There are many abandoned places in Ohio, but none quite like Shawnee. Ohio’s very own ghost town, Shawnee is one that has endured a complicated history. Shawnee is most famous for its association with an abandoned mine, one that fell victim to an infamous fire. While not completely abandoned today, the town does offer a sense of a living ghost town: abandoned buildings, boarded-up homes, and the feeling of being frozen in time. And yet, there’s also a tight-knight community still present in Shawnee. Here’s a glimpse inside Shawnee, Ohio:
Tucked away in Perry County, Shawnee is one of the most fascinating small-town destinations in Ohio.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / flickr
The area was established in 1872 as a mining community just after the founding of New Straitsville. At their peak, the two towns had a combined population of nearly 8,000.
David Kent / flickr
Tensions arose between the mining company and the workers over low-paying wages and, after peaceful protests failed to amount to change, some of the workers set fire to the mine. This resulted in the Great Mine Fire of New Straitsville.
David Kent / flickr
When the fire was discovered, it was too deep to control. This effectively closed the mine and workers were forced to find a job elsewhere.
Mark Spearman / flickr
It wasn’t long before New Straitsville was known for having the “World’s Largest Mine Fire,” a title that drew in tourists from all over. What’s perhaps most disturbing is that the fire is still burning today, over 128 years after it was first ignited.
theVHSvlog / YouTube
In the video below, YouTube user theVHSvlog offers a fascinating overview of Shawnee’s history while also providing in-depth footage of the town:
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / flickr
David Kent / flickr
Mark Spearman / flickr
theVHSvlog / YouTube
What are your thoughts on the fascinating and eerie history of this former Ohio mining community? Be sure to share with us in the comments below — we’d love to hear from you!
Looking for more abandoned places to explore in Ohio? This road trip to the creepiest abandoned places in Ohio might have you running for the hills… in a good way!
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Address: Shawnee, OH, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Abandoned places in Ohio December 16, 2022 Sarah M. What are some other abandoned places in Ohio? If you’re curious about abandoned places in Ohio, we put together a road trip that visits some of the state’s most compelling and spine-tingling sites.
Chippewa Lake Amusement Park. Tucked away in Medina County there’s a rusted, long forgotten ferris wheel. What what was once Chippewa Lake Park is now just a few piles of amusement park ruins and the lone ferris wheel. From 1878 to 1978, the amusement park was a popular, thriving destination for family entrainment. Today, the nearby Medina County Historical Society houses the former amusement park’s welcome sign, and although the Big Dipper is no longer standing, various remnants of the park’s rides still remain.
Moonville. Another Ohio ghost town, Moonville is a double dose of creepy fun. The abandoned coal mining town of Moonville in southeastern Ohio (Vinton County) was founded in 1856, when the Marietta and Cincinnati railroad ran through the area’s woods. One structure of the town that remains today is the Moonville Tunnel; a haunted tunnel where legend has it the ghost of a man who was killed instantly by a train passing through the tunnel wanders along the track bed near the old tunnel at night.
Mansfield Reformatory. Easily the most iconic abandoned place in Ohio, the Mansfield Reformatory opened in 1886 and is nearly 130 years old. The reformatory is considered one of the eeriest abandoned places in Ohio — and America. It’s known to house some of the country’s most violent ghosts; spirits of rioting inmates who fought each other to the death in overcrowded cells. This prison closed in 1990, after nearly 100 years, during which time 154,000 inmates called it home. Life for inmates was anything but peaceful at this reformatory, where conditions were, at best, basic. A cell while the reformatory was operating would have contained a desk, a stool, two footlockers, and two bunk beds. As a result, tensions were high and violence was common. The average yearly population in 1934 was 3,500 men. This severe overcrowding led to declining conditions – and ultimately, numerous deaths. Violent, tortured deaths. Shiver.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Abandoned places in Ohio
December 16, 2022
Sarah M.
What are some other abandoned places in Ohio? If you’re curious about abandoned places in Ohio, we put together a road trip that visits some of the state’s most compelling and spine-tingling sites.
Chippewa Lake Amusement Park. Tucked away in Medina County there’s a rusted, long forgotten ferris wheel. What what was once Chippewa Lake Park is now just a few piles of amusement park ruins and the lone ferris wheel. From 1878 to 1978, the amusement park was a popular, thriving destination for family entrainment. Today, the nearby Medina County Historical Society houses the former amusement park’s welcome sign, and although the Big Dipper is no longer standing, various remnants of the park’s rides still remain.
Moonville. Another Ohio ghost town, Moonville is a double dose of creepy fun. The abandoned coal mining town of Moonville in southeastern Ohio (Vinton County) was founded in 1856, when the Marietta and Cincinnati railroad ran through the area’s woods. One structure of the town that remains today is the Moonville Tunnel; a haunted tunnel where legend has it the ghost of a man who was killed instantly by a train passing through the tunnel wanders along the track bed near the old tunnel at night.
Mansfield Reformatory. Easily the most iconic abandoned place in Ohio, the Mansfield Reformatory opened in 1886 and is nearly 130 years old. The reformatory is considered one of the eeriest abandoned places in Ohio — and America. It’s known to house some of the country’s most violent ghosts; spirits of rioting inmates who fought each other to the death in overcrowded cells. This prison closed in 1990, after nearly 100 years, during which time 154,000 inmates called it home. Life for inmates was anything but peaceful at this reformatory, where conditions were, at best, basic. A cell while the reformatory was operating would have contained a desk, a stool, two footlockers, and two bunk beds. As a result, tensions were high and violence was common. The average yearly population in 1934 was 3,500 men. This severe overcrowding led to declining conditions – and ultimately, numerous deaths. Violent, tortured deaths. Shiver.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
If you’re curious about abandoned places in Ohio, we put together a road trip that visits some of the state’s most compelling and spine-tingling sites.
- Chippewa Lake Amusement Park. Tucked away in Medina County there’s a rusted, long forgotten ferris wheel. What what was once Chippewa Lake Park is now just a few piles of amusement park ruins and the lone ferris wheel. From 1878 to 1978, the amusement park was a popular, thriving destination for family entrainment. Today, the nearby Medina County Historical Society houses the former amusement park’s welcome sign, and although the Big Dipper is no longer standing, various remnants of the park’s rides still remain.
- Moonville. Another Ohio ghost town, Moonville is a double dose of creepy fun. The abandoned coal mining town of Moonville in southeastern Ohio (Vinton County) was founded in 1856, when the Marietta and Cincinnati railroad ran through the area’s woods. One structure of the town that remains today is the Moonville Tunnel; a haunted tunnel where legend has it the ghost of a man who was killed instantly by a train passing through the tunnel wanders along the track bed near the old tunnel at night.
- Mansfield Reformatory. Easily the most iconic abandoned place in Ohio, the Mansfield Reformatory opened in 1886 and is nearly 130 years old. The reformatory is considered one of the eeriest abandoned places in Ohio — and America. It’s known to house some of the country’s most violent ghosts; spirits of rioting inmates who fought each other to the death in overcrowded cells. This prison closed in 1990, after nearly 100 years, during which time 154,000 inmates called it home. Life for inmates was anything but peaceful at this reformatory, where conditions were, at best, basic. A cell while the reformatory was operating would have contained a desk, a stool, two footlockers, and two bunk beds. As a result, tensions were high and violence was common. The average yearly population in 1934 was 3,500 men. This severe overcrowding led to declining conditions – and ultimately, numerous deaths. Violent, tortured deaths. Shiver.
