Haunted Cincinnati: Top Spooky Sites & Ghost Stories

by William Brown

Cincinnati skyline and riverfront bridge at dusk, showing downtown buildings across the river.

As Halloween approaches, we’re taking a spine-tingling detour into one of Ohio’s most haunted cities: Cincinnati. While the Queen City is known for its rich arts scene, historic architecture, and chili-topped everything, it also has a shadowy side that ghost hunters and folklore lovers can’t resist. From abandoned buildings to opulent music halls built over cemeteries, these local haunts blend eerie legends with real Cincinnati history.

CINCINNATI MUSIC HALL — OVER‑THE‑RHINE

Built in 1878 atop land once used as a pauper’s cemetery (a “potter’s field”), Music Hall has unearthed human remains during renovations over the years. Staff and performers report phantom music, disembodied voices, tugging sensations, and unexplained bell dings at the box office. One story tells of a child onstage claiming someone waved at him from an empty opera box.

Cincinnati Music Hall’s ornate red-brick façade with large arched windows and rose window.

Photo credit: Larsonj3, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

ARNOLD’S BAR & GRILL — DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI

Still in active operation, Arnold’s is one of the more accessible haunted‑site options. Staff and patrons report shadowy figures, knocking or bumping sounds after hours (especially on the second floor), and unexplained clanks long past closing. In 2021, limited paranormal investigations were held there.

Arnold’s Bar & Grill brick storefront with striped awning and round “A” sign in Over-the-Rhine.

Photo credit: Sincerelyjess, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

TAFT MUSEUM OF ART — DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI

Originally a private home, Taft draws ghost stories centered on its former inhabitants. Reported phenomena include a woman in a pink dress (possibly a former resident), mysterious knocks, phantom touches, and occasional activity in the gift shop. While not as well documented as Music Hall or Arnold’s, the contrast between its refined atmosphere and rumored hauntings adds to its intrigue.

Taft Museum of Art historic white-columned mansion with front steps and landscaped lawn.

Photo credit: Greg Hume (User:Greg5030), CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons

SEDAMSVILLE RECTORY — SEDAMSVILLE

A frequent subject among local paranormal circles, the Rectory is said to host scratches, muffled growls, ghost‑box voices, apparitions, sudden head pain, and moving shadows. One popular legend links Father Donald MacLeod to sightings, especially near an adjacent railroad track. Because it’s privately owned and not open to the public, access is usually limited to organized ghost‑tour groups.

HILTON NETHERLAND PLAZA — DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI

Beyond its Art Deco glamour, the Netherland Plaza has its ghostly tales. Guests and workers report encountering a “Lady in Green” wandering halls, especially in the Hall of Mirrors. Legend says she searches for a husband who died during the hotel’s 1931 construction. Reports also surface from the 1980s renovation period, when construction workers claimed sightings.

Hilton Netherland Plaza Art Deco hotel entrance and marquee on a downtown Cincinnati street.

Photo credit: Warren LeMay from Cincinnati, OH, United States, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

CROW’S NEST BAR — WEST PRICE HILL

A neighborhood Irish bar with its share of ghost stories. Owned by the O’Dell family (whose matriarch lived on the third floor in the 1920s), the bar is said to be haunted by Mama O’Dell and her husband. Reports include flickering lights, objects being moved, and occasional sightings of a ghost couple dancing on the third floor.

SPRING GROVE CEMETERY — WINTON PLACE

A working, historic cemetery, Spring Grove is steeped in local lore: a bust of C. C. Breuer with glass eyes is said to “follow” visitors, and tales persist of spectral animals (often white wolves) and wandering guardian spirits. Because it’s public, these stories are part of tour narratives more than formal investigations.

LICK ROAD (NEAR RICHARDSON FOREST PRESERVE)

While mostly legend, Lick Road is among the more unnerving rural tales. It’s a private, winding route said to be the site of a murder victim named Amy. Stories include footsteps in the woods, distant screams, and a chilling trick: flash your headlights and Amy allegedly writes “HELP” on your condensation. Because it is private property and largely undocumented, it’s best treated as folklore more than a safe destination.

BOBBY MACKEY’S MUSIC WORLD — WILDER, KY (DEMOLISHED / RELOCATING)

Honorable mention for this site, often called “America’s most haunted nightclub”. As of December 2024, the original Bobby Mackey’s building has been demolished. Historically, the site was famous for haunted lore: alleged cult rituals, the ghost of Pearl Bryan, and the so‑called “portal to hell” drain. The owner plans to rebuild on that site and incorporate haunting elements like the “portal wall.”