Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Stumphouse Tunnel Complex
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | Oconee County |
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| Nearest city | Walhalla, South Carolina |
| Area | 42 acres (17 ha) |
| Built | 1853 |
| Architect | Bangs, Anson, & Co. |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000793 |
| Added to NRHP | April 7, 1971 |
The Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel is an old, unfinished railroad tunnel in Oconee County, South Carolina. It was meant to be part of the Blue Ridge Railroad of South Carolina. Today, this historic tunnel and the nearby Issaqueena Falls are a popular city park in Walhalla.
The tunnel is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. This means it's a special place worth protecting because of its history.
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Building a Path Through Mountains
The idea for Stumphouse Tunnel started way back in 1835. People in Charleston, South Carolina, wanted a faster way to connect with the Ohio River Valley. At the time, trains had to go all the way around the mountains.
In 1852, a big plan was made to build 13 miles of tunnels. These tunnels would go through the Blue Ridge Mountains. They would cross South Carolina, North Carolina, and reach into Tennessee.
Construction on the Blue Ridge Railroad began in the late 1850s. It went well through most of South Carolina. But then it hit the mountains near Walhalla. That's where Stumphouse Tunnel and three other tunnels were planned.
The Tunnel's Construction
Work on Stumphouse Tunnel started in 1856. A company from London, George Collyer Company, brought many Irish workers to the area. These workers lived in a community on top of Stumphouse Mountain called Tunnel Hill.
By 1859, the State of South Carolina had spent a lot of money on the tunnel. They had spent over a million dollars, which was a huge amount back then! Because of the high cost, the state decided to stop funding the project. So, the tunnel work was abandoned.
The tunnel was supposed to be 5,863 feet long. But when work stopped, only 1,617 feet had been dug. The other end of the tunnel was meant to come out on the other side of the mountain. Today, that area is often covered by Crystal Lake in the summer.
Other Tunnels in the Area
Stumphouse Tunnel was not the only one planned for the Blue Ridge Railroad. Two other tunnels were also started in the 1850s.
- Middle Tunnel: This tunnel is about a quarter-mile from Stumphouse Tunnel. It was finished, but much of it later collapsed. It was partly sealed off in the mid-1900s. You can only reach it by walking.
- Saddle Tunnel: This was the last tunnel planned for the South Carolina section. It's about 1.5 miles north of Middle Tunnel. Saddle Tunnel was only partly built. Today, it's mostly underwater in a small lake. Only the entrance can be seen.
Stumphouse Tunnel Today
In the 1950s, Stumphouse Tunnel found a new purpose. Clemson University used the tunnel to grow blue cheese! The tunnel's cool, damp air was perfect for ripening cheese. This continued until the 1970s. Then, the cheese operation moved to special air-conditioned rooms that copied the tunnel's environment.
Today, Stumphouse Tunnel is a public park. The city of Walhalla manages it along with nearby Isaqueena Falls. The park is open every day from 10 AM to 5 PM, except on Christmas Day or during bad weather.
Inside the tunnel, the temperature stays around 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). The air is also very humid, about 85%. The tunnel is easy to get to from a gravel parking lot. It's very strong and safe, with almost no cracks. In 1999, a rock slide affected a vent inside the tunnel. But in 2000, Walhalla quickly fixed it, making it safe for visitors again.
In 2007, there was an attempt to buy the land around the tunnel. But a group called Naturaland Trust stepped in to protect it. They worked with other conservation groups, private people, and the state of South Carolina. Together, they raised money to keep the mountain and tunnel open for everyone to enjoy.
