There are several abandoned places in Ohio that today are mere moss covered skeletons of the once impressive man-made structures they once were. Throughout the state, many of what were once thriving tourist destinations and bustling production sites are now overgrown with ivy and rusting away. You have to look close to find them — and once you do, you can’t always get too close. Believe it or not, the following nine places lie hidden throughout the state:
- Geauga Lake Amusement Park
Nicholas Eckhart/Flickr Gone are the days of coasters and water slides at this former amusement park in Aurora. Its remaining rides and attractions were removed from the site and sold circa 2008, although news finally came in 2020 that this site would be redeveloped as housing. Can you imagine making memories where so many families made memories over the years?! This former site and the blue waters of Geauga Lake are located in Aurora, OH 44202. Aurora, OH 44202, USA
- SeaWorld
Bill Baker/Flickr This neighboring park to Geauga Lake in Aurora is also no more. Six Flags purchased this 1970s landmark from SeaWorld just after the turn of the century, but it most recently operated as Wildwater Kingdom under the Cedar Fair company. While nature spent years reclaiming this site, it was also snagged for development in 2020.
- Helltown
Andrew Borgen/Flickr The Summit County community of Boston Township is nicknamed “Helltown” due to a series of mysterious circumstances. Hauntings, abandoned houses (left behind when the government seized local land to create the national park), and even chemical spills and mutant creatures are said to be identifiers of this community.Watch for abandoned sites in the woods as you drive through Boston Township, OH 44141. Boston, OH 44264, USA
- Chippewa Lake Amusement Park
Dana Beveridge/Flickr This abandoned amusement park in Medina County is a remnant of summer days of yore. Many memories were made here, and for years they were left crumbling with the remains of roller coasters and other attractions. In 2020, it was announced that this long-beloved piece of land will be reborn as a community park. It will take a few years before it opens to the public, but you will soon be able to visit it near Chippewa Lake, OH 44215. Chippewa Lake, OH 44215, USA
- Moonville
Panama/Flickr The ghost town of Moonville in Vinton County hasn’t had residents since the 40s. Today, a chunk of it still stands, including the purportedly haunted Moonville Tunnel. You can find it at Hope-Moonville Rd, McArthur, OH 45651. Moonville Tunnel, Hope-Moonville Rd, McArthur, OH 45651, USA
- Roseville Prison
Justin Masterson/Flickr What’s creepier than an abandoned prison? Trick question. Nothing. This spooky site sat largely abandoned following its closure in 1966, and it is now private property today. However, you can get a bit of an idea of its layout from this video by Clevelandmarko on YouTube:
You can spot this destination off of OH-93, Roseville, OH, 43777. Ohio 93, OH-93, Roseville, OH, USA
- Champion Electric
Andrew Borgen/Flickr This abandoned company can be found near the ruins of the old gristmill at the top of Brandywine Falls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Find it near 8176 Brandywine Rd, Sagamore Hills Township, OH 44067. 8176 Brandywine Rd, Northfield, OH 44067, USA8176 Brandywine Rd, Sagamore Hills Township, OH 44067.
- Mother Goose Land
Benjamin Lehman/Flickr This long-abandoned site is now known as City Field Park in Canton. A few remaining pieces of this former children’s park are still on-site, including Willy The Whale from old Mother Goose Land. Find City Field Park in Canton, OH 44702. City Field Park, Canton, OH 44702, USA
- Canal Locks
Bob Jenkins/Flickr All throughout Ohio, you can find locks of the former Ohio Canal. Though the canal is no longer in use, its old Towpath Trail is now a long stretch of hiking path that runs throughout a chunk of the state. You can easily connect with this history in the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation at 4524 E 49th St, Cleveland, OH 44125. Ohio and Erie Canal Lock 11, 5871-5899 Pickerington Rd NW, Carroll, OH 43112, USA
These beautiful abandoned places in Ohio have been, largely, reclaimed by both nature and man. Some enjoy a totally new life as something new, or they soon will. Do you remember any of the old amusement parks in this list? Tell us in the comments!
Nicholas Eckhart/Flickr
Gone are the days of coasters and water slides at this former amusement park in Aurora. Its remaining rides and attractions were removed from the site and sold circa 2008, although news finally came in 2020 that this site would be redeveloped as housing. Can you imagine making memories where so many families made memories over the years?! This former site and the blue waters of Geauga Lake are located in Aurora, OH 44202.
Aurora, OH 44202, USA
Bill Baker/Flickr
This neighboring park to Geauga Lake in Aurora is also no more. Six Flags purchased this 1970s landmark from SeaWorld just after the turn of the century, but it most recently operated as Wildwater Kingdom under the Cedar Fair company. While nature spent years reclaiming this site, it was also snagged for development in 2020.
Andrew Borgen/Flickr
The Summit County community of Boston Township is nicknamed “Helltown” due to a series of mysterious circumstances. Hauntings, abandoned houses (left behind when the government seized local land to create the national park), and even chemical spills and mutant creatures are said to be identifiers of this community.Watch for abandoned sites in the woods as you drive through Boston Township, OH 44141.
Boston, OH 44264, USA
Dana Beveridge/Flickr
This abandoned amusement park in Medina County is a remnant of summer days of yore. Many memories were made here, and for years they were left crumbling with the remains of roller coasters and other attractions. In 2020, it was announced that this long-beloved piece of land will be reborn as a community park. It will take a few years before it opens to the public, but you will soon be able to visit it near Chippewa Lake, OH 44215.
Chippewa Lake, OH 44215, USA
Panama/Flickr
The ghost town of Moonville in Vinton County hasn’t had residents since the 40s. Today, a chunk of it still stands, including the purportedly haunted Moonville Tunnel. You can find it at Hope-Moonville Rd, McArthur, OH 45651.
Moonville Tunnel, Hope-Moonville Rd, McArthur, OH 45651, USA
Justin Masterson/Flickr
What’s creepier than an abandoned prison? Trick question. Nothing. This spooky site sat largely abandoned following its closure in 1966, and it is now private property today. However, you can get a bit of an idea of its layout from this video by Clevelandmarko on YouTube:
You can spot this destination off of OH-93, Roseville, OH, 43777.
Ohio 93, OH-93, Roseville, OH, USA
Andrew Borgen/Flickr
This abandoned company can be found near the ruins of the old gristmill at the top of Brandywine Falls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Find it near 8176 Brandywine Rd, Sagamore Hills Township, OH 44067.
8176 Brandywine Rd, Northfield, OH 44067, USA8176 Brandywine Rd, Sagamore Hills Township, OH 44067.
Benjamin Lehman/Flickr
This long-abandoned site is now known as City Field Park in Canton. A few remaining pieces of this former children’s park are still on-site, including Willy The Whale from old Mother Goose Land. Find City Field Park in Canton, OH 44702.
City Field Park, Canton, OH 44702, USA
Bob Jenkins/Flickr
All throughout Ohio, you can find locks of the former Ohio Canal. Though the canal is no longer in use, its old Towpath Trail is now a long stretch of hiking path that runs throughout a chunk of the state. You can easily connect with this history in the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation at 4524 E 49th St, Cleveland, OH 44125.
Ohio and Erie Canal Lock 11, 5871-5899 Pickerington Rd NW, Carroll, OH 43112, USA
Want to explore yet another abandoned place? Swing by Squire’s Castle near Cleveland, which is free to visit and is open to the public.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Abandoned Places In Ohio November 01, 2020 Nikki Rhoades Can I visit any abandoned places in Ohio? There are many abandoned places in Ohio, and several of those spots are open to the public through tours. One of the most famous is the Ohio State Reformatory, which is also said to be one of the most haunted places in the nation. What is the most haunted place in Ohio? If the Ohio State Reformatory isn’t the most haunted place in Ohio, then it has to be the Ceely Rose House. Here, a young and repressed woman killed her whole family… and, as a result, she lost everything she knew. Are there any urban legends in Ohio? Ohio, like many states, has its variations of the crybaby bridge stories. Helltown is another common piece of local lore, but we also have witch’s graves, mysterious creatures, and unsolved murders looming over area gossip.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Abandoned Places In Ohio
November 01, 2020
Nikki Rhoades
Can I visit any abandoned places in Ohio? There are many abandoned places in Ohio, and several of those spots are open to the public through tours. One of the most famous is the Ohio State Reformatory, which is also said to be one of the most haunted places in the nation. What is the most haunted place in Ohio? If the Ohio State Reformatory isn’t the most haunted place in Ohio, then it has to be the Ceely Rose House. Here, a young and repressed woman killed her whole family… and, as a result, she lost everything she knew. Are there any urban legends in Ohio? Ohio, like many states, has its variations of the crybaby bridge stories. Helltown is another common piece of local lore, but we also have witch’s graves, mysterious creatures, and unsolved murders looming over area gossip.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
There are many abandoned places in Ohio, and several of those spots are open to the public through tours. One of the most famous is the Ohio State Reformatory, which is also said to be one of the most haunted places in the nation.
What is the most haunted place in Ohio?
If the Ohio State Reformatory isn’t the most haunted place in Ohio, then it has to be the Ceely Rose House. Here, a young and repressed woman killed her whole family… and, as a result, she lost everything she knew.
Are there any urban legends in Ohio?
Ohio, like many states, has its variations of the crybaby bridge stories. Helltown is another common piece of local lore, but we also have witch’s graves, mysterious creatures, and unsolved murders looming over area gossip.
