Here in Ohio, we have our fair share of all things eerie, ghostly, and just straight-up creepy. The following are what we think are the most haunted places in Ohio. Don’t be afraid to visit, though, because experiencing a haunting is just about one of the most exciting things you can do here in the Buckeye State! And some of the ghosts may even be friendly, too.
1) Ohio State Reformatory
The Ohio State Reformatory, 100 Reformatory Rd, Mansfield, OH 44905, USA
Formerly known as the Mansfield Reformatory, this historic prison is the site where the state's most violent ghosts can be found. 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 in Ohio.
What was once the Athens Lunatic Asylum is now owned by Ohio University, but parts of the facility still hold shadows, stains, and spirits of former mental patients who often suffered from violent treatments such as lobotomies.
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 lead 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 to visit in Ohio, but you probably wouldn't want to!
4) Beaver Creek Sate Park
Beaver Creek State Park, 12021 Echo Dell Rd, East Liverpool, OH 43920, USA
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 scariest places in Ohio.
Isolated in Fairfield County stands this abandoned mansion, where it is rumored that ghosts of families who once lived here haunt the grounds and house. One story claims that a Civil War slave who murdered his master and his master's family wanders the grounds at night.
6) Walhalla Road
Walhalla Road, Walhalla Rd, Columbus, OH 43202, USA
Within a unique geographical niche in north Columbus winds Walhalla Road, where it is said that passersby are haunted by a man who killed his wife before committing suicide beneath the road's bridge.
Cleveland is home to what is considered to be 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 in Ohio.
8) Moonville Tunnel
Hope-Moonville Road, Hope-Moonville Rd, Brown Township, OH 45651, USA
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.
9) Majestic Theatre
Majestic Theatre, 45 E 2nd St, Chillicothe, OH 45601, USA
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 fogs, and a voice asking for someone named Andrew. It's easy to see how this is one of the most haunted places to visit in Ohio!
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.
While certainly charming in the daylight, this small castle within Cleveland Metroparks is haunted nightly by a shadowy figure with a red lantern.
Do you know any of the most haunted places in Ohio that we forgot? Please let us know by filling out our nomination form and we’ll be sure to send the bravest to check them out.
Address: The Ohio State Reformatory, 100 Reformatory Rd, Mansfield, OH 44905, USA
Address: Radar Hill Trail, Athens, OH 45701, USA
Address: Boston, OH 44264, USA
Address: Walhalla Road, Walhalla Rd, Columbus, OH 43202, USA
Address: Beaver Creek State Park, 12021 Echo Dell Rd, East Liverpool, OH 43920, USA
Address: Castle Drive, Castle Dr, Franklin, TN 37067, USA
Address: Fairfield County, OH, USA
Address: Majestic Theatre, 45 E 2nd St, Chillicothe, OH 45601, USA
Address: 2001 Garden Blvd, Lima, OH 45805, USA
Address: Hope-Moonville Road, Hope-Moonville Rd, Brown Township, OH 45651, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
haunted places in Ohio
February 12, 2021
Kim Magaraci
What haunted hiking trails can I take in Ohio?
If you’re looking for an eerie trek, you can explore a haunted railroad tunnel via the Moonville Rail Trail in McArthur, Ohio. The trail itself serves as a reminder of the Buckeye State’s coal-mining past. The ghost town of Moonville was originally founded in 1856, and the Marietta and Cincinnati railroad ran through the region. The train tunnel is rumored to be haunted by the spirit of a man who was killed by a train. Allegedly, his ghost roams the tunnel at night.
Are there any haunted hotels in Ohio?
Not only are there haunted hotels in Ohio, but they’re also among the best places to stay in the state! One that stands out is the Golden Lamb in Lebanon. The oldest continually operated hotel in the state was established in 1803 and you’ll find beautifully decorated dining rooms and historic hotel rooms where famous people have stayed over the years. Two of the ghosts that frequently make appearances include a young girl and a former Ohio Supreme Court Justice who died here and often wanders through the room with the scent of cigar smoke.
Are there any haunted restaurants or bars in Ohio?
Ohio is full of a lot of haunted bars and restaurants. Schmidt’s Sausage Haus is home to a friendly ghost who appears in the mirrors and brushes past guests as they dine. The Oliver House, in Toledo, is haunted by a ghost called The Captain who haunts the pool room. Crosskeys Tavern is another haunted watering hole in Chillicothe. The ghost, Harold, is known to throw drinks around, turn off lights, and have some fun testing guests’ courage.
Address: The Ohio State Reformatory, 100 Reformatory Rd, Mansfield, OH 44905, USA
Address: Radar Hill Trail, Athens, OH 45701, USA
Address: Boston, OH 44264, USA
Address: Walhalla Road, Walhalla Rd, Columbus, OH 43202, USA
Address: Beaver Creek State Park, 12021 Echo Dell Rd, East Liverpool, OH 43920, USA
Address: Castle Drive, Castle Dr, Franklin, TN 37067, USA
Address: Fairfield County, OH, USA
Address: Majestic Theatre, 45 E 2nd St, Chillicothe, OH 45601, USA
Address: 2001 Garden Blvd, Lima, OH 45805, USA
Address: Hope-Moonville Road, Hope-Moonville Rd, Brown Township, OH 45651, USA
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April is the Ohio staff writer for Only in Your State. She is an Ohio native with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. With more than 10 years of writing experience and a background in news reporting for Ohio newspapers, she's published pieces in multiple print and online publications. When she's not on deadline or chasing after her toddler, she's hunting for hidden gems in Ohio or getting lost in a good book.
