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All the United States New York State New York City Nyack Clausland Mountain Tunnels
AO Edited

Clausland Mountain Tunnels

These World War I shooting range tunnels are now haunted halls of underground graffiti accessed through the roots of a tree.

Nyack, New York

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arosoff
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Clausland Mountain Tunnels   arosoff / Atlas Obscura User
Clausland Mountain Tunnels   arosoff / Atlas Obscura User
Clausland Mountain Tunnels   arosoff / Atlas Obscura User
  Nicole 1019 / Atlas Obscura User
  Nicole 1019 / Atlas Obscura User
  Nicole 1019 / Atlas Obscura User
  lodivaloca / Atlas Obscura User
The tunnels are occupied by both wolf spiders and cave crickets. Not for the etymologically averse.   Dylan / Atlas Obscura User
One of the larger structures in the park.   Dylan / Atlas Obscura User
An entrance can be found near the corners of Tweed and Clauseland.   Dylan / Atlas Obscura User
A hole in the ground drops into yet another series of tunnels.   Dylan / Atlas Obscura User
Some of the rather large cave crickets.   Dylan / Atlas Obscura User
One of the many tunnels.   Dylan / Atlas Obscura User
Examining the entrance to the tunnels found under a tree root.   Dylan / Atlas Obscura User
  falco1811 / Atlas Obscura User
  TheKopasClan / Atlas Obscura User
  TheKopasClan / Atlas Obscura User
  TheKopasClan / Atlas Obscura User
  TheKopasClan / Atlas Obscura User
  TheKopasClan / Atlas Obscura User
  TheKopasClan / Atlas Obscura User
Graffiti on additional abandoned buildings off of the Long Trail   educatorclaire / Atlas Obscura User
Graffiti outside of tunnel   educatorclaire / Atlas Obscura User
Entrance to the tunnels from the Long Trail   educatorclaire / Atlas Obscura User
  nickc3 / Atlas Obscura User
  JustLostIt / Atlas Obscura User
  JustLostIt / Atlas Obscura User
  JustLostIt / Atlas Obscura User
  JustLostIt / Atlas Obscura User
  JustLostIt / Atlas Obscura User
Entrance to one of the tunnels.   Dylan / Atlas Obscura User
  missingfilm / Atlas Obscura User
Near the tunnel entrance   jmocklin / Atlas Obscura User
  missingfilm / Atlas Obscura User
  Nicole 1019 / Atlas Obscura User
  Nicole 1019 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Hidden beneath the woods off of Tweed Boulevard near Nyack, New York are the Clausland Mountain Tunnels, a series of cement halls that were put in place to keep World War I soldiers safe, but are now simply the home of graffiti artists and legends of satanic ritual. 

The tunnels were originally part of the Bluefields Rifle Range which was meant to be used as a training ground for members of the New York National Guard. The tunnels were built to allow soldiers to pass under and around the open fire ranges without the risk of being hit by a stray bullet. However, the site was seen as an expensive boondoggle from the get go. National Guard officers, for whom it was being built, called it "one of the most costly blunders in the history of the state", and locals complained that stray bullets were falling from the sky and putting holes in their barns. Built in 1910, it was only in use for a scant three years before the base was closed.

After the closure of the base, the tunnels were left intact. The tunnels quickly became home to numerous urban legends and underage drinking. It's rumored that there are miles of tunnels that litter the subterranean landscape of the area, but there seems to be considerably less than that. What tunnels do remain are strewn with garbage and covered in graffiti. The legends surrounding the tunnels range from those involving satanic ritual to bodies being dumped there by the mob, to suicides and murder though little evidence of any of that exists. One of the tunnels is accessed by crawling under the roots of an old tree, like something if out of a fantasy novel.

There are a few entrances to the tunnels, and at least one of the tunnels has collapsed and is impassible, so their safety is somewhat suspect. The tunnels are home to a number of large insects including wolf spiders (which look scary but are basically harmless) and cave crickets (also harmless) which grow to the size of a tennis ball and leap off the walls when startled by a passerby. Nonetheless, despite all the reasons not to go exploring in a collapsing tunnel filled with thousands of fist sized crickets, people continue to visit the tunnels, looking to find a little adventure.

Related Tags

Tunnels Abandoned Military History Subterranean Sites Military

Know Before You Go

There is an entrance to the Long Trail in a nearby development; the tunnels are about a 1/4 in from the entrance to the trail. You can enter between #4 and #6 1st Class Marsico (yes, that is the name of the street). It's pretty new so may not be in gps. Search for Valenza Lane in Blauvelt. You can also enter by hiking through Tackamac North Park out across Marsico Ct. The GPS marker is set for the entrance under the tree roots.

Community Contributors

Added By

arosoff

Edited By

educatorclaire, missingfilm, TheKopasClan, lodivaloca...

  • educatorclaire
  • missingfilm
  • TheKopasClan
  • lodivaloca
  • falco1811
  • nickc3
  • JustLostIt
  • Nicole 1019
  • jmocklin

Published

December 15, 2015

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Sources
  • http://www.weirdus.com/states/new_york/local_legends/tweed/index.php
  • https://lostinjersey.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/the-tunnels-of-tweed/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blauvelt_State_Park
Clausland Mountain Tunnels
Valenza Lane
Blauvelt State Park
Nyack, New York, 10960
United States
41.071293, -73.942888
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