For the adventurous and the brave, ghost town hunting is an enjoyable hobby — for the rest of us, it’s just eerie. You will find several ghost towns in Ohio with questionable stories of abandonment. The following are seven creepy ghost towns in Ohio just waiting to be explored (or, you know, avoided):

1. Boston Mills ("Helltown")
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Boston Township, OH, USA
Andrew Borgen/Flickr
Today, two villages are located in Boston Township: Peninsula and Boston Heights. However, Boston Mills was a community that once prospered in this area. The people of the former town of Boston Mills (located in northern Summit County and now colloquially referred to as "Helltown,") were ordered by the U.S. government to leave the town in the early 70s. While the government's claim to the land (to establish a National Park in the area) ultimately led to the town's sudden evacuation, the abandoned homes, buildings and streets are said to be haunted today by the spirits of those who didn't want to leave. Some legends insist that this area was evacuated for more sinister reasons, including rumors of toxins in the soil and Satanic activity. Today, much of this old town has been absorbed into the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. You can read our full article on Helltown for more on the legend surrounding this spooky site.

Take a look at this video by @wildowlproductions3068:
2. Sabina
Sabina, OH 45169, USA
Adam Schweigert/Flickr
Ever since 1929, when this small town displayed an unidentified body that was found on the side of the road, it's never been quite the same. "Eugene" was a strange roadside attraction in the town's local funeral home until 1964 when he was finally buried. Since then, this Clinton County town has experienced a slow and steady abandonment and has become one of the creepiest Ohio ghost towns.
3. Moonville
pilssken/Wikimedia Commons
Moonville Tunnel, Hope-Moonville Rd, McArthur, OH 45651, USA
Mike/Flickr
The abandoned coal mining town of Moonville in southeastern Ohio (Vinton County) was founded in 1856 when the Marietta and Cincinnati railroad ran through the area's woods. One structure of the town that remains today is the Moonville Tunnel; a haunted tunnel where legend has it the ghost of a man who was killed instantly by a train passing through the tunnel wanders along the track bed near the old tunnel at night. A visit to the Moonville Tunnel offers an experience you will never, ever forget.
4. Shawnee
Mike/Flickr

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Shawnee, OH, USA
Jimmy Emerson DVM/Flickr
Founded in 1873 among coal mines and once the largest town in Perry County, this town is well on its way to ghost town status. While there are still inhabitants of this small town, many of the buildings stand abandoned.
5. Carpenter's Mill
Liberty Township, OH, USA
Jeff Walters/Flickr
Very little is left of this early 1800s mill town in Delaware County. Stone bridge pillars and the skeleton of Bieber Mill are all that remain of one of the most fascinating ghost towns in Ohio.
6. Cheshire
Brett Ciccotelli/Flickr
Cheshire, OH 45620, USA
David Becher/Flickr
Perhaps Ohio's most recent ghost town is the town of Cheshire in Gallia County, close to Point Pleasant, West Virginia. The town's power plant caused sooty residue, milky chemical fogs, and an eventual buyout, quickly driving residents out of Cheshire completely. Pictured below are containers (...that are probably an EPA violation in and of themselves...) found in an abandoned bunker in Cheshire.
7. Findlay Ghost Town
Panama/Flickr
Ghost Town Findlay, Ohio, County Road 40, Findlay, OH, USA
Panama/Flickr
Driving down St. Rt. 68, you might stumble across a sign that points the way to "Ghost Town." Created by the Galitza family, this unique roadside attraction in Findlay features a replica of an 1880s-era ghost town that was first open to the public in the 1950s. Today, the ghost town has an even more authentic ghost town feel due to a lack of upkeep and public attention.

So, what do you think? Are you ready to explore some of these ghost towns in Ohio? (Or are you good with just reading about them from the comfort and safety of your own home? Cause, you know, that’s an option too.) Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

Are you enchanted by the more unusual places in Ohio? Treat yourself to a spooky adventure to the most haunted places in the Buckeye State.

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More to Explore

Ghost Towns In Ohio

Nikki Rhoades | June 07, 2020

Can I visit any abandoned places in Ohio?

Yes, there are a few abandoned places in Ohio you can visit and there are many abandoned places that you can spot from the road (especially when it comes to old barns in the rolling countryside). The House of Wills in Cleveland opens every so often to offer tours, and the old Mansfield Reformatory also offers tours in select seasons -- but these tours are just one reason to visit Mansfield, Ohio!

What is the most naturally beautiful town in Ohio?

The most naturally beautiful towns in Ohio include:

  • Cuyahoga Falls
  • Lakewood
  • Brecksville.

 

In addition to boasting incredible views of the great outdoors, there are epic places to dine in these areas with equally striking views.

What is the most haunted place in Ohio? 

From legends passed on through indigenous communities prior to European colonization to modern-day tales of spooky happenings, there are some surprising and scary legends in Ohio. Some of the locations said to be the most haunted in Ohio include:

  • Franklin Castle in Cleveland
  • Moonville Tunnel in McArthur
  • The old Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield

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