A cursed tunnel, what could possibly go wrong?

Ghost Stories and Urban Legends

I'll be the first to admit that even though I'm quite skeptical about all things paranormal, I do love a good ghost story or urban legend.  If you tell me that a place has a ghost haunting it, I instantly want to know more.  Why?  Who?  When? What? Tell. Me. Everything.

Even though I may not believe the tales, I love a creepy backstory, and honestly, at the heart of every urban legend is usually a kernel of truth.   What makes the story of this particular urban legend even more intriguing is that it starts with a real-life murder.

The Tunnelton Tunnel / The Big Tunnel

Located in Lawrence County, Indiana, is the Tunnelton Tunnel, or the Big Tunnel, depending on where you look online.  According to BridgeHunter.com the Tunnelton tunnel was built in 1857 and is 1,700 feet long.  What makes this specific tunnel interesting is the fact that not only do legends surround it, but it's still occasionally used by trains today.    However, what this tunnel is most known for is the legends that surround it, including the legend that it's haunted by a man named Henry Dixon.

The Man Found Dead in the Tunnelton Tunnel

In 1908 a man named Henry Dixon was found deceased in the tunnel about 200 yards from the mouth. There's a real article from the July 24th, 1908 edition of the Indianapolis Star reporting on the case.  The article says he was struck in the back of the head and was originally thought to have been hit by a train, but murder was another possibility, saying his body may have been placed in the tunnel so the next train that came through would destroy it.   You can see the original article from 1908 here.

Many people who visit the tunnel today say that they believe they've seen the ghost of Henry Dixon, and that he wanders the tunnel searching for his killers.

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The Legends Surrounding the Tunnelton Tunnel

The ghost of Henry Dixon haunting the tunnel isn't the only legend that surrounds this location.  There are several other tales, including train wrecks and more, but unlike the Henry Dixon tale, those stories don't have any evidence of having happened.

Indiana Haunted Houses has a few of the more popular legends surrounding the Tunnelton Tunnel listed on its website, including the legend of the cemetery that used to sit above the tunnel.

A third story surrounds a former cemetery that sits above the tunnel. Rumors say that a construction worker was cutting into the tunnel when caskets fell through. This is another reason as to why so many could have spotted eerie activity here.

Whether you believe the legends or not, one thing is for sure this old tunnel certainly keeps people talking, and that's gotta say something!