It’s not uncommon to encounter a haunted place or two in Ohio. (If you enjoy exploring these types of places, be sure to check out this road trip.)

Within Wayne Township in Warren County, you’ll find the village of Waynesville. It’s a quaint, historic town with a population of approximately 2,834—but it’s rumored to have more than 30 haunted places and an incredibly creepy past. Driving through this town isn’t for the faint of heart.

This seemingly normal small town was actually deemed "the most haunted village in Ohio" by author Chris Woodyard of the popular "Haunted Ohio" books.
Ed! (Photography)/Wikimedia Commons
The village of Waynesville actually offers monthly summer ghost tours and ghost hunter classes at select times throughout the year. Visit the Museum at the Friends Home for more information about these classes and tours.
Also known as the "Antiques Capital of the Midwest" and "Home of the Ohio Sauerkraut Festival," it's hard to imagine that the humble village of Waynesville is actually full of hauntings.
Nyttend/Wikimedia Commons
Founded in the late 1700s, Waynesville has a rich history as one of the oldest towns in southwest Ohio. It was an early Quaker settlement and many of those cultural influences still thrive in the town today. Many of the town's buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Two of the most well-known hauntings in the village involves the Hamel House and Stetson House. Other every day haunted places in the village involve the firehouse and Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village.
Nyttend/Wikimedia Commons
One of the most chilling stories centers on the Angel of the Garden Tea Room. Many passersby have noticed a face in the upstairs window looking down on the town. The creepiest part? In the 1950s, human bones were found upstairs. Consequently, these are thought to have once belonged to the ghost that often peers out the window.
The Quaker Meeting House (pictured) is another infamously haunted building in Waynesville.
E. Schrand and J. Mitchell/ Wikimedia Commons
The building contains no kitchen, however, mysterious sounds of a kitchen have been reported by visitors. Other times, passersby will hear organ music or see the ghost of a schoolteacher carrying a candle by the window late at night.

Have you ever been to Waynesville, the most haunted town in Ohio, before? If so, did you have any ghostly encounters? Share your thoughts and experiences with us!

And if you enjoyed this feature about the most haunted town in Ohio, you’ll definitely want to check out our previous article: This Haunted Road Trip Will Lead You To The Scariest Places In Ohio.

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most haunted town in Ohio

Sarah | October 30, 2021

What are some other haunted places in Ohio?

Athens, Ohio just might be the most haunted city in the state. With one of the oldest universities in the United States and a former psychiatric hospital located within the city limits, it's bound to have a haunting or two. Haunted cemeteries, wandering ghosts and college dorm rooms known for paranormal activity abound in this small city, making it one of the creepiest towns you can explore—and live in— here in Ohio. Read about some of the town's most famous ghost stories here...

Is Waynesville, Ohio, a good place to visit?

Don't let its ghostly reputation keep you away; Waynesville is a delight of a place to visit! It's historic and charming, which naturally lends itself to lots of haunted lore and legend. But that aside, Waynesville is a beautiful little slice of small-town Ohio; it's home to the annual Ohio Renaissance Festival, which each year attracts more than 160,000 Ohioans who gather together for some Medieval fun, scrumptious turkey legs, and a temporary trip back in time. And one of the state’s most underrated hikes is hiding in Caesar Creek State Park in Waynesville, Ohio: the trek to Horseshoe Falls. This is of the state's most beautiful little waterfalls, and well-worth seeking out -- and braving Waynesville to see!

What's the mist haunted house in Ohio?

If you’ve ever heard creepy legends about a haunted house in Ohio called Franklin Castle, you should know that at least some of them are true. So much more than a historic home, this Gothic mansion in Cleveland is known for its sorrowful tales, secret passageways, hauntingly beautiful architecture and, of course, ghosts. Also known as the Hannes Tiedemann House, the castle-like home with more than 20 rooms was built in the late 1880s for German immigrant Hannes Tiedemann. Legend has it that the construction of the hidden rooms provided places for Tiedemann to commit possible crimes, such as murder and/or bootlegging during the Prohibition. Today, the castle stands partly renovated, privately owned and is under video surveillance. Would you live in this Ohio haunted mansion?

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