Blue Ghost Tunnel (Merritton Tunnel)

For those with an affinity for the supernatural, look no further than the Blue Ghost Tunnel, or the Merritton Tunnel located in Thorold, Ontario. 

The 713 foot-long tunnel was built in 1875 by the Grand Trunk Railway to run under the Welland Canal. The tunnel was seemingly plagued from its inception, as three lives were lost  during the construction of the bridge. The inaugural train that passed through the tunnel took place in February 1881, eventually earning the title of the 'Merritton Tunnel', after William Merritt who is recognized as the father of the Welland canal system. 

Another dark chapter in the tunnel's history occurred in 1903 when two trains collided in a head-on collision, resulting in the deaths of the two firemen aboard. In spite of the tragedy, train operations continued until 1915 when the tunnel was finally abandoned. 

After the tunnel descended into decay by the ravages of time, stories of the tunnel's haunted nature lured curious paranormal enthusiasts. It was then that the tunnel assumed the unofficial name of the 'Blue Ghost Tunnel'. Its haunted nature is not solely attributed to those who perished during the construction and the subsequent train operations, but also due to the fact that there was a nearby cemetery that was flooded for use as a pond for the canal. Less than half of the bodies were documented to be moved to the new Lakeview Cemetery. 

After the city noticed several urban explorers and ghost hunters alike visiting the tunnel, they made the attempt to seal the entrance and exits of the tunnel. Nevertheless, the barrier only acted as a deterrent for so long. Today, the tunnel is only partially sealed with a barred door that was open when we visited.  

Locating the tunnel proved to be quite the challenge for us at the time, taking us over an hour to stumble upon it concealed by lush foliage. It is located approximately 1.5km from the main road. Once inside, we made our way through the tunnel, hoping for a glimpse of the paranormal. While we didn't see any ghosts on our visit, I must admit the tunnel was incredibly creepy, possibly heightened by the charred Ouija board at the entrance. We couldn't make the trek through the entire tunnel due to water levels, but the experience was still scary nonetheless. 

If you have an interest in ghost hunting, the Blue Ghost Tunnel, with its haunting history, should absolutely be on your list of must-visit locations in Ontario. Be sure to note, however, that due to liability issues, this site is privately-owned and security patrolled.