Boston Township is like much of Northeast Ohio: sleepy, historic, and quaint. Unlike much of Northeast Ohio, though, it has a sinister set of stories intertwined with its history. Comprised of the villages of Peninsula and Boston Heights, this town will simultaneously charm you and give you the chills. Now is the season of s’mores and ghost stories, so read closely, because you will want to pass on the tales of this creepy town when you next find yourself sitting beside a bonfire. If you’re looking for haunted places in Cleveland, Ohio, read on!

Boston Township is a small town with fewer than 2,000 residents.
Jon Dawson/Flickr
The town can trace its history back to 1805, when it was first surveyed. By 1811, enough residents had flocked to the area to call for the formal organization of a township. The street pictured here is within the boundaries of Peninsula, one of two villages located in Boston Township. (Believe it or not, villages often remain part of the township from which they were created in Ohio.)
Beneath its charm, say the locals, is something darker.
Charles Carper/Flickr
According to some, the entire town is cursed. Rumors of evil rituals, disturbed hauntings, and even government cover-ups plague the town. While this may be mere legend, rumors persist.
In fact, the region has earned an unusual nickname: Helltown.
Frank John Aleksandrowicz/Wikimedia Commons
The creepy history runs back to a time when tensions ran high. In 1974, the National Park Service obtained the ability to expropriate land to establish national parks. Boston Township was instantly targeted during the establishment of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and longtime residents were forced out of their homes. The parts of the town that remained unaffected suddenly felt hostile as the downsized town began to take notice of the quirky features of their region, such as a church featuring upside down crosses. Whispers of evil being attracted to the area began to pass through the town. Sightings of cults practicing black magic have since been reported throughout various locations in the township.
The mass evacuation uprooted many lives, and houses sat vacant for great lengths of time.
Andrew Borgen/Flickr
Rumors began to circulate of a chemical spill cover-up as sightings of mutated humanoids and other beasts (including the Peninsula Python) became prevalent. Abandoned barns and buildings are still standing in the area, and residents report seeing lights and movement through their windows. One in particular, the "House in The Woods," is purported to always have its attic light on despite standing empty. Today, a majority of abandoned structures have been torn down... but some can still be spotted hiding in plain sight.
They say Boston Cemetery is home to some unscrupulous characters.
Andrew Borgen/Flickr
Locals have spotted seated figures in the cemetery that stare ahead blankly, uninterested in interacting with the living. And, they purport, it is too easy to get turned around, for the trees move, cursed by an evil cult to confuse and scare visitors away from their dastardly secrets.

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Nearby, the "End of The World" stands awaiting discovery.
Andrew Borgen / Flickr
Stanford Road was abandoned when its maintenance became too costly, but rumors persist that the real reason it was closed had to do with the supernatural number of car crashes on the eerie stretch. Just off the road was once the gutted remains of a school bus, and, though removed, the spirits of creepy children hang around so that you may hear their laughter and agonized screams float over the wind. Oh, and watch out for the hordes of robed figures that haunt the road.
As you travel along the "Highway to Hell," be careful to watch for a hearse.
Pedro Ribeiro Simões/Flickr
Though Stanford Road is closed, you may encounter one slick sedan with only a single working headlight. This hearse, some report, is one you especially want to avoid riding in. It vanishes into thin air at the end of the road that the locals refer to as the "Highway to Hell," so it is safe to say that you probably don’t want to follow it to its final destination.
Oh, and be sure to avoid bridges in Boston Township.
Cory Hartman/Wikimedia Commons
Experts say spirits are attracted to water, and with the tragic backstory of Crybaby Bridge in mind, you will especially want to avoid waterways in this town. It is said that a distressed mother tossed her newborn off a bridge, and that one can still hear the disembodied cries at times. Supposedly, if you visit the exact over-the-water roadway where the tragedy took place, your car will inexplicably start when turned off, and small footprints will become visible around your vehicle.
The town is rich in its culture and lore.
Andrew Borgen/Flickr
Antique shops and family-owned restaurants fuel the cultural vibe of this historic area, but its lore persists. From an evil man squatting in the basement of a local church, to a haunted slaughterhouse, to axemen prowling the woods, there are a number of legends you will encounter in Boston Township.
With so many stories of paranormal activity, could it be that this town is truly cursed?
Frank John Aleksandrowicz/Wikimedia Commons
Of course, we're not asserting that the town is cursed. We're just retelling legends that locals have circulated for decades... legends that have, amazingly, persisted despite Boston Township undergoing changes. To this day, some residents still tell of the rumors they grew up hearing... and some visitors have encounters that spark the retelling of these tales time and time again.

While these photos of Boston Township may seem creepy, the lore surrounding the area is just that: lore. Legends are a fascinating aspect of human history, and they’re worth retelling… some, like the persisting legend of Troy have led to archaeological discoveries like the unlucky city itself. Historic structures from the town’s heyday can be visited in the Boston Mills Historic District of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Interestingly, there’s always a bit of fact in every piece of local lore. Remember that chemical spill we mentioned? That’s a bit of fact that comes from the Krejci Dump nearby. While it was once a toxic waste dump, it has since been cleaned, restored, and reclaimed by nature.

What are your favorite haunted places in Cleveland, Ohio? Tell us in the comments! If you’re craving more exploration of local legend, visit two Ohio landmarks that are said to be among the most haunted places in the nation.

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More to Explore

Haunted Places in Cleveland Ohio

Sarah M. | December 08, 2022

What are some other haunted places in Cleveland, Ohio?

Northeast Ohio is a haunted region with much history. From the horrors of the Torso Murders to tragedies like the Cleveland Clinic Fire and an explosion in 1944, there is a dark side to life here that locals often prefer to forget. Each autumn, however, we are reminded of the chills and thrills our region offers as we move closer to Halloween. There are countless incredible haunted houses in the area, but a few destinations are genuinely haunted by spirits that’ll cloud your dreams. Here are the most haunted places in Cleveland, Ohio. Visit, if you dare!

  • The House of Wills. Cleveland's House of Wills has a complicated past shrouded in death and mystery. Not only did it serve as a funeral home, but also as a socialite club, an opera house, a hospital, and possibly even a speakeasy. It has been left to the elements for years, but its resident spirits don't seem to notice that time has passed.
  • Landoll's Mohican Castle. This gorgeous castle may look medieval, but it is in all actuality a modern construct. Of course, that doesn't mean it doesn't hide a few secrets. Its campus is home to a cemetery from the 1830s, and you can embark on a guided tour of it this October. As the tour concludes, you'll have the opportunity to try to communicate with the spirits that call this castle home.
  • Erie Street Cemetery. There's a lot of history downtown, even though the neighborhood's artsy endeavors and modern attitudes may make it easy to forget. Its cemeteries, however, never forget the stories of those that rest eternally within. Erie Street Cemetery is notoriously haunted, but so, too, are some truly unexpected places.
  • Simon Perkins Stone Mansion. Take a look at the stairs in the gorgeous Simon Perkins Stone Mansion and you just may be greeted by the ghostly figure of a woman, watching you with fascination. Is such a sighting a trick or a treat?
  • Punderson Manor State Park. Punderson Manor State Park Lodge and Conference Center is gorgeous, and it has entertained many a visitor since its construction. The chimneys date back to 1904, but the surrounding Tudor-style home was built around them in the 1920s. There are dozens of spooky encounters that have occurred here over the years, and it is a bit of a mystery why. Would you dare spend the night in this lodge, one of the most haunted places in Cleveland, Ohio?

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