170 years of county poor farm history, an 1851 abuse investigation, and over 1,200 on-site burials — now open for ghost hunts
3974 W Fair Ave, Lancaster, OH 43130
Research updated June 2026
Age
18+
Cost
$$
Ticketed ghost hunts and overnight investigations; see website for current event pricing
Access
Limited Access
Multi-story historic building with stairs; limited accessibility
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1828 · 1851 Documented Abuse by Superintendent · 1,200 Estimated On-Site Burials · 157 Years of County Institutional Operation · National Register of Historic Places (2020)
The Fairfield County Infirmary opened in 1828 as the county's solution to housing residents who could not support themselves — the indigent poor, those with mental illness, orphaned children, and the elderly without family. The institution operated under a succession of county-appointed superintendents whose treatment of residents ranged from neglectful to actively abusive. An 1851 account in a Lancaster newspaper documented a superintendent beating residents in the fields; the article prompted county action but no lasting reform of conditions.
Residents who died at the infirmary were buried in an on-site cemetery. The total count of burials accumulated over 157 years of operation is estimated at over 1,200. Many of the burials were of residents with no family, and the grave markers — to the extent they were placed — have largely deteriorated or been lost. A 1929 death on the property was particularly documented: Jane Householder, a resident, died in a fire in the building under circumstances that were disputed at the time.
The infirmary closed in 1985 after state regulations and community standards for institutional care had shifted entirely away from the poorhouse model. The building sat vacant for decades before being nominated to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020 — the nomination noted its architectural significance as a well-preserved example of 19th-century county institutional construction. The property was sold in 2020 to new owners who have since operated it as a paranormal tourism venue, offering ticketed ghost hunts and overnight investigations. The building's 52 rooms, including areas associated with documented deaths and the basement spaces referenced in historical abuse accounts, are open to investigators.
Sources
The Fairfield County Infirmary's paranormal reputation developed quickly after it reopened for ghost hunts in 2020, drawing investigators who report a particularly active environment across multiple areas of the building. The two most consistently named entities are 'Willy' and 'Susie' — investigators describe Willy as a former adult male resident whose EVP responses include direct answers to questions, and Susie as a child whose presence is associated with movement sounds on the upper floors and temperature drops in the east wing.
Amyscrypt.com's documented investigation includes accounts of full-body apparition sightings in the main corridor and the room identified in county records as associated with the 1929 death of Jane Householder in a fire. Several investigators have reported encountering unexplained electrical activity — devices draining rapidly, flashlight manipulation, and EMF spikes concentrated in specific rooms.
The building's basement, referenced in historical records as the location where difficult residents were confined, consistently produces the highest density of investigator reports. EVP captured in that area includes sounds described as labored breathing and single-word responses.
After the venue reopened for paranormal events, the current owners also reported two unexplained small fire incidents in areas of the building with no obvious ignition source. These incidents were documented by local media.
Notable Entities
Ticketed overnight paranormal investigations at the Fairfield County Infirmary, held in the historic building where county residents lived and died from 1828 through 1985. Participants explore the 52-room structure with access to rooms associated with documented deaths and abuse history. Investigators report EVP, apparitions, and unexplained electrical activity throughout the building.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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