15 Most Haunted Places in Ohio That’ll Haunt Your Corn
The most haunted places in Ohio are right here, on this website… or at least we have the list 😉 Ohio’s ghost game is on a whole new level. Ghosts really dig the Midwest.
Grab a spare change of pants, a flashlight, and your bravest buddy, these are the 15 most haunted places in Ohio:
Ohio State Reformatory
Mansfield
Ohio State Reformatory is straight out of a movie set…literally.
The Reformatory has graced the silver screen in classics like The Shawshank Redemption, Tango & Cash, and Air Force One. This imposing stone fortress opened its doors in 1890 on the site of Camp Mordecai Bartley, a Civil War training ground.
It started as an intermediate prison, aiming to reform first-time offenders with trade skills. But by the time it closed in 1990, the Reformatory had earned its place as one of the most haunted places in Ohio.
Visitors today can explore the creepy corridors on guided tours. Some of the most haunted spots include:
The East Wing’s First-Floor Bathroom and Third Floor of the Administration Building
In these areas, experiences include sudden drops in temperature, weird whispers, and the feeling of being watched. Some have even seen full-bodied apparitions dressed in period prison attire.
The Sub-basement, Chapel, and West Attic
These secluded spaces are notorious for physical interactions with the unseen. In the chapel, disembodied voices have been heard reciting prayers or hymns, while the west attic has a reputation for inducing feelings of dread, with some visitors reporting encounters with a malevolent entity believed to be a former guard.
The basement holds especially dark energy. According to local legend, a 14-year-old boy was beaten to death here during the prison’s era as a reformatory and now manifests as a shadow darting along walls and ceilings.
The Cell Blocks
Perhaps the most active areas are the cell blocks. In 1930, a massive fire broke out, killing 330 inmates and leaving 200 more gravely injured. Survivors were crammed into the attic, their burns untreated, enduring unimaginable suffering.
Today, visitors report hearing pained screams and the clanging of cell doors. Some have witnessed apparitions reenacting the final moments of their lives, endlessly repeating their deaths. The residual energy in the cells is palpable.
Solitary Confinement
The Hole has left a lasting imprint on those who spent time there. Visitors have reported intense feelings of despair and nausea upon entering. Some have encountered the spirit of an inmate who met a violent end here, appearing as a shadowy figure lurking in the corners, embodying the torment of solitary confinement.
Franklin Castle
Cleveland
Franklin Castle is the kind of place that practically oozes creeps. Built by Hans Tiedemann in the mid-1800s, this 21-room mansion boasts four stories, more than 20 rooms, and 80 windows.
It’s got all the good ghost story stuff, from hidden passageways used to smuggle alcohol during the prohibition to mysterious deaths and even (🤢) Nazis.
In Bad Hans
For a short time, the Tiedemann family seemed to live happily. But tragedy soon struck:
- Luise, Hans’ first wife, died in the home in the 1890s from liver disease.
- Emma, Hans’ 15-year-old daughter, died from diabetes.
- Three of Hans’ infant children also died tragically from unknown causes.
- Luise’s mother also died from unknown causes.
People began to whisper about a family curse.
Eventually, Hans built a ballroom on the fourth floor that was as big as the entire house. He also added towers, gargoyles, and secret passageways, and locals started calling it a castle. Luise may have used the tunnels to avoid her husband, who was rumored to have a bad temper. After she died in 1895, the rumors got worse. Some claimed Hans had affairs inside the house, and others accused him of violent acts of rape and murder.
Not long after Luise’s death, Hans sold the house and remarried, but the relationship lasted only a year. Hans died in 1908 from a stroke while walking in the park. By then, he had outlived his entire family, including his grandchildren. There was no one left to inherit his wealth, so in 1913, the German Socialist Party bought the home.
Political Violence
The German Socialist Party claimed they would use Franklin Castle for meetings and events. However, rumors spread that the house was used to hide Nazis. A local legend claims 20 people were gunned down inside during a political disagreement. Years later, residents said they could still hear the sounds of the conflict replaying within the walls.
The home sat vacant for a long time before the Romano family bought it in 1968.
The Romano Family
When the Romano family moved in, their lives were filled with unsettling events.
One day, the children told their mother they had been playing with a crying girl upstairs and wanted to bring her a cookie. When Mrs. Romano followed them upstairs, she found no one, though the children insisted the girl and others often played with them.
Mrs. Romano also heard organ music throughout the house, even though they didn’t own one. Footsteps echoed in empty halls. Lights flickered, glass clinked, and ceiling fans spun on their own.
The Romanos called in paranormal investigators, one of whom ran out of the house screaming during an investigation. A priest was brought for an exorcism, but he warned the spirits in the home were too powerful to remove.
The Romanos left in 1974.
Ghosts, Deaths, and Strange Discoveries
The next owner, Sam Muscatello, tried to turn Franklin Castle into a church, and when that failed, he opened it as a haunted house attraction. Later, Muscatello claimed to have discovered human bones in a hidden room. Some people say he planted the bones to gain attention, but the strange stories continued.
Visitors wrote about hearing a woman suffocating in the tower room. Some said they saw a thin woman in black, believed to be the ghost of a maid named Rachel, who may have been strangled by Hans. In one of the tunnels behind the ballroom, people claimed to feel the spirit of Karen, Hans’ 13-year-old niece, who he allegedly hanged. One version of the story says she was mentally ill.
Other disturbing claims include someone being murdered with an axe in one of the rooms and the discovery of 12 infant corpses in a hidden space. According to rumor, a doctor who lived in the house briefly after Hans performed illegal experiments on babies. Visitors today hear the sound of crying infants.
Franklin Castle in Recent Years
In 1999, Michelle Heimburger bought the house and planned to restore it, but a massive fire just months later caused major damage. Rumors circulated that it had been used as a filming location for porn.
Claiming to be the “most haunted house in Ohio,” The Franklin Castle hosts many ghostly tours, events, and even overnight stays. Franklin Castle’s layers of tragedy make it a must-see for anyone seeking the most haunted places in Ohio.
The Ridges
Athens
For Ohio University freshmen, visiting The Ridges is practically a rite of passage.
This 150-year-old former mental hospital, originally known as the Athens Lunatic Asylum, was open from 1874 to 1993. Over its lifetime, the asylum grew to include 78 buildings spread across sprawling grounds, including cattle, orchards, greenhouses, and wells.
Over 1,900 people were buried in its three cemeteries, where most headstones are marked with nothing more than a number.
The most famous ghost story here belongs to Margaret Schilling, who vanished in December 1978. Her body was discovered a month later in an abandoned ward, lying naked with her clothes folded neatly beside her.
She had died of heart failure, and her body left a permanent stain on the floor. Margaret’s spirit is seen in the window of the room where she died or wandering the halls, seemingly attempting to escape her tragic end.
Besides Margaret, former patients are said to haunt the empty wings, with visitors reporting full-bodied apparitions and disembodied voices yelling or crying. Squeaking gurneys, flickering lights, and the occasional blood-curdling scream are commonly experienced.
The Ridges is undoubtedly one of the most haunted places in Ohio!
Licking County Jail
Newark
Looking more like a Gothic castle than a traditional jail, the Licking County Jail is as haunting in appearance as it is in history. Built over 130 years ago,14 people are known to have died within its walls—six by suicide.
Carl Etherington, a 17-year-old dry agent with the Anti-Saloon League of Ohio, became part of one of the jail’s most infamous stories. He was arrested after shooting saloon owner William Howard in self-defense during a raid on illegal speakeasies in Newark. However, a mob outside broke into the jail, dragged Etherington from his cell, and tied him to a utility pole.
Some say Etherington had already been badly beaten with a sledgehammer in the jail’s second-floor cellblock. Over 5,000 people came to see his body, which shocked the nation. Governor Judson Harmon eventually stepped in, and 58 mob members were charged.
Carl’s restless spirit is believed to haunt the jail, with visitors reporting strange encounters in the cell blocks. Disembodied voices, from whispers to loud shouts, are common, and guests often feel uneasy, dizzy, or faint in some rooms, especially near the sheriff’s house.
The Licking County Jail remains open today, embracing its status as one of the most haunted places in Ohio. Visitors can purchase tickets and embark on a haunted tour to experience this dark chapter of prohibition history.
Spring House Gazebo, Eden Park
Cincinnati
Eden Park is a lush urban oasis on the edge of downtown Cincinnati, featuring cultural gems like the Art Museum, Krohn Conservatory, and its most iconic feature, the Spring House Gazebo.
The Death and Divorce of Imogene
In 1925, Cincinnati attorney and bootlegger George Remus was convicted of breaking Prohibition laws and sentenced to two years in prison. While he was locked up, his wife, Imogene, betrayed him by having an affair with Franklin Dodge, a former Prohibition agent. Together, they worked to destroy Remus’s empire, selling his distillery, liquidating his assets, trying to have him deported, and even hiring a hitman to kill him.
When Remus was released, he returned home to find Imogene had filed for divorce. On October 6, 1927, the day Imogene was heading to court to finalize the proceedings, he ordered his driver to run Imogene’s car off the road near the Spring House Gazebo, then fatally shot her in the stomach. Imogene, dressed in black to mourn the death of her marriage, died in the hospital. Arguing that Imogene and Dodge’s betrayal caused extreme emotional distress, George Remus was found not guilty of murder on account of insanity.
Unresolved, Imogene remains in Eden Park. Visitors to the Spring House Gazebo report seeing a lady dressed in black, believed to be Imogene, moving silently through the structure or appearing as a shadow against the gazebo’s openings.
Though Eden Park is lovely, the haunting memory of Imogene Remus at the Spring House Gazebo makes it one of the most haunted places in Ohio.
The Golden Lamb Inn
Lebanon
The Golden Lamb Inn has been a hub of hospitality since 1803. Founded by Jonas Seaman, who paid $4 for a license to run a “House of Public Entertainment,” this charming establishment quickly became the heart of the community, earning the nickname “Lebanon’s Living Room.”
The ghost stories at the inn start with Clement L. Vallandigham, a former U.S. Congressman from Ohio. In 1871, he accidentally shot himself with an unloaded pistol, fatally wounding himself. He died in a second-floor room, which is now named after him. Over time, guests have reported seeing a man who looks like Vallandigham walking through the halls or staying in his room.
The most famous ghost is a little girl. Guests frequently hear her laughter or feel her presence in the hallways. Some think she’s Sarah Stubbs, who lived at the inn, while others believe it could be Eliza Clay, the daughter of politician Henry Clay, who died while staying there.
Hocking Hills State Park
Logan
Hocking Hills State Park is a beloved destination for hikers, nature lovers, and those seeking a scenic fall drive.
Native American tribes once lived in the area and believed it held strong spiritual energy. They saw the burial grounds and caves as sacred places that connected the living and the dead.
Conkle’s Hollow
In Conkle’s Hollow, Native Americans were said to rob settlers and hide their loot in the caves along the trail. Many of these thieves were caught and hanged in the hollow, and their shadows are still reported on the trails at night.
A powerful spirit guardian was said to live deep inside Old Man’s Cave, only appearing to those who showed respect and came with pure intentions. Those who have seen it describe the experience as unforgettable.
Old Man’s Cave
Old Man’s Cave is named after Richard Roe, a hermit who lived in the forest in the 1800s. One day, Roe used the butt of his musket to crack ice in the nearby stream to get fresh drinking water, causing the weapon to fire and shoot himself in the head. He is said to haunt the cave to this day, often seen just before or after sunset.
Ash Cave
Hikers near Ash Cave report being followed by a pale woman in a flowery dress, and the distant sound of drumming can be heard vibrating through the cave’s walls. Locals aren’t sure of the woman’s story or why she haunts the cave, but she’s been well-documented over the years.
Prospect Place
Trinway
The 29-room Prospect Place mansion stands as a testament to both its rich history and enduring mysteries. Built in 1856 by abolitionist George Willison Adams, this grand estate played a significant role in the Underground Railroad.
A Sanctuary for Freedom Seekers
George W. Adams, born in 1799 in Virginia, grew up in a family that opposed slavery. After moving to Ohio and freeing their slaves, the Adams family became active in the fight against slavery. George and his brother Edward ran businesses in Dresden, Ohio, including a flour mill. They used their boats to secretly bring escaped slaves back from the South, hiding them beneath the decks.
Tragedy and Resilience
After the original mansion burned down in an arson fire, George Adams rebuilt Prospect Place with modern features like indoor plumbing and a special cooling system.
Many visitors have reported strange activity inside the mansion—voices, childlike laughter, and shadowy figures. A man in formal clothing thought to be George Adams, is often seen near the grand staircase.
The basement, once used to hide escaped slaves, is especially active. People have seen a woman with a head injury, felt cold spots, and heard cries of pain.
The Legend of the Bounty Hunter
Another story tells of a bounty hunter who came to Prospect Place, demanding they give up escaped slaves. After being turned away, he was caught by Adams’ men, brought back, and hanged in the barn. Today, visitors say the barn feels heavy, with strange sounds linked to that dark event.
Preservation
In the late 20th century, Prospect Place faced potential demolition, but thanks to restoration efforts, the mansion was preserved and is now managed by the G.W. Adams Educational Center. The site offers historical and paranormal toursand has been featured in various paranormal investigations, earning its place as one of the most haunted places in Ohio.
The Collingwood Arts Center
Toledo
The Collingwood Arts Center originally served as a convent for the Ursuline Order of the Sacred Heart, the building later housed the Mary Manse College and St. Ursula Academy.
Common Manifestations:
Collingwood Arts Center:
- A robed figure in black is often seen in the basement, especially near the stairs, before vanishing.
- The Cells (small confined rooms) are known for whispers, strange feelings, and movements in the shadows.
- A flying, white-robbed apparition has been spotted in the dormitory hallways, accompanied by piano music.
- A sad nun’s spirit is felt near the basement stairs, where she is said to have ended her life.
Gerber House (next to the arts center):
- Unexplained orbs appear in photos taken in the attic, balcony, basement stairs, and front parlor.
- A ghostly bride lingers, still waiting for her wedding or religious vows.
- A nun in the attic continues sewing, refusing to move on from her earthly duties.
Sedamsville Rectory
Cincinnati
The Sedamsville Rectory was once a home for clergy but is now known for its hauntings. Shadows and mists have been seen slipping under doors, footsteps and voices in empty rooms, and doors mysteriously open and close.
One of the most well-known spirits is Father Donald MacLeod. According to legend, he was struck and killed by a train near the rectory. His ghost is often seen walking along the nearby railroad tracks, which visitors can still explore today.
Other spirits include a clergyman and two tragic figures: a man and a child found dead on the street in front of the rectory. The child’s death was disturbing, as they were found with a noose around their neck.
Today, a child-like entity roams the home. It growls, shoves people, and exudes hostility. Paranormal investigators believe this could be a malevolent spirit disguising itself as something innocent to lure victims in.
Current owners report ice-cold breezes on hot days, sudden waves of sadness, and being scratched or shoved by unseen forces. With its tragic past, the Sedamsville Rectory remains one of Ohio’s most haunted spots.
The Buxton Inn
Granville
The Buxton Inn, built in 1812 by pioneer Orrin Granger, is a haunted historic treasure.
Over the years, its charm has attracted countless visitors—some of whom may have decided to stay forever:
- Orrin Granger: The first owner and builder of the inn, Orrin Granger, was also the first ghost ever reported here. His presence has been felt and seen throughout the property, often as an apparition, quietly observing the halls and rooms he once attended.
- Major Horton Buxton: The inn’s namesake and an influential figure in its history, Major Buxton operated the inn during the late 1800s. His ghost sightings are often tied to the main areas of the inn where he greeted guests during his lifetime.
- The Lady in Blue: Believed to be former innkeeper Ethel “Bonnie” Bounell, this elegant spirit is most often seen in Room 9, where she appears in a striking blue dress. Guests have reported feeling watched or noticing glimpses of her, especially at night.
- The Ghost Cat: One of the inn’s most unique haunts is its ghost cat. Guests report the sensation of a small cat brushing against their legs in the halls, jumping onto their beds, or curling up to purr softly.
- Room 7: Known for its shadowy apparitions, Room 7 guests have reported seeing dark figures moving across the room or standing in corners, accompanied by an unshakable feeling of being watched.
- The Basement: Visitors have heard footsteps echoing through the space, doors opening and closing on their own, and disembodied voices in the shadows.
It is easy to see why the Buxton Inn is one of the most haunted places in Ohio.
Punderson Manor
Newbury
Just 30 minutes from downtown Cleveland, Punderson Manor is a peaceful retreat as a lodge and conference center still welcoming guests today. Beneath its beauty lies a history of odd occurrences that make Punderson Manor one of the most haunted places in Ohio.
One of the strangest stories involves a suicide. People say a former owner rowed into the middle of the lake in a bathtub, pulled the plug, and let himself drown. No one has confirmed the story, but it has fascinated visitors since the 1970s.
Another haunting manifests as a man dressed in grey or like a lumberjack. In one case, staff saw him sitting silently in the dining room late at night, vanishing when the sun came up. People also report cold spots, odd noises, and shadowy figures in the halls.
Lodge employees often deal with strange activity. Fireplaces go out on their own, pencils fly off desks, and faucets and doors move without anyone touching them. Some workers have even shouted at the ghosts to stop—and oddly, it sometimes works, at least for a bit.
Beaver Creek State Park
East Liverpool
Within Beaver Creek State Park lies the ruins of a canal system built in the early 1800s, including several historic locks. Today, two of these locks—known as Jake’s Lock and Gretchen’s Lock—are some of the most haunted places in Ohio.
Jake’s Lock gets its name from a canal worker named Jake, who was struck by lightning and died while walking across the top of the lock. People say his spirit still lingers there. On certain nights, some visitors report seeing a strange light drifting over the lock. Many believe it’s Jake’s ghost carrying a lantern, still doing his job after death.
Nearby, Gretchen’s Lock has its own story. Gretchen was the daughter of a canal worker and died while her family was far from their home country. Her father, heartbroken, placed her coffin in the lock to keep it safe until it could be sent back home. But when the coffin was finally put on a ship, the ship sank, and Gretchen’s body was lost at sea.
Locals say Gretchen’s ghost appears at the lock every year on the anniversary of her death, her restless spirit tied to the place where she was left behind.
Park Hotel
Put-in-Bay
Perched on South Bass Island in the Lake Erie village of Put-in-Bay (nicknamed the “Key West of the North), the Park Hotel has been a fixture of this picturesque island since the 1870s. Originally, this grand Victorian lodge was a luxurious retreat for wealthy travelers. Today, it remains a historic destination, modernized in the 1980s while still retaining the rich history that make it one of the most haunted places in Ohio.
Visitors to the Park Hotel frequently report encounters with spirits. One of the most prominent is The Governess, a woman who died after falling from the second-floor staircase to the lobby. Her spirit is seen in Room 14, usually around kids. People staying in this room often report seeing her presence or feeling a strange energy, especially near the stairs.
Another haunting is that of a former owner, who died by suicide at the hotel. His spirit is spotted in Room 17, where he’s been seen looking out the window. Some visitors report cold spots and an overwhelming sense of melancholy in this part of the building. Others have heard unexplained footsteps and doors opening and closing in his former haunts.
In the hotel’s Winter Bar, guests have experienced unexplained noises, and some have reported strange sensations of being watched while enjoying a drink, also attributed to the owner.
In the public areas of the hotel, guests, and staff have heard the sound of ballroom music, the swish of unseen dancers’ footsteps, and figures in period clothing have also been seen in the hallway.
Thurber House
Columbus
The Thurber House, a charming Victorian-style home located just north of East Broad Street in Columbus, was once the home of author and cartoonist James Thurber. Known for his wit and timeless storytelling, one of his most famous works, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, was adapted into the beloved movie.
The house, now a literary center and museum, was built on land that once belonged to a psychiatric hospital that burned down. James Thurber himself recorded some of the weird stuff that took place there.
In his story The Night the Ghost Got In, Thurber described hearing loud footsteps circling his kitchen downstairs while he was in the bathroom upstairs. The sounds became louder, eventually racing up the staircase toward him and his brother. Though they never saw an apparition, the experience was so unnerving that Thurber hid in the bathroom until the footsteps stopped.
Another peculiar ghost story involves Toby, a dog owned by a different in-house writer. One night, Toby wandered down to the parlor when the house was quiet. Suddenly, he began growling and staring at an unseen presence sitting on the velvet couch under the leaded glass window. Toby’s reaction was so intense that it left a lasting impression on the writer.
Visitors and staff have seen books flying off shelves, and disembodied footsteps echo on the back staircase, thought to be Thurber himself. His presence lingers heaviest in the literary center, which is today a tribute to his work.
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