If you are looking for a spooky adventure in Church Hill, Tennessee, you might want to visit Sensabaugh Tunnel. This dark and eerie tunnel is said to be haunted by the ghost of a man named Edward Sensabaugh, who lived in a house near the tunnel in the 1920s.
In this article, we will explore some of the most haunted places in Church Hill, Tennessee, and learn about their spooky pasts.
Overview of Church Hill, Tennessee
Church Hill is a city in Hawkins County with a population of 6,998 as of 2020. It is part of the Kingsport–Bristol (TN)–Bristol (VA) Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical Area – commonly known as the “Tri-Cities” region.
The city has a rich history dating back to the late 18th century when it was established as a trading post and stagecoach stop called Spencer’s Mill and Patterson Mill. The name “Church Hill” came later, following the establishment of a Methodist church “on the hill” overlooking the Holston River valley. The church still stands today on Grandview Street.
Church Hill is located in beautiful North East Tennessee, approximately 80 miles east of Knoxville. The city is situated among rolling hills on the northern portion of Smith Bend, overlooking the Holston River. The city has a low cost of living, low tax rate, booming real estate market and low crime rate. The city is also close to several area lakes, such as Cherokee, Boone, Watauga, South Holston and others. The average temperature in Church Hill, Tennessee, is 56.9°F, with an average high of 68.7°F and an average low of 45.2°F.
But behind the scenic beauty and peaceful atmosphere of Church Hill lies a darker side. The city is home to some of the most haunted places in Tennessee, where ghostly sightings and paranormal activity are reported by locals and visitors alike.
The Haunted History of the Sensabaugh Tunnel
Sensabaugh Tunnel is one of the most haunted locations in East Tennessee and perhaps the most famous one in Church Hill.
The tunnel was built in the 1920s on land owned by the Sensabaugh family, predominantly Ed Sensabaugh. Rumors of terrifying tales and experiences down by and in the tunnel began almost immediately. Some said they heard phantom sounds, crying babies and footsteps that belonged to no one.
There are several legends surrounding the origin of the haunting. Some say that a homeless man broke into the Sensabaugh home and stole money, jewels, and the most precious thing they had: their child. Ed was said to have chased the man to the tunnel, where the thief tossed the child beside the river to his death. That’s enough heartache to make for a ghost, wouldn’t you say? To this day, people have made claims of hearing disembodied voices and screams within the tunnel and around the area.
Others say that Ed was the murderer. A man who forever walks the earth after murdering his whole family in their beds, then taking his own life in the seclusion of the tunnel.
Another legend concerns a young woman who was chased out of her home and gave birth in the tunnel, both her and the child expiring before morning. It’s her child that is said to scream through the night inconsolable.
Paranormal Reports in the Sensabaugh Tunnel
Many people have reported strange and terrifying experiences while driving or walking through Sensabaugh Tunnel.
Some have heard screams, laughter, or whispers coming from the darkness. Some have seen apparitions of Edward or his family or felt cold spots or touches on their skin.
Some have even claimed that their car engines died or their radios were turned on by themselves while inside the tunnel.
Some have tried to test the ghost’s power by turning off their car lights and honking their horns three times, only to find that they could not start their car again or that they were surrounded by a thick fog.
Paranormal investigators travel to the Sensabaugh Tunnel hoping to acquire an EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon). They also hope they might be fortunate enough to capture one of the ghosts that hang around the tunnel with their cameras. It is not uncommon to see orbs in and around it.
If you want to visit Sensabaugh Tunnel, you can find it on Sensabaugh Hollow Road off Highway 11W near Kingsport. But be warned: some people say that if you turn off your car engine inside the tunnel, it won’t start again until you push it out. Others say that if you honk your horn three times inside the tunnel, something will happen…but what exactly that is remains a mystery.
Are You Brave Enough to Visit?
Sensabaugh Tunnel is not for the faint of heart, but it is a popular destination for thrill-seekers and paranormal enthusiasts. If you decide to visit the tunnel, be respectful of the local residents and the law, as trespassing and vandalism are not tolerated. Also, be prepared for anything, as you never know what might happen when you enter the haunted tunnel.
