The 24 Most Haunted Places in Cleveland

Franklin Castle – 4308 Franklin Blvd, Cleveland Franklin Castle is one of Ohio’s most notorious and haunted places. Built by businessmen and banker Hannes Tiedemann in 1881, the castle has all the makings of a home to unruly spirits. There were alleged deaths that occurred under mysterious circumstances, including those of Tiedemann’s wife, mother and children. Babies can be heard crying through the walls, and victims of foul play have been sighted throughout the house. These include Karen, who is said to have been murdered with an axe and usually occupies the “cold room” on the third floor. The room is ten degrees colder than the rest of the house at all times. Franklin Castle is private property, but it’s still alluring from the outside. (Photo via Tabitha Kaylee Hawk)

House of Wills – 2491 E. 55th Street, Cleveland Let’s just start off with the fact that it was an old funeral home. J. Walter Wills Sr. started the “The House of Wills” around 1905, becoming a namesake in the business. The creep factor increases when its other use in 1912 served as a hospital. Reported deaths occurred there during this time, along with a recent 2006 man who was shot and bled to death on near the doorstep. Tales range from seeing shadow people to witnessing a swirling vortex (whatever that means). The scariest thing? Look at what’s in the second story window here. (Photo via Urbanmutation, Instagram)

Agora Theatre – 5000 Euclid Ave, Cleveland Here, a man wearing a yellow raincoat dwells in many places around the theater. Cleaning crews have reported doors unlocking and opening on their own. There is also a creepy basement lounge where guests and employees have reported feeling a strange presence. The basement also includes the “Marilyn Manson” room where the artist did store his stuff for some period of time. At least one of his boxes remains, unopened. (Photo via A Continuous Lean, Flickr CC)

Grays Armory – 1234 Bolivar Rd, Cleveland The armory served as a private military company that helped to enforce the law starting in 1837. Needless to say, the 178-year-old building has some remaining spirits. The staff claims to hear unexplained footsteps and apparitions dating to the Civil War era. (Photo via Robbj3, Instagram)

Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument – 3 Public Square, Cleveland Honoring the the Cuyahoga County veterans of the Civil War, the monument was constructed in 1891, making it more than 100 years old. Underground, there’s tunnels believed to be haunted. Unexplained happenings include strange voices and group tour photos featuring unexplained people in them. (Photo via Can Pac Swire, Flickr CC)

The Foundation House (Drury Mansion) – 8615 Euclid Ave, Cleveland The dream home of Cleveland millionaire Francis Drury turned more into a nightmare. Drury Mansion has had notes of hauntings and ghost sightings since built in 1912. The mansion has 52 rooms, mazelike hallways and an underground tunnel. In 1972, the Ohio Adult Parole Authority leased the place as a halfway house for convicts. Story has it, two police offers were tasked to guard the building but were found the next morning, terrified, clutching their shotguns back-to-back. The spot is now owned by the Cleveland Clinic. (Photo via The Cleveland Memory Project, Cleveland Press Collection)

Variety Theater The 1927 theatre on Lorain Avenue is home to more than just a historic past. It’s believed to be haunted by a man who fell from a lighting scaffold and another who can be seen in the balcony with piercing red eyes. It’s currently still under renovation. (Photo via Friends of the Historic Variety Theater, Facebook)

Federal Reserve Bank – 1455 E. 6th St., Cleveland Opening it’s doors more than 90 years ago, the still-operating federal reserve bank is, of course, home to something otherworldly. The building is said to be haunted by a woman named Matilda, who killed herself in 1929 after losing it all in the stock market crash. Now she spends her time stalking employees dressed as a flapper. (Photo via Mr.TinDC, Flickr CC)

Squire’s Castle – Willoughby Hills Looming in the Cleveland Metroparks, the castle was constructed by Standard Oil Vice President Feargus B. Squire around 1890. According to legend, Mr. Squire’s wife tripped and fell down the stairs one night, breaking her neck. Her spirit lurks around with a red lantern that can be seen through the windows. The site can still be explored, and is popular for weddings. (Photo via Buschap, Flickr CC)

The Renaissance Hotel – 24 Public Square, Cleveland The still-working hotel may attract guests who want a downtown view, but it also brings out some spooky happenings. According to staff, the fourth floor is particularly haunted. Lights flicker, faucets turn on and off by themselves and toilets flush. Wonder if they remember to put the toilet seat down? (Photo via C.C. Chapman, Flickr CC)

Hell Town – Boston Mills Boston Mills may be known for its lush parks and ski resort, but you can’t google it without seeing search results about Hell Town. The area known as Hell Town includes the northern part of Summit County, Boston Township and Boston Village. Some of the legends speak of satanic churches, a government cover-up involving spilled chemicals that caused mutations to residents, a serial killer who killed a busload of children and an “End of The World” road. (Photo via Wikimedia)

The Mansfield Reformatory – 100 Reformatory Rd, Mansfield Built in 1886, the spot also known as The Ohio State Reformatory was intended to be a milestone in prison reform. Then began the reports of abuse, murder and torture. The prison shut down in 1990, but it is widely regarded as one of the most active haunted places in the United States. The spirits of workers and prisoners reportedly remained trapped, haunting the deteriorating cells. For the brave, you can find out for yourself and go to one of their events here. Plus it’s where the “The Shawshank Redemption” was filmed. Open for self-guided tours or guided tours. (Photo via Tom Hart, Flickr CC)

Gore Orphanage – Gore Orphanage Rd, Vermilion Folklore will tell you there was a Gore Orphanage in Lorain County that burned to the ground and was a place where violent deaths of children occurred, AKA it’s haunted today. However, VermilionOhio.org has a different story. The site states there WAS an orphanage on Gore Orphanage Road called “Light of Hope,” but this never caught fire. “Light of Hope” was owned by a reverend who’s previous orphanage in Indiana burned down in 1899. Coincidence? (Photo via Bweekins, Instagram)

Old Chestnut Grove Cemetery – Chestnut Drive at Lewis Road Olmsted Falls’ Old Chestnut Grove Cemetery, or Witch’s Hill, has a disturbing tale. It’s said there’s a grave of a witch that’s sunken into the ground next to a tree. Rumor has it: she may have been executed in the cemetery as well and the townspeople put an iron fence around the grave instead of a headstone. The burial site is reportedly difficult to find because the fence no longer exists. But beware of going on a witch hunt. If you get too close to the grave, something terrible will happen to you. Spooky. The spot does close at night. (Photo via west117thtacobell, Instagram)

The Kent Stage – 175 E Main St, Kent As a staple on the city’s annual ghost walk, the tales continue to grow. One of the most agreed upon being the spirit of a handy man named Albert DeVos, nicknamed “Woody.” The Kent Stage welcomes paranormal investigations and even had a “Seriously Haunted Improv Investigation” show that tried to contact the spirits through comedy. (Photo via Wikimedia)

Punderson Manor – 11755 Kinsman Rd, Newbury Township Besides the guests checked in at the manor, there have been a variety of spirits sighted, from a bearded man in shabby clothing to a young girl who appeared to have drowned. A psychic also claimed to have made contact with a spirit who matched the description of W.B. Cleveland. This spirit refused to leave until a rocking chair was returned to the manor. Staff members searched for the chair, and uncovered a creepy network of crawlspaces and tunnels beneath the manor. Guests often complain about noises coming from unoccupied rooms, and children are heard running through the halls. (Photo via Sam Howzit, Flickr CC)

Old Fairport Harbor Lighthouse – 129 2nd St, Fairport Harbor Humans aren’t the only ones to refuse and pass to the other side. Fairport Harbor Lighthouse is haunted by a gray cat. The furry friend kept the head keeper of the lighthouse company in 1871. Reports of the seeing and feeling the cat have been made. When the museum added air conditioning, a worker found the remains of the cat, which were then put on display and look like this. (Photo via LASZLO ILYES, Flickr CC)

River Styx Bridge – Medina In 1899, Railroad Engineer Alexander Logan was operating Train No. 5 when it jumped the tracks and plummeted off the River Styx Bridge. The engineer was crushed to death, but his decision to continue steering the train saved the lives of other passengers. It’s a mystery as to why the train derailed. Since the accident, strange events have been noted on and around the bridge, like when a fiery phantom train was seen falling from the bridge. This bridge still exists, but wouldn’t recommend driving on it. (Photo via Cleveland Memory Project)

Perkins Stone Mansion – 550 Copley Rd, Akron Built by the son of Akron’s founder in 1837, Perkins Stone Mansion serves as a historical house museum, and home to five spirits including Mr. Perkins himself. Mysterious happenings range from a photographer who snapped a photo of a female ghosts on the stairs during a 2006 fundraiser, and a mannequin that’s part of a Christmas display being decapitate every morning when put on display. (Photo via Blueingy, Instagram)

Unionville Tavern – 7935 S Ridge Rd, Madison Deemed as the first tavern in Ohio, the over 200-year-old building is not only home to drunken tales, but also ghosts. The building was connected to a nearby cemetery via a secret tunnel. Former workers reported ghosts of runaway slaves. (Photo via The Cleveland Memory Project)

Akron Civic Theatre – 182 S Main St, Akron The theatre built in 1929 has haunts including a well-dressed man, a former worker who died there, and a girl who allegedly committed suicide in the canal behind the theatre. She’s seen crying by the canal before exiting in the drain tunnel. (Photo via Corey Balazowich, Flickr CC)

Farnam Manor – 4223 Brecksville Rd, Richfield Everett Farnam, who built the manor in 1834, claimed he’d come back as a raven after death to see what people said about the property. The manor’s website continues with the story of his daughter who drowned at 7. You guessed it. The place is haunted and it’s open for some tours throughout the year. (Photo via Brianlorson, Instagram)

Willoughby Coal and Supply – 3872 Erie St, Willoughby The coal stockroom made the cut for one of the most haunted places in the book, “America’s Most Haunted: The Secrets of Famous Paranormal Places.” Author Theresa Argie told WKSU, “I have seen shadow figures that look like humans but they don’t have any features, they are completely black. We’ve caught numerous EVPS, those are spirit voices or ghost voices that are caught on tape. We’ve been touched, Cathi and I have both been touched.” Scene writer Eric Sandy got a look for himself. Check it out here. The spot is open to the public and is home to a garden supply store. (Photo via Simpledoesit78, Instagram)

James A. Garfield Historic Site – 8095 Mentor Ave, Mentor The historic site was home to the 20th president in 1876… but his wife Lucretia is said to still reside there today. She’s seen on the stairs at night and finicking with the lights. Lucretia also helps keep the place tidy. (Photo via Ken Lund, Flickr CC)

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The 24 Most Haunted Places in Cleveland

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