Fall in Ohio means school starts again, jackets are dusted off, boots are pulled out, and Starbucks releases pumpkin flavored everything. So what do we do when we can't spend afternoons sunbathing on the beaches of Lake Erie anymore?
Grab a cup of that infamous pumpkin flavored coffee and go ghost hunting, of course.
1. Akron Civic Theater
Plan to see a ballet and you may be paying for a show entirely different. Located just blocks from the University of Akron downtown, the Akron Civic Theater for years has been home to various ghostly tales. From the spirit of Fred the janitor to an incredibly dressed gentleman, patrons to the theater have claimed these spirits roam the building, showing themselves for the few and lucky. Looking for something to do between classes? See if you can find the running woman.
2. The Ashtabula Train Disaster
In Chestnut Grove Cemetery in Ashtabula, Ohio lies a large monument in memory of those lost in the great train disaster that hit the town during the late 1800s. In late December a passenger train carrying 159 people traveled through Ashtabula County. Ninety-eight of the people on board were lost when the newly constructed bridge across the Ashtabula River collapsed. The collapse was not the main cause of the fatalities. Those that survived the fall were met with an inescapable fire from the oil lamps and candles that were used to illuminate the train cars. Locals say that to this day the passengers can be seen strolling through the cemetery near the monument. Some have claimed to hear the whistle of a train with none passing by. Legend also says that if one visits the exact spot where the train met its match, those trapped in the wreckage can still be heard screaming.
3. The Ohio State Reformatory
Infamous for having been the set of the world-renowned film The Shawshank Redemption, the Ohio State Reformatory is located in Mansfield, Ohio and is home to some of the most exhilarating ghost hunts in the United States. The Ohio State Reformatory was a fully operational penitentiary and after closing its doors to future inmates remains home to countless stories of death and horror. For the brave of heart, the reformatory offers the chance to spend the evening walking the same halls as its former prisoners. Maybe you’ll even see one.
Schedule a trip! http://www.mrps.org/ghost-hunts
4. Tinker's Hollow
Just south of Conneaut, Ohio near Monroe Township sits the ghost town of Benton and the old, run down bridge. Legend says when the people of Benton formed the town, the wealthy and prominent Tinker family lived on the settlement on top of the hill. Silas Tinker kept to himself on the property for most of his life and little is known about what he did or why until he died tragically in a freak accident during which his horse became spooked and flung him off the bridge into the creek below. The bridge, now closed to thru traffic, remains popular to local thrill seekers and ghost hunters. Visitors have claimed to have been chased from the farmhouse, thrown into the bushes by an unknown entity, and watched from the corner of the bridge by something they cannot explain. The story goes, if one brave enough to spend the night on the cold bridge stares into the eyes of Old Man Tinker himself, they will be shown the true location of his lost gold.
5. Molly Stark
Little is known about the exact history of the abandoned hospital. Molly Stark, former sanatorium turned mental institution, rests in Louisville, Ohio. Travelers and passersby can feel the eerie, cool change in the air as they approach the majestic entrance of the once proud building. Underground tunnels stretch the length of the property, and visitors often spend time guessing as to where they might be hidden and for what they may have been used. Admire the grand architecture during the day and spend some time in the park, or dare to visit the boarded up structure at night when the wind grows calm and the area becomes quiet—dead quiet.
There's no denying its that time of year again. The leaves are changing--fall is here. So get your flashlight ready and throw on a jacket. An abundance of places to explore are right here in Ohio. Whether you believe in the supernatural or not, there's always room in life for a little adventure.
