This Dungeon Tour Near Cleveland Will Take You Deep Below A County Jail
By Nikki Rhoades|Published March 09, 2018
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
We Clevelanders love a good road trip. With spring break just around the corner, many families are looking forward to the opportunity to take a getaway or two. Even if spring break isn’t on your agenda, you’ve probably noticed that the entirety of Northeast Ohio is overflowing with spectacular attractions. None, however, are as historically spooky as this one interesting site near Cleveland. Buckle up, because you’re about to journey back in time through the eyes of a local criminal.
Located at 622 Croghan Street, this gorgeous edifice is located just a stone's throw from downtown Fremont.
Construction on this structure was completed in 1892, and its cornerstone was laid by President Rutherford B. Hayes, a Fremont resident and advocate for prison reform.
Thanks to the influence of President Hayes, this jail was constructed with the fair treatment of prisoners in mind. It featured individual cells that allowed law enforcement officials to separate hardened criminals and murderers from those picked up for petty or minor crimes.
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Today, the building serves as an office building, but remnants of its former life still occupy the site.
After nearly a century of use, the jail's final prisoners were moved out in 1989. Since 1997, this gorgeous building has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its artifacts offer an unrivaled glimpse into a piece of local history that you never realized you wanted to uncover.
And you can actually explore the well-preserved former jail.
On select dates beginning in April, you can participate in a 1 hour and 15 minute guided tour of the jail, the Sandusky County Courthouse Dungeon, and the Gallows Exhibition Hall. Though this place has a dark history, tours are still family-friendly.
You'll see the former gallows (pictured above) that were last used in 1860 to execute a Bellevue murderer. This is just one of the most eye-catching features of the Gallows Exhibition Hall and you will be in awe of the artifacts' incredible preservation.
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The Dungeon is of particular interest to locals, as many believe it is haunted.
The Dungeon Descent is a nighttime adventure that allows you to use modern technology to try to get in touch with spirits from the past. To buy your ticket, click here.
The Dungeon dates back to 1840, and it is amazing to consider the stories we'd hear if its ashlar walls could talk.
The Dungeon was constructed in response to the former criminal detainment system that locals had in place. They were locking prisoners in log cabins with dirt floors, and the "jail cabins" were notoriously easy to escape from.
Its rooms housed infamous locals, including a murderer who took his own life in one of the cells.
Can’t wait to take a tour? Check out this video by WBGUTV for a virtual walk-through of the jail and dungeon:
There is so much to do all across the state, but life is most interesting up here on Lake Erie’s coast. Fortunately for us, adventure is hidden everywhere around us. Just imagine the stories we’d hear if walls could talk!
