A collection of Ohio ghost stories and ghostlore from Native American tales to contemporary haunted houses.

A guide to reputedly haunted places open to the public in Ohio.

Tales of ghosts and haunted houses from around Ohio.

At a casual glance, Hamilton is a typical midwestern town, but a closer look reveals strange and inexplicable events of possibly supernatural origin. A mischievous poltergeist plays its tricks in a High Street tavern. More than a century ago, a young boy narrowly escaped death in a fall that left him gravely ill, and some say his cries still echo in his family home. A vaporous woman appears on the stairs of a Hamilton home once owned by one of the county's richest men. Could this be his daughter who died from suicide? Hamilton native and contributor to the Dayton Lane Ghost Walk Shi O'Neill mines the history of the town's many spectral occurrences.

Rich in history and steeped in blue-collar values, Marion, Ohio, is much like any midwestern city, aside from its abundance of ghouls and unexplained phenomena. From well-known landmarks like the mysterious Merchant Ball to largely forgotten locales like the Quarry Street Cemetery, Joshua Simpkins of Spookymarion.com takes readers on a delightful journey through Marions bizarre history and hauntings. Was President Hardings death forecast by the First Ladys squawking finchits feathered form now stuffed and encased in the Harding Homeon the eve of the presidents ill fated trip to Alaska? Dare to visit the Mongoloid House or see what goes bump at the empty downtown YMCA. Revisit Marions urban legends and discover little-known ghouls that deserve to be heard.

The ruins of an industrial past provide the perfect haunting grounds in this spirited Ohio city. Run down the apparitions that float down Rubber City streets and façades like the shadow of a passing blimp. Stroll along forgotten canals amid the restless chatter and clank of spirits cut down before their hard lives became easier. Catch a show at the Civic Theater with a “former” engineer who prophesied that death wouldn’t keep him from work. A more restive spirit is that of John Tedrow, a twenty-something mauled and murdered during a drunken brawl in 1882; he wails for help and resolution. In this ghostly tour through Akron’s haunted and sometimes brutal past, paranormal specialist and historian Jeri Holland digs into the ghost tales and local legends that linger here like this city’s industrial heritage. “Haunted Akron is a tour of events, places and creepy legends.” —Ohio.com

Make sure the flashlight is on for these historic, haunted, chilling tales of the town of Willoughby as told by one of Northeast Ohio's most respected paranormal investigators. Willoughby, a historic town located 20-miles east of Cleveland, has a chilling history sure to engage everyone from the most casual reader of ghost stories to the most dedicated paranormal researcher. Welcome to Willoughby Cemetery, where the Girl in Blue's restless spirit lingers near her grave, waiting to engage even the most skeptical visitors. Enter Willoughby Coal & Supply Company at your own risk and delve into the mysterious death of owner Don Norris in 1947. Meet Zip, whose spirit continues to watch over the building and, according to local legend, guards a hidden treasure to this day. Face the menacing apparitions that peer from the building's darkened windows at night for all of the locals to see. From ancient Whittlesey legends, and echoes of events that have shaped the course of the town, to tales of the tragic and bizarre, Haunted Willoughby, Ohio combines folklore, local legends and mysteries, first-person accounts, historical facts, and archival and contemporary images to capture the city's supernatural past and present. A must for any ghost hunter or lover of tales of historic haunts, join local expert Cathi Weber, who has led countless investigations around Lake County and is the founder of Willoughby Area Paranormal Education and Research Society, as she explores the traditions, spooky heritage and true stories that are part of Willoughby's high-spirited history.

On this leg of the journey you’ll explore the scariest spots in the Buckeye State. Author John Kachuba visits more than 30 legendary haunted places, all of which are open to the public—so you can test your own ghosthunting skills, if you dare. Join John as he visits each site, snooping around eerie rooms and dark corners, talking to people who swear to their paranormal experiences, and giving you a first-hand account. Enjoy Ghosthunting Ohio On the Road Again from the safety of your armchair or hit the road, using the maps, “Haunted Places” travel guide with 50 more spooky sites and “Ghostly Resources.” Buckle up and get ready for the spookiest trip of your life.

From the playful spirits of the Kelton House Museum and Garden to the wavy-armed apparition that prowls the fourth floor of Ohio State's main library, Columbus is teeming with ghosts. Meet the deceased yet meddlesome stage manager at the Ohio Theatre and the tuxedo-clad ghost awaiting his ride on Franklin Avenue. Learn the horrifying secrets behind the jail cells in one Columbus home and the truth about a centuries-old haunting near Dublin. Columbus Landmarks Foundation ghost tour guide Nellie Kampmann takes you on a journey to meet the mischievous souls and malevolent entities who aren't quite ready to leave this city

Ghostly tales, true and traditional, from around Ohio.