The Haunted State Park Near Cleveland That Should Go To The Top Of Your Fall Bucket List
The presence of a haunted history surrounding the Great Lakes is indisputable. This area has been settled for centuries, allowing generations upon generations of events to take place. While our history books make note of many of the events, others are lost to time, forgotten by all but those involved… even though they passed on long ago. Many paranormal experts assert that spirits and ghosts are attracted to water, just as the living are. Perhaps that explains why our lakes and the rivers and tributaries they fuel are surrounded by ghostly activity. Perhaps that is why one Northeast Ohio park is shrouded in mystery…
Punderson State Park, located in Geauga County, is an absolute dream in the summer months.
The area was originally settled by Lemuel Punderson in 1802, and his mills and home were located in the coziest patch of forest around. The remains of he and his wife now rest eternally near the estate.
This quaint and cozy destination has quite a bizarre history.
The estate we know and love was once surrounded by an amusement park, a hotel, and a tavern. When the current manor was built, it utilized the chimneys of a former structure - one in which the estate’s former owner allegedly took his own life within its cozy walls.
After the state assumed ownership of the park and the mansion, it opened Punderson Manor to the public.
Some reported seeing a teenage girl who would walk into the lake and simply disappear. Others have experienced lights turning on and off unexpectedly and many noticed unusual cold spots becoming increasingly common on the property.
Some believe that the surrounding landscape could be fueling the hauntings, or perhaps they come directly from the manor itself.
From the disembodied sounds of children laughing to mysterious apparitions that come and go as they please, there's a lot of unexplained activity here...
Punderson Manor is located at 11755 Kinsman Rd, Newbury, OH 44065. You can find information about their spooky tours or even book an overnight stay that this beautiful – but haunted – resort on their website here.
There’s a lot of history here in Northeast Ohio, and much of it remains hidden to the region’s current occupants, but those who refuse to rest in peace likely won’t forget. Have you ever visited this haunted park? Did you have a ghostly encounter? Share your stories in the comments below!
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
