Here in the Buckeye State, we have our fair share of all things eerie, ghostly, and just straight-up creepy making for some of the most haunted places in Ohio. The following are the scary places you won't want to miss. Don't be afraid to visit, though, because experiencing a haunting is just about one of the most exciting things you can do in some of these towns. And a few of the ghosts may even be friendly, too. Let's check out some of the most haunted places near me.
1) Ohio State Reformatory, Mansfield
Formerly known as the Mansfield Reformatory, this historic prison is the site where the state's most violent ghosts can be found in haunted Ohio. Spirits of rioting inmates who often fought each other to the death in overcrowded isolation cells haunt the halls and cells of this former prison. You can understand why it's considered one of the most haunted places to visit in Ohio. Discover more on the Ohio State Reformatory’s website.
2) The Ridges, Athens
What was once the Athens Lunatic Asylum is now owned by Ohio University and is one of the most haunted places near me. Parts of the facility still hold shadows, stains, and spirits of former mental patients who often suffered from violent treatments such as lobotomies. Find out more on The Ridges' web page.
3) Hell Town, Boston
The people of the former town of Boston Mills were mysteriously ordered by the U.S. government to leave the town in the early 70s. Whether Satanic activity, government conspiracy, or mutated citizens led to the town's sudden evacuation, the abandoned homes, buildings, and streets are said to be haunted today by the spirits of those who didn't want to leave. It's one of the most haunted places in Ohio.
4) Beaver Creek State Park, East Liverpool
Parts of Ohio's canal built in the early 1800s can be found throughout this park and two canal locks, in particular, are said to be haunted by ghosts of canal workers who died on the job. It's one of the scary places in Ohio. Read more on Beaver Creek State Park’s Facebook page.
5) Historic Park Hotel, Put-In-Bay
One of the haunted places near me is a former Victorian mansion. When the landmark first opened in 1870, it was called the Deutsches Hotel and was rebranded in the 1980s. When you stay the night, be aware of the governess' ghost, a woman who supposedly died there is said to reside in Room 14, lingering especially near children who stay.
6) Licking County Historic Jail, Newark
This spooky jail first opened in November of 1889. Paranormal groups have traveled here from all over the country, and this haunted jail experience was even featured on the Travel Channel series, "Ghost Adventures." Visit this spirit world and see what you might conjure up.
7) Franklin Castle, Cleveland
Cleveland is home to one of the haunted places near me, a.k.a. the Tiedemann House. It is considered as Ohio's most haunted house where secret passageways, hidden rooms, and ghosts of families who have lived in the historic mansion abound. It's one of the most haunted places to visit in Ohio, where you can book a room. Find out more on the Clevland Historical web page.
8) Squire's Castle, Willoughby Hills
While certainly charming in the daylight, this small castle within Cleveland Metroparks is one of the most haunted places near me shown nightly by a shadowy figure with a red lantern.
9) Moonville Tunnel, McArthur
The abandoned town of Moonville in southeastern Ohio holds a haunted tunnel, where legend has it the ghost of a man who was killed instantly by a train passing through the tunnel wanders along the trackbed near the old tunnel at night.
10) Majestic Theatre, Chillicothe
America's oldest continuously operating theater — built in 1853 and bound to have a haunting or two — can be found in Chillicothe. What was once the Masonic Opera House is now a normal, fully functioning theater — with the exception of a ghostly little girl, mysterious fog, and a voice asking for someone named Andrew.
It's easy to see how this is one of the most haunted places in Ohio, especially when spooky shows are presented!
Check out the events on Majestic Theatre’s Facebook page.
11) Lima Tuberculosis Hospital, Lima
Hidden behind a small neighborhood on Lima's far west side, sits this abandoned TB ward, where the ghosts of patients wander the halls and hospital grounds - one of the most haunted places in Ohio.
Do you know any of the most haunted places to visit in Ohio that we forgot? Let us know about some of your scary places in the comments below.
And plenty of camping options are great for exposing ourselves to some of the creepy places near me in Ohio. Do you have what it takes?
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