Ohio can be downright strange. From museums showcasing things swallowed to houses that look like legitimate UFOs, there’s always something weird to observe in Ohio. The following are 15 of what we consider to be the weirdest attractions and destinations in Ohio.
1. Serpent Mound (Bratton Township)
This 1,348-foot-long and three-foot-high prehistoric effigy mound along Ohio Brush Creek in Adams County continues to marvel locals and visitors alike.
2. The Temple of Tolerance (Wapakoneta)
Jim Bowsher's home in the small town of Wapakoneta features an impressive museum of artifacts from the America you don't typically read about in history books, and a truly tranquil temple complex in his backyard. The central monument of the temple complex is dedicated to tolerance, and Bowsher continues to add to his unique creation to this day.
3. Findlay Ghost Town
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.
4. Blue Hole (Castalia)
This 1920s popular tourist attraction did not in fact die with the 90s. Castalia State Fish Hatchery holds a another blue hole that's open to public observation and speculation about where this deep, blue water actually comes from.
5. Cornhenge (Dublin)
Ohio has its own version of Stonehenge, thanks to Dublin's Field of Corn, also known as "Cornhenge." (But I highly doubt foreigners would speculate that we use it as a calendar.)
6. Things Swallowed Exhibit (Lima)
The Allen County Museum in Lima houses a peculiar exhibit of things swallowed (and removed. Obviously.)
7. Chippewa Lake Park
Tucked away in Medina County there’s a rusted, long forgotten ferris wheel. What what was once Chippewa Lake Park is now just a few piles of amusement park ruins and the lone ferris wheel. From 1878 to 1978, the amusement park was a popular, thriving destination for family entrainment. Today, remnants of it creepily stand abandoned, rusted and long forgotten. (If you think this abandoned amusement park would have been the perfect location for a horror film, you’re exactly right. In 2008, a cast and crew from Los Angeles filmed "Closed for the Season" here.)
8. Futuro House (Carlisle)
Also known as the UFO house, this home in Carlisle was created by Matti Suuronen in 1968.
9. Toledo’s Bun Museum
This strange tradition of displaying autographed hotdog buns began in 1972 when Jamie Farr of M*A*S*H signed a bun at Tony Packo's in Toledo. While that bun is no longer in existence, today the cafe proudly showcases Styrofoam bun look-alikes signed by various celebrities, including five U.S. presidents.
10. The Wall of Gum (Greenville)
Customers routinely discard chewed gum and stick it on the side of this Maid-Rite Drive-In in Greenville. Why? We're really not sure..
11. The World's Smallest Street (Bellefontaine)
Stretching only 15 ft., McKinley Street in Bellefontaine is officially recognized as the "World's Smallest Street."
12. Hartman’s Rock Garden (Springfield)
Observe a mixture of history, religion, and depression-era pop culture via this unique garden, built by Harry "Ben" Hartman between1932 through 1939. The garden can be seen today at the corner of McCain and Russell streets in Springfield.
13. Pencil Sharpener Museum (Logan)
You probably don't really know just how many different kinds of pencil sharpeners there are until you view this collection in Logan.
14. The Round House (Logan)
Hidden along Old US 33 in Logan, Ohio stands this mysterious, round and concrete house. Weird Ohio reports that the house was built in the early 70s and completed in 1973 by a Mr. Stewart. Known as "Stewart's Folly," the round house was supposedly a prototype for a new, highly durable type of home for people that lived on hurricane-prone coasts. For unknown reasons, Stewart stopped production and never moved into the house as planned. Additionally, the blueprints and design notes were reportedly lost in a fire. Today, the strange house eerily sits abandoned in the Hocking Hills area.
15. Healing Chapel (Coolville)
Visit Ohio's (and one of America's) smallest chapels in Coolville. This tiny chapel is 10 ft. by 14 ft. and holds four short pews.
Have you seen any of these unusual attractions? What other weird places are there in Ohio? Share your experiences and photos with us in the comments below!
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