Haunted Ohio: Glen Springs Nature Preserve in Yellow Springs
Glen Helen Nature Preserve is easily one of the most beautiful places in Yellow Springs, if not Ohio. Located just a skip and a jump away from most of the buildings on the Antioch College campus, it has a long history as Native Americans used the land for many years. Students at Antioch take classes here to learn about conservation efforts and to keep the land in good condition. Visitors will find amenities such as a Trailside Museum, the Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center, and Birch Manor, which was once a private mansion. When you visit today, make sure to keep your eyes open for some of the local ghosts.
One of the first ghosts found in Glen Helen is Helen Bartlett. Hugh Taylor Birch lived in Wisconsin for many years before his family moved to Illinois. When his father, Erastus, become an administrator at the new Antioch College, he picked his family up and moved them to Ohio. It was here that Hugh developed a love for the local land. While attending Antioch, he started multiple nature courses and played on the baseball team. Hugh later moved back to Illinois for law school and later settled in Florida.
Hugh Taylor and his wife made their fortune and began buying land across the country. Part of that land would become Hugh Taylor State Park in Florida. While living in Florida, his daughter, Helen, married Frederick Bartlett. The two would move to Florida and build a home called Bonnet House after her father gave them 35 acres. Hugh Taylor also owned land in Ohio, a portion of which he donated to Antioch College to form the Glen Helen Nature Preserve.
Though Helen passed away in Florida, she loved the time she spent in Ohio. She would often talk about playing in the woods and spending time in the great outdoors. It's not surprising that she decided to return back home upon her death. Visitors walking through the wooded land at night often hear the soft voice of a woman. She may call out as if she needs help or release a soft giggle to let them know she's there.
Helen isn't above making a few appearances either. A few hikers stopped by the museum to ask about the actor they saw outside in an old-fashioned costume, only to find that the museum doesn't have any actors working that day. Others spotted woman in a traditional outfit who slowly faded away as they got close. To make things even more unsettling, I heard reports from visitors who said they felt someone watching them as they walked through the woods. No matter how hard they searched, they never saw another person.
Glen Helen is just one of the Native American landmarks found around Ohio. As it's home to at least one burial ground, no one should be surprised to hear that a few Native American ghosts linger. Legend says that they simply come out to make sure that modern people take care of their ancestral lands. If they do not approve of visitors, the ghosts may throw rocks or small branches at them or just make loud noises in the hopes of forcing them out.
One of the creepier stories I heard came from a group who rented one of the on-site facilities. They spent the day hiking the trails and playing around before heading back to crash for the night. While trying to fall asleep, they heard a loud banging noise outside. A quick peek outside found no cause of the noise. They heard the noise several more times during the night before they finally decided to pack up and leave at first light. One of the group members tapped the window with a glass bottle, making the noise they all heard. Was it a sign of something supernatural or maybe just a local trying to scare off visitors? Who knows?
The trails that run through Glen Helen are perfect for hiking, biking, or walking. One man took his bike out for a long ride one day and had an unusual experience. He heard what sounded like racing footsteps, only they were louder than most people make and moving at a rapid pace. When he stopped to look around, the noises always stopped. They started back up again as soon as he began moving. The experience unnerved him so much that he ended his ride early.
Another story comes from a visitor who spent some time sitting on the cliffs and looking over the water. While staring down, he saw a young girl with a sad look on her face. The person called out to her several times before she finally looked up. Thinking that the girl's family was likely close by, the visitor turned to look for them and turned back to find she was gone without a trace.
I heard a similar story from a friend who grew up in Yellow Springs. She claims that she was sitting near the water and saw a young girl skipping rocks. Thinking it was cute, she watched her for a few minutes. The little girl got closer to the water, which worried her enough that she called out to her. Though the girl looked back for a brief moment, she then faded away.
Both of these visitors spotted the little girl near the falls. If she does haunt the falls, she isn't alone. There are many stories about seeing a little boy near the water who keeps to himself and quietly plays before he slowly fades away. I heard from a few people while working on one of my books who saw a young boy near the falls who had a bright white light around him. When they got closer or looked away and then looked back, he was always gone.
I had the chance to explore the Glen Helen Nature Preserve a few times over the years. As gorgeous as it is, it always left me feeling somewhat unsettled. On one trip with my boyfriend, we got there later in the day. Despite being a nice, warm, and sunny day, the parking lot was empty. We only spent a few minutes on the trail before I turned and asked it we could head back. By the time we got back to our car, we just wanted to head home. It was somehow too quiet and too peaceful, even though it was well before sunset and a time when we should have encountered dozens of other people.
Visit Glen Helen Nature Preserve in Ohio for yourself. Leave a comment if you ever experienced anything a little unusual on your visit.
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