Ohio can be a very scary place, as these spots with spooky pasts prove.

Air Force Museum 1100 Spaatz St., Dayton Along with the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Air Force Museum is believed to be haunted by those who died while operating the aircraft that is now on display here and deceased pilots are said to still live inside their planes. The evening staff claim that in “The Hopalong,” Sikorsky UH-19B, they’ve seen a pilot flipping switches in an attempt to get home. Apparently his seat is still stained with blood. Pieces of the “Lady Be Good,” a B-24 that disappeared in Italy, are said to rearrange themselves. The POW exhibit allegedly makes guests feel a sense of dread when visiting it. Employees say that some spirits even show up to work using lockers and visiting the breakroom. Cute. Photo: Facebook.com/NationalMuseumoftheUSAirForce
Beaver Creek State Park 12021 Echo Dell Road, Liverpool This park is special because of its history of being a canal system in the 1800s, with locks that still remain in the park. One of them, called “Jake’s Lock” is said to be haunted by Jake, who was struck by lightning while walking across the top. Many other legends exist within the park including the tale of Esther Hale, known as the “Bride of the Bridge.” On the morning of her wedding, someone was sent to check on the groom to find that his house was empty and he was never seen again. Esther, grieving for months wondering what happened to her soon-to-be husband, was found dead in her home. She is now said to be seen wandering the area, dressed in white, looking for her groom. Photo: Wikimedia.com/Nyttend
Bobby Mackey’s Music World 44 Licking Pike, Wilder Yes, Bobby Mackey’s is technically in Northern Kentucky, but it’s labeled as the “most haunted nightclub in America” and has been featured multiple times Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures. Owned and operated by Country singer Bobby Mackey, the building was built in 1850 and originally served as a slaughterhouse and meatpacking operation. After the slaughter house closed in 1890, the building took on new life as a casino and eventually became the site of the Latin Quarter, a nightclub popular with mobsters. It was a spot renowned for murder, mob activity and satanic rituals before becoming Bobby Mackey’s in 1978; the building remains rich with history, and many patrons say the bar is still inhabited by former frequenters. Stories say Satanists were connected to one of the area’s most famous homicides: the murder of Pearl Bryan. Two men killed Pearl by decapitating her with dental instruments. They were wealthy youths from the area who were in medical school, and one of them had gotten Pearl pregnant. They saw no other option than to kill her. Rumors began circulating the duo were involved with the Satanists who practiced in the old slaughterhouse, and they had murdered her as an offering to Satan. Her head was never found. It has been suggested that it was dropped down the well in the basement. Paranormal tours of the property take you into the main floor, upstairs and basement, where the so-called “portal to hell” — that dust-filled hole once used to drain animal remains in the building’s slaughterhouse days — resides. People who visit Bobby’s claim to have seen the ghost of Pearl (without her head), hear the jukebox play the “Anniversary Waltz” on its own and see the apparition of a woman named Johanna, frequently accompanied by the smell of rose perfume, reportedly the same brand of perfume that she wore while she was still alive. Photo: Facebook.com/BobbyMackeyFB
Buxton Inn 307 E. Broadway, Granville Established in 1812, the Buxton Inn is a hotel, tavern and restaurant that takes you back in time. It was incredibly popular in its day, even visited by a few presidents. Today, the ghosts of past owners are said to haunt the building and surrounding land. Major Buxton, one of the owners who the inn was named after, is said to haunt it as well. Guests have reported slamming doors and hearing their names called out. Rooms seven and nine are apparently the most haunted. Photo: Wikimedia.com/JudMcCranie
Camp Chase Cemetery 2900 Sullivant Ave., Columbus Used as a Confederate prison camp during the Civil War, close to 2,000 soldiers were laid to rest at Camp Chase Cemetery, many taken by diseases like smallpox. Obviously, this place is rumored to be haunted — but not by soldiers. The mysterious weeping “Lady in Gray” is said to wander and lay flowers on two specific graves. Those who’ve spotted her are overcome with tremendous sadness watching her seemingly grieve. She’s even been allegedly photographed by paranormal investigators. Photo: Wikimedia.com/Judson McCranie
Music Hall 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine Music Hall sits on several eerie plots of land and is reported to be one of the most haunted places in America. A portion of the building is situated on an 1800s Potter’s Field, or a cemetery used to unceremoniously bury the poor and unidentified or unclaimed bodies. And then, when a cholera outbreak in 1832 killed hundreds of Cincinnatians, many children became orphans after losing their parents to the horrifying disease. The Cincinnati Orphan Asylum was built next to where Music Hall is today and eventually became a “Pest House” because it entrapped several people with infectious diseases. But it wasn’t until 1876 when excavations began for the construction of Music Hall that workers first came across human bones in and around the foundation. The skeletons found during the excavation were laid to rest in a plot in Spring Grove Cemetery, but more remains were discovered in 1927 when workers were digging a trench. And again in 1988 when, according to the Friends of Music Hall, “workers drilling a new elevator shaft uncovered over two hundred pounds of bones.” And even more recently when Music Hall was revitalized in 2016-17, when workers found human remains under the orchestra pit. Employees ranging from the late former Pops Director Erich Kunzel to the Cincinnati Opera CEO and a night watchman have reported seeing and hearing spirits late at night, including the sound of unearthly music, children in period dress and more. Perhaps some of them are part of the many who died decades prior. Photo: Emerson Swoger
Fairpoint Harbor Lighthouse 129 Second St., Fairpoint Harbor Instead of hysterical spirits or even friendly ghosts, this tale involves a ghost cat. Captain Joseph Babcock was the keeper of the Fairpoint Harbor Lighthouse. Him and his family lived on the second floor of what is now a museum. His wife, bedridden, has several cats to keep her company and after she died, most of the cats disappeared. A curator living here years later, reported seeing the ghost of a gray cat. She claimed it would run around the kitchen as if it were playing and jumped on her bed one night and she felt the weight pressing on the bed. Workers who were installing AC units found the mummified remains of a dead grey cat in the basement. Photo: Wikimedia.com/Laszlo Ilyes
Spring House Gazebo 950 Eden Park Drive, Eden Park Tucked away in the hills Mount Adams sits Eden Park, an urban escape that’s home to the Cincinnati Art Museum, Krohn Conservatory…and the Spring House Gazebo. On Oct. 6, 1927, George “King of the Bootleggers” Remus and his wife, Imogene Remus, were set to meet in court to finalize their divorce. (Imogene was having an affair with a Prohibition agent and the two stole most of George’s money while he did a short stint in jail.) George waited outside of Imogene’s hotel before she left for court and, after she got into a taxi, the two engaged in a heated car chase, ending near the Spring House Gazebo, where George shot Imogene in the stomach as she attempted to flee. Dressed in all black to bemoan her marriage, she died at the hospital from her wound. Those who visit the gazebo today say the have seen a woman wearing all black, presumably Imogene, wandering nearby and felt her presence lurking. Photo: Wikimedia.com/Greg Hume
Dent Schoolhouse 5963 Harrison Ave., Dent Legend says that a group of students mysteriously vanished from the Dent Schoolhouse in 1942, followed by several more disappearances in the years to follow. It wasn’t until 1955 that a foul odor led angry community members to the schools’ janitorial basement, where the students’ bodies were discovered in barrels wedged between the walls. The murders were attributed to the school’s janitor, but the man — Charlie — was never found. That is, until now — Charlie is said to roam the halls of the school today, cleaning alongside the 50 to 65 actors who bring Dent to life every Halloween. In addition to the costumed actors, the actual spirits of his victims are also said to roam the halls and Dent offers ghost tours for those who want to experience the paranormal. Tours (sans actors and manufactured frights) are led by a guide who will explain the history of the school and different spectral activities that have occurred in different areas of the school. Photo: The Dent Schoolhouse/Facebook
Sedamsville Rectory 639 Steiner Ave., Sedamville Get out your EMFs and your holy water. The rectory, which is the one of four buildings that once belonged to the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, is said to be haunted by an evil spirit. The building historically housed priests, including Father Donald MacLeod, who was hit by a train in the 1800s and whose spirit has been seen wandering near the building. According to the Travel Channel show Ghost Adventures, which went to Sedamsville to perform an exorcism on the property, “This once-holy place of peace and rest, however, has been plagued by a violent, demonic spirit. The current owners of the rectory have experienced ice-cold breezes on boiling-hot days, overwhelming (and spontaneous) feelings of melancholy and have been scratched and shoved by unseen forces.” People have also reported seeing unexplained voices and doors opening and closing on their own, as well as the spirit of a child with a noose around its neck. Photo: Erin Gardner
Franklin Castle 4308 Franklin Blvd., Cleveland The Franklin Castle is arguably the most haunted house in Ohio due to the Tiedemann family’s tragic past. Hannes Tiedemann, a German immigrant and co-founder of Union Banking & Savings Co., built the home in 1881. He and his wife, Louise, dealt with the loss of four children, among other deaths. Because of the many deaths surrounding Hannes, people became skeptical that he was involved. One of his daughter’s deaths occurred shortly after his mother’s death in 1891. His brute reputation didn’t help either. Once his wife died, he quickly remarried, prompting him to sell the house. Tiedemann died of a stroke shortly after. Bones were found tucked in a corner in the 1970s, said to be from a doctor who lived (and practiced) there previously. A little girl apparently haunts the third floor and cries are heard in every hallway. Privately owned and not open to the public, it is still a popular attraction and spooky photo-op in Cleveland. Photo: Wikimedia.com/Cricchetti
Loveland Castle 12025 Shore Drive, Loveland World War I army medic and Boy Scout troop leader Harry Delos Andrews built the Historic Loveland Castle & Museum, also known as Château Laroche, over the course of 50 years with handmade bricks (formed with quart-sized paper milk cartons) and stones from the nearby Little Miami River. Modeled after European castles, it features towers, a dry moat, hand-tiled ceilings, murder holes and a collection of period weaponry. Andrews lived in the castle until his death in 1981 at the age of 91, when he succumbed to gangrene after sustaining severe leg burns in a trash fire accident on the roof of the castle. After his death, the castle was left to the Knights of the Golden Trail, a local Boy Scout troop. People can visit Loveland Castle today for picnics, tours and more — although Harry is rumored to never have left. Harry’s apparition can be seen wandering around when something is wrong with the castle. According to legend, one day, the Boy Scouts heard doors frantically slamming and they went upstairs to investigate but no one was there. They later found out that the septic tank was damaged and about to cause irreversible damage to the castle. Was this Harry still watching over his life’s work? Photo: Wikimedia.com/ConlonTT
Malabar Farm 4050 Bromfield Road, Lucas In a farmhouse on the land of Malabar Farm, 23-year-old Ceely Rose lived with her family. Ceely was was said to be “half-child and half-woman” according to an 1896 newspaper article. She was infatuated with a boy named Guy Berry who lived in a neighboring farmhouse. They saw each other everyday, but given her reputation as “the weird kid,” Guy’s father told her to stay away. At breakfast in June 1896, Ceely poisoned her family’s cottage cheese with poison and watched them die. She was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Ceely’s house still stands and is owned by Malabar Farms State Park. A play depicting this horrific event is performed at the Malabar Farm barn. During the scene where Ceely watched her mother die, the lights flickered and once her mother died, the light returned to normal. Ceely has reportedly been seen wandering the grounds. Maybe she still has an attachment to her childhood home. Photo: Wikimedia.com/OHWiki
Molly Stark Park 7900 Columbus Road, Louisville Now closed for over 20 years, Molly Stark Hospital originally housed those suffering from tuberculosis until the 70s. Because of the fatal disease, many died while in the hospital’s care. They offer semi-restricted tours to appease the profoundly curious Canton locals. Those with tuberculosis were isolated from the rest because it is extremely contagious– it was essentially its own city with a power plant, nurses quarters and underground tunnels to transport the patients from building to building. The allure of the building has resulted in many arrests of trespassers since the building is fenced off and deemed unsafe by local police. Not many are in or near the building enough to experience the potentially paranormal activity from the old hospital, but the few that have investigated claim that it definitely is. Photo: StarkParks.com
Mooney’s Mansion Walhalla Road, Columbus There’s plenty of speculation when it comes to the sinister legend behind Mooney’s Mansion. Allegedly, a jealous and enraged Dr. Mooney murdered wife and children by axe and then hung himself on Calumet Bridge. People say if you go under the bridge at night, ghostly you can see his swinging silhouette . Photo: Wikimedia.com/Bwsmith84
Moonville Tunnel Hope-Moonville Road, Athens Moonville, an old coal mining town situated along a set of railroad tracks, now only contains a few abandoned homes and several ghost stories. The most infamous Moonville ghost story originated in 1880 when engineer Theodore Lawhead was driving a train down the dark and desolate tracks from Cincinnati to Marietta when another train unexpectedly collided with his. This was apparently a train dispatcher’s mistake and Lawhead and a fireman were killed instantly. As early as 1895, ghost stories about a figure holding a bright white lantern with “a flowing white beard, its eyes glistened like balls of fire, and surrounding it was a halo of twinkling stars” (according to a report in the Chillicothe Gazette) would appear and just as quickly disappear. In addition to the spectral engineer, Moonville is haunted by a railway brakeman who looms in the tunnel, a woman who smells like lavender and a bully named Baldie Keeton who has been known to throw rocks and tease people. Photo: Facebook.com/MoonvilleTunnel
The Ohio State Reformatory 100 Reformatory Road, Mansfield Originally a prison, the Ohio State Reformatory opened in 1890. By the 1960s, the prison became overcrowded, brewing nasty diseases and major conflict among prisoners. Some were forced to share cells — even death row inmates. Overpopulation caused a number of inmate deaths. Most died of diseases, some hung themselves and others became severely mentally ill. The prison was forced to close in 1972. The paranormal history of this building is a violent one. Visitors have reported being hit or shoved, hearing cell doors slam and most just feel incredibly uneasy when visiting. Roughly 215 graves sit on the land, a painful reminder of the suffering prisoners faced. Paranormal programs offered by the reformatory to explore that past range from public ghost hunts and ghost hunt classes to private investigations. And the Escape From Blood Prisonthemed haunted attraction is open through Nov. 3. Fun fact: The Shawshank Redemption was also filmed at the Ohio State Reformatory. Photo: Wikimedia.com/AmyTheOvenMitt
Palace Theater 34 W Broad St., Columbus Before a show he was performing, magician Harry Blackstone held a seance with a medium to contact the deceased fellow magician, Howard Thurston. But they accidentally reached another spirit, instead. Before he died, Thurston made a pact with family and friends to ensure they would try to contact him once he died. He was friends with Harry Houdini, both who were interested in spiritualism, but Houdini eventually believed it to be fake. The ultimate test of attempting to contact Thurston has failed each time someone tries. These many attempts convinces people that there are other spirits there as well. The building has updated its security system due to the many visitors who think they will be the ones to contact Thurston. Photo: Wikimedia.com/OHWiki
Prospect Place 12150 Main St., Trinway A formed stop of the Underground Railroad, many battles during the Civil War occurred at Prospect Place. George W. Adams was rich and a huge advocate for social justice during this time. George owned several flour mills used as safe houses where he’d allow slaves to stay. Prospect Place was built to temporarily house slaves, giving them food and a place to rest before continuing their journey to freedom. George was knowingly committing a crime by housing slaves, but still selflessly took this risk. A bounty hunter came to the house, yelling at George to release the slaves. His ranch workers confidently told him to go away, but they followed him back home where they abducted him and killed him for betraying humanity. His spirit is said to violently haunt the land and lashes out at visitors. Along with slaves, who fled to the basement when bounty hunters found and shot them, are said to haunt the building as well. Photo: Wikimedia.com/Wdzinc
Satan’s Hollow 4192 Georgetown Road, Ash Blue Ash is home to a purported tunnel to the netherworld. The story goes, local Satanic groups would meet at a drainage tunnel in Blue Ash to conduct rituals and, in doing so, opened a portal to hell itself. The graffiti tagged abyss has pentagrams and phrases like “Hell lies ahead” sprayed on the walls and lots of stagnant, standing water. Many have also reported screams, trapped spirits and apparitions including “The Shadow Man” — some sort of demon. Wanna check it out for yourself? Alas, Satan’s Hollow is on private property. Instead, you might have to settle for checking out Satan’s Hollow: The Tunnel to Hell, a short, 10-minute paranormal investigation “documentary” about the spot released in 2012. It’s on YouTube. Photo via YouTube
The Twin City Opera House 15 W Main St., Columbus This opera house now serves as a theatre, houses government offices and a hub for cultural events in the area. It opened to the public in 1892— used as a theatre, housed a variety of performances during the Great Depression— and has survived the many technological advances of the past decades. Eric Glosser, a ghost hunter who has worked for the opera house for several years, claims there are 10-14 ghosts there. He has had many encounters with Charlie, a supposed demon who lurks in the unused underground tunnels beneath the building. “When he is present, there is a strong electrical charge. You’ll get the hair raised on your arm and you’ll get nauseous,” Glosser tells Athen’s The Post. Another ghost— Robert, who Glosser claims is friendly— says that Charlie has portals to hell in these tunnels. Out of all the places Glosser has traveled to investigate the paranormal, he claims the Twin Opera House is the most haunted. Photo: twincityoperahouse.com
The Ridges Near Ohio University Now called “The Ridges” this Ohio University building was originally the Athens Lunatic Asylum and once partially functioned as a tuberculosis ward. For years, it provided care for Civil War veterans, the homeless, the eldery and children where they practiced, now questionable treatments like lobotomies, prescribed psychotropic drugs and hydrotherapy. The causes for many patient’s admission were also questionable — masturbation, menstrual derangements or hysteria and even minor alcohol addictions. Patients who died, unclaimed by family, were buried in one of the three cemeteries on the property where headstones were originally labeled by number instead of name. One of the most popular ghost stories involves Margaret Schilling, a patient who went missing for 42 days, was found dead, naked with her clothes neatly folded next to her, in a locked and abandoned section of the hospital. It is said that her body left an imprint on the floor which still cannot be removed. Her spirit is said to still wander the building along with other disembodied voices, echoing screams and apparitions peering through windows. It is said to be those who were mistreated or died at the hands of the asylum staff. Photo: Wikimedia.com/Asoep44
Thurber House 77 Jefferson Ave., Columbus This charming Victorian house and current museum was home to author, humorist and cartoonist James Thurber, who lived with his parents and two brothers until 1917. The only thing that kept it standing was Thurber’s well known literary contributions, while neighboring homes were torn down to make room for modern homes. Thurber’s work is on display in the house and apparently spirits have resided there long before the Thurber family did. In one of Thurber’s stories, “The Night the Ghost Got In,” described a paranormal occurrence experienced by him and his mother. “The ghost that got into our house on the night of November 17, 1915, raised such a hullabaloo of misunderstandings that I am sorry I didn’t just let it keep on walking, and go to bed. Its advent caused my mother to throw a shoe through a window of the house next door and ended up with my grandfather shooting a patrolman. I am sorry, therefore, as I have said, that I ever paid any attention to the footsteps.” Thurber researched the house’s history after the incident and found that a man had shot himself after learning of his wife’s infidelity. Photo: Wikimedia.com/GreenMeansGo

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