Did you know that the oldest juvenile detention center in the entire United States is located in Ohio? No, it’s no longer in operation – it’s stood abandoned for over a decade now – but its halls still echo with the stories of young adults housed here thanks to a variety of offenses. It opened in 1931 in downtown Cleveland, and today, it’s an eerie reminder of the darkness of our justice system. The Cuyahoga Juvenile Detention Center is equal parts intriguing and eerie, and its story is worth telling. When it comes to abandoned places in Ohio, this one might just take the cake for the creepiest.

Highlighting the beautifully eerie work of Cleveland-based photographer Johnny Joo, discover more fascinating abandoned locations across America in our Vacant Series. These unique man-made structures have been left abandoned and are slowly being reclaimed by nature.

Editor’s Note: Due to the nature of abandoned destinations, many of the places featured in this series are off-limits to visitors or have actually been demolished. We do not condone trespassing and other illegal activity but rather encourage readers to enjoy learning about these fascinating destinations. 

At its prime, this center was considered the model for others like it. It was state-of-the-art, though not overly enormous.
Johnny Joo/Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo
Its size would eventually become an issue, as overcrowding would start around 2007 as the center reached capacity and then some.
Although plans for a newer, larger center were in development, this didn't help the struggling center at the moment.
Johnny Joo/Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo
By 2010, it had erupted into chaos. A few kids even managed to escape via the kitchen, though they were found in the coming days and brought right back to likely serve now-longer sentences.
Finally, in 2011, that new center was finished and opened its doors, making this one obsolete.
Johnny Joo/Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo
At first, officials sought to demolish the old building, but it was successfully argued that it was likely historic and shouldn't be torn down – and thus, it wasn't.
Touring the building, one finds many remains: those of courtrooms and cells, offices and courtyards.
Johnny Joo/Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo
The property itself is rather large, with plenty of room to stretch your legs. Its eerie silence gives no hints about its history.

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Though this center didn't have any major scandals during its time, it was eventually discovered that complaints from children inmates often went ignored.
Johnny Joo/Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo
Written complaints about various things like assaults by guards or teachers sat locked in a box until after the center was already closed. Some unopened letters dated back to the 1990s.
Who knows how many legitimate issues were simply looked over? We can't know now.
Johnny Joo/Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo
It always seems like abuse is inevitable at places like this one, particularly when they're older.
And this one is, of course, the oldest – we are unsurprised to learn that darkness lurked here even without media attention.
Johnny Joo/Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo
Today, it's eerily quiet around here, especially for a place that's not even all that isolated.
The outside world seems far away when wandering these halls.
Johnny Joo/Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo
We can only wonder how far away it felt for children sent here only to experience abuse.

Do you know anyone who spent time at this facility? Do you know of any other eerie but interesting abandoned places in Ohio? Let us know in the comments!

Special thanks to Cleveland-based photographer Johnny Joo of Odd World Studio for the photos used in this article. For more images, check out his website, Architectural Afterlife. Discover even more spooky places in Vacant: Inside 13 Eerie and Fascinating Abandoned Locations Across America. 

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