3 Ohio Hotels and Inns with Paranormal History
Fall and the Halloween season is the perfect time to stay at these storied properties known for reports of unusual happenings.
The Lafayette Hotel | Marietta
Named after France’s Marquis de Lafayette, who aided George Washington’s Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, this hotel began as the Bellevue Hotel before it was rebuilt and renamed in 1918 following a fire two years earlier. Paranormal activity is often associated with a 1937 addition to the hotel constructed by former owner Reno Hoag and his son, S. Durward Hoag. Most of it occurs on the third floor, where the family lived. The downstairs lobby houses a large mirror that was moved from the third floor, and guests have reported seeing strange images or people in the glass after taking pictures with it. 101 Front St., Marietta 45750, 800/331-9336, lafayettehotel.com
Buxton Inn | Granville Built by Orrin Granger in 1812, this 25-room property is the state’s oldest continuously operating inn. Major Buxton and his wife acquired and renamed the place in 1865, and the Buxton Inn has a rich history that includes a visit by President William Henry Harrison. It is also known for ghostly happenings, most notably sightings of the spirits of former owners. (Granger is among those said to have been seen here over the years.) Reports from guests indicate that most paranormal activity occurs in Rooms 7 and 9, including sightings of figures dressed in blue, a ghostly cat and doors opening and closing with no other valid explanation. 313 E. Broadway, Granville 43023, 740/587-0001, buxtoninn.com
Golden Lamb | Lebanon
The Golden Lamb has the distinction of being Ohio’s oldest continually operating business, opening as a log-cabin tavern in 1803. Originally owned by Jonas Seaman, the property operates as a restaurant with guestrooms. The Golden Lamb has hosted many notable people over the years, including 12 U.S. presidents, but ghost stories are also part of its history. Often featured in ghostly guidebooks relating to Ohio, the historic building is said to house the spirit of Sarah Stubbs, who grew up in the Golden Lamb. Display rooms on the fourth floor share the Golden Lamb’s history with one dedicated to Stubbs and named in her honor. 27 S. Broadway, Lebanon 45036, 513/932-5065, goldenlamb.com
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