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The Big Book of Ohio Ghost Stories
More than 100 of the best, most spine-tingling accounts of ghosts from the Buckeye State, including . . . The ghost-infested Franklin CastleMoonville Tunnel's spectral brakemanThe state's urban legend capital Hell TownTortured souls of the inmates at Mansfield ReformatoryGhostly handprints at the Gore OrphanageThe infamous "Stain" at The Ridges
272 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2013
42 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
James A. Willis
20 books27 followersNot since the Headless Horseman went charging through Sleepy Hollow has something come out of the Hudson highlands of upstate New York as thrilling and chilling as author and paranormal researcher James A. Willis. Fueled by a steady diet of boo berry cereal, Creepy Magazine and late-night Vincent Price movies, Willis soon developed a taste for the unexplained and quickly began seeking out all things strange and spooky.
When he wasn’t trying to coax the boogeyman out from under his bed for a photo shoot, Willis pondered such eternal questions as what happens to us when we die is there life on other planets, and what possesses someone to decorate their house with 1,001 milk jugs?
In 1999, after spending more than 15 years chasing after ghosts and visiting crybaby bridges, Willis moved to Ohio and founded The Ghosts of Ohio (ghostsofohio.org), a nationally recognized paranormal research organization. Willis has grown the organization to well over 35 members in three divisions throughout the state: Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.
In 2004, in what seemed to be destiny, Mark Moran and Mark Sceurman, the brainchild’s of the Weird US series of books, approached Willis and asked him to contribute to their latest volume, Weird US. To date, Willis has been involved with 6 books in the Weird US series. He is the co-author of Weird Ohio (2005) and Weird Indiana (2008) and was also a contributing author to Weird US (2004), Weird Hauntings (2006), Weird US II: The ODDyssey Continues (2008), and Weird Encounters (2010). Willis’ unique and offbeat writing style was officially recognized in 2006 with his induction into the Grand Order of Weird Writers.
In addition, Willis has been a contributing author to several books in the Armchair Reader series, beginning with Weird, Scary & Unusual (2008) and continuing with several books released in 2010: Armchair Reader Goes Hollywood, Armchair Reader’s All about Ohio, and The Mammoth Armchair Reader. 2011 marked the release of Willis' latest collaboration with Armchair Reader, Haunted America. For 2012, Willis released Haunted Indiana, his first work with Stackpole Books. In the fall of 2012, Willis' The Big Book Of Ohio Ghost Stories was unleashed.
Look for Willis' next book, Ohio's Historic Haunts, to be released in late summer of 2015.
A sought-after public speaker, Willis has given presentations throughout the United States, during which he has educated and entertained tens of thousands of people of all ages in crowd sizes ranging from 10 to well over 600. He has also been featured in more than 50 media sources, including CNN, USA Today, Columbus Business First, Midwest Living, The Canadian Press, and even the Kuwait Times. He is also currently a contributing author to Mysteries Magazine.
Willis currently resides in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife and daughter, a Queen-loving parrot, and three narcoleptic cats.
When he wasn’t trying to coax the boogeyman out from under his bed for a photo shoot, Willis pondered such eternal questions as what happens to us when we die is there life on other planets, and what possesses someone to decorate their house with 1,001 milk jugs?
In 1999, after spending more than 15 years chasing after ghosts and visiting crybaby bridges, Willis moved to Ohio and founded The Ghosts of Ohio (ghostsofohio.org), a nationally recognized paranormal research organization. Willis has grown the organization to well over 35 members in three divisions throughout the state: Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.
In 2004, in what seemed to be destiny, Mark Moran and Mark Sceurman, the brainchild’s of the Weird US series of books, approached Willis and asked him to contribute to their latest volume, Weird US. To date, Willis has been involved with 6 books in the Weird US series. He is the co-author of Weird Ohio (2005) and Weird Indiana (2008) and was also a contributing author to Weird US (2004), Weird Hauntings (2006), Weird US II: The ODDyssey Continues (2008), and Weird Encounters (2010). Willis’ unique and offbeat writing style was officially recognized in 2006 with his induction into the Grand Order of Weird Writers.
In addition, Willis has been a contributing author to several books in the Armchair Reader series, beginning with Weird, Scary & Unusual (2008) and continuing with several books released in 2010: Armchair Reader Goes Hollywood, Armchair Reader’s All about Ohio, and The Mammoth Armchair Reader. 2011 marked the release of Willis' latest collaboration with Armchair Reader, Haunted America. For 2012, Willis released Haunted Indiana, his first work with Stackpole Books. In the fall of 2012, Willis' The Big Book Of Ohio Ghost Stories was unleashed.
Look for Willis' next book, Ohio's Historic Haunts, to be released in late summer of 2015.
A sought-after public speaker, Willis has given presentations throughout the United States, during which he has educated and entertained tens of thousands of people of all ages in crowd sizes ranging from 10 to well over 600. He has also been featured in more than 50 media sources, including CNN, USA Today, Columbus Business First, Midwest Living, The Canadian Press, and even the Kuwait Times. He is also currently a contributing author to Mysteries Magazine.
Willis currently resides in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife and daughter, a Queen-loving parrot, and three narcoleptic cats.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 26, 2021
"Ever feel like you're being watched? You know, that unexplainable feeling that someone -- or something -- is right behind you, watching your every move, but when you turn to look, no one is there..."
I've said it before and it still stands true, I LOVE a good collection of stories.. and this one is creepy good stuff! I live in Ohio, so that made this all the more enjoyable for me. The stories range from good old fashioned cheesy ghost stories, to the kind of tales that downright give you the heebie jeebies!
I've said it before and it still stands true, I LOVE a good collection of stories.. and this one is creepy good stuff! I live in Ohio, so that made this all the more enjoyable for me. The stories range from good old fashioned cheesy ghost stories, to the kind of tales that downright give you the heebie jeebies!
November 11, 2024
James Willis's "Big Book of Ohio Ghost Stories" offers an intriguing blend of Ohio's rich history interwoven with eerie ghost tales. For those curious about the state's past, this book provides a captivating route to explore its history. The clever incorporation of ghost stories alongside historical narratives was not only enlightening but a fun mechanism to learn more about Ohio itself.
However, my enthusiasm waned at times due to an overabundance of local legends. Outside of captivating tales like those from the Mansfield Reformatory, Athens, and some intriguing Cleveland stories, many narratives felt insular and repetitive. These local anecdotes, while intriguing for natives, failed to capture my interest completely and left me yearning for more diverse material.
Despite this, Willis's book shines in its structure, providing a logical and easy-to-navigate reading experience. The standout sections, without a doubt, were when the author detailed his in-person visits to these haunted sites. Willis's personal experiences added depth and a unique perspective that drew me in and kept me engaged. I truly wish more of the book had been structured around his firsthand accounts; I believe this approach could have transformed the book into a more compelling read.
In summary, while "Big Book of Ohio Ghost Stories" might feel repetitive at times, especially to those not already hooked on local lore, it still offers a unique entryway into Ohio's historical tapestry. I would recommend it to history buffs and ghost story aficionados alike, though with a note that the most captivating parts might be found when Willis recounts his personal experiences. A little more of this personal touch could propel any future editions from good to great.
However, my enthusiasm waned at times due to an overabundance of local legends. Outside of captivating tales like those from the Mansfield Reformatory, Athens, and some intriguing Cleveland stories, many narratives felt insular and repetitive. These local anecdotes, while intriguing for natives, failed to capture my interest completely and left me yearning for more diverse material.
Despite this, Willis's book shines in its structure, providing a logical and easy-to-navigate reading experience. The standout sections, without a doubt, were when the author detailed his in-person visits to these haunted sites. Willis's personal experiences added depth and a unique perspective that drew me in and kept me engaged. I truly wish more of the book had been structured around his firsthand accounts; I believe this approach could have transformed the book into a more compelling read.
In summary, while "Big Book of Ohio Ghost Stories" might feel repetitive at times, especially to those not already hooked on local lore, it still offers a unique entryway into Ohio's historical tapestry. I would recommend it to history buffs and ghost story aficionados alike, though with a note that the most captivating parts might be found when Willis recounts his personal experiences. A little more of this personal touch could propel any future editions from good to great.
December 21, 2023
There are some fun stories in here, but you’ll have to wade through truly awful, adolescent writing.
October 27, 2022
Willis recounts some of the more notable paranormal stories from around the Buckeye State. He breaks the stories down into geographic regions: Northwest, Northeast, Central, Columbus, Southwest, and Southeast. I am interested in how he came to his conclusions of which tales to include. Being a Southwestern Ohio native of “Cin-Day”, the region between Cincinnati and Dayton, I feel he missed some of the more notable stories that I and others I know have often explored. However, Willis writes in an extremely approachable way and shared some interesting accounts and anecdotes. Good for anyone in the mood for some good ghost stories from around the state of Ohio.
August 19, 2017
Read all the Northeast Ohio stories.
January 23, 2024
there were a lot of cool stories in here ! a lot I haven't heard of . but nonetheless , I marked a lot of places to check out ! being from Ohio , I loved reading into the history of places .
August 9, 2024
3.5 stars.
October 17, 2015
I particularly enjoy ghost stories attached to real people and places. It either comes down to local legends and lore, or a piece of missing history, that ultimately account for most haunted places. Nothing can scare me more in literature than a good ghost story. There's plenty of great ones in this book. All around the state of Ohio are some truly spooky places. It drives the adventure seeker in me, and my curiosity.
All the stories here are well written and well told. They are spooky enough without needlessly cheesy effects, and none are used here. And, plenty of backgrounds are enlightened upon to please lovers of historical lore. A great read.
All the stories here are well written and well told. They are spooky enough without needlessly cheesy effects, and none are used here. And, plenty of backgrounds are enlightened upon to please lovers of historical lore. A great read.
December 27, 2013
I found this book very interesting as I live in Ohio and been to or near several of these places that the author talks about. I am fascinated by folklore, legends and ghost stories so this book was a great read.
November 11, 2025
Well written didn’t know about some of the hauntings in Ohio others I did love this book
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews