Activity Spotlight – Things That Go Bump in the Night

In the Activity Spotlight we highlight some of the many great activities available within a short drive from Ravenwood Castle. This week’s Activity Spotlight is written by Innkeeper, Amy Miller.

Conventional wisdom is that Fall is the best time of year to visit us in the Hocking Hills. Not only do we have some of the most breathtaking views of the foliage and natural wonders, we are also (dare I say) ‘blessed’ with a surplus of legends, mysteries, and things that go bump in the night. What better backdrop than the colorful landscapes of Autumn and the imminent approach of Halloween for an exploration of the paranormal happenings these old hills have protected for years? From escape rooms and moon-lit canoe rides down the Hocking River to haunted houses and hikes through the Wicked Forest, there is something spooky for everyone to explore!

Only ten minutes form the castle in McArthur Ohio, you will find the Brick Escape Room, where they have lovingly recreated the living legends of the haunted Moonville Tunnel. It’s a race against time as you are immersed in a life or death puzzle room. Escape before time runs out, or you may end up like our late, ghostly engineer and be stuck guarding the Moonville Tunnel for eternity!

Speaking of the Moonville Tunnel, it is known by the locals as the place to go if you wish to feel a sense of doom at dusk. The tunnel is part of the Moonville Rail Trail, an extension of the Buckeye Trail.  While you’re there, be sure to check out the Moonville Cemetery, located atop the access road across from the Moonville tunnel parking area. With 100 year old headstones and a rather large, old and super creepy tree, this area has become a place the superstitious visit to ward off spirits by placing coins and child-like toys on stones. Standing there in the light of the full moon, I swore it was the perfect setting for a horror film.

For a more active spooky encounter, check out the Wicked Forest in Logan. There you’ll be faced with a series of decisions in a live action choose-your-own-adventure haunted hike.  Will you make the right choices and escape, or will you succumb to an untimely fate and join the cast of local unfortunate spirits?

Although Hocking Hills has a lot to offer for all things spooky, you needn’t travel far for a stimulating hike. Nature provides the perfect backdrop here at the castle to be spooked by something more real; the dark. Though I bring a flashlight for safety, I rarely use it when I go for a nighttime walk on these rural, dirt roads. The nighttime chorus of critters, crickets and coyotes is enough to distract you from the unseen, and lends an original composition to keep you on pace for an exhilarating hike. The next time you visit, if you’re up for the challenge of a night-time hike in the woods (and want to work off that delicious pub dinner) come walk with me – if you dare!

To learn more about the dark side of Hocking Hills, I recommend the www.hauntedhocking.com website. Or feel free to call us for personal recommendations!

 


Jim Reed

Jim Reed is a lifelong gamer who started with the original red box Dungeons & Dragons. After spending 20 years in the corporate world, he decided it was high time that work be fun and struck out on his own. Jim now owns and operates Ravenwood Castle, and spends his days ensuring his guests have as much fun as he does.