Ohio has a history and wealth of historic buildings, so it’s no surprise that we have our share of ghosts also. The state is no stranger to haunted places and reports of eerie sightings and scary spots. The people of the great state of Ohio uphold its reputation as one of the civil and polite states. Ohio holds its fair share of haunted places that indicate the brave and the curious. The haunted places in Ohio offer a blend of history and horror including weird old shelters and ghostly mansions. Ohio has a history of thousands of ghost stories coming from all corners of the state.
South Bass Island Lighthouse at Put-in-Bay – One of the Most Haunted Places in Ohio
Put-in-Bay is a charming village located on South Bass Island on the appropriately named Lake Erie. The village is quiet and beautiful, and a popular vacation spot for tourists but is one of the most haunted places in Ohio.
In the late 18th century, a smallpox widespread destroyed the county. A young man was depressed by the disease and took his life by jumping from a cliff by the lighthouse. Visitors hear the spattering sound of something in the water but see nothing. Visitors also hear footsteps crawling up the stairs and doors slamming shut on their own.
Moonville Tunnel, McArthur, Ohio
The Moonville Tunnel sends shivers up the spine as it is another one of the most haunted places in Ohio. It is located deep in the woods and is framed by a faded stone doorway covered in moss. The tunnel is long and extremely dark, allowing up the light from each opening.
The tunnel is a stretch of rail track that leads to an old town. If you are bold to venture through it, you may see the ghost of an unlucky train conductor who died in a head-on collision with another train. Visitors have taken pictures only to look back at them later and notice the pale figure of a man they didn’t see before, or ghost train lights blazing at the end of the tunnel.
Licking County Historic Jail
The Licking County Jail is home only to prisoners serving afterlife sentences. It has spiral towers and a castle-like exterior that appeal to the same sinking feeling that the prisoners who first marched up its steps must have felt. The inside has tons of small, dirty cells facing its terribly lit halls.
The jail is notoriously one of the most haunted places in Ohio and a must-see for any paranormal enthusiast. A total of three sheriffs and 19 inmates died on the premises while it was operating. Visitors must ensure to peer between the cell bars because the ghostly figures of prisoners are said to peer back. Some visitors have reported hearing odd, loud cries echoing through the halls.
Malabar Farm State Park, Lucas
Malabar is a historic landmark in Ohio state, and you can visit the ground and the farm’s main house. However, working volunteers report hearing strange sounds when no one is upstairs. Other details of this haunted place in Ohio include odd smells coming from upstairs. Moreover, visitors even report feeling unseen cats brush up against their legs.
Malabar was home to Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louis Bromfield, and old Louis and his many furry companions still live there. The spirit of Louis has been spotted sitting by the window in his old bedroom. Maybe it is still struggling with a bad case of ghostwriter’s block.
Franklin Castle (Hannes Tiedemann House)
The spirits that haunt the Franklin Castle are many and very active. The crying baby sound is heard and a skeleton is discovered in the walls of a room. There is a figure of a man in the windows who was the victim of a murder that took place in the tower room. A young girl was hanged by her father which adds to the tragedy in this house. She is behind most of the activity in the house and is described as a thin, tall, and weird figure dressed in black.
The Ohio State Reformatory
The Ohio State Reformatory served as a Reformatory for young offenders before becoming an adult prison which remained in operation till 1990. It was home to some violent prisoners indeed during its operation. The most brutal punishment used at the prison was to be thrown in the hole of a dark and enclosed solitary imprisonment cell. The prison is one of the most haunted places in Ohio with paranormal activity and an evil presence in the hole.
Cedar Point: Amusement Park in Ohio
Cedar Point has the world’s fastest and tallest roller coasters and is one of the world’s best amusement parks. Millions of people visit in summer and it has become the busiest amusement park. But all this also makes it one of the most haunted places in Ohio. Cedar Point was unlocked in 1870 and a steamboat service started operating in 1882 that used to take visitors from the small town of Sandusky out to the peninsula where Cedar Point sits.
With many people visiting the park over the years, there have been some ghostly sightings there. The park is haunted and according to reports, the wife of the man who carved the horses on the ride was cheating on him. He killed both the wife and her partner, and it is believed he hid their bodies in the ride. Employees report music coming from the ride late at night and the ride running backward.
The Athens Lunatic Asylum
It is located across the Hocking River from the Ohio University campus in southeastern Ohio. It is known as the Athens Lunatic Asylum and is another one of the most haunted places in Ohio that has gorgeous brick buildings. However, it was closed in 1993 and is now used by Ohio University. One of the asylum’s most famed patients; Margaret Shilling, disappeared in 1978, and after searching, her rotting body was found 42 days later. She died naturally, but her body left marks on the ground that are impossible to remove to this day.
Many people at the university have experienced paranormal activity throughout the complex. There are strange figures who walk through the halls and people hear ghostly voices, footsteps, and screaming. People also talked about seeing the ghost of Margaret Shilling looking out the windows on different floors.
Ohio has gained a reputation as a haven for ghostly enthusiasts including scary stories of ghosts, spirits, and mysterious phenomena. There are many haunted places in Ohio where the mask between the alive and the dead is thin.