Expedition Team: Dave Miller
Date: February 6, 2024
I place this location under the Paranormal Category only because it is remote and creepy location. However, I feel that any haunting here is just a made-up urban legend. The Gates of Hell has also been referred to as the “Blood Bowl” or the “Portal to Another World”. Actually, this “evil” place is just a large drainage culvert directing water from Glen Echo Creek under High Street to flow into the Olentangy River. The site is behind a Tim Hortons restaurant but is well isolated by trees on both banks. The creek banks are also very high and steep. Concrete walls were poured to prevent erosion making it a great place in dry weather for skateboarders. The “Blood Bowl” name came from alleged stories of skateboarders who were injured, bloodied, or died from severe daredevil accidents. Another urban legend claims that inside the dark tunnel is a portal to another world and that people perform dark rituals there. The bottom line is that this is just a water drainage culvert that looks foreboding and has metal bars (or gates) in front of the entrance to prevent logs and other debris from clogging up the tunnel.
Upon investigating, a almost broke my neck sliding down the steep creek bank. The place is creepy because of (1) the wooded, quiet, isolated area and (2) the creepy entrance to the culvert (Photo#1). Once inside the culvert you see colorful graffiti everywhere. Photo #2 is me standing in the tunnel and looking out through the metal gates.
