As the cool and gloomy days of autumn descend on Cleveland, locals start thinking about which spooky festivities are perfect to participate in. There are oodles of haunted houses and corn mazes in the area, but nothing quite compares to truly haunted destinations. In big cities like Cleveland, abandoned buildings house residents who haven't seen the light of day in decades... but what spirits linger in the ruins of an abandoned funeral home? Now is your chance to find out... if you dare enter Cleveland's most haunted abandoned funeral parlor, The House of Wills in Cleveland.
Before we dive into details about the upcoming haunted tour, you should know a bit about the unusual history of this place to properly prepare you for what’s to come.
In 1941, two unlikely worlds meshed in the most unusual way when Gee & Wills funeral services moved into 2491 E. 55th St. and opened The House of Wills.
The new location (pictured below) was extravagant and beautiful, still overflowing with grand architectural elements from its earlier days as an opera house.
However, the building has a history that transcends its days as an opera house and funeral parlor. For over a century, The House of Wills (formerly known as Gesangverein Hall) has lived many lives - not all of them peaceful.
At one point, the building served as a hospital for immigrants and it saw a fair share of deaths and suicides.
Local tales indicate that the site may have once served as a speakeasy during Prohibition.
The building also hosted racial group gatherings, including proponents of the Civil Rights Movement, making it a progressive part of Cleveland history.
The turbulent eras of illegal alcohol sales and sociopolitical turmoil contributed to its reputation as a hotspot for unrested spirits and a few souls are said to still linger on the property.
Visitors have described a series of unusual experiences within its crumbling walls.
Disembodied footsteps and voices are the norm in this haunted destination, but you may also encounter a gentleman in a white suit... perhaps the embodiment of the former owner that died on the premises.
Could the tormented souls of its hospital days still be wandering the halls of this historic structure?
The building was abandoned years ago, and time has taken its toll on the structure. Though dilapidated, the beauty of this iconic building is still evident.
It has transfixed many paranormal professionals, including Destination America's "Ghost Brothers."
If you, too, are fascinated by the hauntings said to take place here, you’ll have the opportunity to investigate for yourself at an upcoming public event.
Paranormal tours of this spooky site are often offered as Halloween approaches. For updates on this spooky place and to get involved in upcoming events, you'll want to connect with the House of Wills Facebook page.
Much history is contained within the many rooms of The House of Wills, and some of it is quite murky.
What happened during the speakeasy portion of this haunted house's history? How many people died in these halls, and how many mourned? While we may be left with speculation, perhaps we don't want to know the truth...
Get a closer look at the House of Wills:
There's a chill in the air and Halloween is right around the corner, meaning it's time to gear up for autumnal festivities. Get ready for a truly haunting experience, because this tour will kick off the season in one of Cleveland's most haunted places.
Would you enter an authentic haunted house in Cleveland? Which spooky destinations have you already toured in the area?
If you enjoyed this creepy destination, you would have such an adventure taking this road trip to abandoned places in Cleveland.
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