The Buxton Inn – Haunted Historic Inn in Granville, Ohio

Tucked along East Broadway in the quiet college town of Granville, Ohio, The Buxton Inn has welcomed travelers since 1812, making it one of the oldest continuously operated inns in the state. Behind its cheerful pink exterior and famous restaurant sits a building layered with two centuries of innkeepers, stagecoach drivers, and guests who never seem to have checked out. For generations, staff and visitors alike have traded stories of a lady in blue, a phantom cat, and footsteps on the cellar stairs, and that reputation has turned this historic inn into one of central Ohio’s most talked about haunted destinations.

Historical Background

The Buxton Inn was built in 1812 by Orrin Granger, a pioneer who had traveled west from Granville, Massachusetts, on land purchased a few years earlier. He opened it simply as “The Tavern,” and it served the young settlement as far more than a place to sleep. It functioned as Granville’s first post office and as a stagecoach stop on the busy line between Columbus and Newark.

The coach drivers who passed through were housed in the original cellar, a low room with hewn beams, a stone fireplace, and thick stone walls. There they cooked over the open hearth and slept on beds of straw, and that cellar still survives beneath the modern inn. Local tradition also holds that the basement connected to hidden passages tied to the Underground Railroad, and that people fleeing slavery were sheltered within the building during that era.

The inn changed hands several times over its long life. James W. Dilley bought it in 1858 and briefly ran it as The Dilley House. In 1865 it passed to Major Horton Buxton, the well loved innkeeper who finally gave the building the name it still carries today. Among its earliest notable guests was General William Henry Harrison, later a president of the United States, who was a friend of Orrin Granger.

• Year Built: 1812
• Original Purpose: Tavern, inn, post office, and stagecoach stop
• Key Events: Built by pioneer Orrin Granger; renamed The Dilley House in 1858; renamed the Buxton Inn in 1865 by Major Horton Buxton; owned in the 20th century by opera singer Ethel “Bonnie” Bounell; damaged by a 2022 kitchen fire and restored

Paranormal Activity Summary

Guests and staff have reported a wide range of unexplained experiences at The Buxton Inn, and the accounts are remarkably consistent from one decade to the next. Cold spots turn up in rooms and hallways even during warm months. Doors are said to open and close on their own, and lights flicker without an obvious cause.

One of the most repeated details is a sudden scent of rose perfume drifting through a room when no one is wearing any. People also describe the feeling of being watched, faint piano notes, and the sense of a small animal moving across a bed. Several distinct figures are woven into these reports, from a woman in blue to a shadowy man to a ghostly cat, and together they give the inn its layered reputation.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The most famous spirit at The Buxton Inn is Ethel “Bonnie” Bounell, remembered as the Lady in Blue. Bounell was a retired opera singer who had performed with the Manhattan Light Opera Company before she became an owner of the inn in the 1930s. She lived in Room 9 with her cat, which she named Major Buxton after the old innkeeper, and she remained there until her death. Blue was said to be her favorite color, and guests who report seeing her almost always describe a woman dressed in blue.

Visitors staying in Room 9 have described waking to see a woman standing quietly near the bed, catching the drift of rose perfume, or feeling a calm, watchful presence rather than a frightening one. Some accounts also mention a fireplace appearing to light on its own and soft piano melodies with no player at the keys.

Bounell’s cat is a legend in its own right. Guests across many rooms have reported the distinct sensation of a small cat jumping onto the bed and curling up against them during the night, only to find nothing there when they reach out or turn on the light. The phantom cat is one of the inn’s most frequently described phenomena.

Major Horton Buxton and even original builder Orrin Granger are also named among the inn’s spirits, though sightings tied to them are reported far less often than those of the Lady in Blue. Staff have described hearing footsteps and a man’s voice in empty corridors, sounds long associated with the inn’s earlier male owners.

The old cellar has its own resident. Local tradition tells of a young traveler, sometimes called the Tavern Boy, who is said to have fallen ill on a passing stagecoach, was quarantined in the basement, and died there. His spirit is described as mischievous rather than menacing, and stories credit him with tugging at hair or tripping people as they make their way down the narrow stairs.

Most Haunted Spot Inside

Room 9 sits at the heart of the inn’s ghostly reputation. As the room where Bonnie Bounell lived and died, it is the spot most closely tied to the Lady in Blue, and it is where the majority of full apparition sightings are reported. Guests describe cold drafts, the scent of roses, and the image of a woman near the foot of the bed.

The historic cellar rivals Room 9 as the property’s most active area. Once quarters for stagecoach drivers and later a Prohibition era speakeasy, the basement is where staff most often report hearing voices, the clink of mugs, and chairs scraping across the brick floor when the room is empty. The heavy basement door is said to open and close on its own, and footsteps are frequently heard on the stairs.

Can You Visit?

• Open to the Public? Yes. The Buxton Inn operates as a working inn and restaurant in downtown Granville.
• Entry Fee: No general admission fee. Costs apply only when you book a room, a meal, or a scheduled tour.
• Tour Availability: The inn has offered seasonal history and ghost themed tours, most often around the Halloween season. Check current availability directly with the inn.
• Photography Allowed? Generally yes in public and dining areas. Be courteous of other guests and staff, and ask before photographing private rooms or events.
• Visiting Hours: Vary by season and by restaurant service times. Overnight stays run on standard check in and check out schedules, so confirm hours before you go.

Best Time to Visit

Autumn is the classic time to experience The Buxton Inn. The weeks around Halloween bring the inn’s ghost themed programming to life, and the surrounding hills of Licking County are at their most colorful, making the trip worthwhile even for guests who are more interested in history than in hauntings.

For a quieter visit, weeknights and the off season offer a calmer atmosphere and easier reservations. Many guests who hope for a firsthand encounter book Room 9 well in advance, since demand for that room climbs sharply as October approaches.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Buxton Inn has drawn paranormal enthusiasts and researchers for decades, and its story has been documented well beyond word of mouth. A public television feature produced through WOSU explored the inn’s ghosts alongside its genuine history and its ties to the Underground Railroad, giving the legends a serious regional platform.

Investigators and curious guests tend to focus on the two areas with the deepest track record of reports, Room 9 and the old cellar. Documented accounts most often center on unexplained sounds, temperature drops, moving doors, and the recurring rose perfume, rather than dramatic one time events. The consistency of these mundane but repeated experiences is a large part of why the inn’s reputation has endured.

Planning Your Visit

Granville is an easy drive from Columbus and Newark, and The Buxton Inn pairs naturally with the walkable historic downtown that surrounds it. If you are mapping out a wider trip, our roundup of the most haunted places in Ohio can help you string together several stops in a single weekend.

To find more haunted sites near Granville and across the state, browse the full Ohio haunted places directory, which organizes locations by city and type so you can plan around your route.

If you hope to document your stay, it helps to arrive prepared. Our ghost hunting equipment guide walks through the audio recorders, cameras, and sensors that investigators rely on, along with tips for using them respectfully in an occupied inn.

Because The Buxton Inn is a genuine working business rather than an abandoned attraction, booking ahead is the single most important step. Reserve rooms and any tours in advance, especially in October, and confirm current dining hours before you make the drive.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

The Buxton Inn is private property and a hospitality business, so all visits should go through the front door as a paying guest or an official tour participant. There is no trespassing or after hours ghost hunting on the grounds, and the inn’s charm depends on visitors respecting that.

Inside, treat the historic building with care. The old cellar has uneven brick floors and a narrow staircase, so watch your footing and keep to areas that are open to guests. Be mindful of overnight guests and diners when you explore, and always ask staff before entering restricted spaces or setting up any recording equipment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the Lady in Blue at The Buxton Inn?

The Lady in Blue is widely believed to be Ethel “Bonnie” Bounell, a retired opera singer who owned the inn beginning in the 1930s and lived in Room 9 until her death. Blue was said to be her favorite color, and most sightings describe a woman dressed in blue.

Can you stay overnight in the haunted rooms?

Yes. The Buxton Inn rents guest rooms, and Room 9, the most famous haunted room, can typically be requested. It books quickly around Halloween, so reserve early if you want a chance at it.

Is The Buxton Inn really one of Ohio’s oldest inns?

It is. Built in 1812 and operating almost continuously ever since, The Buxton Inn is recognized as one of the oldest continuously operated inns in Ohio, with roots as an early tavern, post office, and stagecoach stop.

What kind of ghostly experiences do guests report most?

The most common reports involve cold spots, the scent of rose perfume, doors opening and closing on their own, footsteps in the cellar, and the feeling of a phantom cat jumping onto the bed. Full apparition sightings are rarer and cluster around Room 9.