The Definitive Guide To All Things Haunted And Creepy In Ohio
Ohio tells an interesting story, and it’s often a creepy one. Between abandoned coal mining towns, long-forgotten amusement parks reclaimed by nature, haunted inns with strange occurrences, and small towns with frequent paranormal activity, you’re never far from a chilling local legend or a haunting piece of the past. In fact, it’s easy to argue that Ohio just might be the most haunted state in America. Exploring the abandoned, haunted, and creepy treasures of the Buckeye State simply isn’t for the faint of heart. Our definitive guide will show you some of the most chilling destinations in all of Ohio.
1. Waynesville, Ohio is a quaint, historic village with a population of approximately 2,834... But it’s rumored to have more than 30 haunted places. Despite its charming nature, this unique community regularly attracts Ohioans who want to immerse themselves in the spookiness of Waynesville. Because of its rich history and abnormal amount of paranormal activity, the town features summer ghost tours and even offers ghost hunting classes on a seasonal basis each year. Are you brave enough to explore an entire village of haunted places?
2. Athens, Ohio just might be the most haunted city in the state. With one of the oldest universities in the United States and a former psychiatric hospital located within the city limits, it's bound to have a haunting or two. Haunted cemeteries, wandering ghosts and college dorm rooms known for paranormal activity abound in this small city, making it one of the creepiest towns you can explore—and live in— here in Ohio. Read about some of the town's most famous ghost stories here...
3. Marietta, Ohio is known as the first permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory. It’s a beautiful town, known for its Victorian-style houses, European ambience, brick streets, sternwheelers—and ghosts. Lafayette Hotel is one of the most popular paranormal attractions in the town and it's one of Ohio's most haunted hotels. Would you spend the night in this Ohio haunted hotel?
If you’ve ever heard creepy legends about a haunted house in Ohio called Franklin Castle, you should know that at least some of them are true. So much more than a historic home, this Gothic mansion in Cleveland is known for its sorrowful tales, secret passageways, hauntingly beautiful architecture and, of course, ghosts. Also known as the Hannes Tiedemann House, the castle-like home with more than 20 rooms was built in the late 1880s for German immigrant Hannes Tiedemann. Legend has it that the construction of the hidden rooms provided places for Tiedemann to commit possible crimes, such as murder and/or bootlegging during the Prohibition. Today, the castle stands partly renovated, privately owned and is under video surveillance. Would you live in this Ohio haunted mansion?
Within a unique geographical niche in north Columbus winds Walhalla Road, where it is said that post-dark passersby are haunted by a man who killed his wife and children before committing suicide beneath the road’s bridge. From a bird's eye view, it might look like any other road, but you should certainly think twice about exploring this storied site after dark, especially if you've got a fear of the paranormal. The legends of this infamous road may vary—but the hauntings remain.
Formerly known as the Mansfield Reformatory, the Ohio State Reformatory first opened in 1886 and is nearly 130 years old. While the exterior of the building might be hauntingly beautiful, the lonely cells and restless spirits roaming about inside are far from welcoming. Essentially a massive haunted museum, this historic landmark offers guided tours throughout the year and even hosts a Haunted Blood Prison experience during the Halloween season. Explore this haunted prison at your own risk.
If you're of the belief that spooky attractions aren't solely reserved for the fall, you'll absolutely love exploring the scariest haunted house in Ohio. This spine-tingling attraction, known as Ghostly Manor, is open year-round and also features an on-site mini golf area, obstacle course, skating rink, and more. No matter when you choose to stop by, one thing is for sure: Ghostly Manor is not for the faint of heart. Are you up for the challenge of making your way through this creepy haunted mansion attraction in Ohio?
You might have enough courage to take on a haunted house or two, but are you brave enough to make your way out of a haunted maze of corn? Putnam County’s Haunted Cornfield in Ottawa, Ohio takes getting lost in the corn to an entirely new level. In fact, it might just be the best haunted corn maze in Ohio—and even one of the scariest haunted attractions in the state. You never know what you'll find around each corner—or cleverly hidden between the stalks of corn.
5 Creepy Facts About Ohio
1. The former town of Boston Mills in northeast Ohio was bought by the U.S. government to make way for Cuyahoga Valley National Park in the 1970s. The once thriving town eventually turned into a ghost town. Rumors of Satanic activity, government conspiracy, and even mutated citizens floated around for decades. Today, Boston Township is a sleepy yet charming town with plenty of ghosts and local legends that intrigue Ohio explorers.
2.The Butcher of Kingsbury Run, also known as the “Cleveland Torso Murderer,” was an unidentified serial killer who murdered and dismembered at least twelve victims from among the homeless population in Cleveland during the 1930s—many of whom remain unidentified to this day.
3. The abandoned coal mining town of Moonville in southeastern Ohio’s Vinton County was founded in 1856, when the Marietta and Cincinnati railroad ran through the area’s woods. One structure of the town that remains today is the Moonville Tunnel, a haunted tunnel where a man was allegedly killed by a passing train. It’s said that his ghost wanders along the bed of the train tracks near the old tunnel at night. Today, you can explore the area via the Moonville Rail Trail, the creepiest haunted trail in Ohio.
4. Like many rural areas and small towns in Ohio, Rogues Hollow was once a thriving coal mining village near the modern day town of Doylestown, Ohio. Rogues Hollow was also a place for notorious outlaws and gangsters to hide out. Shoot-outs and robberies were common here, and these continued until the early 20th-century. Every October, the historical society hosts a “Walk the Hollow” event where you hear the spooky tales surrounding the hollow and explore the area at night.
5. The small town of Sabina, known as “The Eden of Ohio,” was once home to “Eugene the Mummy,” an unidentified dead man who became an unusual roadside attraction—and was displayed in the town for more than 36 years. People came from all over the country to see him, but he was never identified. Today, Eugene rests in a grave in the town’s cemetery. The headstone reads: “Eugene, Found Dead: 1928, Buried: 1964.”
