hand-in-hand. There are many people who feel a sense of foreboding when entering a tunnel. Perhaps it’s the absence of light or the feeling of being closed in. In the case of the Church Hill Tunnel, there seems to be something more sinister at work. Built in the 1870s as a Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Tunnel, this landmark has been associated with tragedy and ruin. Here’s more on the haunted Church Hill Tunnel, which still exists today but has been blocked off for safety reasons. This haunted train tunnel is definitely one of the most haunted places in Virginia.

The Church Hill train tunnel stretches for 4,000 feet just below Richmond's historic Church Hill neighborhood. The tunnel was built in 1873 as part of the C&O's railway system.
Eli Christman / Wikipedia
The Railway was motivated to reach Collis P. Huntington's new coal pier in Newport News. The construction of the tunnel was almost immediately problematic. Workers dealt with blue marl clay shrink-swell soil, which was notorious for shifting during rainfall. Ten lives were lost to cave-ins before the tunnel was even completed.
On October 2nd, 1925 the tunnel unexpectedly collapsed as a work train was passing through. Four men were killed and the locomotive was trapped inside the tunnel.
Virginia Archives Month / flickr
The artwork above is the imagined aftermath of the tunnel collapse, courtesy of J. Bohannan Poster and Drawing Collection, 1996.
Rescue efforts were made, although they seemed to only aggravate the collapse. For safety reasons, the tunnel was sealed off permanently in 1926.
Eli Christman / flickr
The east end of the tunnel can be found north of Williamsburg Road near 31st Street, just below Libby Terrace Park.

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While sealing the tunnel ensured that no more trains would be at risk of the collapsing structure, cave-ins continued to be an issue.
Ronnie Pitman / flickr
Several houses and other structures have fallen victim to these collapses over the years since the tunnel was closed.
The east entrance to the tunnel is located north of the intersection of E. Franklin Street and N. 31st Street. The tunnel is sealed off just a few feet from this entrance.
Jkmscott / Wikipedia
The Virginia Historical Society has expressed interest in recovering the train from the enclosed tunnel; however, there are concerns that doing so might cause further damage.
Given its tragic and complicated history, it's no wonder that the Church Hill Tunnel is associated with paranormal activity. In fact, it's even associated with the fabled Richmond Vampire.
VCU Libraries Commons/Wikipedia
According to an urban legend, there was a supernatural twist to the collapse of the tunnel. Supposedly, workers who went to rescue the train and its workers reported seeing an unearthly creature with jagged teeth standing over the destruction. The creature then fled the scene and returned to its gravesite at Hollywood Cemetery, marked by the name of W.W. Pool. Researchers believe that this vampire was more likely to be a railroad fireman who had suffered burns.
Whether you believe the Church Hill Tunnel to be haunted or not, there's no denying the tragedy that has surrounded its existence.
Jkmscott/Wikimedia Commons

Have you seen the haunted Church Hill Tunnel in Richmond? What are your thoughts on this fascinating and tragic landmark in the Old Dominion? Feel free to join in on the conversation by leaving a comment below.

For related content, be sure to check out our custom road trip to the most haunted places in Virginia. That is, if you dare. And for even more cool local adventures, take a look at Airbnb Experiences.

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Haunted Church Hill Tunnel

Sarah M. | August 27, 2022

What are some other abandoned places in Virginia?

Abandoned places in Virginia include:

While the Church Hill Tunnel is definitely one of the most eerie haunted places in Virginia, there's another place that's, we daresay, even more spine-chillingly unnerving. It's the Virginia Renaissance Faire in Fredericksburg. Located just off Kings Highway, these once-riotous festival grounds now sit abandoned, the Tudor-style structures slowly being consumed by the wild woodlands of Virginia. This Renaissance Faire was built in the 1990s as a permanent home for the Virginia festival, but attendance never met expectations, and after a few unsuccessful seasons, the property faced foreclosure. Today, the Virginia Renaissance Faire is a shadow of its former self, an ironic reminder of a bygone time.

Another unsettling spot in Virginia worth checking out (for those brave souls) is Professor Cline’s Haunted Monster Museum, located in Natural Bridge, that's quite possibly the creepiest abandoned place in Virginia. This building was once a popular Halloween attraction, but it burned down in 2012. Today, all that remains are remnants of the structure and debris. Even without the monsters inside, this building is a terrifying destination! What it is about these once-busy-and-bustling, now-abandoned attractions that's so downright terrifying?

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