Moonville Ghost Town: Ohio's Most Haunted Abandoned Places

Today’s story takes us to Zaleski State Forest in southeastern Ohio, the second-largest state forest in the state at nearly 30,000 acres. The forest sits on the Allegheny Plateau, with steep hills, cool gorges, and dense forests of oak, hickory, hemlock, and poplar. Blackhand sandstone cliffs create rugged terrain while shale, limestone, and coal are scattered throughout. The forest floor is lush with ferns, wildflowers, and native plants like the lady’s slipper orchid and the devil’s walking stick. Wildlife is abundant, including white-tailed deer, barred owls, ruffed grouse, bobcats, snakes, and salamanders. Streams and gorges support fish and amphibians that help maintain the ecosystem. The forest has a long history of charcoal production, coal mining, and ironwork. Abandoned mines now serve as critical bat habitats, showing how nature and human history are deeply intertwined.

Within Zaleski lies the ghost town of Moonville, known for its abandoned train tunnel, cemetery, and haunted reputation. The town developed around the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad in the mid-1800s to transport lumber, coal, and clay. At its peak, about 100 residents lived there with numerous saloons. The narrow railroad tunnel and unpredictable trains caused many accidents, and the town declined as the iron and coal industries faded, with the last family leaving in 1947.

Moonville’s ghost stories center on four main apparitions. The engineer and brakesman are railroad workers who died in accidents and are often seen carrying lanterns. Frank Lawhead appears as a tall figure with fiery eyes. The Lavender Lady searches for her lost fiancé, sometimes accompanied by the scent of lavender. Baldie Keeton is a mischievous spirit said to throw rocks at visitors. Paranormal investigators report footsteps, whispers, phantom lights, sudden temperature drops, and intense feelings of dread. Whether these encounters are from history, imagination, or something else, Moonville leaves visitors with the unmistakable sense that they are not alone.

If you visit, the Moonville Rail Trail offers public access for hiking, biking, and ghost hunting. Pair your trip with a visit to nearby Hocking Hills to explore more of Ohio’s wild and mysterious landscapes.

Resources

Backpack Ohio. “Zaleski State Forest Backpacking Trail Map.” Backpack Ohio. Accessed February 2026.

Cincinnati Ghosts. “The Moonville Tunnel.” Cincinnati Ghosts. Accessed February 2026.

Digging History. “Ghost Town Wednesday: Moonville, Ohio.” Digging History. November 13, 2013. Accessed February 2026.

Gottsacker, Emily. “How the Ghosts of Moonville Are Keeping the Town’s History Alive.” ideastream. October 12, 2023. Accessed February 2026.

Hocking Hills Tourism Association. “About the Hocking Hills.” Hocking Hills Tourism Association. Accessed February 2026.

Hocking Hills Tourism Association. “Zaleski State Forest.” Hocking Hills Tourism Association. Accessed February 2026.

Ohio Department of Natural Resources. “Moonville Tunnel.” Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Accessed February 2026.

Ohio Exploration. “Moonville Tunnel.” Ohio Exploration. Accessed February 2026.

Ohio Woodland Stewards Program. “Managing Forest Songbirds in Southeast Ohio: A Guide for Land Managers.” Ohio State University Extension & Ohio Division of Wildlife. Accessed February 2026.

The Athens Messenger. “A Book About Moonville Chronicles the History of an Abandoned Town.” The Athens Messenger. Accessed February 2026.

Vinton County Visitors Bureau. “Moonville Rail Trail Association.” Vinton County Visitors Bureau. Accessed February 2026.