Want to explore Ohio’s haunted side?
This eerie road trip will take you to 11 spine-tingling places that are not for the faint of heart!
1. Franklin Castle (Cleveland)
Our first stop is the ominous Franklin Castle in Cleveland, a place so creepy it makes the Addams Family home look like a cozy bed and breakfast.
This Victorian-era mansion, with its stone exterior and turrets, looks like it was plucked straight out of a Gothic horror novel.
Legend has it that the original owner, Hannes Tiedemann, had a penchant for the macabre.
Mysterious deaths, hidden passages, and even rumors of Nazi spies have all contributed to the castle’s spine-chilling reputation.
If walls could talk, these ones would probably scream.
As you approach the iron gates, you might feel a chill run down your spine.
Is it the wind, or is old Hannes welcoming you to his humble abode?
Either way, don’t forget to smile for the camera – if you show up in the picture, that is.
2. Ohio State Reformatory (Mansfield)
Next up, we’re heading to Mansfield to visit the Ohio State Reformatory.
This imposing structure looks like what would happen if Hogwarts and Alcatraz had an architectural love child.
Once home to some of Ohio’s most notorious criminals, the reformatory now houses something far more terrifying – tourists armed with selfie sticks.
But jokes aside, this place has a history dark enough to make even the bravest visitor’s knees wobble.
From its Gothic facade to its eerie cell blocks, every corner of this former prison seems to whisper tales of its troubled past.
And if you’re lucky (or unlucky, depending on your perspective), you might even catch a glimpse of a ghostly inmate still serving his eternal sentence.
3. The Ridges (Athens)
Our journey takes us next to Athens, home of The Ridges – a former mental asylum.
This sprawling complex of Victorian-era buildings sits atop a hill, looking down on the town like a brooding giant.
Once known as the Athens Lunatic Asylum, The Ridges has a history as complex and disturbing as its maze-like corridors.
From controversial treatments to tragic patient stories, these walls have seen it all.
One of the most famous tales involves a patient who disappeared and was found dead in an unused ward – her body leaving a permanent stain on the floor.
4. Moonville Tunnel (McArthur)
Hold onto your hardhats, folks, because we’re tunneling our way into the next spooky spot – the Moonville Tunnel in McArthur.
This abandoned railway tunnel looks like the kind of place where monsters go for their summer vacation.
Nestled deep in the woods of Vinton County, Moonville Tunnel is all that remains of a once-thriving mining town.
Now, it’s said to be haunted by the ghosts of unfortunate souls who met their end on the tracks.
As you peer into the darkness of the tunnel, you might catch a glimpse of the legendary Moonville Ghost – a spectral brakeman swinging his lantern, forever warning trains that are no longer there.
5. Sedamsville Rectory (Cincinnati)
Our next stop takes us to Cincinnati and the Sedamsville Rectory.
This unassuming brick building might look like your average haunted house, but don’t let its modest exterior fool you.
It’s got enough paranormal activity to make the Ghost Adventures crew break out in a cold sweat.
Once home to Catholic priests, the rectory has since become a hotbed of supernatural occurrences.
Visitors have reported everything from disembodied voices to full-bodied apparitions.
Word of advice: if you hear someone offering to take your confession, make sure they’re corporeal before spilling your secrets.
6. The Buxton Inn (Granville)
Time to check in to the Buxton Inn in Granville, where the phrase “I see dead people” isn’t just a line from a movie – it’s a nightly occurrence.
This charming establishment has been serving guests (both living and otherwise) since 1812.
Related: This Glow-in-the-Dark Mini-Golf Course in Ohio is a Whimsical Adventure Like No Other
Related: This Tiny Museum in Ohio is Home to the World’s Largest Collection of Trolls
Related: There’s a Weird Barber Museum in Ohio, and It’s as Wonderfully Quirky as It Sounds
With its quaint exterior and picturesque setting, you might be fooled into thinking this is just another cozy inn.
But don’t be deceived – the Buxton has more spirits than your average liquor cabinet.
From the ghost of a former innkeeper to a phantom cat, the Buxton’s residents are always eager to make new friends.
Just don’t be surprised if your midnight snack gets interrupted by a spectral figure raiding the fridge.
7. Squire’s Castle (Willoughby Hills)
Our journey now takes us to Willoughby Hills and the enigmatic Squire’s Castle.
This stone structure looks like it was plucked straight out of a fairy tale – albeit a rather grim one.
Built in the 1890s by Feargus B. Squire as a gatehouse for his never-completed country estate, the castle now stands alone in the Cleveland Metroparks, a silent sentinel with a tragic past.
Squire’s wife is said to still be wandering the grounds to this day.
8. The Lafayette Hotel (Marietta)
Next stop: Marietta and the historic Lafayette Hotel.
This riverside gem has been hosting guests since 1918, and apparently, some of them liked it so much they decided to stay.
Permanently.
With its grand architecture and old-world charm, the Lafayette looks like the kind of place where the Great Gatsby might throw a party.
But instead of jazz-age socialites, you’re more likely to run into the hotel’s spectral residents.
From the third floor where invisible hands play with guests’ belongings, to the basement where shadowy figures lurk, the Lafayette offers a full-service haunted experience.
9. Beaver Creek State Park (East Liverpool)
We’re taking a detour into nature with our next stop: Beaver Creek State Park in East Liverpool.
Don’t let the serene landscape fool you – these woods are hiding some seriously spooky secrets.
The park is home to the remains of Sprucevale, a 19th-century ghost town.
Among the crumbling structures is the Hambleton Mill, where the miller’s daughter is said to have hanged herself.
Her ghost reportedly still haunts the area, probably wondering why no one’s fixed up the place in the last 150 years.
As you hike through the park, keep an eye out for spectral pioneers, phantom horses, and maybe even a ghostly beaver or two.
After all, it’s not called Beaver Creek for nothing!
10. The Ceely Rose House (Lucas)
Our penultimate stop brings us to Lucas and the innocuous-looking Ceely Rose House.
Don’t let its quaint appearance fool you – this house has a backstory darker than a black hole’s basement.
Named after its most infamous resident, Ceely Rose, this house was the site of a gruesome family murder in 1896.
Ceely, upset that her parents disapproved of her crush on a local boy, decided to solve the problem by poisoning her entire family with arsenic-laced cottage cheese.
Today, visitors report strange occurrences in and around the house.
11. The Bissman Building (Mansfield)
Our final destination brings us full circle back to Mansfield and the imposing Bissman Building.
This four-story behemoth looks like it could be the setting for a steampunk version of “The Office.”
Built in 1886, this former wholesale grocery warehouse has worn many hats over the years, from Civil War-era commissary to modern-day paranormal hotspot.
With its creaky floors and shadowy corners, it’s no wonder the Bissman has become a favorite haunt for ghost hunters.
There you have it, thrill-seekers!
Plot your path to adventure!
This map is your key to smooth travels and exciting discoveries.
Eleven of Ohio’s most hair-raising haunts, all wrapped up in one spine-tingling road trip.
Just remember: pack extra batteries, keep your wits about you, and whatever you do, don’t split up to investigate that strange noise.
Happy haunting!