Ready to uncover some of Ohio’s most chilling secrets?
These 8 eerie spots across the state are steeped in haunting histories that are as fascinating as they are spine-tingling!
1. Moonville Tunnel (McArthur)
Picture this: you’re strolling through a lush forest, birds chirping, squirrels scurrying, when suddenly, you’re face-to-face with a massive, graffiti-covered tunnel that looks like it was plucked straight out of a horror movie.
Welcome to Moonville Tunnel, folks!
This abandoned railway tunnel, nestled in the heart of Vinton County, is like the brooding, mysterious cousin at the family reunion.
Built in the 1850s, it’s outlived its usefulness but refuses to go quietly into that good night.
Instead, it’s become a hotspot for ghost hunters and thrill-seekers.
Legend has it that the tunnel is haunted by the ghost of a brakeman who met his untimely demise on the tracks.
2. Ohio State Reformatory (Mansfield)
If you’ve ever watched “The Shawshank Redemption” and thought, “Gee, I’d love to spend a night in that charming establishment,” boy, do I have news for you!
The Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield is like Disneyland for the macabre crowd, minus the overpriced churros and mouse ears.
This imposing structure, with its Gothic architecture and ominous towers, looks like it was designed by someone who really, really loved Halloween.
Opened in 1896, it housed some of Ohio’s most notorious criminals until its closure in 1990.
Now, it’s open for tours, ghost hunts, and the occasional “voluntarily lock yourself in a cell” experience for those who find regular hotels just too darn comfortable.
The reformatory boasts a colorful history of violence, suffering, and unexplained phenomena.
Visitors report hearing phantom footsteps, seeing shadowy figures, and feeling sudden cold spots – which, let’s be honest, could just be Ohio’s notoriously fickle weather.
3. Cry Baby Bridge (Salem)
Now, if you’re looking for a romantic spot for a first date, might I suggest… literally anywhere else but Cry Baby Bridge in Salem?
Unless, of course, your idea of romance involves possible infant ghosts and tetanus from rusty railings.
This unassuming bridge spans a creek in the middle of nowhere, which is apparently prime real estate for restless spirits.
The legend goes that a desperate mother threw her baby off the bridge, and now the child’s cries can be heard on quiet nights.
It’s like a twisted lullaby, if lullabies were meant to keep you awake for weeks on end.
Visitors claim to hear the ghostly wails, see mysterious car lights, and experience unexplained engine trouble.
So, if you go, maybe bring a mechanic along with your ghost-hunting gear.
And maybe some earplugs.
And definitely don’t bring any easily-spooked friends unless you enjoy the sound of high-pitched screaming (and not just from the ghost baby).
4. Sedamsville Rectory (Cincinnati)
If you’ve ever wanted to explore a haunted house but thought, “Nah, not enough religious undertones,” then boy, do I have the place for you!
The Sedamsville Rectory in Cincinnati is like your standard haunted house, but with a dash of holy water and a sprinkle of Latin exorcisms.
This unassuming brick building, once home to priests of the nearby Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, now hosts a different kind of spiritual presence.
And by “spiritual presence,” I mean “enough paranormal activity to make the Vatican sit up and take notice.”
Visitors report everything from disembodied voices to full-bodied apparitions.
The rectory has been featured on various ghost-hunting shows, cementing its status as the “It” place for the afterlife crowd.
5. The Ridges (Athens)
If you’re in the mood for a bit of “asylum chic,” look no further than The Ridges in Athens.
Formerly known as the Athens Lunatic Asylum, this sprawling complex is now part of Ohio University.
Talk about a unique college experience!
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Opened in 1874, The Ridges was once at the forefront of mental health treatment.
And by “forefront,” I mean “lobotomies and electroshock therapy were considered cutting edge.”
The facility closed in 1993, but apparently, some of its former residents didn’t get the memo about the checkout time.
One of the most famous legends involves a patient named Margaret Schilling, who disappeared in 1978 and was found dead in an abandoned ward 42 days later.
Her body allegedly left a permanent stain on the floor, which visitors claim they can still see today.
It’s like the world’s most morbid Rorschach test!
Today, parts of The Ridges have been converted into university offices and an art museum.
6. Franklin Castle (Cleveland)
Ah, Franklin Castle – the crown jewel of Cleveland’s haunted real estate market.
This imposing stone mansion looks like it was designed by someone who watched “The Addams Family.”
Built in the 1880s by Hannes Tiedemann, a German immigrant with apparently questionable architectural taste, Franklin Castle has more ghosts than your average cemetery and more secret passages than a game of Clue.
The house has seen its fair share of tragedy, including the deaths of several Tiedemann family members.
Coincidence?
Or just really, really bad luck?
Visitors report hearing babies crying (seriously, what is it with Ohio and ghostly infants?), seeing apparitions, and feeling cold spots.
There’s even a rumor about a secret room where human bones were discovered.
Because apparently, regular closets just weren’t exciting enough for the Tiedemanns.
The castle has changed hands multiple times over the years, with each new owner probably thinking, “This time, it’ll be different!”
7. Beaver Creek State Park (East Liverpool)
Now, if you’re thinking, “Gee, I’d love to combine my love of nature with my passion for being utterly terrified,” then Beaver Creek State Park is the place for you!
It’s like a two-for-one deal: scenic views and spine-chilling encounters.
The park is home to the Gaston’s Mill, a restored gristmill that’s probably seen more action in its afterlife than during its operational years.
Visitors report hearing strange noises, seeing unexplained lights, and feeling unseen presences.
It’s like the mill is trying to grind souls instead of grain these days.
But the real star of the spooky show is the park’s covered bridge.
Because apparently, Ohio ghosts have a thing for bridges (see: Cry Baby Bridge).
Legend has it that if you stop your car on the bridge at night and turn off the lights, you might see the ghostly figure of a man hanging from the rafters.
It’s like a drive-through haunted house, minus the overpriced admission and teenagers in cheap masks.
8. Helltown (Boston Township)
Last but certainly not least, we have Helltown.
Because nothing says “family-friendly vacation spot” quite like a place literally named after the underworld, right?
Helltown, located in Boston Township, isn’t actually a town anymore.
It’s more like a collection of abandoned buildings, overgrown roads, and enough urban legends to fill a Stephen King novel.
The area was evacuated in the 1970s for a national park project that never quite materialized, leaving behind a ghost town that seems to have taken its new status a bit too literally.
Visitors report all sorts of creepy encounters, from mysterious figures in the woods to unexplained lights and sounds.
The infamous “Highway to Hell” is actually just an old, unused stretch of Stanford Road, but don’t let that stop you from dramatically humming AC/DC as you drive by.
Now, fair warning: much of Helltown is off-limits to the public these days.
Apparently, the government doesn’t appreciate people traipsing around abandoned buildings in search of ghosts.
Party poopers.
So there you have it, folks – Ohio’s greatest hits of the haunted and horrifying.
Who needs sleep anyway, right?
Just remember: if something goes bump in the night during your Ohio adventure, it’s probably just a friendly Midwestern ghost saying “Ope, sorry about that!”