MOONVILLE TUNNEL

LOCATED IN THE WOODS NEAR LAKE HOPE STATE PARK, A TUNNEL WAS CONSTRUCTED ON THE PROPERTY OF SAMUEL COE IN 1856. THIS TUNNEL WAS CONSTRUCTED FOR A RAILROAD, MAKING THE TRANSPORTATION OF COAL EASIER BETWEEN MARIETTA, OHIO AND CINCINNATI, OHIO. THE TOWN QUICKLY BECAME A COMMUNITY OF MINERS AND RAILROAD WORKERS.

ACCORDING TO LOCAL LEGEND, A GHOST APPEARS OF A DRUNKEN RAILROAD WORKER WHO WAS CRUSHED BY AN ONCOMING TRAIN IN 1859.

IN THE 1880'S, 2 TRAINS COLLIDED, KILLING THE ENGINEERS OF BOTH TRAINS. AFTER, PEOPLE BEGAN SEEING A GHOST FLOAT DOWN FROM THE STONES NEAR THE TUNNEL, HOLDING A LANTERN IN HIS HANDS. HE IS ALSO SAID TO THROW ROCKS IN THE TUNNEL AT VISITORS, TRYING TO CLAIM THE TUNNEL AS HIS OWN.

26 DEATHS HAVE BEEN REPORTED AT THE TUNNEL. THERE ARE MANY STORIES OF A PREGNANT WOMAN WHO WAS STRUCK BY A TRAIN, AND OF AN 8-FOOT TALL MAN.

THE LAST FAMILY LEFT THE TOWN IN 1947, AND THE SURROUNDING BUILDINGS WERE GONE BY THE 1960'S. THE RAIL LINE WAS DEEMED ABANDONED IN 1988, AND THE RAILS WERE REMOVED. TODAY, YOU CAN VISIT THE TUNNEL AND THE TOWN CEMETERY.