101: Swannanoa Tunnel

Journey with us into the Blue Ridge Mountains as we uncover the tragic history of the Swannanoa Gap Tunnel near Old Fort, North Carolina. Built through solid rock using the forced labor of incarcerated workers, the tunnel became one of the deadliest railroad projects in Southern history. We explore the lives lost during its construction, the haunting folk song it inspired, and the ghost stories that continue to surround the mountain today. Is the Swannanoa Tunnel simply a piece of Appalachian history—or is something still lingering in the darkness? Don’t whistle in the woods at night.