About This Location
Gore Orphanage Road in Vermilion, Ohio is one of the state's most legendary haunted locations. The area's dark reputation stems from a combination of historical facts that have been woven into ghost stories over generations. The actual Light of Hope Orphanage operated on this road from 1902 until reports of abuse led to its closure. The nearby Swift Mansion, home to a family that held seances and lost four children to diphtheria, added to the location's eerie reputation.
The Ghost Story
Legend claims that an orphanage burned down in the 1800s, killing dozens of children whose screaming ghosts can still be heard on dark nights. Visitors report ghostly apparitions, mysterious balls of light, children's handprints appearing on dusty car windows, and the haunting screams of children echoing through the woods. While historians note that no children actually died in any fire at the orphanage, the atmosphere along this dark country road is undeniably unsettling. The high-pitched hum of trucks crossing a nearby Ohio Turnpike bridge often carries on the wind, creating sounds easily mistaken for ghostly wails. Whether the legends are true or embellished, Gore Orphanage Road remains a popular destination for legend-tripping teenagers and paranormal investigators alike.