It's easy to see why Ohio and Michigan residents are eager to get into the Halloween spirit come fall. The many eerie cornfields, battlefields, and former asylums set a spooky tone in the area. Forbes even ranked Ohio and Michigan 3rd and 4th, respectively, on their 2020 list of most haunted states.
Today is National Ghost Hunting Day, so if you're on the hunt for a paranormal experience, grab your EVP recorder and thermal camera before heading to these haunted sites!
collingwood arts center
2413 collingwood blvd, toledo, oh
This historical site is the former convent for the Ursuline Order of the Sacred Heart and later became the Mary Manse College. Designed by Toledo architect Edward Oscar Fallis, the structure was completed in 1905. It is allegedly haunted by the ghosts of former nuns, victims of the Typhoid epidemic, and spirits that were conjured by occultists.
Since 1985, the Collingwood Arts Center has served as a hub for community creativity. The theater is used as a performance center for many local and national theater groups and musicians. They also rent out studio and gallery space in addition to partnering with local organizations to grow the artistic outreach within the area.
The Collingwood Arts Center hosts ghost tours, paranormal events, and haunted houses during the fall months. Make sure to check out their Facebook page for upcoming happenings.
Smithr1981 at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
wolcott house
1035 River road, maumee, oh
This iconic Maumee museum was originally built by prosperous businessman James Wolcott and his wife Mary Wells. Construction began in 1827 and the original log cabin eventually transformed into a 14-room-Federal-style mansion. Today, the Hull-Wolcott House is operated by the Maumee Valley Historical Society as part of the Wolcott House Museum Complex. The land houses several other historical structures and the goal of the museum is to educate the public on the history of the Maumee Valley.
The Wolcott House has hosted paranormal tours and investigations throughout the years and is said to have very active spirits. Past event coordinators, paranormal investigators, and guests have had strange occurrences, such as doors opening on their own, seeing mysterious orbs of light, and feeling as though someone was chasing them while inside. With so much history on one plot of land, the premises certainly have a haunting atmosphere.
Dale E. Martin, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
the oliver house
27 broadway street, toledo, oh
Designed by renowned architect Isaiah Rogers, the Oliver House was the original first class hotel in Toledo. It opened its doors in 1859 and boasted 171 of the finest luxury rooms that any guest had seen during that time. Unfortunately by 1894, many newer hotels had moved into the area and the location of the Oliver House had begun transforming into a manufacturing neighborhood. During the 1900s, the once regal Oliver House was gutted and turned into an industrial plant. After a few changes of hands, it has since been tastefully renovated and reemerged again as a place for social activity. It is now the home of several Toledo staples: Maumee Bay Brewing Company, Rockwell's Steakhouse, and Mutz Sports Bar.
The closing of the original hotel isn't the only misfortune that has occured within the Oliver House's walls; it also served as a medical center during the Spanish-American War. This history has led many to believe that the building is haunted and many guests have reported ghost sightings throughout the years. Allegedly, the most commonly seen spirit is that of "The Captain" who appears as a soldier in full uniform.
nazareth hall
21211 w river road, grand rapids, oh
Many know of Nazareth Hall's beauty as a popular local wedding venue. But long before its transformation into an event hall, the 1927-built structure housed an all-boys Catholic boarding school. The Ursuline Convent of the Sacred Heart purchased the 400 acres of land and began constructing the Romanesque Revival building with the grand opening taking place in 1928. From that time until 1982, it remained in use as a boarding school and had 4,300 students over the years. After the school was shut down, it was vacant for nearly a decade. In 1991, the Bettinger family purchased the property and turned it into the Nazareth Hall that we know and swoon over today.
Rumors of a cloaked figure on the very top floor have circulated and others claim to have spotted the ghosts of former nuns. If the tales of Nazareth Hall and the Collingwood Arts Center are to be believed, the Ursuline Sisters are very active in the afterlife!
mansfield reformatory
100 reformatory road, mansfield, oh
Perhaps one of the most infamous hauntings in the state, the Ohio State Reformatory (also known as the Mansfield Reformatory) is a highly recognizable prison as it served as the filming location for The Shawshank Redemption. The land that OSR was built on was previously a Civil War training camp and construction began on the reformatory in 1886. Architect F.F. Schnitzer designed it using Victorian Gothic, Richardsonian Romanesque, and Queen Anne styles in hopes it would inspire the inmates to be reborn back into their spiritual lives. The first inmates arrived in 1896 and Mansfield Reformatory remained in operation until 1990 when it was ordered to be closed by the United States Federal Court following a class action lawsuit by prisoners due to overcrowding and inhumane conditions.
The prison had more than 150,000 inmates over 94 years of operation. A graveyard on the property has 215 unnamed markers. Unsurprisingly, many violent acts occurred at OSR so there's plenty of reasons for unfulfilled spirits to roam the property. Several years after the institution closed, local activists purchased the property for $1 and began restoring it. Today, over 120,000 visitors per year attend the numerous tours, events, and haunted houses at Mansfield Reformatory.
Niagara66, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
olde jaol steakhouse & tavern
215 n walnut street, wooster, oh
Now a popular Wooster restaurant, the building was approved for construction in 1864 as the Wayne County Sheriff's Office and Jaol. The jail is the only place on record as hosting a public execution in Wayne County. John Callahan was sentenced to the gallows in 1880 for murder. Callahan is said to haunt the restaurant and visitors have experienced flickering lights, sounds of banging steel bars, and unexplained phone calls from the dining room phone to the tavern.
eloise asylum
30712 michigan avenue, westland, mi
Eloise Psychiatric Hospital was in operation from 1839 to 1982. It had several different divisions including a mental hospital, T.B. hospital, and an infirmary. The Wayne County General Hospital was also located on the grounds until 1984. Eloise was the largest psychiatric hospital in the country with 78 buildings across 902 acres. The complex was so large that it had its own police and fire department as well as a railroad and trolley system.
Only a few of the buildings remain today and they're believed to be haunted along with Eloise Cemetery. The Kay Beard building is currently home to a haunted house attraction and the asylum inspired the horror movie Eloise.
Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
river raisin national battlefield park
1403 east elm avenue, monroe, mi
The Massacre of the River Raisin was the bloodiest battle in Michigan history. Over 500 American soldiers were killed and human remains were found in the area as recent as 2000. Ghost Hunters of Southern Michigan reportedly caught ghosts on camera and recorded the voice of spirits. Visitors of River Raisin have reported seeing strange orbs at night as well as apparitions of soldiers. One paranormal investigator claims he had a vision of the battles that was placed in his mind by a deceased soldier. Other accounts claim they've seen a girl dressed in white searching for her lover that died in the war. The park is open to the public.