If you're anything like me, as soon as the Labor Day festivities end, you go into full-fledged "fall mode." This means carving pumpkins in mid-September, dragging a date to the nearest apple orchard, buying the "sweater-weather" scented candle from Bath and Body Works, and my all-time favorite, haunted houses!
Growing up, I was never really interested in gaining my fill for adrenaline through scary things, because as a child, I wasn't ever allowed to watch horror movies. While all of my friends were watching Saw and The Exorcist, the extent of my Halloween viewing pleasure was The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. That was, until my senior year of high-school, when my friends and I had a girls-night that consisted of copious amounts of popcorn and the newly released Paranormal Activity. And so began my fascination with all things haunted. Below, I've compiled a list of what I believe to be some of the creepiest landmarks in America. There are hundreds of notable landmarks, but I chose five of my personal favorites. Check out their howling reviews below!
The Ohio State Reformatory, Mansfield, Ohio
Growing up in Ohio, this sketchy looking reformatory was one of the first of many haunted tales that I was told of. I even remember seeing a special of the Ohio State Reformatory on an episode of Ghost Hunters. Basically, the reformatory opened in 1886 and was a place for first offense criminals to go. The doors were closed for good in 1990 due to reports of unhealthy living conditions. (As if the above picture didn't give that one away.) Within its 94 years of operation, the reformatory saw around 154,000 inmates. These men saw things that the majority of the population will thankfully never experience in their lifetime. Settled on the property, just outside of the reformatory walls, sits a grave site of 215 markers. Most of these men died from disease, Influenza, Tuberculosis, and also from various violent acts.
Most inmates shared a cell with at least one other inmate, sometimes more. One famous area of the reformatory is known as “the hole” This is a dungeon looking area where the living quarters are almost too small for one fully grown human to live. There was barely enough room for a small bed and a toilet. Patients were sent to "the hole" for harsher punishments and were completely quarantined from other inmates, workers, or any light source. Several deaths occurred in this mysterious hole. There is at least one account of a hanging in the room, another man committed suicide by setting himself on fire, and when two men were sentenced to the hole at the same time, only one returned. The other was murdered and stuffed underneath the small bed cushion.
Other accounts of deaths that occurred on the property, include the reformatory’s farm boss, who was kidnapped along with his wife and daughter. After their kidnapping, they were slaughtered by two parolees. Later on, in 1950, the Warden’s wife was searching for her jewelry box in her closet, when a firearm allegedly fell from a shelf and fired when it hit the floor, killing the woman. Not long after that, her husband, the warden was working in his office when he suffered a heart attack and died. Now, 40 years after these incidents, the reformatory doors have re-opened to the public for ghost tours. You can visit the Ohio State Reformatory and go on one of these tours at:
100 Reformatory Rd. Mansfield, OH 44905
The Gettysburg Battlefield, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
If you paid any attention in your history classes, the word “Gettysburg” should ring a bell. If you’re a history nut, you’ll know that in the year of 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, General George Meade and his Union Troops fought General Robert E. Lee and his Confederate army. In just three days, more than 51,000 Americans were either killed, injured, or went missing in one of the most intense blood-baths of American history. Being a historical landmark, Gettysburg sees a great deal of tourists, many of which have reported hearing cries of wounded soldiers, or even mere sightings of these men in their historic uniforms.
What I find interesting about the hauntings of Gettysburg, is that there are several different stories tied into one. The tale that is creepiest to me, is that of the building that was the headquarters of Union General Howard during the battle. Three years after the battle had ended, the homestead was turned into an orphanage that was famous for its Head mistress Rosa Carmichael. Carmichael was known for her cruelty and was later convicted for child abuse. Although the orphanage was short-lived, closing its doors in 1877, Rosa’s ghost is surely not gone. Many tourists have told stories about seeing her angry ghost haunting the basement of the old orphanage.
Another eerie Gettysburg story takes place a few miles outside of Gettysburg, where the Cashtown Inn lies. Inside of the Inn was where the very first soldier was killed during the Gettysburg clashing. Jack Paladino, the current owner of the Inn claims that the Inn is haunted to this day. He even has pictures dating back to 1987 that have mysterious skeletal looking images appearing in the photos. There’s also been numerous accounts of recent guests of the inn hearing the slamming of doors, flickering lights, and the doors locking and unlocking themselves. To experience the many haunted stories of Gettysburg firsthand, plan a trip at:
1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, PA. 17325
The Queen Mary, Long Beach, California
Queen Mary was a luxurious cruise ship that was constructed in 1930. For three years after her maiden voyage, Queen Mary was the ship for anybody who was anybody. She carried eminent names such as Clark Gable, Bob Hope, Winston Churchill, and even the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. She broke several records, until 1939 when she would become a troopship for World War II. After the war ended, Queen Mary’s glorious interior and exterior attractions were restored.
In1947 The Queen Mary returned to transporting her normal passengers and did so for nearly 20 years. By the mid-1960’s, airfare became more affordable, and oceanic-transportation became more inconvenient. In 1967, the Queen Mary was sold and now resides as a hotel and event venue in Long Beach, California.
Over the past 60 years, there have been 49 reported deaths aboard the ship; from drownings, disease and even murder. There have also been 150 accounts of “ghostly lurkers” aboard the Queen Mary. Many of these have been spotted 50 feet below water level, where the engine room of the ship is located. Also located on this floor is “Door 13.” This infamous door has crushed at least two men to death within the ship’s history, making it yet another hot-spot for mysterious “guests”
Other ghostly sightings have been reported near the swimming pools which have been closed down for years. Many believe to have seen a few women in 1930's fashioned swimsuits lurking around the perimeter of the pool. The Queen’s Salon has also been rumored to be haunted, as many have reported seeing a woman dancing alone in the shadow-y corners of the room. Lastly, in the third-class playroom, an infant’s cry has been heard on many occasions. Historians assume this to be the cry of a little boy who died aboard the ship, shortly after his birth. To experience these paranormal activities first hand, or to stay aboard the Queen Mary for a mysterious getaway, you can do so at:
1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, California 90802
Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Louisville, Kentucky.
In 1910, a small hospital, designed to treat tuberculosis patients was built and constructed to house about 40-50 patients. Tuberculosis is an airborne disease and the hospital on Waverly Hill was completely secluded from any contact outside of the premises. As the disease became more and more prevalent, the lack of space at the hospital became an issue. The hospital was expanded and reopened in 1926 as “The Waverly Hills Sanatorium.” The new facility was state of the art and could now house 400+ patients.
In the 30 something years that Waverly Hills was in business, the facility saw hundreds upon thousands of deaths. Although the symptoms for the disease weren’t pleasant in itself, it is known that the treatments for tuberculosis were even more brutal. The facility had “sun rooms” where patients’ lungs were exposed to ultraviolet light in attempts to kill off deadly bacteria. The lungs of patients were also surgically implanted with balloons that were filled with air in attempts to expand them for breathing ease. Obviously, very few actually survived these treatments and the ones who didn’t, were sent to the “bloody chute” where bodies were carried through an enclosed tunnel from the hospital to the railroad tracks at the bottom of the hill.
In the early 1960's a cure for tuberculosis was created through modern medicine which forced the sanatorium to close its doors in 1961, the facility was reopened as a geriatric sanatorium in the 1970’s. After learning about the extremely harsh conditions regarding patient mistreatment and devastating budget cuts, the state closed the facility for good in 1982.
After the extremely dark and deadly past of the Waverly Hills Sanatorium, the building became a haunted wasteland for vandals, homeless individuals, and teenagers who were in search of a thrill. Today, many tourists visit the sanatorium, as it has been re-opened under new management. Many tourists claim to have seen the ghost of a little girl running down the hall of the solarium. There have been reports of a mysterious hearse parked in the back of the building, dropping off coffins. There’s also rumors of the smell of freshly baked bread seeping through the kitchen doors where the ghostly image of a man in a white coat has been spotted cooking.
One of the creepiest rooms in the hospital however, is room 502. Where many patients have reportedly jumped to their deaths from the window. Visitors and tourists have told stories of seeing humanly shapes and shadows in this room, as well as hearing disembodied voices instructing them to “get out.” Woah. I only live a little over an hour from this landmark, but it may even be too creepy for my love of all things haunted. However, if you'd like to visit the Sanatorium of Waverly Hills, be my guest!
4400 Paralee Ln. Louisville, KY 40272
Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Weston, West Virginia
In the early 1800’s, we had very little knowledge of mental disorders. Unfortunately, those who suffered from mental illness were housed in prisons, local jails, and even kept in dark basements where they wouldn’t be a “nuisance to society.” The Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum was designed and constructed to give those with mental illness a place where they can live peacefully while also getting proper treatment. Although construction of the facility wasn’t complete until 1881, the facility started taking patients 20 years prior, in 1961 and continued to do so until the asylum was finished.
The facility may have been designed for the mentally ill to live peacefully, however, the opposite was unfortunately true. The asylum was only made to house about 250 patients at a time, but saw a cramped 2,400 patients at most times during the majority of its operation. Some forms of “treatment” included a crude form of electro-shock therapy, lobotomies, and outrageous chemical treatments.
The worst behaved patients were typically chained up in a locked cage, and wallowed nakedly in their own defecation. Several workers and patients were murdered by other patients and many female workers were raped throughout the operation. After nearly a century of this madness, the asylum finally shut down in 1994.
Sitting atop of an eerily coincidental 666 acres of land, it’s only natural for paranormal activity to haunt the property. Most workers quit after just a few short days of working at the asylum. These workers reported hearing the squeaking wheels of gurneys being pushed through completely empty and abandoned hallways. Sounds of moans or hysterical laughter have been heard from rooms that have been vacant for decades.
One doctor even said that the ghost of what seemed to be the deceased patient that she’d been treating had followed her home from the asylum and haunted her even though she had moved to several different addresses. After closing its doors in the early 1990’s, the Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum was purchased and re-opened in 2007. The money raised from tours of the property go to the restoration of this once beautiful facility. You can visit it at:
71 Asylum Dr. Weston, WV 26462
After reading about the history of some of America's most haunted properties, maybe next Halloween, you'll plan a haunted getaway to one or more of the country's most eerie landmarks. My favorites included a reformatory, a battlefield, a luxurious ship, a sanatorium and an insane asylum, however, there are hundreds of them, each with their own unique story. Do some research and expand your knowledge, and I guarantee you'll have some material for your next camp-fire ghost story! Happy Halloween!
