Athens County derives its name from the Greek City of Athens, and its county seat is also Athens. It has an area of 506.76 square miles and a population of about 62,223. Because of its many cemeteries and ghost reports, it has the reputation of being one of the most haunted locations in the country; the Athens Pentagram–a shape that can supposedly be drawn by connecting the city’s many cemeteries–and the former insane asylum (now “The Ridges”) lend to this impression. Ohio University, also located in the city of Athens, has a reputation for being America’s most haunted college campus.

Cemeteries

• The Ridges
  • Photos
  • Directions: From U.S. Route 33 (east or west), take exit 17 which only goes west off of the freeway. Less than half a mile later at the first traffic light turn LEFT onto Richland Ave. and take an almost immediate right onto Dairy Lane, which is a really small road that is easy to miss so make sure you’re watching. A short while later the road will kind of fork, with Dairy Lane continuing if you veer left, Circle Lane to the severe right and Park Lane in the middle. FOR CEMETERY 1: Follow the middle road up past the park to a stop sign where there is another fork in the road on the left. Take the lower road that will look like it’s going to nowhere. At the bottom of the hill, there is a parking area. You can either walk back up the road you just came down and take a left up the hill or walk around the gate and take the nature trail to the right to get to the oldest of the Asylum cemeteries. The TB Ward is also at the top of this hill directly across from the cemetery. FOR CEMETERIES 2 & 3: Continue to follow Dairy Lane until you come to the Dairy Barn on your left and a bridge/stairs/sign on your right. You can park in the Dairy Barn parking lot and then head up the stairs, with the newest cemetery first and the oldest back farther but still visible from the top of the stairs. If you’re really up for it, the trail continues and will eventually connect back to the first cemetery but it’s quite a hike. For a map of the cemetery grounds, click here.

• West State Street
  • Photos
  • Directions: Quite frankly, there isn’t really a good way to give directions to this cemetery. My best advice is to put “West State Street at cemetery, Athens, Ohio” in an online map program (it worked in the three I tried, but not Bing). If you really need some tips, e-mail us and I’ll be happy to talk you through it!