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WORTH THE DRIVE: Tour the grounds of a haunted former asylum and cemetery in Athens

Credit: Southeast Ohio History Center

For a few select nights in October, guests will be able to tour one of the most haunted buildings in the state of Ohio.

The Southeast Ohio History Center, located in Athens, Ohio, will be offering historical tours of The Ridges, formerly known as the Athens Lunatic Asylum, from now and throughout the end of October.

The Athens Lunatic Asylum was a mental hospital that operated in Athens from 1874 to 1993. Throughout its years, the asylum provided services to a variety of patients that included Civil War veterans, children and violent criminals — all suffering from various mental disabilities. Many inhumane and outdated mental health treatments, like lobotomies, hydrotherapy (water therapy in the form of baths, etc.), electroshock treatments and early psychotropic drugs were in practice at the asylum during its years of operation.

Surrounding the former asylum are three cemeteries that contain the graves of 1,930 former patients of The Ridges. Of those graves, 1,659 were only marked only with a number until the state of Ohio began putting names, births and deaths on each stone that was missing this information in 1943. Many of the oldest stones had not been replaced until recently.

Today, the Ridges exist as a part of Ohio University and house the Kennedy Museum of Art, an auditorium and many offices, classrooms and storage facilities.

As you might imagine, the asylum is a decidedly eerie sight, and now, for a few select dates throughout October, guests will be able to revel in the ghostly glory of The Ridges on intimate walking tours. The tours are hosted by George Eberts, a long-time Appalachian Behavioral Health employee and Athens Asylum advocate.

Guests will meet in front of the Kennedy Museum of Art and Eberts will then lead the group on an outdoor walking tour of the grounds, cemeteries and various buildings within the complex. While on the walking tour, guests will learn more about the history of mental health treatment, the asylum, the cemeteries and more as it pertains to the asylum.

Tours will be taking place on Friday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m., Friday, Oct. 30 at 10 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 31 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tickets are $15 for members, $18 for non-members, $10 for students and children 12 and under are free. The tour on Friday, Oct. 30, or All Hallow’s Eve, will be $25 for members, $30 for non-members, $20 for students and children 12 and under are free.

All guests are required to wear masks and the tour takes place outdoors in order to maintain proper social distancing practices.

To reserve your spot, call Dominique at 740-592-2280, ext. 100. Space will be limited, so be sure to reserve a spot as soon as possible. For more information about The Ridges, Kennedy Museum of Art, the Southeast Ohio History Center and tour offerings, pay a visit to athenshistory.org .

About the Author

Ashley Moor is a Dayton native and graduate of Kent State University. She is a multimedia journalist for Dayton.com, and strives to provide impactful stories about the community and its people.

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Walking Tour of the Historic Athens Asylum

November 14, 2020

Walking Tour of the Historic Athens Asylum Tour the famous Athens Asylum, one of the few Kirkbride Asylums left. George Eberts, long time Asylum employee and local expert on the Athens Asylum, will be leading an outdoor walking tour of the historic Asylum grounds and buildings. His insights on patient treatment throughout the asylum’s 150-year existence are peppered with stories, personal anecdotes, and hidden locations throughout the grounds. Learn about the history of the famed Kirkbride and other buildings, the renowned landscaped grounds, historic cemeteries, and the evolution of mental health treatment from the inception of this storied institution until its closure a quarter century ago. The tour will last approximately two hours. Due to Ohio University restrictions, access to the inside of the buildings is limited, but you can tour the main entryway as well as the Kennedy Museum. We meet at the Kennedy Museum of Art, in front of the original Administration Building of the Athens Asylum- 100 Ridges Circle, Athens, OH 45701. This is an outdoor tour so please plan accordingly. MASKS ARE ENCOURAGED, but not required. Social Distancing will also be practiced. This is an outdoor walking tour and will cover the entire loop of the grounds including the cemeteries so if you have small children, bring a stroller! Ticket Prices: Southeast Ohio History Center Members - $15 Regular Non-Member Adult - $18 *Non-members can also pay $20 and receive admission to the History Center too! Students with a Student ID- $10 Children 12 and Under Are Free For more information or to reserve a space on the tour contact the Southeast Ohio History Center at 740-592-2280. Tickets can be purchased at the History Center at 24 West State Street in Athens. Tours do sell out regularly, so please reserve your tickets prior to the tour. Rain Policy: We conduct the Asylum Tour in rain or shine so please bring appropriate clothing and umbrellas as conditions require. Cancellation will take place only if dangerous weather such as lighting storm or high winds are active. In winter months, if there is a level 2 or 3 snow emergency, the tour will be canceled as well. In the event of cancellation, those with prepaid tickets can call us and choose either another tour or receive a refund.

Event Information

Saturday 2:00 - 4:00

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The Ridges Asylum: A Chilling Walk Through Ohio’s Dark Past

Why should you visit the ridges.

Hey there, my fellow urban explorers & paranormal investigators! I know you’re probably thinking, “Why on earth would I want to visit the exterior of an old insane asylum?” But trust me, the Ridges is one of those places that will keep you coming back for more.

First of all, the history of this place is just mind-blowing. You can feel the energy of the past as soon as you drive up to the campus. And even though the treatments that went on inside these walls were pretty horrific, the asylum is now a beautiful place to visit with walking trails. There are also two cemeteries, a pond, and even a putt-putt course. While walking around the campus, for a moment, you may not realize how dark things once were.

I know seeing the inside is usually the best part, but it’s rare to get inside these buildings unless you’re a student here. However, I may have a little secret up my sleeve about seeing the interior of the Ridges. So, if you’re ready for a truly unique and unforgettable experience, come and check out the Ridges with me!

*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Read full privacy policy  here .”

Table of Contents

History of the Ridges

The Ridges Asylum, also known as the Athens Lunatic Asylum, was built in 1874 in Athens, Ohio. The facility was designed to care for people with mental illnesses and was one of the first institutions of its kind in the state.

The asylum was in operation for over 100 years and was in operation from 1874 until as recently as 1993. During this time it housed thousands of patients and was designed to provide services to a variety of patients, including Civil War veterans, children, and those declared mentally unwell.

During the early years of the asylum, the treatment of patients was considered to be progressive and humane. However, as time passed, the institution became overcrowded and underfunded, and the treatment of patients became increasingly inhumane.

Patients were subjected to harsh conditions, including overcrowding, and inadequate food. Many were also subjected to experimental treatments, such as lobotomies and electroconvulsive therapy, which were considered to be controversial at the time.

When the asylum finally closed, the buildings and grounds were left abandoned, and the site became a popular location for urban exploration.

What Type of Patients Were Here

The first patient admitted was a 14-year-old girl with epilepsy, who they thought was possessed by a demon. Sadly, Epilepsy was actually considered one of the major reasons for admitting patients to the asylum in the early years. Can you even imagine? 

But it wasn’t just epilepsy that was considered a cause of insanity. Ailments like menopause, alcohol addiction, and tuberculosis were also reasons for being admitted to the asylum!

Unfortunately, women were often institutionalized for unnecessary or outright fallacious reasons. Postpartum depression or “hysteria” were labeled as insanity and they were sent to the asylum to “recover” .

Here’s something that’ll really shock you though, in the asylum’s first three years of operation, 81 men and one woman were diagnosed as having their insanity caused by masturbation. Yikes!

Today it has been reported that the words, “I was never crazy” are scrawled into various places in the building. That is absolutely devastating. 

The cemeteries on site have sad stories of their own. The mistreatment was terrible in itself, but even in death many of these people didn’t get the respect they deserved until many years later. 

There are over 1,900 people buried at the three cemeteries located at The Ridges. Prior to 1943, many of the headstones were only marked with a number, with no names or identifying information about the person buried there.

After 1943 they finally started to label the sites with the appropriate information, but by the 1980s the state stopped taking care of the cemeteries altogether. 

With no supervision or care, natural occurrences and vandals destroyed the headstones and the cemeteries.  Many of the headstones were left in disrepair, with hundreds left uprooted and broken. 

But in 2000, the Athens, Ohio chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) stepped in to help restore the cemeteries to their original state. They discovered more information on the unidentified patients, who were mostly veterans. 

NAMI has made it their mission to honor these veterans and all of the patients buried at The Ridges. They’ve helped replace headstones, kept the grounds in proper condition, and even started organizing Memorial Day Ceremonies to give these veterans the recognition and dignity they deserve.

Today the cemeteries at the Ridges are scenic and beautiful. It’s quite fascinating to walk through and see the various headstones of the lost. 

Experience the Location

It is incredibly important to remember and learn from the past, and that’s why places like The Ridges are worth visiting and understanding their history. 

Exploring the location of a historical site such as The Ridges offers a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the past. 

As you walk through the campus and really feel this place and take in the beautiful scenery. It truly is a photographer’s paradise. You may also witness the present day activities of the Ohio State University Students, heading to class or joggers who are running their daily path.

Oh, did I not mention that part… The campus for the Ohio State University is actually built on the grounds of the former Ridges, and remnants of the abandoned Kirkbride buildings can still be seen up on this hill! Many of these beautiful old buildings are now being repurposed. They have an art museum, an auditorium and even classrooms! 

Visiting the Ridges allows for a meaningful blend of past and present experiences.

Plan Your Visit

Today you can pretty much walk the grounds at your leisure. If you want to see the buildings from the outside you are free to do that, and once you’ve finished, there are a few walking trails that you can take to see more of the outskirts of the property and cemeteries. 

Now, if you prefer a more guided experience be sure to check out their historical  walking tours .

Details from their website: 

Join long-time Appalachian Behavioral Health employee and Athens Asylum advocate, George Eberts, for an engaging tour of the grounds and cemeteries. Learn about the history of mental health treatment, from the Kirkbride Plan to the present day, as well as George’s personal anecdotes. Dates for the asylum will be as follows:

• April 9th- 2pm 
• May 14th- 2pm
• June 11th- 2pm
• July 9th- 2pm
• August 13th- 2pm
• August 27th- 2pm
• September 10th- 2pm
• October 8th- 2pm
• October 29th- 2pm
• October 30th-1pm
• October 30th- 5pm

Tours meet in front of the Kennedy Museum of Art

100 Ridges Cir, Athens, OH 45701-6812, United States

****Due to the popularity of our tours we do require preregistration.****

Call SOHC at 740-592-2280 ext.100 to reserve your spot. Space will be limited. We will update the list above as tours sell out.

Ticket Prices :

• SOHC Members: $15
• Non-members: $18
• Students: $10
• Children 12 and under: Free
• SOHC closes at 3:30pm so please plan to visit us before the asylum tour!

Reminder: this is a two hour outdoor walking tour, so please plan accordingly.

Rain Policy:  We conduct the Asylum Tour in rain or shine so please bring appropriate clothing and umbrellas as conditions require. Cancellation will take place only if dangerous weather such as lighting storm or high winds are active. In winter months, if there is a level 2 or 3 snow emergency, the tour will be canceled as well. In the event of cancellation, those with prepaid tickets can call us and choose either another tour or receive a refund. REFUND POLICY:  Refunds will be given only under the following circumstances: • Requests that are pre-paid and made at least 48 Hours prior to tour. • Active lightening storms- you will be given either tickets to attend another tour of your choice, or, ticket price will be refunded. Rain DOES NOT cancel the tours- please bring appropriate rain/weather gear. • Level 2 or higher snow emergency

Now, I’d mentioned above about seeing the interior of The Ridges. It is not a regular circumstance to be invited inside these old buildings, unfortunately. However, there are a few ways you can possibly see the inside for yourself. 

• Enroll as a student – Obviously, this is not the most likely scenario, but students do have access for a few spots on campus up here. 
• Visit the Kennedy Art Museum. The main building is home to the art museum, and you can go inside to see the various exhibits. -Gallery Hours are: M – F: 10am – 5pm, TH: 10am – 8pm, Sat – Sun: 1pm – 5pm. 
• The last option is the hardest to snag, but sometimes, once per year, the historical society offers a historical tour around Halloween. They do take you through the interior, but you’ve got to be fast to snag these tickets. When this tour is offered, you can find tickets on their site. (Same as the walking tour above!) 

Other Notable Spots

The Ridges is great all on its own, but you’re bound to get hungry! We LOVE Avalanche Pizza, and can’t recommend it enough! If you enjoy unique pizza, you’ve found your place! Here is their  menu .

If time allows and you want more haunted spots to check out, visit Lake Hope Furnace and the  Moonville Tunnel ! 

If you can’t make it out to The Ridges, watch our video to learn more! 

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Outdoor Walking Tour of the Historic Athens Asylum

Tour the grounds of the famous Athens Asylum, one of the few Kirkbride Asylums left, with tour guide George Eberts during a two hour walking tour!

DATE AND TIME

Sat, October 28, 2023

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT

Athens Asylum

100 Ridges Circle

Athens, OH 45701

United States

Learn about the history of the famed Kirkbride and other buildings, the renowned landscaped grounds, historic cemeteries, and the evolution of mental health treatment from the inception of this storied institution until its closure a quarter century ago. The tour will last approximately two hours. Due to Ohio University restrictions, access to the inside of the buildings is limited, but you can tour the main entryway as well as the Kennedy Museum. We meet at the Kennedy Museum of Art, in front of the original Administration Building of the Athens Asylum- 100 Ridges Circle, Athens, OH 45701. This is an outdoor tour so please plan accordingly. The tour will cover the entire loop of the grounds, so if you have small children bring a stroller! ***For more information about the tour contact the Southeast Ohio History Center at 740-592-2280. Tickets can also be purchased at the History Center at 24 West State Street in Athens. Tours do sell out regularly, so please reserve your tickets prior to the tour. REFUND POLICY- Refunds will be given only under the following circumstances: • Requests that are pre-paid and made at least 48 Hours prior to tour. • Inclement weather (discretion of SOHC). • Level 2 or higher snow emergency

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The Ridges is an approximately 700-acre property owned by Ohio University sitting across the Hocking River from the University’s campus core in Athens. The property was originally opened in the early 1800s as the Athens Lunatic Asylum, and the vacant property was transferred to Ohio University by the state in 1993. Many of the historic buildings at The Ridges have been renovated for a variety of uses by the University, including classrooms, research labs, cultural facilities and more. 

The rich history and preservation of place inspired those efforts as well as the community collaborative engagement on an in-depth Framework Plan that prioritized preservation, highlighted building and land compatibility and use and recommended a mixed use environment facilitated by external investment. More recently, Ohio University consulted with Community Building Partners/ Buckeye Hills Regional Council to develop a Ridges Development Strategy to implement external investment and non-university use elements of the Framework plan. 

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There are several ways you can experience The Ridges, including historical walking tours, hiking trails, and public telescope nights in the Ohio University observatory. There are even self-guided tours that anyone with a cell phone can do, by following GPS instructions while learning about each stop along the way. Browse the educational experiences available at The Ridges!  

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New University FlexSpace now available at The Ridges; Grosvenor West FlexSpace to transition to Grosvenor Hall Aug. 19

Ohio University Space Planning has announced two updates to the University’s existing FlexSpace options that are available for use by OHIO employees across campus.

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The athens lunatic asylum.

The Athens Lunatic Asylum, now a development known as The Ridges, was a mental hospital in Athens, Ohio. It was in operation from 1874 until 1993. During its tenure, the hospital provided a wide variety of services to many different types of patients including Civil War veterans, children, and those who were declared to be ‘mentally unwell’ including violent criminals. The hospital is best known as a site of the infamous lobotomy procedure, as well as countless ghostly sightings.

One may think Ohio is unassuming in regards to hauntings, but let us prove otherwise with our Cincinnati ghost tour !

Athens Asylum Construction

Levi T. Scofield of Cleveland, Ohio was the original architect for the building. The hospital grounds were designed by Cincinnati’s Herman Haerlin. The design was influenced by Dr. Thomas Story Kirkbride, a 19th-century physician who developed a special type of design style for mental asylums, which are characterized by their bat-wing floor plan and sprawling grounds.

The land where the hospital was built belonged to the Arthur Coates and Eliakim H. Moore farms. The ground was broken in mid-autumn of 1868, with the first iteration of the asylum consisting of only 141 acres, much less than the usual Kirkbride designs of the time. Over the years, the hospital sprawled, and it grew to occupy over 1,000 acres.

The Asylum’s Operating Years

Athens Lunatic Asylum opened its doors for operation on January 9th, 1874. Within two years, the hospital was renamed The Athens Hospital for the Insane and changed names, some a bit questionable, a few times before finally landing on the Athens Mental Health Center.

Many Kirkbride asylums operated as makeshift communities — for decades the hospital had livestock, gardens, and farming fields. It also included an orchard, a dairy, a plant to generate steam heat, and a carriage shop. A large percentage of the labor carried out daily on the farm was done by the hospital’s patients. Skilled labor was seen by the Kirkbride Plan as a form of therapy and was also economically advantageous to the state.

The asylum expanded exponentially by 1950, where two other hospitals and cottages are built to house more patients. by the mid-1950s, the hospital was the town’s largest employer with 1,800 patients on a one-thousand-nineteen acre, 78 building campus. At its peak, the Athens Lunatic Asylum served fifteen Ohio counties.

The Asylum’s Patients

The first patient treated at the hospital was a 14-year-old girl with epilepsy, which was considered to be caused by the possession of a demon. Epilepsy was a reason for admission in the early years of the asylum. The first annual report stated that 31 men and 19 women were admitted due to epilepsy during the first year.

Ailments such as alcohol addiction, tuberculosis, and menopause were cause for enrollment at the asylum. For female patients, the leading causes of their ‘insanity’ were ‘change of life,’ ‘menstrual derangements,’ and ‘hysteria.’ Women with postpartum depression were also sent to the asylum to recover. As one can see, patients were often institutionalized for ridiculous and sometimes even fallacious reasons.

Records from the asylum tell of what caused mental illness during the time of its operations, as well as the practice of lobotomies and other harmful treatments. The Ohio University collected information in regards to the training that the asylum employees underwent, some of which had none. More disturbing is the documentation of electroshock therapy, lobotomy, hydrotherapy, and early psychotropic drugs, most of which have become known as being extremely inhumane.

Decline and Closure

The mental health industry rapidly changed in the 1950s for the better. Research began to show that the mentally ill did not pose an inherent danger to the people around them and it wasn’t necessary to separate them from their homes and communities. The public also was becoming aware of the risks and inhumane nature of procedures like lobotomies and electroshock therapy. The availability of medicines for the treatment of mental illness was also increasing, and allowed for most patients to be treated without the need for institutionalization.

The Athens Asylum declined through the end of the 20th century and eventually closed in 1993. In the same year, the Athen’s Lunatic Asylums’ property was deeded to Ohio University. The college kept the property in good shape and it was maintained for reuse.

Urban exploration and modern ruins became increasingly popular through media and Kirkbride Plan asylums enjoyed a renewed sense of attention, such as Danvers State Hospital in Massachusetts.

The property was restored into a mixed-use development called ‘The Ridges.’ and most of the buildings have been renovated and turned into classrooms and offices.

The Mysterious Cemeteries

Many mysteries surround the asylum due to the secrecy and lack of information surrounding the patents who were treated there. What is known, is that there are 1,930 people buried across three cemeteries located at The Ridges. Most of these people were patients who were unclaimed by their families and are marked only with a number — their names dying with them, a truly heartbreaking thought. By the 1980s the cemeteries were no longer being taken care of, and vandalism as well as natural weathering caused irreparable damage. These days, the National Alliance on Mental Illness is working to gather information about the patients buried there, and to restore their headstones and the cemetery as a whole, bringing their memory back to the forefront.

Hauntings of the Athens Lunatic Asylum

While many deaths occurred in and around the asylum, as few truly stand out. One tells of a patient named Margaret Schilling, who disappeared on December 1st, 1978. It wasn’t until January the following year that her body was discovered in a long-abandoned ward. While her autopsy showed she died of heart failure, she was found completely named with her clothing neatly folded next to her body. More interesting in the permanent stain that her body left behind, imprinted on the floor, unable to be removed by numerous cleanings. Her spirit is said to be seen staring down from the window of the room where her body was found, she’s also been seen attempting escape, and is known the wander the building at night.

Other former patients are also said to have stayed behind, appearing as full-bodied apparitions standing in the empty wings of the former hospital, disembodied voices and yells. Squeaking gurneys, strange lights, and screams are also commonplace. Even more frightening, there are rumors that patients who were shackled in the basement for ‘bad behavior’ still remain.

The cemeteries are all reportedly haunted as well. Shadow figures running and hiding behind trees and headstones are reported, and in one area, the grave’s linear shapes form a circle, which is said to be an old witches meeting spot.

While the truth is mixed in with legend when it comes to the asylum, there is no doubt that many people suffered here at the hands of abusive staff members and archaic methods of healing. Spirits of those who died and were forgotten are the loudest, banging on the windows and the walls of the old asylum, wandering the grounds, looking to catch the attention of anyone who comes looking for them.

For another spooky asylum down under, check out our article about Australia’s Aradale Asylum!

Sources Cited:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens_Lunatic_Asylum

https://www.hockinghills.com/members/The_Ridges.html

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The Ridges is a district of Ohio University centered around the former Athens Insane Asylum.

The Ridges is a district of Ohio University centered around the former Athens Insane Asylum. Built in 1874 by the State of Ohio, the asylum housed mental patients until it was closed in 1993. After being purchased by Ohio University, the site is now called The Ridges and is the location of the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs. Many of the asylum buildings still stand, but are not open to the public. Even still, the main building towers over the landscape and The Ridges provides a hilltop view of the city of Athens. There are hiking trails located on site. The Cemetery Trail takes you alongside the asylum cemetery containing numerous marked and unmarked graves. Between the three cemeteries, 1,930 people are buried here. The Ridges Trail takes you up to Radar Hill alongside OH-682, providing a view of Athens’ west side. The Southeast Ohio History Center provides monthly tours of the district for $15. Tours are scheduled for the third Sunday each month between March and December.

Notes for Travelers

Due to their close proximity, consider visiting the Kennedy Museum of Art and the Dairy Barn Cultural Arts Center during your visit. If you’re thinking about taking a tour, the Southeast Ohio History Center strongly suggests pre-registering via phone call.

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The Athens Lunatic Asylum “The Ridges” 

• August 16, 2024

In a city named Athens, in Ohio, you can find the former Athens Lunatic Asylum, which was built in 1868. Today, this huge building belongs to the Ohio University and offers space to the Kennedy Museum, an auditorium, an office, several classrooms, a storage facility and… a couple of ghosts. The students have gotten used to them, well, kind of. 

The history of the Athens Lunatic Asylum  

The first patient to be admitted to the asylum was a 14-year-old girl with epilepsy. Her parents thought she was possessed by a demon and therefore locked her away. From 1874 to 1993 this was a facility for people with all kinds of mental illnesses. People who were admitted were Civil War veterans, rebellious teenagers, homeless people, elderly people and even violent criminals. Also, tuberculosis patients were taken care of in the seven cottages which are part of this massive terrain. The asylum  is about 4000 acres  ( 400 ha)  large, which can be compared to  800 soccer fields.

More and more buildings were added when the number of patients increased. When the building was abandoned, there were 78 buildings on the premises. The asylum wasn’t self-sufficient, even though it could have been. There were cattle, greenhouses, an orchard, a dairy farm, and the water came from self-dug wells. There are also three cemeteries on the premises, because where people live, people die.  Today, the Athens Lunatic Asylum is named The Ridges. This name was chosen in name contest which was organized in 1984. Until then, it had at least 8 other names.  

The Kirkbride Method  

Dr. Thomas Kirkbride believed the keywords for mental patients were rest, cleanliness and regularity. Men and women were treated separately in their own wing and even had their own dining halls. The main building could house up to 572 patients, but that is double the amount Kirkbride would advise. At its peak, over 2,000 patients were being treated, which, of course, was unacceptable according to the method. The asylum created a lot of employment for people living in the surrounding area, but this medical staff was often unskilled.

This made procedures such as the much-feared lobotomy treatments risky. During these treatments, a thick needle was drilled into the patient’s skull, into the brain, through a spot right above the eye. Apart from the fact that a wrong lobotomy could lead to death, it could also lead to a condition in which the patient would be locked inside their own body forever. Another feared treatment, called hydrotherapy, was performed daily. During this treatment, the patient would be bathed in extremely cold or extremely hot water. And  last but not least  there was the electroshock therapy method, in which a patient was exposed to a highly dosed power surge which caused the body to convulse. Sometimes these convulsions were so intense, that even bones would break.   

Reasons for patients to be admitted  

Back then, there was an enormous list which was used as a manual for admitting people at an asylum. Things like the menopause, menstruation issues, alcohol abuse, epilepsy and even asthma were “illnesses” that were to be treated in an asylum back in the days. It’s hard to imagine, isn’t it? But the main reason people were admitted to the asylum was… masturbation. And this is no joke. When a family member was admitted, all contact was broken off. That was best for the patient according to the Kirkbride Method. That is perhaps why some people (700 women and 959 men) who died during their stay at the asylum were buried on the premises with only a number on the headstone.  

The cemeteries  

A total of 1930 people were buried at the asylum’s cemeteries. Some patients were claimed by family members after they died and buried elsewhere, but most family members were ashamed of the fact there was mental illness in the family. They didn’t want anything to do with that person anymore. From 1943, headstones were given names and data. Unclear is what caused the change because before that, only a number was given. Over 80 Civil War veterans are buried there as well. They were eventually honored in 2000 by the NAMI: The National Alliance of Mental Illness. They organize an annual memorial for these soldiers. The cemeteries are now under the maintenance of the Ohio Department of Mental Health.   

Asbestoses in the walls  

Almost all buildings have been renovated when the Ohio University moved in. All, except for “Cottage B”, one of the 7 cottages used for patients with tuberculosis. The walls and ceiling of this  particular cottage  were  literally  packed with asbestosis. This is ironic, knowing this cottage was used for people whose lungs were already very sick. The other cottages were renovated into campus for students who study at the university.   

  In the news   

The Athens Lunatic Asylum hit the news at least twice, and not in a good way. The first time was in 1977, when multiple personality rapist Billy  Milligam  was admitted. He committed several felonies including armed robbery raping three Ohio State University students on campus. His attorneys claimed his other personalities committed the crimes without him even knowing it. A year later, on December 1, 1978, the Athens Lunatic Asylum was in the papers again, this time because patient Margaret Shilling had disappeared from her department.

They searched everywhere, except on the top floor of Building 20, where her decomposing corpse was found 42 days later by a caretaker. She was found naked, on her back, with her arms crossed over her chest. Prior to her death, she took off her clothes and neatly folded them and put them on a chair.  According to the pathologist, Margaret died of natural causes. She had a cardiac arrest. Did she feel it coming? There are a lot of mysteries surrounding her death. When her body was taken away it left an impression on the concrete floor. Probably due to the decomposition in combination with the bright sun coming through the large windows. The stain Margaret left behind is impossible to clean, even up to this day.     

Ghosts of the Athens Lunatic Asylum  

Many people claim both the former asylum and the cemeteries are haunted. But there are more recent hauntings as well. The fact that part of the area used to be an Indian burial ground, makes it even more spooky. Some buildings are still vacant, so who knows what ghosts lurk there?  

The main building  

The main building is now called Lin Hall. Today it houses music, geology, biotechnology offices as well as the Kennedy Museum of Art. Strange figures have been seen roaming around the old floors. Others have heard disembodied voices, footsteps and screaming. Most appealing to the imagination is the basement. Some claim severely disabled patients were kept on chains in this dungeonlike place. Some say they’ve even heard chains being pulled.

There is no evidence that patients were ever chained to the walls here, but the arches in the basement sure look creepy. The ghost of Margaret Shilling has been seen looking out of the window from the place she was found, but she’s also been seen on  other  floors. Doors open and close by themselves and people hear footsteps when they are alone. People also “feel” the presence of others and shadow people are frequently seen. A man with a long, black coat creeps out students in the men’s room for years.  

The cemeteries have been vandalized during the time the buildings were abandoned. Shadowy figures and strange lights have been seen here. In one area, the shapes of the graves form a perfect circle, which is rumored to be a witches’ meeting point.  

Wilson Hall   

Nearly all the buildings on the West Green are haunted. This is where the Indian burial grounds were located. Wilson Hall is no exception. This is the most haunted dormitory on the campus. This hall is also right in the middle of a pentagram formed by several cemeteries in the Athens region. Most hauntings occur on the fourth floor. Apparitions have been seen, voices have been heard and doors slam shut by themselves. A student committed suicide in a room on the fourth floor.  

The Convo  

The Convocation Center, The Convo in short, is also located in the West Green area. This place is haunted by several ghosts, mostly in the dormitory part of the building. A Resident Assistant was supposedly killed by her boyfriend here, and she now roams the corridors. A student who died here in his sleep now tends to embrace other students while they are sleeping.     

Washington Hall   

Washington Hall is in the East Green area and the dormitory is allegedly haunted by an entire basketball team of high school girls. They were killed in a bus accident after they visited the university. Students have reported  hearing  running feet and bouncing basketballs.   

The Athens Lunatic Asylum today   

Today, the Athens Lunatic Asylum or The Ridges as what it is now called, is an operating campus. You cannot just visit it, but there are some tours that you can take. There’s the Asylum Tour provided by the Athens County Historical Society and Museum. This is not a ghost tour. They used to have ghost tours around Halloween, but they are very limited. Please note that you cannot explore the vacant buildings on your own. If you really want to experience the hauntings, there’s only one thing to do: go back to school!  

Cover photo: Sarah Hina via flickr CC BY-NC 2.0 Sources:   wikipedia , legendsofamerica.com, atlasobscura.com, hockinghills.com and onlyinyourstate.com   Address : S. Plains Rd, Athens, Ohio, 45701 USA  

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Athens Asylum

Today, this complex, called the Ridges, is part of Ohio University, but these historic buildings once housed the Athens Lunatic Asylum. Not only are these buildings steeped in history, but some are also said to still “host” visitors from the past.

The historic hospital got its start in 1867 when the Ohio Legislature appointed a commission to find a site for an asylum in southeastern Ohio. A suitable site was found in Athens, and Levi T. Scofield was chosen as the architect. The buildings and grounds’ designs were influenced by Dr. Thomas Story Kirkbride, a 19th-century physician who authored a book on mental hospital design. His designs were often recognizable for their “batwing” floor plans and lavish Victorian architecture.

The original design included an administration building with two wings, one that would house the males and the other for females. The building itself was 853 feet long, 60 feet wide, and built with red bricks fired from clay dug on-site. Built onto the back were a laundry room and boiler house. Seven cottages were also constructed to house even more patients. There was room to house 572 patients in the main building, almost double of what Kirkbride had recommended, leading to overcrowding and conflicts between the patients.

The administrative section, located between the two resident wings, included an entrance hall, offices, a reception room on the first floor, the superintendent’s residence on the second floor, and quarters for other officers and physicians on the 3rd and 4th floors. A large high ceiling amusement hall filled the 2nd and 3rd floors, and a chapel was included on the 4th floor. Behind and beneath the building’s public and private spaces were the heating and mechanical systems, kitchens, cellars, storerooms, and workspaces.

The site, which was first comprised of 141 acres, would eventually grow to 1,019 acres, including cultivated, wooded, and pasture land. The grounds were designed by Herman Haerlin of Cincinnati and would incorporate landscaped hills and trees, decorative lakes, a spring, and a creek with a waterfall. Not only would the patients enjoy the beautiful landscape, but citizens also enjoyed the extensive grounds. Though the facility would never be fully self-sustaining, over the years, the grounds would include livestock, farm fields and gardens, an orchard, greenhouses, a dairy, a receiving hospital, a Tubercular Ward, a physical plant to generate steam heat, and even a carriage shop in the earlier years.

The hospital, first called the Athens Lunatic Asylum, officially began operations on January 9, 1874. Within two years, it was renamed the Athens Hospital for the Insane. Over the years, its name would be changed many times to the Athens State Hospital, the Southeastern Ohio Mental Health Center, the Athens Mental Health Center, the Athens Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center, and the Athens Mental Health and Developmental Center.

Bird’s Eye view of Athens, Ohio Asylum

During its operation, the hospital provided services to a variety of patients, including Civil War veterans, children, the elderly, the homeless, rebellious teenagers being taught a lesson by their parents, and violent criminals suffering from various mental and physical disabilities. With diagnoses ranging from the slightest distress to severely mentally ill, these patients were provided various forms of care, many of which have been discredited today. The asylum was best known for its practice of lobotomy, but it was also known to have practiced hydrotherapy, electroshock, restraint, and psychotropic drugs, many of which have been found to be harmful today.

More interesting are the causes listed for admission, including epilepsy, menopause, alcohol addiction, and tuberculosis. General “ill health” also accounted for many admissions, which included in the first three years of operation 39 men and 44 women. For the female patients hospitalized during these first three years of the asylum’s operation, the three leading causes of insanity are recorded as “puerperal condition” (relating to childbirth), “change of life,” and “menstrual derangements.” According to an 1876 report, the leading cause of insanity among male patients was masturbation. The second most common cause of insanity was listed as intemperance (alcohol). Depending upon their condition, a patient’s treatment could range from full care to amazing freedom.

Over the years, numerous buildings were added, including a farm office, a new amusement hall, additional wards and residences, a laundry building, power plant, garages, stables, mechanics shops, a firehouse, therapy rooms, and dozens of others. By the 1950s, the hospital was using 78 buildings and was treating 1,800 patients.

Athens Asylum cemetery courtesy Encyclopedia of Forlorn Places

In the 1960s, the total square footage of the facility was recorded at 660,888 square feet. At this time, its population peaked at nearly 2,000 patients, over three times its capacity. However, the number of patients would begin to decline for the next several decades as de-institutionalization accelerated. As the number of people at the Asylum declined, the buildings and wards were abandoned one by one.

Comprised of three graveyards, burials began soon after the institution’s opening as there were deceased patients who were unclaimed by their families. Until 1943 the burials were headed only by stones with numbers, with the names of the dead known only in recorded ledgers. Only one register exists today, which contains the names of 1,700 of the over 2,000 burials. In 1972 the last patients were buried in the asylum cemetery. Today the cemeteries continue to be maintained by the Ohio Department of Mental Health.

In 1977, Athens Asylum made news when it housed multiple personality rapist Billy Milligan. In the highly publicized court case, Milligan was found to have committed several felonies, including armed robbery, kidnapping, and three rapes on the Ohio State University campus. In preparing his defense, psychologists diagnosed Milligan with multiple personality disorder, from which the doctors said he had suffered from early childhood. He was the first person diagnosed with multiple personality disorder to raise such a defense and the first acquitted of a major crime for this reason. Milligan was then sent to a series of state-run mental hospitals, including Athens. While at these hospitals, Milligan reported having ten different personalities. Later 14 more personalities were said to have been discovered. After a decade, Milligan was discharged. He died of cancer at a nursing home in Columbus, Ohio, on December 12, 2014, at 59.

The next year, the hospital made the news again when a patient named Margaret Schilling disappeared on December 1, 1978. It wasn’t until January 12, 1979, 42 days later that, her body was discovered by a maintenance worker in a locked long-abandoned ward once used for patients with infectious illnesses. Though tests showed that she died of heart failure, she was found completely naked with her clothing neatly folded next to her body. More interesting is the permanent stain that her body left behind. Clearly, an imprint of her hair and body can still be seen on the floor, even though numerous attempts have been made to remove it.

By 1981 the hospital housed fewer than 300 patients, numerous buildings stood abandoned, and over 300 acres were transferred to Ohio University. In 1988, the facilities and grounds (excluding the cemeteries) were deeded from the Department of Mental Health to Ohio University.

The Athens Center officially closed in 1993, and the remaining patients transferred to another facility. The property stood vacant for several years before restoration began. The name of the property was changed to the “Ridges” and in 2001 renovation work was completed on the main building, known as Lin Hall. Today it houses music, geology, biotechnology offices, storage facilities, and the Kennedy Museum of Art. Over the years, other hospital buildings were modeled and used by the University, although many others still sit abandoned.

It comes as no surprise that the buildings of this historic asylum are allegedly haunted. One of the most famous ghosts is that of Margaret Shilling, who left her body print upon the hospital floor. Her spirit is said to have appeared staring down from the window of the room where her body was found, has been seen attempting to escape, and has been known to wander various parts of the building at night. And, according to some, she is not alone. Other former patients are also said to remain in residence, with reports from visitors seeing strange figures standing in the empty wings of the former hospital, hearing disembodied voices and squeaking gurneys, seeing strange lights, and hearing screams echoing through the walls. More frightening, there are rumors of spirits of patients who remain shackled in the basement. These many spirits are thought to be those who died or suffered at the hands of staff in the asylum.

The cemetery is also said to be haunted by shadowy people and strange lights. In one area, the graves’ linear shapes form a circle, which is said to be a witches’ meeting point.

Tours of the outside grounds of the old asylum are held on the third Sunday of each month.

©  Kathy Weiser-Alexander / Legends of America , updated April 2021.

Female Ward, Athens, Ohio Asylum

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• Athens Lunatic Asylum (The Ridges)

Formerly The Athens Lunatic Asylum

Many mental institutions in the United States are said to be haunted and thus The Ridges from Athens, Ohio , is no exception to that. If you have ever watched a horror movie, you must have observed that these types of buildings are presented as hulking structures with lots of cobwebs and ghosts that are waiting and haunting at each corner. The abandoned buildings are even worse when it comes to haunting rumors. The Ridges from Athens, Ohio is one of the abandoned places that are said to be powerfully haunted.

The Mental Medical Centre opened here on January 9th 1874 and it specialized in the treatment of criminally and mentally insane patients. It was then known as the Athens Lunatic Asylum. It took over six years to be built and many people thought that a nice quiet place would be a benefit for the health of the insane patients. The majority of the original patients were admitted there by court order or even by their own families. Sometimes these kinds of mental institutions paid an amount of money for every patient they registered when they were lacking them so many families entrusted them with their disturbed family members.

Everyone knew that, despite the large number of disturbed individuals residing there, The Ridges was a calm peaceful place, where patients benefited from fountains and picnics on the beautiful grounds. But this idyllic scenery would not to last a long time. The Ridges soon turned into an overcrowded institution that was treating its patients in a cruel way. Ice water baths, electroshock therapies and lobotomies become regular practices. The kinds of patients submitted to treatment also changed, because children turned their older parents over to the asylum and teenagers that were considered rebellious were brought here by their parents as well.

Several other strange things have happened at The Ridges, besides the cruel treatment applied to the patients. On the 1st of December 1978, a patient named Margaret Schilling mysteriously disappeared. The legend says she was playing hide and seek with the nurses, who got distracted and forgot to look for her. Over more than a month, on the 12th of January 1979 her body was found by a maintenance worker.

Her death was not as mysterious as the marks her body left on the floor. An imprint of her clothes and hair are perfectly visible on the floor. Some said that her body decomposed and the outline was formed because of the reaction of the corpse to the sunlight. This is not a very good explanation, though, because the stain is still there and reappears even after been cleaned up. Margaret Schilling is not the only former patient that is said to be still haunting The Ridges.

The Asylum has a cemetery where those who died were buried and there are rumors it is haunted as well. Because many of the patients were admitted at The Ridges by the court system, they had no remaining family and no persons to pay the funeral expenses. They were thus anonymously buried in simple graves with a number attached. At one area the linear shapes of the graves form a circle, which is said to be a witches’ meeting point.

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77 thoughts on “ athens lunatic asylum (the ridges) ”.

I am looking for someone who can assist me on scheduling a paranormal investigation for the Ridges. If someone can get ahold of me asap that would be fantastic. My team Clyde Paranormal Investigation would love this opportunity and a few already know about this location.

What would the Athens PD doing you went into the building?

My mother was a patient there twice she told me stories that I didnt believe at the time…but now do Rape/abuse etc. Also Im not sure she wasnt part of an experiment (MK Ultra)

Dad took me one time to visit but I had to stay in the car. Patients roamed the grounds and came to the car and pounded the glass. I was terrified It was like a horror movie

The building is gone forever. I was there..never went in just hiked around and explored the outside of the building. I have hiked the ridges a few time and I always get spooked and goose bumps even though its always during sunlight..even my dog has got spooked. We live in the woods, so normal forest noises don’t faze him… Athens Ohio is BadAss.

Hey, me and my friend are doing a report for a school assignment and wanted to know if we were allowed to take a short walk during the day for a certain fee. Of course, with a staff member or perfessed worker.

just wanted to give a heads up to anyone hoping to get in the ridges through the wooden door thats been mentioned in a few comments that its no longer a option that door was secured nov.2016 so well that its probably the most impossible way to get in. I just wanted to warn anyone planning going there with the hopes of getting in that way you’ll end up disappointed cus nothings getting in that door now. and to people asking yes the facilities main and largest building is still there. small buildings have been removed and the tbward sadly was tore down for more reasons then constant break in and vandalism. it was structurly unsafe the concrete floors on upper levels where completely caved in in places and at night u had to be really careful where you walked in the dark. we were exploring one night and a group of drunk kids came in and i had to run after one that was about to walk right into a room missing the floor. the main building is huge the right wing is the only part that has remained in its original abandoned state. it was once the womens ward.you can go in its basement, 3 floors, and attic, but the halls are so long and to turn a corner you enter another huge hall each floor is a maze. the ward alone is so huge in itself it takes hrs to cover. i cant even guess how many times i’ve been in there and also the tb ward before being tore down. i love old buildings, n things and my great grandpa was a patient and died there. it really is a amazing place and sad they dont share it with the public. o.u. owns the property now. and its 100% no joke about cops patroling the place i’ve had at lest 4 times i thought for sure i was going to jail. jail is a for real possibility and risk your taking. even being around the outside of the building at dark is grounds for tresspassing there. we have had a lot of experiences inside there. we heard stomps on stars noises from rooms, evps and even having our lights that were on the floor turn off and on when asking ?’s.and also had sat in a room with a camera recording sitting on a solid n firm concert floor and no one moving or even standing for close to a half hr. when we got home and reviewed the footage on it, the camera had moved over a inch during the time it was sitting there instead of facing the wall where we placed it to be filming, it had slowely moved and turned toward the door.We were capturing so much that we felt like we needed to return and we went back for 4 nights straight and for the most part of the night. ive had peope ask me to take them and once in for a few mins they are so scared and flip out and try to get out not knowing the way and its like they try to run from the fear they feel but make it even worse. Anyone considering attempting going in please make sure you think it through and are confident you can handle it. and the risk of jail. it can be overwhelming to some seeing cells, n solitary cells with wooden doors to hide there window and little doors on the doors that open to observe the patients that were in those type. the light switches on the outside of the rooms. my roommate has all the evp recordings saved on her laptop and i have tons of pics. if u can get passed being scared the place is like a castle or something. but be safe and cops will try to catch you.

Hi bro can you send me the vedio please….

Oh man that would be so fun to explore that 🙂

my grandpa used to work here after he served in the army

There is a way to get inside of the asylum. There is a wooden door with a broken lock. I don’t recommend it. I’ve been inside multiple times. However, once come sundown I experienced something paranormal. I had photos from 1963 of various types of fungus fly into me from a mysterious gust of wind inside of the complex. There was no wind outside, or airflow in the complex, the photos came from a corridor that had no windows near. Being an engineer, I can’t come up with a logical explanation as to what happened from a physics standpoint. I kept and still have the photos. I never believed in anything paranormal until this happened, and it kind of shattered my reality.

could i see the pictures perhaps??

I walked the outside of the building today, came across the door you’re talking about, somewhere by the a/d corner. The deadbolt is visible as the door jam is broken. Tried it and it seems to be secured from the inside somehow. Wasn’t too bothered, just being there and seeing the cemetery was enough.

Can you give me more information and send me some photos please??…………

……………………………

When is the best time to try to get into here to explore? Obviously with the least amount of risk of running into the cops.

I conducted my psychology rotation from 1987 to 1990 at The Ridges/Athens Mental Hospital. I remember taking the stairs down to, and walking the long tunnel area in the basement (each time I visited the site), that connected the main building with the hospital ward. In the basement, I’ll never forget walking past a series of concrete cells, with metal bars and fixed metal rings to chain someone or something to. The hospital/OU psych staff, and all of the patients that I built a rapport with, were all first rate individuals.

my son recently took a series of pictures in this place. One of the pictures shows a dark figure in the hallway on the first floor. It is really creepy and I think is one of the better “ghost” pics out there. I will attempt to post it on this site.

is anyone allowed to explore the cemetery i am very interested in this

I know it’s illegal to go in but my husband and I are willing to take a chance, does anyone know the best place to get in?

You really just have to look around. I am a student at OU and I’ve been in a couple of times. You may have to walk around a few times to find it. In the back of it by garages/loading docks theres a door hidden by trees and bushes against the back right. The door is open there and you can get to any level through that door, including the basement. Good luck and don’t get lost! 😉

Ryan, You are just letting everyone in lol. You know these are public sites and The police can read this and close that off for everyone….That is not cool bro! Way not cool! -Ajay

so i kno thast going into the buildings is illegal and you will be aressted but how strick are officers about the trails paths and roads?

I Lived on Dairy Lane for a short period in the early seventies. The dog almost had a nervous breakdown and wouldn’t behave and whined constantly. I never connected it to the hospital.

I’m writing a paper on the history of The Ridges. I found a lot of neat information from numerous websites however i need more! If anyone could give me some background info or even share some experiences you or a friend has had or a story you’ve been told that would be awesome! Thank you!

Many people were tortured and died there but I think all the story’s are maid up. I found a verry old video of the place and a man who worked there said all the story’s were bogus. The outline on floor is there tho. I see many people wanna sneek in and go at night I strongly suggest u not because oupd and Athens pd will arrest u for trhsspassing. I’ve been there n done that. They will lie or do whatever they gotta do to file charges if ur caught. I was steeling is what they said when I was seen there broke down at 3am. Even tho I had no property in my car I was a theif. Lol. Police these days are rediculous

can any of this be bought and the plans for the original buildings that were torn down i really want to live in this place

Does anyone know how old Margaret Schilling was when she was admitted to Athens very important homework….? please anyone…

I read that the TB ward was torn down because it was full of asbestos and it was just not economically viable to restore or use.

My great grandmother was a nurse here when the women went missing and her body found. Yes the story is true! Now wether she haunts it or not is up to you if you believe or not!

Found the video I know it does not have the best quality https://youtube.com/watch?v=3m3f-mjTJAk&list=LLOObIsNDpl26Y5CZ_27iDOw at the end of the video you can hear some spirits talking.

ill post it on later if anyone wants to watch it

i found a video on youtube that someone posted that you can actually hear some spirits talking ill have to find it again if i remember correctly it should be in my liked video or playlist folder.

I have been inside the main building. (The one no one is supposed to be in) It was very cool to see the history in it. The patient rooms were so small and all the paint was peeling away. I took some pictures and on one of the videos I spotted a weird light but I am not a believer in the supernatural. I love history and I got to see the oldest wing of the facility (I did it legally too). I happened upon the chance to see the facility while doing some work on campus.

how dare you not believe in ghosts lol

I remember reading in a Haunted Ohio book, a few years ago, that the Ridges Insane Asylum was built on an old Indian Orphanage. As I recall, the children had been horribly abused and there were many unexplained deaths in the orphanage. The home was closed & torn down. Does anyone remember this story ? Any truth to it ? Or am I remembering a different Ohio institution ?

This place sounds really interesting I been there a few times and even help build a part of the ridges… Can anyone post pictures u have of it if u caught anything and it truly sucks u can’t walk through it.. I want to so bad.. Does anyone know where I can find the death records for the place??? Thanks a lot and I love reading what u guys have commented..:)

There are a lot of stories associated with the Ridges. The main buildings are now used for offices and the like (including the SBA). But the biggest building, the Main building itself is now an art museum with a cafe. My friend and I decided to have a looksie through the art museum. While it was a neat cultural experience, we didn’t stay long. The further towards the back of the building we got, the harder it was to breath.There was just a really intense pressure on your chest. As soon as we left, the feeling lifted.

I was saddened that they razed the TB ward. There was a petition prior to save it, but I think we only had a couple hundred names on it.

Thanks for posting my YouTube video. That was from my visit to the TB Ward in 2008. There is absolutely nothing left of the building unfortunately. Everything else is still standing. They even have a cafe in the main lobby now. I am so glad that I was able to get into the main buildings back in 2002-03 as well. Very cool inside.

Thank you for documenting your experience in the building and sharing it with everyone. It gives others who never had the opportunity to visit the TB Ward a glimpse back into a piece of history that’s now forever gone.

hi my name is brian Osborn I had a great grandmother that was a patient way back when lol….. and I was wondering if I could get some information on this place please and also I took a trip to the asylum with my mother and I walked up a flight of stairs on the out side of the building and looked in when I seen one of the wheel chairs move and also heard some noises come from inside of the building so if you can I would like to talk to you and see If I can get some of the history on the place it has a lot of meaning to me and my family because of my great grandmother being in there thank you for your time……..

Was in Athens in 1999 with husband checking out campus/ college for oldest son and stopped to eat at restaurant down below front of building. As we left to go to car,we decided to walk closer to building,so strolled around it, As we approached,thought we saw disheveled, middle aged woman in window on second floor looking out. Did not find out until much later,what the building was,and it’s history. Had eerie feel to it.

Good pictures i heard à lot of horror stories avoir that place glad psyc medicine has advanced!

Are the doors unlocked? And is it illegal to go in there? Also, has anyone experienced any paranormal things while at the ridges?

Yea it’s eligal. Athens pd are pricks to. I don’t recommend going.

http://hauntedathensohio.com/the-ridges-mental-health-institution/?replytocom=2064#respond

Is it illegal to go in there at night? And are the doors locked?

RIP TB Ward…..

Do you know of anything still open I can walk thru the cemetary or anything? I will be visiting there soon and would like to explore I love paranormal…. Thank you!!

Is the insane asylum still standing or is that what they tore down??

What a sad day when they tore down the tuberculosis ward. That truly saddens a lot of people and it’s a shame that it happened. You’d think having a couple rent a cops patrol there a little more frequently would have been a better solution then to tear down such a historical building that had so much presence and history in the area.

Why did they tear it down? I just found out about this site today and am so curious. If i was able to do all the walking i would so love to sneak around and see what i might find. lol Too bad someone wouldn’t buy this old place and turn it into apartments. Tamrisa

There are offices in there now so I don’t recommend breaking in……and last I heard they stopped doing the tours on Halloween:( I’ve been there and to all the cemeteries numerous times and didn’t see anything

been in there through most of the old buildings myself. spent most of the night there.

I’ve been all over that building. You do not need authority to do so, the facility is huge and the chances of getting caught are almost zero. I have personally taken over 20 groups up and through the facility with no problem.

Growing up in Athens, as a rite of passage, one has to at least have explored the entire place at night by the age of 18. If you are in College, take time in the evening to check the place out. OUPD is understaffed and more so, they are not going to file serious charges against their own students. Trust me, they want your money. It isn’t in their interest to expel you over something so little. If caught, you’d merely get a slap on the wrist; Play dumb, bring a leash, say you are looking for your dog.

A particular interest of mine, (more than the stain) is a Mozaic Swastika on the floor, in one of the larger rooms. Also, there is a network of underground tunnels connecting the old buildings at OU; some even at the ridges. Do yourself a favour, buy a respirator and go have some fun.

I’d really be interested in seeing the place, but I have no idea how to get inside. I stopped by today, and I didn’t see an entrance that wasn’t boarded up. When do people hang out there, and what’s the best way to get in? Also what’s the best way to avoid the OUPD? They were hanging out there this afternoon.

I’d appreciate any advice – thanks!

Don’t attempt to avoid them because they patrol that place 24/7. They are ass holes to. I was arrested for being there one earley morning they tried to say I was a theif and was steeling. Go during the day not at night

Believe me Athens pd has a abundant amount of officers and they will press charges. I went there at 3 am as a result of a overheating car and was approached by a Athens pd officer and was told I was steeling. I was took to jail and received a ticket for driving under suspention. They are ass holes.

Are you still giving tours? I’d love to see this place!

athenshistory.org/asylum-walking-tour

are there any halloween haunts in the area and can you visit the asylum or the ridges at night around october. looking for halloween scary things to do and see in Athens any info would be appreciated

This can be found @ athensohio.com…. “Please note that the only former state hospital building open to the public is the Kennedy Museum. Photos of the asylum are often on view here. No tours or other access is offered to the public.”

my grandmother worked here and she now nearing 90 yrs old. She has told me stories of things that went on at the ridges and told me there was always an odd feeling to the place. many patients died there due to treatments gone wrong! She worked the electroshock therapy section and said that screams were heard all through the night. Weather they were screams of the patients or from those beyond the grave she couldn’t say. I grew up in Athens Ohio and use to try to seek into the property of the Ridges every Halloween as many locals do. LOL we always got scared and left before seeing or hearing much.

Hi,my name is Mike miller,my Grandfather was a patient there and went through the shock treatments. He cummited sluiced there. If u could please give me a call at #740-703-1533 thanks. My email is messed up rite now.

we did Romeo and Juliet with the school of theatre there in 1978,, when it was still in use, we got to explore it at night, got caught by security trying to get into this chained up building at the top….did you also know that Billy Milligan was treated up there…. go read ” The Minds of Billy Milligan” by Daniel Keyes I believe.. he was teaching there at the time

My dad used to work there and he told me stories of Billy Milligan, one of the patients on his rounds. He said he was a very likable guy and fascinating to talk to, but he suffered from multiple personality disorder, and you never knew which personality you would get and some of them were not very nice and he could be dangerous at times.

I did my psych rotation at the Athens Hospital The Ridges…we were the last class there before they closed it completely and moved to the new facility across the river. It was very interesting and we got to take a tour of the closed parts of the buidings. I got to see the body outline on the floor. Very interesting place to say the least.

I’d have to agree that eeire is a great way to describe the feeling when on the grounds at The Ridges. Every time that I’ve been there it feels like I’m being watched from the windows in all of the buildings.

don’t have it anymore but my xstep mom had someone take a photo of her standing in front of the ridges there was a ghost in the window behind her yeah fun

Once performed a concert in this facility with the Community Band. Was an eerie experience.

Ive been wanting to explore this place for a while now does anyone know the exact address?

Leah, you can find it here…. To The Ridges: From US 33, take the SR 682/Ohio University Exit. Turn left onto Richland Avenue. Take the first right onto Dairy Barn Lane, then turn right into The Ridges.

I agree, is there a fee of sorts of a team of investigators to have an over night investigation?

This can be found @ athensohio.com…. “Please note that the only former state hospital building open to the public is the Kennedy Museum. Photos of the asylum are often on view here. No tours or other access is offered to the public.”

Tours are available at Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, WV. It’s worth every nickel. Would LOVE to tour this one.

Hi, I just wanted to know if overnight investigationd are allowed on the property and if so how much are they? thanks, Jim

There are historical walking tours of the entire grounds outside (about a two hour tour) given by the Southeast Ohio History Center on the third Sunday of each month with extra tours given during Halloween and Brew Fest season. For more information go you athenshistory.org.

Ohio University has never allowed overnight investigations. Several well know paranormal investigation groups have tried and been denied.

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Upcoming Netflix doc 'Vampires in Gem City' alleges Ohio is home to a deadly coven

Get those wooden stakes ready.

An upcoming Netflix documentary titled "Vampires in Gem City" alleges that Dayton, Ohio, is home to "the largest coven of vampires outside of New Orleans," according to What's on Netflix .

The documentary, directed by Joshua Rofé, focuses on the disappearance of 26-year-old George Phillip Gall near the goth-themed Asylum nightclub in Dayton in 1994, according to its short tagline.

According to The Charley Project , Gall got off an RTA bus near the nightclub on October 13, 1994, after leaving the home he shared with his wife and daughter.

The bus driver said Gall walked toward the Asylum nightclub and was never seen again. In 2002, Gall was declared dead by the state.

There was no talk of vampires until retired Dayton police officer David Williams told The Dayton Daily News in 2008 that a bartender at the nightclub told him Gall was killed and beheaded for an occult ritual.

According to Williams, he went undercover in the bar in 1994 and noticed it attracted a large "gothic, vampire-like" crowd. While he was undercover, Williams said a bartender told him Gall was used in an occult ritual before being beheaded. His severed head was later sold to an occultist and the bartender saw the head transferred in the club for sale.

Williams said the bartender gave enough intricate details to make his story believable, even to a detective.

Gall's body was allegedly placed in a storm sewer tunnel accessible inside the nightclub. But when Williams and other officers drove golf carts through the tunnel looking for Gall, they didn't find him or any evidence of a crime, but they did find "occult markings," he said.

Williams' vampire investigation did not solve the case, and Gall remains missing in 2024.

A release date has not yet been shared for the Netflix documentary.

Are there vampires in Ohio?

Whether or not you believe a goth nightclub in downtown Dayton was secretly the home of a coven of fantasy creatures, Ohio is home to at least one self-proclaimed "vampire."

Wooster resident Hellen Schweizer, who works as a social media manager, went viral on TikTok last year after posting videos about her life as a self-identifying vampire. The then-28-year-old told USA TODAY that she wears fangs, dark red lipstick and a white shirt with a flowing black cape.

Schweizer said she isn't interested in sucking anyone's blood; she doesn't believe she'll live forever, and she loves garlic. The sun has made her nauseous since she was a child, she said, though it does not make her catch fire, glitter, melt or explode like some popular vampire fiction depicts.

A study by the Atlanta Vampire Alliance in 2015 said 5,000 people in the U.S. identify as real vampires and some drink blood from willing donors, Today.com reported .

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Upcoming Netflix doc 'Vampires in Gem City' alleges Ohio is home to a deadly coven

Ohio River Kayak Tour -- Middle Island

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Welcome to the southeast ohio history center!

Explore. engage. experience..

We Preserve, Share, & Champion The Unique History & Culture of Southeast Ohio

Current Exhibit

The Southeast Ohio History Center has a rotating exhibit floor, so there is always something new to explore. We are dedicated to sharing the stories of the Southeast Ohio region, and we are excited to share our current exhibit with you. 

People of Athens County in Black and White 1967-1982: Photographs by Bob Devaney

In 1965, Bob Devaney arrived in Athens as a student at Ohio University. After spending 1965-1968 as a musician and student at OU, he returned

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There is always something happening at the History Center! Explore our history with our expert guided tours, engage with our exhibits through our programming, or experience Southeast Ohio History at our family-friendly activities.

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Stitching Stories: A textile art project for recording personal historical events with Meta Van Nostran

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Squirrel Invasion

Invading Hordes of Squirrels? If it happened, it hasn’t happened recently. Nonetheless, many local county histories recall stories of hordes of squirrels swarming over farmland

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Chardon football preview: Hilltoppers finding their voices — 2024 camp tour

• Updated: Aug. 16, 2024, 10:06 a.m.
• | Published: Aug. 16, 2024, 10:05 a.m.

• Matt Goul, cleveland.com

MENTOR, Ohio — A fifth straight run to at least the regional finals came last year with another big senior class at Chardon.

Now comes the challenge of replacing all that it lost to graduation.

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Heading to the Hozier concert? Here's a setlist prediction to get you ready

This Wednesday, Andrew Hozier-Byrne, or the the Irish singer-songwriter known as Hozier , is making a stop at the Schottstein Center for his tour across North America as part of his "Unreal Unearth" tour. The concert is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. and doors will open at 6 p.m.

Hozier kicked off the tour in April with the release of his third album, "Unreal Unearth," and moved into September with international shows in the fall.

Known for his folksy, acoustic tunes with blues, gospel and R&B influences, he went solo in 2012 after his run with the Irish vocal group Anúna and came into the limelight with his single, "Take Me to Church ," which would rise to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, as would his self-titled debut album.

Throughout this summer, he's made appearances at music festivals all over the world, from TRNSMT Festival in Glasgow to Lollapalooza in Chicago.

While Allison Russell, the Canadian singer-songwriter whose soulful vocals were featured on the song "Wildflower and Barley" on the latest album, has joined him for some tour dates as a special guest, she is not expected to make an appearance in the Columbus show.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

For those who were able to grab a ticket before the Columbus show sold out, read on for a preview of some of the songs you might be able to catch at his performance Wednesday evening, based on the artist's setlists from his previous tour dates as indicated on setlist.fm , a website for finding setlists documented by concertgoers.

Some entries revealed that Hozier can be generous with his encores and even joined concert attendees in the crowd at one concert.

What's been on the setlist so far on the tour?

Here's the setlist from Hozier's July 29 show at The Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania.

• "De Selby (Part 1)"
• "De Selby (Part 2)"
• "Jackie and Wilson"
• "From Eden"
• "Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene"
• "Dinner & Diatribes"
• "Francesca"
• "It Will Come Back"
• "I, Carrion (Icarian)"
• "Abstract (Psychopomp)"
• "Like Real People Do"
• "Wildflower and Barley"
• "Would That I"
• "Too Sweet"
• "Almost (Sweet Music) "
• "Eat Your Young"
• "Take Me to Church"
• "Cherry Wine" (Encore)
• "Unknown / Nth" (Encore)
• "Nina Cried Power" (Encore with Melissa McMillan)
• "Work Song" (Encore with Allison Russell)

Columbus concerts: Here are setlist predictions for Kenny Chesney's upcoming Columbus concert

Here are the songs Hozier performed at his July 27 show at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel, New York.

• "De Selby (Part 1) "
• "Wildflower and Barley" (With Allison Russell)
• "Would That I "
• "Cherry Wine" (Encore while performing an acoustic solo in the crowd)
• "Unknown / Nth" (Encore while performing an electric solo in the crowd)
• "Nina Cried Power" (Encore)

Cancellations: Aerosmith permanently shelves tour, including Columbus show, due to Steven Tyler's vocal injury

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