Famously fun-filled Halloween destinations and cemeteries aside, Ohio is home to several straight up creepy places that need no witches, prop skeletons or eerie lighting to scare the average passerby. Abandoned, forgotten and decaying, the mere history and appearance of these scary places in Ohio will make you think again before you consider visiting someplace you should probably just leave to itself. The abundance of scary places in Ohio have caused many to quietly regard the state as the spookiest in the nation. If you’re brave enough, explore the stories of some of the most haunted places in Ohio and let your mind wander. Sometimes, fact is eerier than fiction.

1. The Ridges: The former Athens Lunatic Asylum sits close to the Ohio University campus where students and visitors alike often dare to explore the place known for several paranormal sightings and the beginning of the infamous lobotomy procedure.
Justin Masterson/Flickr
The Ridges are a fascinating contribution to the local landscape. There are three cemeteries surrounding the old asylum, which several school organizations offer tours of circa Halloween, and some organizations offer tours year-round. Visit the old asylum at Radar Hill Trail, Athens, OH 45701.
2. Ohio State Reformatory: Commonly and formally known as the Mansfield Reformatory, this historic prison was shut down in the 90s due to prisoner reports of overcrowding and inhume conditions.
Tom Hart/Flickr
Today, you can tour the old reformatory. It's particularly chilling around Halloween, as this old Ohio prison is said to be haunted... and there's no shortage of stories recounting ghostly encounters here. Visit this scary spot at 100 Reformatory Rd, Mansfield, OH 44905.
3. Helltown: With a name like that, something has to be up. In Summit County, the former Boston Village was founded in the early 1800s and existed until the 70s when the town was mysteriously purchased by the government with plans to create a national park. This ghost town of abandoned buildings and boarded up houses is also commonly associated with hauntings.
Andrew Borgen/Flickr
There's all sorts of legends surrounding this creepy community. To some extent, the legends are true. Boston Heights' old Krejci Dump led to massive contamination, necessitating a large scale cleanup. This caused the placement of signs warning of toxic waste, which eventually led to some of Helltown's most iconic rumors. Visit Boston Heights, Ohio to explore this legend in real life.
4. Knox County Poorhouse: This creepy site is literally nicknamed "The House of Nightmares" and has been used in the fall as a haunted house attraction.
Justin Masterson/Flickr
The poorhouse also served as an infirmary at one time, serving those most in need of care. It opened in 1877, and years of disrepair eventually took their tole. Several floors of the structure collapsed, and it eventually caught fire. Due to the state of the building, officials opted to let it burn out. Its lot is located at Johnstown Rd & Possum St, Liberty Township, OH 43050.
5. Lima Tuberculosis Hospital: Because what's creepier than an abandoned hospital?
Justin Masterson/Flickr
There's an endless supply of creepy vibes at Lima Tuberculosis Hospital. It sits in a state of eternal decay, as it closed in 1973. Today, you can spot it at 2001 Garden Blvd, Lima, OH 45805.
6. Beaver Creek State Park: Arguably the largest haunted site in the state, the ghost town of Sprucevale can be found here with few structural remains but many ghosts.
Anne Bennett/Flickr
All in all, Beaver Creek State Park boasts 2,722 acres to explore. Visit historic spots like Gaston's Mill to embrace Ohio's past. Walk along Little Beaver Creek, but watch out for the fabled bride at the bridge. Visit the state park at 12021 Echo Dell Rd, East Liverpool, OH 43920.
7. Higginsport School: Built in 1880, this creepy, abandoned public school building is located in Brown County. Used as a haunted house in the fall, there's one lesson we can all still learn from this former educational center: Stay away unless you're absolutely fearless.
Shawn Walker/Flickr
This historic school was once regarded as one of the finest in the country, but it came to close its doors in 1987. Today, nature has largely reclaimed it, and it's... eerie, quite frankly. You can find it at 308 Gaines, Higginsport, OH 45131.

Related Stories

Plans Are Underway For The First Buc-ee's In Ohio And We Couldn't Be More Excited

Plans Are Underway For The First Buc-ee's In Ohio And We Couldn't Be More Excited

 Get Away From It All At This Remote And Beautiful Campground In Ohio

Get Away From It All At This Remote And Beautiful Campground In Ohio

 The Whole Family Could Spend An Entire Day Having A Blast At Tappan Lakeside Resort In Ohio

The Whole Family Could Spend An Entire Day Having A Blast At Tappan Lakeside Resort In Ohio
8. Moonville: This ghost town and former mining community is located in Vinton County, where an abandoned railroad tunnel serves as the subject of numerous ghost stories.
Snake V./Flickr
Ghost stories abound around this spooky site to this very day. Watch out for the spirit of a man haunting the tracks where he died. You can find it hiding in the woods on Hope-Moonville Rd, McArthur, OH 45651.
9. Chippewa Lake Amusement Park: Medina County holds the strangest and creepiest destination in my faint of heart and paranormal intolerant opinion. Once a fun-filled, thriving destination is now a long ago forgotten park composed of an eerie, rusted ferris wheel, overgrown shrubs and trees growing inside of still standing roller coasters and numerous decaying booths and kiddie rides. Creepy, guys. CREEPY.
penelopejonze/Flickr
The amusement park is largely gone today, though it was recently announced that it will be reopening as a Medina County Park. The old park sits near the road by 5844 Ash St, Chippewa Lake, OH 44215.
10. Schrader Road Tunnel: Part of this road, located in Chillicothe, goes through a railroad tunnel where you can supposedly hear a baby crying if you drive through the tunnel at night with your lights off and windows down. (Something I will not try, thank you very much.)
Don 'OBrien/Flickr
Nicknamed "crybaby tunnel," this spooky site entices visitors to this very day. Visit it near Schrader Rd, Chillicothe, OH, 45601.
11. Peters Cartridge Company: The little town of King's Mill houses the building of a once thriving industry that now stands abandoned, with select portions undergoing renovations. Bullets and explosives are no longer made here —but I wouldn't be surprised if you faintly and mysteriously heard the sounds associated with them.
Tatton Partington/Flickr
There were several explosions throughout the history of Peters Cartridge Company, including one in the 1940s that shattered windows 30 miles away. Yowza! Rumor has it that this site is being developed as a mixed use retail, dining, and living space. Look for it on Grandin Rd, Kings Mills, OH 45034.
12. Haydenville Tunnel: This eerie tunnel stretches for nearly a mile between a sealed-off mine and a long-demolished manufacturing plant in Hocking County.
mookitty/Flickr
The spooky spot is surrounded by legend, as some assert that the ghosts of former workers hang around to this day. You can spot it on Township Hwy 543, Haydenville, OH 43127.
13. Roseville Prison: Aside from being home to a ghost (of course) this location is also used as a paint ball arena and a Halloween haunted house attraction.
Justin Masterson/Flickr
This historic spot is closed to the public today, but some past explorers have told tales of mysterious sounds and visual manifestations of long departed souls. Its owners do not appreciate trespassers, but you might be able to spot it from the road. Look for it near Roseville, OH 43222.
14. Franklin Castle: Arguably Ohio's most famous haunted house, Cleveland is home to this former clubhouse for a German singing society, home to a German socialist organization, a doctor's office, apartments, a party house and even a home to bootleggers.
Corey Balazowich/Flickr
Many of the tales surrounding this spooky site are mere legend, but the spooky façade intrigues passerby to this day. Look for it at 4308 Franklin Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44113.

If you so desire, proceed to these scary places in Ohio with extreme caution — no need to disturb what we don’t fully understand. Plus, you’ll want to respect the boundaries of the current owners, so remember to observe from afar and to never trespass.

Craving more chills and thrills from scary places in Ohio? Take a haunted road trip through the state.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Scary Places In Ohio

Nikki Rhoades | September 20, 2020

What is the most haunted place in Ohio?

Ohio is filled to the brim with local legends, but a few sites stand out above the rest. Considered to be among the most haunted places in the United States, the Ceely Rose House and Ohio State Reformatory chill visitors to this day.

Are there any urban legends in Ohio?

Ohio is filled to the brim with spooky stories. From the infamous Cleveland Torso Killer to the Circleville Letter Writer, Ohio's legends have fascinated and spooked society on a national level.

Are there haunted battlefields in Ohio?

Believe it or not, military history and spooky vibes alike abound at Fort Meigs. Established during the War of 1812, uniformed soldiers are said to patrol the grounds to this day.

Related Articles

Featured Addresses
Ohio, USA