This historic hotel has been acquired by the state historical society and is due to be renovated to restore it to its former glory. The hotel is rumoured to be haunted, which has been testified by many former guests, patrons and staff, and is widely acclaimed to be the towns most haunted building. The first commonly seen apparition is that of builder and former owner Alexander Dunn, who. Is most active in the observatory room which was formerly his bedroom. The second is another former female owner, who wanders the hotel ensuring that everything is in order. The third is believed to be the mistress of President McKinley, a frequent visitor to the hotel and town. On certain nights, staff say that they have heard a celebration occurring on the upper floor, but upon investigation have found nothing. Other paranormal activity includes ghostly music and a poltergeist that likes to move furniture around.
(Submitted by Callum Swift)
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Geographic Information
- Address:
- 162 Main Street
Zoar, OH
United States
Get Directions » - GPS:
- 40.61229598603038, -81.4221585094765
- County:
- Tuscarawas County, Ohio
- Nearest Towns:
- Zoar, OH (0.1 mi.)
Bolivar, OH (3.0 mi.)
Sandyville, OH (3.3 mi.)
Mineral City, OH (3.3 mi.)
East Sparta, OH (5.2 mi.)
Parral, OH (5.3 mi.)
Strasburg, OH (5.6 mi.)
Dover, OH (6.9 mi.)
Magnolia, OH (7.0 mi.)
New Philadelphia, OH (8.6 mi.)
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Disclaimer: The stories posted here are user-submitted and are, in the nature of "ghost stories," largely unverifiable. HauntedPlaces.org makes no claims that any of the statements posted here are factually accurate. The vast majority of information provided on this web site is anecdotal, and as such, should be viewed in the same light as local folklore and urban legends.
McKinley was pretty much the only president to NOT have a mistress lol.
Their is only 1 ghost in the Zoar Hotel. his name Is William Bimeler. Owner,Manager from 1900 too 1929 when he died. He was ill the last 2 years of his life. His wife was Lillian ruof bimeler. her brother edgar ruof was also co owner. Look! It’s not that Haunted! they are rare occasions. nothing scary or malicious. How do I know who it Is. We are the last family that lived in the zoar hotel from 1975 to 1978. I only found out recently when I saw a picture of William bimeler….like my brother said. I will never forget those eyes. as far as the sound of parties. that is true. sounded like at least 30 people talking clinging glasses and piano. wich is hard to wrap your head around. because their is only one force their. Only William. Who I thank for not scaring the hell out of me. The alexander gunn thing is silly. he died in Germany and was brought back. He didn’t have the responsibility of running the hotel. and his picture doesn’t match wich I new 40 years ago.Many waitresses and a handful of other people who have seen William Bimeler. But didn’t know who he was….historical society photos have several pics of him. he is with Lillian sitting on a porch with a dog. The pic is called unknown couple in Zoar. Their sitting on Hotel Porch. Another pic he is holding a clarionet instrument in his hand, my favorite pic is hotel employees standing buy porch. most of the employees are holding trays, William and Lillian are in the back row with Mary Ruof, You can click on photo and get close up on William and Lillian. He has a face you will not forget. And Lillian is a doll.. Took me 41 years to figure out. But, I have been busy…glta
I seen William sitting in the breakfast room one night when I was going down to get a snack from the vending machine, he wasn’t looking at me at first because I was being veryyyy quiet, then I made a small noise and his head turned to me quicker than a snap, I looked at him, we locked eyes for 3 seconds then he faded like sheets of paper flying everywhere, I ditched my snack AND RAN!!
When we moved in the hotel in fall of 1974 their were never any ghosts stories! Only 1 ghost story, “the man in the dark suite” And the 3 waitress I met on that very first day had it right! On the second day of moving into the hotel a law was passed bye my parents that no more ghost stories were to be ever spoken)) The irony is Hilda Morhart the fine lady who wrote the zoar Story who I am proud to say I visited many times. She is telling you the same thing I am. In her book she lists william as the last owner of the zoar hotel. Their is no reason for this. Hilda published the zoar story in 1968? She lived their all her life. She would have known william. Their were countless owners of the hotel after william dies in 1928 . 1940 when it had some stable ownership thru the 40,early 50,s. I can see why she left many past owners out but too place william from 1900 thru 1928 and then stop! I came close to asking hilda about the man in the dark suite the first time I saw him. But I couldnt bring it up. To talk such things was on a level of nonsense and gossip. And for a small town like zoar their was never gossip. A odd thing in hind sight. Well ,you can thank Lillian biemler for her donation in 1940 on William’s behalf to zoar historical society. ..I am no relative of the biemlers or relative of any of the zoarites. My #1 motive. If the zoar historical society promotes and uses Alexander Gunn stories that he was some one of importance or the ghost of the zoar hotel I will write a scathing article on that man. He was a nobody.! A complete fraud! I know that for a fact and can prove it. figure I owe William that much.) Ot: I can not place a vending machine in the hotel,never heard term breakfast room used. even when I worked for dick and Joanne until the closing. The best I might add!
Robert is LYING! I am Alexander Dunn’s great-great-grandson and I cannot believe the lies he is coming and telling on this site. He has slandered my ancestor’s good name in favour of a man who did NOTHING for this town. I am contemplating legal action and hope that Robert’s comments will be removed immediately.
I wouldn’t be concerned about what Robert said. He needs to get a dictionary and learn to use punctuation and sentence structure. His total ineptitude at writing calls his comments into question. Sorry that happened to you.
Thank you for your kind words, Leslie. I’m hoping the matter will be heard in court during this coming winter…