On US Route 50, about one mile west of Salem, WV, lies an exit for Flinderation Road. My wife and I talked about the unusual name for several years and wondered where it came from. Officially known as the Brandy Gap Tunnel #2, it is commonly called the Flinderation Tunnel due to the name of the nearby Flinderation Road.
The tunnel has long been rumored to be haunted, with reports of phantom train whistles, screeching metal, etc. This could be because the 1087-foot tunnel runs underneath Rt. 50, with vehicles constantly passing overhead, OR it could also run under the Brandy Gap Cemetery.
Numerous stories exist of strange past happenings. I will share some with you, and you can decide for yourself or visit and see for yourself.
One widely accepted story is that in the 1800s, three men were working in the tunnel when a train unexpectedly approached at a high rate of speed. One of the men escaped into one of the bubbles in the wall as seen in the accompanying photo. Another was cut in half by the train, and a third man was dragged under the train for about 75 yards, cutting him to pieces, causing the train to derail and a horrible accident. He did not survive.
Another story involves the KKK using the site for lynchings up into the 1990s before the removal of the train tracks. Interestingly, the property was originally part of the Lynch family estate and could simply be an idea that became twisted over time.
Whether it be phantom train whistles, footsteps, phantom mists, or apparitions such as a little boy and girl appear, it is an interesting place to visit, so the next time you cross Route 50 near Salem, stop and check it out IF YOU DARE!