Entry No. 23 — the Columbus file — filed under: haunted
The Buxton Inn
Built in 1812, Ohio's oldest continuously operating stagecoach inn has hosted historical giants like Abraham Lincoln and is famously teeming with supernatural activity. Guests frequently report encounters with former innkeeper Ethel 'Bonnie' Bounell (the 'Lady in Blue') in Room 9, Major Buxton in the tavern, and even a ghostly cat that jumps onto beds.
The story
When Orrin Granger built "The Tavern" in 1812 along the stagecoach route between Newark and Columbus, he created Granville's first post office, a ballroom, and a stage stop. You didn't hear it from us, but behind the red facade and white columns, the stone cellar doubled as a hideout on the Underground Railroad, concealing freedom seekers while drivers slept below. Over two centuries, Abraham Lincoln, William Henry Harrison, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Yo-Yo Ma all tread these same uneven floorboards.
In 1865, Union veteran Major Horton Buxton took over and put his name on the sign, but the inn’s spookiest legacy belongs to Ethel 'Bonnie' Bounell. A former light-opera singer who bought the place in 1934, Bonnie moved into Room 9 with her cat and never really checked out after dying in 1960. Guests still report the scent of gardenia perfume in Room 9, a woman in a blue dress drifting past courtyard balconies, and an invisible cat jumping onto the foot of the bed—a detail so persistent the inn added a feline to its street sign back in the 1970s.
Down in the basement tavern, Major Buxton’s shadow is said to drift among the low timber beams, while original builder Orrin Granger gets blamed whenever a pie goes missing from the kitchen. Five historic structures now encircle the central courtyard, creating a maze of creaky corridors where doorknobs turn on their own and phantom footsteps follow you down empty halls.
What it's like
Pull up to Broadway in Granville and head straight down into the cellar tavern, where exposed timber, low ceilings, and historic newspaper clippings set a heavy, dim-lit atmosphere before you even place an order. Staff are used to quiet inquiries about the supernatural; if the dining room isn't swamped, ask nicely if you can peek at Room 9 or step into the courtyard where the 'Lady in Blue' is usually spotted floating along the upper balconies. Just remember this is an authentic 1812 build—expect tight staircases, sloped floors, and zero modern hotel uniformity.
The move: Book a dinner date at the historic tavern, then ask the staff if you can peek at Room 9 or the courtyard where the 'Lady in Blue' is most frequently spotted.
- 📍 Granville
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 313 E Broadway, Granville, OH 43023
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Westerville History Museum (Anti-Saloon League Museum) — Pair this dry-law history archive with the Buxton's 1812 tavern for a full tour of central Ohio's historical tug-of-war with booze.
- P.O. Box Twenty One — Combine Granville's original 1812 post-office-turned-tavern with Westerville's hidden 1990s post-office speakeasy for a mail-themed drinking tour.
- Mid-Ohio Historical Doll and Toy Museum — Follow up an overnight haunt in Granville with thousands of centuries-old playthings in nearby Canal Winchester.
- National Barber Museum & Hall of Fame — Pair Ohio's oldest operating inn with another deeply niche, century-spanning collection tucked away in central Ohio.
Good to know
Do I need to book a room to visit the tavern?
No, you can visit the cellar tavern and restaurant for drinks or dinner without staying overnight as a lodging guest.
Which room at the Buxton Inn has the most reported ghost activity?
Room 9 is the most famous spot, known for sightings of former owner Ethel 'Bonnie' Bounell (the 'Lady in Blue') and her ghost cat, though Room 7 and the basement tavern also have frequent reports of shadowy figures and footsteps.
Why is there a cat pictured on the Buxton Inn's street sign?
The feline icon was added in the 1970s to honor a phantom cat—believed to be the pet of former innkeeper Bonnie Bounell—that guests repeatedly report feeling jump onto their beds at night.
Was the Buxton Inn really a stop on the Underground Railroad?
Yes, historical records and local accounts document that the inn's stone cellar contained secret spaces used to shelter enslaved people escaping north during the 19th century.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: ohio.org · Official site · Wikipedia · thedeadhistory.com · reportingproject.org
last checked: 2026-07-21