Ogden

Do Tunnels Run Under Ogden’s 25th Street?

Are Ogden’s tunnels real or legend?

|


speakeasy2
Illustration by Chris Bodily

As a railroad hub and industrial center, Ogden has seen its fair share of colorful and sometimes questionable history. At the heart of that history is 25th Street. Infamous for everything from opium dens and bootleggers to prostitution and gambling, 25th Street has been home to a thriving underground. Perhaps that is why legends persist to this day of a series of tunnels that once connected the entire street beneath the surface.

Allegedly dug by Chinese immigrants in the late 1800s as opium dens, these tunnels have captured the imaginations and memories of Ogden residents. But were there really tunnels stretching from First Security Bank to the Union Station and zigzagging back and forth beneath the street?

In a project to gather the stories of Ogden’s older residents, researchers and professors from Weber State University interviewed people who had grown up in and around the city. Several mentioned the tunnels, though none of the interviewees could say that they had personally been in the tunnel network. Ray Mora, born in 1926, said he had heard of a tunnel going from the Ben Lomond Hotel to the train station, but that his brother would know far more about it. James Ritchie, born 1925, said he understood there were tunnels connecting much of 25th Street, but also said, “I never saw a tunnel. I couldn’t prove it. That’s just rumor.”

Others say they had heard of the tunnels, but assumed people had blown things out of proportion. Claire Knight said, “Tunnels under the street? I don’t believe there were any—I know there was tunnels under the sidewalk.” He went on to describe freight elevators that would rise up through the sidewalk to move goods into basements. Frank Zampedri described large, interconnected basements that could cover up to an eighth of the block and said “maybe that’s where they get this tunnel system.”

There are plenty of stories about the tunnels, but what evidence is there? Greg Montgomery, planning manager for Ogden City, thinks the tunnel legends come from a mixture of fact and fiction. There were definitely freight elevators, connected basements, and stairs leading down from street level. He explains, however, that “When we did the reconstruction of 25th street to put the sidewalks and sewer lines in we came across some of these basements but we never came across any that connected across the street.”

So where do the stories come from? Montgomery says, “We don’t have real evidence other than these minor connections, but you still have people who claim these things. What is the real story? We don’t know. Yeah, there were connections, there were spaces underneath the sidewalk, and to a little kid they looked pretty big.” Perhaps people remember walking in the tunnels under the union station to get to their train platform, or going down to a basement and seeing a door leading out under the sidewalk. These memories could have expanded and created a narrative of long, elaborate tunnels. Or perhaps we just haven’t found the right evidence yet.

img_8921
Rumors of underground speakeasies in Ogden fuel the debate about 25th Street tunnels.

But even if the basements of 25th street weren’t really part of a tunnel system, they saw plenty of excitement in the first half of the twentieth century. The city has pictures of officials bringing slot machines up to the street after conducting gambling raids and accounts of police officers busting opium dens. Many residents remember seeing Rosie, a prostitute at the Rose Room who (according to some) would walk her pet ocelot down the street. Some laugh about bars and restaurants that would have a switch to change the tubes to a water barrel if officials came looking for illegal alcohol during Prohibition. So whether or not the tunnels ever existed, they certainly add to the story of a city whose truth is just as bizarre as its fiction.

, ,

Join our newsletter.
Stay informed.

Related Articles


  • The “Monster” of Bear Lake

    Have you ever heard of Utah’s hidden lake monsters? Beyond the tourist buzz of Bear Lake, whispers of a mysterious creature have persisted for generations. Dive into the untold stories, rare sightings, and eerie folklore surrounding Utah’s most elusive aquatic legend. Are the rumors real, or just a product of overactive imaginations?

    To access this post, you must purchase Full Access Membership.


  • Frisco, Utah: The Untold Story of the West’s Most Notorious Ghost Town

    Once a wild silver mining town, Frisco, Utah, was infamous for its nightly violence and lawless streets. Known as the “toughest mining town in the West,” its fortunes changed after a catastrophic mine collapse. Today, the deserted remains of Frisco, with its decaying kilns and empty streets, tell the story of a town that lived fast and died young. The mysteries of its vanished lawman and the outlaws who once ruled the streets still linger in its desolate landscape.

    To access this post, you must purchase Full Access Membership.


  • From Felon to Founder: How Rocky Rebuilt His Life After 12 Felony Convictions

    By the age of eight, Rocky was already using drugs, and by his twenties, he had 12 felony convictions and had spent years behind bars. His future seemed sealed. But then, something unexpected happened. Learn how Rocky defied the odds, escaped the cycle of addiction and crime, and turned his shattered life into a story of redemption and success.


  • Preserving Union Station’s History Amid Ogden’s Redevelopment Plans

    When Ben Nadolski became Ogden’s mayor in January 2024, the city’s cherished Union Station took center stage in a battle between economic growth and historical preservation. The iconic station, rich with artifacts that tell the story of Ogden’s railroad legacy, faced redevelopment plans that threatened to erase its past. Under former leadership, volunteers were pushed aside, sparking public outcry. But Nadolski heard the call for preservation and made Union Station his top priority. As he navigates the city through a complex redesign, he’s asking one critical question: Can we honor the past while embracing the future?

    To access this post, you must purchase Full Access Membership.