Here in Ohio, there’s no shortage of creepy places, chilling haunts, and bizarre occurrences that remain unexplained. (If you love exploring and investigating all of these things, then you’ll want to check out our haunted road trip here.) Our small towns are no exception. There is one tiny town, however, that’s more haunted than the rest. Within Wayne Township in Warren County, you’ll find the village of Waynesville. It’s a quaint, historic town with a population of approximately 2,834 — but it’s rumored to have more than 30 haunted places and an incredibly creepy past, and beloved to be one of the most haunted towns in Ohio. Let’s take a look…

This seemingly normal small town was actually deemed "the most haunted village in Ohio" by author Chris Woodyard of the popular "Haunted Ohio" books.
Ed! (Photography)/Wikimedia Commons
The village of Waynesville actually offers monthly summer ghost tours and ghost hunter classes at select times throughout the year. Visit the Museum at the Friends Home for more information about these classes and tours.
Also known as the "Antiques Capital of the Midwest" and "Home of the Ohio Sauerkraut Festival," it's hard to imagine that the humble village of Waynesville is actually full of hauntings.
Nyttend/Wikimedia Commons
Founded in the late 1700s, Waynesville has a rich history as one of the oldest towns in southwest Ohio. It was an early Quaker settlement and many of those cultural influences still thrive in the town today. Many of the town's buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Two of the most well-known hauntings in the village involves the Hamel House and Stetson House. Other every day haunted places in the village involve the firehouse and Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village.
Nyttend/Wikimedia Commons
One of the most chilling stories centers on the Angel of the Garden Tea Room. Many passersby have noticed a face in the upstairs window looking down on the town. The creepiest part? In the 1950s, human bones were found upstairs. Consequently, these are thought to have once belonged to the ghost that often peers out the window.
The Quaker Meeting House (pictured) is another infamously haunted building in Waynesville.
E. Schrand and J. Mitchell/ Wikimedia Commons
The building contains no kitchen, however, mysterious sounds of a kitchen have been reported by visitors. Other times, passersby will hear organ music or see the ghost of a schoolteacher carrying a candle by the window late at night.

Have you ever been to Waynesville before? Do you agree that it’s one of the most haunted towns in Ohio? If so, did you have any ghostly encounters? Share your thoughts and experiences with us!

And for more haunted places in Ohio, check out our previous article, This Haunted Road Trip Will Lead You To The Scariest Places In Ohio.

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haunted towns in Ohio

Sarah | October 30, 2021

What are some other haunted towns in Ohio?

In addition to Waynesville, Marietta stands out as another notoriously haunted town in Ohio. This riverside town in Ohio is known as the first permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory. It’s a beautiful little locale, known for its Victorian-style houses, European ambience, brick streets, sternwheelers... and ghosts. That's right -- Marietta is full of all sorts of ghosts and not-quite-dead spirits! The Lafayette Hotel is one of the most popular paranormal attractions in the town, and it's thought to be one of Ohio's most haunted hotels. This old-world hotel dates back to 1918, and is rumored to be haunted by its former owner. The third floor is infamous for paranormal activity. Guests have reported unexplained oddities for years. Missing items, suitcases turned upside-down and emptied shampoo bottles are just a few of the reported occurrences. Visit this haunted hotel and let us know what you see, hear, or feel....

Does Ohio have any ghost towns?

Sort of. Like many rural areas and small towns in Ohio, Rogues Hollow was once a thriving coal mining village near the modern day town of Doylestown, Ohio. Rogues Hollow was also a place for notorious outlaws and gangsters to hide out. Shoot-outs and robberies were common here, and these continued until the early 20th-century. Every October, the historical society hosts a “Walk the Hollow” event where you hear the spooky tales surrounding the hollow and explore the area at night.

What are some haunted places to visit in Ohio?

If you're up for a next-level ghost hunting adventure in Ohio, we have just the place for you. Formerly known as the Mansfield Reformatory, the Ohio State Reformatory first opened in 1886 and is nearly 130 years old. While the exterior of the building might be hauntingly beautiful, the lonely cells and restless spirits roaming about inside are far from welcoming.  Essentially a massive haunted museum, this historic landmark offers guided tours throughout the year and even hosts a Haunted Blood Prison experience during the Halloween season. Explore this haunted prison at your own risk... seriously, we're not sure we'd be brave enough to venture inside!

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