Ohio Folklore

Most of us come to Hocking Hills, Ohio’s most treasured park, for its rugged beauty. With scenes unlike anywhere else in the state, newcomers are often stunned by towering rock formations and plunging waterfalls. It’s no wonder this place draws so many year after year. One lesser known landmark off the beaten path has intrigued and terrified locals for more than a century. Death Hole, a deceivingly peaceful spot on Scott’s Creek in Logan, has laid claim to unsuspecting ...

Just in time for the holiday season... An Ohio Folklore Christmas ClassicAround the holidays, most Ohioans are wrapping presents, baking cookies and decorating the tree. One ancient holiday tradition often gets left out, however. It’s the ritual of sharing ghost stories around the winter solstice. It’s that darkest time of year when the veil between the dead and the living is at its thinnest. Come hear the forgotten story of a Shawnee Chief, whose ghost appears on Christmas Eve, in the ...

Just in time for Halloween, a classic Ohio Folklore episode is rebroadcasted. Take another delve into this timeless ghostly love story that lingers on...Bridges represent so much to us. They make the impassable, passable. They connect us to the wider world. Yet in folklore terms, bridges are magnets for ghosts. Countless “crybaby bridges” dot the landscape of our great state. We share and reshare tales of disembodied voices and misty shapes rising over the ...

Come listen again to one of Ohio Folklore's most popular episodes!One monument to an era gone by once laid hidden in the overgrown hills of Ohio’s Vinton County. Thanks to the efforts of countless local enthusiasts and state ODNR officials, this antiquated railway tunnel is now easily reached. In fact, it’s handicap accessible.All who dare can now visit the Moonville Tunnel. However, it’s not just the living who answer its beckoning call. Claims of ghostly apparitions ...

Planning that annual trip to the Lake Erie shore this summer? Better take another listen before you go...Most of us think of Port Clinton as a summer tourist destination. Indeed, it is. And yet, it's so much more.Few know of the haunted structure that sits on the corner of Madison and Perry Streets. The Island House Hotel is a rumored home for lost spirits, including a famous mobster, sheriff and orphaned immigrant turned proprietor. They make their presence know...

In honor of the upcoming summer solstice on June 21, 2022, come hear one of Ohio Folklore's most downloaded episodes. Then click this link to plan your visit to this year's Summer Solstice Celebration: https://www.serpentmound.org/fullschedule/ When we think of history in Ohio, most of us consider the past two to three hundred years. Few know that one location in Ohio's southern hills holds prehistoric secrets that have yet to be explained. The Serpent Mound...

When most of us think of the Civil War, we picture grand Southern plantations and epic battles with names like Gettysburg and Antietam. Even many Ohioans fought in the conflict, no actual battles happened within our borders, right? The ghosts of the Battle of Buffington Island may beg to differ on this question. Come hear the historic saga of one rogue Confederate general who led a raid through southern Indiana and Ohio. His reign of terror was the stuff of legend. ...

For this month's rebroadcast, we turn to an oldie but a goodie. First released in April 2019, this tale stands as the most compelling UFO lore to ever come out of the Buckeye State. If you haven't heard it yet, what are you waiting for?Early before dawn one April morning in 1966, in rural county outside Akron, two police officers got the call of a lifetime. The chase that would follow was covered in newspaper headlines across the country. Come hear the unforgettable ta...

In honor of Women's History Month, take another listen to the episode devoted to one of Ohio's most revered daughters, Annie Oakley.When we Ohioans think of Annie Oakley, we think of a petite woman in fringed leather, staring down the barrel of a long gun, at a target soon to be decimated. Her fame lives on a century after her death. She’s the subject of musicals, movies and countless books.We’re well aware of her sharpshooting skills, the likes of which haven’t been seen since.&n...

For our second rebroadcasted episode, come listen to Ohio Folklore's most downloaded tale, the legendary Ohio State Reformatory.Most Ohioans know well the venerable institution called Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield. It served as the backdrop for the 1994 seminal film, The Shawshank Redemption. Had the movie been shot elsewhere, the state would have demolished this historic structure. How fitting that this movie's message is one of redemption and hope against all od...

In honor of Black History month, come hear one of Ohio Folklore most downloaded episodes, Ripley, Terminus of the Underground Railroad. Most of us have heard tell of the Underground Railroad, the secretive movement that spirited enslaved peoples northward, toward freedom. Yet few Ohioans know of the integral role of one tiny town on the bank of the Ohio River.Meet Ripley, Ohio. History has dubbed this quaint village a "terminus of the Underground Railroad."Come hear intrigui...

OSU’s main campus in Columbus is known for many things. It’s the home of world class sports teams. It’s the home of a public institution compared to ivy league universities for its excellence in higher education. Few know that it’s also said to be home to a host of spirits who’ve lingered long after their earthly demise. Come hear the tale of the most spotted ghost on campus, The Pink Lady of Mirror Lake. She’s been seen gliding over the landmark’s surface for many...

Werewolves are the stuff of nightmares and of 1960’s horror films. Werewolves aren’t the subject of documented Ohio sightings, chronicled in newspaper articles, right? Few Ohioans have heard the account of the half wolf/half human creature that once terrorized the small city of Defiance, Ohio in 1972. The tale itself, had almost faded into obscurity. Until now. Come hear the insights of one cryptid researcher, Lyle Blackburn, who has devoted his life to chron...

Ohio has no shortage of lore attached to prisons. Our most famous haunted correctional facility, the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, tends to hog the spotlight when it comes to legendary Ohio prisons. However, one institution in the southeastern corner, is often overlooked. The Boys Industrial School, known today as the Southeastern Correctional Institution in Lancaster, harbors a unique past. Its revolutionary influence on our juvenile justice system remain...

Insane asylums evoke images of straight jackets and padded cells. There, deranged and forgotten souls were doomed to a life of isolation and anguish. It’s no wonder that these structures are steeped in tales of ghostly sightings. Perhaps some tortured spirits were never discharged. Many of us claim to have encountered them. The Athens Lunatic Asylum, known today as The Ridges, is a case in point. Come hear the tales of two locals with unique insights and unus...

Museums are known for holding all sorts of important objects. Some museums, however, hold something not usually visible… something of the spiritual realm. These places are fertile grounds for folklore to take root. Such is the case with the United State Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. Come hear the personal experiences of famed author of Ohio ghost tales, Ms. Chris Woodyard. Her renowned 5-part series, Haunted Ohio, introduced many Ohioans to folktales which spri...

Come hear an Ohio folktale that springs forth from true crime history. The spirits of those murdered, and the murderess herself, is said to linger in this unassuming, modest farmhouse. It still stands in a state park. You can walk up to the stoop for yourself and peek in the windows. Perhaps the souls of those lost there yearn to have their story heard. In 1896, Ceely Rose was a developmentally disabled young woman. While her mind was underdeveloped, her he...

Bridges represent so much to us. They make the impassable, passable. They connect us to the wider world. Yet in folklore terms, bridges are magnets for ghosts. Countless “crybaby bridges” dot the landscape of our great state. We share and reshare tales of disembodied voices and misty shapes rising over the water. So you might think this episode is just another trite tale of a haunted bridge. Thank again. Come hear the tale of the Blo...

Many Ohio folktales spring forth from darkened woods. The claim is that wild territories harbor menacing creatures lying in wait. Kirtland’s legend of the Melonheads is no exception. Rumors abound of small, childlike humanoids with bulbous heads and jagged teeth. Unsuspecting motorists, left disabled on the side of country roads, are said to fall victim to their predatory attacks. It seems some cryptids aren’t shy at all. But that’s not all that’s strange abo...

Among Ohio’s many tourist destinations, the Piatt Castles situated in Logan County are truly treasured. Their native limestone blocks and intricately painted ceilings transport visitors to another time. Some come for the history, some come for the aesthetics. Few expect to have the kind of deep experience that leaves a person altered. Come hear the tale from the museum’s director, Ms. Margaret Piatt. A descendant of the original owner, she offers an inside view of...

Cincinnati’s Music Hall, a venerable art institution known for wowing audiences with beauty and talent, is also a known for its other-worldly reputation. Patrons and staff alike have sighted ghosts for more than 150 years. All this has cemented the building’s role in Ohio’s folkloric history. Come hear the tale of one veteran paranormal investigator, Mr. Dan Schneider, who captured his most dramatic unexplained experience there in the fabled freight elevator. Come hear t...

The crown jewel of professional golf in Ohio is the Memorial Tournament, held every spring at Dublin’s Muirfield Village Golf Club. This renown course, designed by Jack Nicklaus himself, has long been rumored “cursed.” More often than not, it seems, this storied contest suffers inclement weather, the kind of which leads to delays and shortened holes. Is there any truth to this lore? The allegation is that the spirit of long dead Chief Leatherlips of the Wyandotte Natio...

Feeling weary of our never-ending pandemic lives? The fatigue was well known to our ancestors, who suffered infectious diseases with even less knowledge and fewer treatments than we have available today.The tiny town of Gilboa, Ohio in Putnam County holds key information as to how just one small community confronted the unseen microbe causing Cholera, an intestinal illness leading to dehydration and death. Come hear the tales of one ordinary 19th century cemetery said to contain a...

Pretty Boy Floyd. It’s a name you’ve no doubt heard. Perhaps you know him as the depression-era outlaw, whose reputation for bank heists is as legendary now as it ever was. We count him among historic bandits who’ve inspired a rare kind of admiration. Did you know, however, that this notorious criminal met his demise in Columbiana County? The controversial details surrounding his death remain unresolved today. Perhaps that’s why his troubled spirit is known ...

The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is a maritime tragedy known to many. The sinking of this mighty Great Lakes freighter in November, 1975, remains fresh in our memories. The reason, however, is more personal than some Ohioans know. For many of our friends and neighbors, this disaster wasn’t just about a legendary ship lost at sea. This calamity meant the loss of fellow Ohioans -- fathers, brothers, friends and husbands. Half of the Fitz’s crew called Ohio ...

One monument to an era gone by once laid hidden in the overgrown hills of Ohio’s Vinton County. Thanks to the efforts of countless local enthusiasts and state ODNR officials, this antiquated railway tunnel is now easily reached. In fact, it’s handicap accessible. All who dare can now visit the Moonville Tunnel. However, it’s not just the living who answer its beckoning call. Claims of ghostly apparitions at this desolate location began in the late 1800’s, a...

Most of us think of Port Clinton as a summer tourist destination. Indeed, it is. And yet, it's so much more.Few know of the haunted structure that sits on the corner of Madison and Perry Streets. The Island House Hotel is a rumored home for lost spirits, including a famous mobster, sheriff and orphaned immigrant turned proprietor. They make their presence known to staff and guests alike. Come hear the tale of a ghost hunter and founding member of Haunted To...

Many Ohioans have claimed to spot something unexplainable in the skies above us. Tales of mysterious flying objects seem as numerous as the stars themselves. It's easy to brush off such claims from individuals. However, when dozens of citizens and police officers report the seeing the same strange object, it's time to reconsider...Come hear the true tale of one unusually warm evening in December, 1994. Many residents of Trumbell County would never forget the life-chang...

All the wonders that come from our own Glass City (from Mud Hens baseball to Tony Packo's famous hot dogs) were once destined to spring forth from Michigan (gasp!) soil. That's correct, by all rights legal and geographical, the city of Toledo and lands due west were once deemed within the borders of the fledging territory of Michigan.Then came along Benjamin Franklin Stickney, a savvy politician and land speculator. After working to keep the peace in the wilds of northeast Indiana...

Most Ohioans know well the venerable institution called Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield. It served as the backdrop for the 1994 seminal film, The Shawshank Redemption. Had the movie been shot elsewhere, the state would have demolished this historic structure. How fitting that this movie's message is one of redemption and hope against all odds. It resonates deep within us.Tourists from all over the world come to visit this remarkable place. Some come for the h...

The legend of the Mothman stands unique among Ohio’s folktales. It’s a shared piece of lore with neighboring West Virginia. The story has drawn thousands, literally. Every year, hordes of tourists descend on this rural spot along the Ohio River. They pay homage to the winged beast, known to all as a harbinger of doom. Most of us think we know the story. Perhaps we’ve read the book, or seen the movie. Turns out, we don’t know the half of it. Come h...

When we Ohioans think of Annie Oakley, we think of a petite woman in fringed leather, staring down the barrel of a long gun, at a target soon to be decimated. As one of Ohio’s most celebrated daughters, Annie Oakley’s fame lives on a century after her death. She’s the subject of musicals, movies and countless books. We’re well aware of her sharpshooting skills, the likes of which haven’t been seen since. However, few of us have any idea of the remarkable history that le...

Many Columbus residents and visitors enjoy a day trip to North Market, the sprawling food hall that's every foodie's dream. This downtown landmark has existed since 1876. Few realize the hidden lore beneath this storied location. Below cement and asphalt lie the remains of the city's founding citizens. The Old North Graveyard, the city's original public burial ground, remains hidden under the bustle of the living.Come hear the tale of one ghostly apparition known to st...

Most of us have heard tell of the Underground Railroad, the secretive movement that spirited enslaved peoples northward, toward freedom. Yet few Ohioans know of the integral role of one tiny town on the bank of the Ohio River.Meet Ripley, Ohio. History has dubbed this quaint village a "terminus of the Underground Railroad."Come hear intriguing stories of a secret society of abolitionists who aided those seeking freedom. And most compelling of them all, hear the daring tales ...

Some folktales are well worn in, like an old pair of sneakers. We've heard the stories so many times, they become part of our cultural history.But sometimes you're just lucky enough to get in on the ground floor. Come hear one legendary story in the making.South Main School was established in 1890 in Bowling Green. In recent decades, locals have whispered of strange goings on within the dormant elementary school's walls. Claims of disembodied giggles, fleeting shadows ...

When we think of history in Ohio, most of us consider the past two to three hundred years. Few know that one location in Ohio's southern hills holds prehistoric secrets that have yet to be explained. The Serpent Mound of Adams County.Come hear the tale of the world's largest effigy mound, here in our backyard. One local Ohioan and resident expert, Ms. Beth Jenkins, shares her personal connection to the place, as well as the knowledge she's gained in her role as the History P...

Few historical accounts of Ohio UFO sightings are more compelling than what has become known as the Coyne Incident. It was a cloudless October night in 1973 when an Army Reserve helicopter in the skies about Mansfield nearly collided with an unknown craft. The four military men aboard would soon tell the world what they encountered. It was an account later recognized during an assembly of the United Nations. It seems that for a time, the whole world wanted to know just...

Come hear the latest episode of Ohio Folklore!Few Ohioans know the tale of the Ashtabula Train Disaster. When it happened on December 29, 1876, it was the worst train accident in US history. Today, a monument in Chestnut Grove Cemetery stands testimony to the horrors of that night, which have burned in Ashtabula’s history for more than a century. But the cemetery holds more than memories. It holds more than the remains of those lost to the tragedy. Many cla...

For more than a century, residents and visitors to Ohio’s Ottawa County have witnessed unexplained balls of light rushing toward them while parked on rickety old bridges. Many know the phenomenon as the legend of Elmore Ghost Rider… the glowing spirit of a local man who lost his head in a motorcycle accident.Few understand the larger context behind this legendary story. Come hear the truth. Come hear the history of supernatural claims which pre-date the alleged ghost rider ta...

Few Ohioans know the tale of Rogues Hollow, a small tract of wilderness in coal territory. It became known for its lawlessness and unbridled violence during the 19th century. Its history provokes scenes reminiscent of the Wild West. All this, here in our own backyard.Come hear the story of one Ohio Folklore listener who claims to have encountered a full-bodied apparition there, at Chidester Mill. This replica of an original 1828 structure remains today, and is open to the public during th...

Utopia exists. Not just as a concept, or some philosophical idea. No, Utopia is a tiny speck of a town off the northern bank of the Ohio River.Come learn the intriguing story of how this little village has drawn philosophers, dreamers, religious devotees and venture economists. But was Utopia ever truly utopic? You betcha. For a while anyway…If you enjoy this episode, please rate, review and subscribe to Ohio Folklore on your chosen podcast platform. You can also find Ohio Folklore at:o...

Long before the Civil War, in the quiet darkness of moonless nights, lonesome fiddle music could be heard wafting over the surface of the Ohio River. The source of the melody was unknown to some. But to others, it brought the promise of freedom and the protection of one pledged to shelter them.Still today, many claim to hear this music. Unsuspecting hikers and passersby also report seeing a shining green light, resembling a handheld lantern. Both emanate from a historic cemetery situated ...

Come hear the latest episode of Ohio Folklore! Around the holidays, most Ohioans are wrapping presents, baking cookies and decorating the tree. One ancient holiday tradition often gets left out, however. It’s the ritual of sharing ghost stories around the winter solstice. It’s that darkest time of year when the veil between the dead and the living is at its thinnest.Come hear the forgotten story of a Shawnee Chief, whose ghost appears on Christmas Eve, in the woods where he was murdered b...

Egypt Valley is a state park unlike any other in Ohio. Many who’ve visited for the first time compare its beauty to the wilds of Yellowstone. The attraction this place has for so many is clear. But what’s often unexpected, is an eerie tension that hangs in the air. Some claim to have seen spirits who’ve lingered there for more than a century. One legendary story of the 1869 murder of a 13 year-old Louiza Fox, turns out to be true. She’s buried there, and her tombstone proclaims of her m...

The legend of Gore Orphanage is a story many Ohioans already know. None have heard it told quite like this.Come hear the truth. Come learn the origins of this mystic place in rural Lorain County. Come discover the allure this location has for more than a century.Come find what it means to connect with forces larger than yourself.If you enjoy this episode, please rate, review and subscribe to Ohio Folklore on your chosen podcast platform. You can also find Ohio Folklore at:ohiofolklore.com...

Not many Ohioans have heard of the Ohio Penitentiary, a storied prison once located in downtown Columbus. Through is nearly 150 years in operation, its riots, infectious epidemics and a catastrophic fire took the lives of countless prisoners. That might account for the ghostly screams often heard throughout the neighborhood, which is now called the Arena District.Come hear tales from local tour guides who are so familiar with the folklore, they’ve given ghost tours of the area. Come hear t...

Climb aboard the USS Sachem, a once glorious yacht built in 1902, now decaying off the southern bank of the Ohio River. When a group of kayakers discovered her in 2009, they had no idea of the tales she held. Only when she was properly identified did we come to understand the role she played in some of our nation’s most epic eras.Come hear the story of one Henry Dorfman, a kayaker who first encountered her after wandering down an ordinary tributary. Come hear the astonishing century’s wort...

Ron Tammen, a Miami University sophomore, vanished from his dorm room one cold April night in 1953. Although he'd never be seen or heard from again, his ghost would take residence and be spotted by countless students. The secrets surrounding Ron's disappearance remain. Come hear the facts of what can be known, and the most likely explanation for what may have happened to him.If you enjoy this episode, please rate, review and subscribe to Ohio Folklore on your chosen podcast platform. You ...

The ghostly reputation of a turreted residence on Cleveland's west side has haunted Ohioans for more than a century. The stories that surround Franklin Castle are a mix of fact and fiction. Did a murderous father kill his children within its walls? Were a group bootleggers gunned down there?Come hear the tales of disembodied voices and full-bodied apparitions that have appeared to those who dare to enter.If you enjoy this episode, please rate review and subscribe to Ohio Folklore on your c...

The legend of the Faceless Hitchhiker in Clermont County is more than popular, it's renowned. Ohio Folklore's first episode on the subject garnered so much interest that a follow-up was required. If you haven't already listened to that episode, do so now before proceeding.In this episode, we hear the riveting first hand account of Mr. Tracy Callahan, former Ohio State Patrol officer. His encounters with the spectral figure were unexpected, unbidden and still unexplained. Come hear for yo...

Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio is known for many things including cutting edge technology, aviation history...and...decades old rumors that the facility houses and maintains alien bodies and their spacecraft. Sound too fantastic to be true? Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. Come hear the legends, the history, the folklore. Come decide for yourself.If you enjoy this episode, please rate, review and subscribe to Ohio Folklore on your chosen podcast platform. You can find Ohio F...

Think Bigfoot only roams the wilds of the Pacific Northwest? Think again. Ohio has more than its fair share of sightings of the hairy hominid. Come hear compelling tales of encounters with Sasquatch from all over the Buckeye state. Listen as Marc DeWerth, Ohio Bigfoot veteran and public speaker, shares some of the most intriguing stories he's gathered in his 30 years researching the legend. If you enjoy this episode, please rate, review and subscribe to Ohio Folklore on your chosen podca...

For decades, unsuspecting motorists have encountered a ghostly figure looking for a ride at the intersection of highways 222 and 125 in Clermont County. Sometimes he's thumbing from the side of the road, other times he's standing in the center of it. Sightings of the Faceless Hitchhiker have accumulated through the years. Come hear the most spine-tingling tales and the historical data that offers tantalizing insights on just what or who this is all about.If you enjoy this episode, please ...

Sometimes spirits seem to linger in the most public of places. Toledo's downtown Spaghetti Warehouse is one such location. The claims of paranormal activity there have lasted for decades. Come hear the eerie claims of hauntings in this fine Italian dining establishment. Then, discover Toledo's little known history with beer manufacturing, the mafia and 19th century contractors.If you enjoy this episode, please rate, review and subscribe on your podcast platform. You can also find Ohio Fo...

This episode is the second in a two-part series on the tragic and mysterious death of Stuart Pierson. If you haven't already, go back and listen to the first episode before proceeding. Things will make a lot more sense that way.Come hear explosive revelations, some of which haven't been reconsidered for over 100 years. Just what are the circumstances that led to young Stuart's death? Does his spirit still haunt the narrow bridge near Kenyon College? Come decide for yourself.If you enjoy ...

Kenyon College is Ohio's oldest and perhaps most hauntingly beautiful private liberal arts college. Its history is deep, and it's perplexing stories are many. In this first part of a two-part series, we delve into only one of Kenyon's many legends. Stuart Pierson was an eager but awkward teenager in 1905. He'd always had trouble making friends, and decided to pledge his father's fraternity in hopes of finding acceptance. There was no way he could have known that that choice would lead t...

Early before dawn one April morning in 1966, in rural county outside Akron, two police officers got the call of a lifetime. The other-worldly chase that would follow was documented on newspaper headlines across the country.Never heard of it before? Well you have now. Come hear the unforgettable tale of a craft that seemed just as interested in us Ohioans, as we were in it.If you enjoy this episode, please rate, review and subscribe on your podcast platform. You can find Ohio Folklore at f...

You may have enjoyed many summer days on the shores of Port Clinton, on the beach at Cedar Point, or in a bar in Put-in-Bay. You may think you know all there is to know about Ohio's Great Lake. You may want to think again...In this episode, we explore first hand accounts of those who've had encounters with Bessie...or Lemmy...or perhaps we should just call her the Lake Erie Monster. Apparently, she been around for centuries. Yet only few have met her.Come meet her for yourself.If you enjo...

Listen to Ghosts of McClure first!Then come back and hear this important update on Carrie Hollopeter. You won't want to miss it!Find Ohio Folklore on Facebook at facebook.com/ohiofolklore

When it comes to ghost stories, there’s nothing more cliché than a haunting in a cemetery. This episode focuses on two cemeteries outside the small town of McClure, Ohio. They're known as Olive Branch Cemetery (Carrie's Grave) and Crybaby Hill. These strange places hold truths that have been lost to time. Join us as we take a trip behind the ghost stories. You never know what you'll discover when you take a closer look...Find Ohio Folklore on Facebook at facebook.com/ohiofolklore

Our inaugural episode takes place amidst the corn fields in the flattened landscape of Northwest Ohio. Islands aren’t supposed to exist there. Islands are the stuff of pirates, and Robinson Crusoe, and remote tribal peoples. They’re exotic, or remote, or maybe even a little goofy (think more Gilligan than Tahiti). In any case, they’re not places that Midwesterners consider home. That’s why, when the term Girty’s Island kept popping up during my search for interesting Ohio folklore, I kne...