Break from Corona? ….try MOONVILLE

May 16, 2020 PT

The world is slowly opening up. But, many people are still reluctant to get out for fear of the virus. Everyone must do whatever they feel is best while maintaining your social distancing. But, If you are considering a night away from your house. So, if you need a break from Corona? ….try MOONVILLE.

First, you need to understand a little about southern and southeastern Ohio. Aside from an occasional small town and a fair amount of farmland…there are lots of very good forest land. These forests can be isolated and perfectly ideal for social distancing. Beyond that, I have discovered that the area has its share of abandoned “stuff”, ghost towns, old mining/manufacturing and ruins of better days. If you are willing to do some lonely hiking in the woods…these small pieces of history make very nice day hikes. And, few places make a more interesting hiking destination than a trip to Moonville.

Moonville is the classic example of what is known as the “company town.” In the late 1800s, this very small town existed just to mine coal in the remote woods. Its was housing for a couple hundred miners and their families, a saloon or two, and of course the Company Store. The railroad passed through the town on its way down to Cincinnati. You spent your long days, mining coal, developing black lung and spending your script at the Company Store. For the usual reasons of progress and change, Moonville became obsolete, people left, and the town wasted away. All that is left of Moonville today are a few foundations, a small, crumbling cemetery, and a very interesting railway tunnel…ripe for exploration.

Even in the day, there were no roads into Moonville. You got back and forth to the other nearby “towns” by walking the railroad line. For whatever reason, this lead to many people getting killed on the tracks and tunnel. So, as an added tourist bonus, there are all sorts of paranormal activity and ghosts supposedly wandering about Moonville. The old railroad line is now a 16 mile hiking trail that goes through the area. Be sure to plan your route carefully. As we found out, where the railroad tressels USED to cross Racoon Creek…there is nothing but Racoon Creek. In most times of year, you can not cross Racoon Creek. Between hiking and remote gravel roads, we eventually got to the tunnel and enjoyed some a bit of exploring…

What would ancient ruins be without disrespectful modern “art”

And just to wrap up my trip, it was an overnight trip. There is a local castle to protect the current villagers. The castle folk rent isolated cabins that are fun to stay in. During our evening of grilled steak and PBR, we only saw Artemis and Frank who were recently blessed with a new litter of kitties. Also, the area has other ruins worth exploring. There is a series of old charcoal iron furnaces. These furnaces had their hay day around the Civil War making munitions for the Union. These furnaces are large and not easily destroyed. Be sure to seek them out as well. Moonville…the ultimate Corona getaway. PT