Ohio is a hotbed for lovers of the strange, haunted, and downright chilling. If you crave shivers or the thrill of dark history, these 10 destinations promise spine-tingling experiences and stories to tell long after night falls.
1. Ohio State Reformatory, Mansfield
This imposing, fortress-like former prison is one of the state’s most haunted sites and the filming location for The Shawshank Redemption. Walk the echoing cell blocks, take part in ghost hunts, and maybe glimpse the spirits of former inmates and guards said to stalk the halls.
2. The Ridges (Athens Lunatic Asylum), Athens
Now home to parts of Ohio University, The Ridges was once an asylum with a grim reputation for outdated treatments and mysterious deaths. The cemetery, abandoned wards, and tales of lingering spirits—like Margaret Shilling, whose body left an eerie outline—make this campus a must for paranormal seekers.
3. Franklin Castle, Cleveland
With its Gothic architecture, rumors of secret passages, and tragic history, Franklin Castle is often considered Ohio’s most haunted house. From child apparitions to the mourning “Woman in Black,” reports of ghostly activity span over a century.
4. Collingwood Arts Center, Toledo
This former convent and girls’ school is now reported as one of Toledo’s most paranormally active buildings. Visitors, artists, and ghost hunters often hear phantom footsteps, see shadowy figures, and sense the chill of the “haunted basement nun”.
5. Moonville Tunnel, Vinton County
Deep in the woods, this abandoned 19th-century railroad tunnel is legendary for its resident ghost—a railway worker killed by a train. With eerie graffiti, late-night mists, and stories of ghostly lanterns, the tunnel is the definition of train-side terror.
6. Hocking Hills State Park
Behind the region’s natural beauty lies a haunted reputation. At Old Man’s Cave, the spirit of hermit Richard Roe reportedly wanders with his dogs, while Ash Cave hosts tales of a shoeless ghostly woman called the Pale Lady.
7. House of Wills, Cleveland
Formerly a funeral home, this massive building is now known for its oppressive atmosphere and spectral figures, believed by many to be spirits from decades of burials and wakes held within its walls.
8. Buxton Inn, Granville
Operating since 1812, the Buxton Inn features stories of spectral innkeepers, ghostly servants, and unexplained footsteps in historic guest rooms. A cozy night’s stay could bring more than sweet dreams.
9. Prospect Place Mansion, Trinway
This 19th-century home was a stop on the Underground Railroad. It’s also famous for its apparitions—mysterious children, shadowy figures on the staircase, and objects moving on their own, all fitting its tragic, secretive past.
10. Licking County Jail, Newark
With a bloody legacy of inmate deaths and violence, this jail is rumored to house the spirits of both prisoners and lawmen. Peering through the old bars might be a two-way encounter—visitors report seeing ghostly faces peering right back.
For the brave and curious, Ohio’s dark side is just waiting to be explored: forgotten tunnels, haunted asylums, and chilling mansions echo with history and the stories of those who, perhaps, never trulyuly left.
Sources
[1] https://ohio.org/travel-inspiration/articles/haunted-ohio-must-visit-places
[2] https://compassohio.com/blog/ohios-top-6-haunted-places-uncover-the-chilling-secrets/
[3] https://traveltriangle.com/blog/haunted-places-in-ohio/
[4] https://www.buckeyebroadband.com/blog/must-visit-ohio-haunted-places
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Reportedly_haunted_locations_in_Ohio
