The Franklin Castle (Hannes Tiedemann House) — Attraction in Cleveland

Last night, on Groundhog Day, we toured the Franklin Castle located at 4308 Franklin Boulevard in Cleveland, OH.

As a preface to my review of the tour, I want to state that being born on Friday the 13th and having worked in a funeral home, I do not feel fearful of the dead, nor do I believe in superstitions. I do believe in spirits, both good and evil, and probably a mix of both, zooming around us. But I am not one of the people that you'd consider a 'ghost chaser'. I scare easily (just ask my husband and kids!) and am afraid of the dark. But I do love visiting cemeteries and learning about haunted places.

All of that being said, I was born and raised on the West side of Cleveland, and have been aware of the Franklin Castle for as long as I can remember. As a kid, we would drive by this 4-story stone mansion often. As a new driver, I recall going with some friends to scope it out. At that time, you could not go inside, but we sat out front in my parent's minivan and watched the windows to see if there was any movement inside; we'd all heard that it was haunted. Haunted by who, we weren't sure. It was the late 1980s, and back then we weren't Googling things yet. Stories were passed by word of mouth mostly, on the news, or in our local paper 'The Cleveland Plain Dealer'. We'd heard about infants and small children who died in the house, bones being found there. Nobody knew for sure who was haunting it, though stories floated around. Alas, we saw no signs of life, or afterlife, on any occasion.

Fast forward to the present time, February 2023. Since you can Google things today, I'll leave that to you because there are loads of details to learn about the history of this beautiful, yet ominous-looking place online. As for what we learned in person last night: I don't want to spoil it by sharing too much. I'll simply note that our delightful tour guide Jens (pronounced 'yens') warmly welcomed us through the iron gate around 5:45pm, and we did not conclude the tour until after 8:00pm. For over two hours, he led our group from dark room to even darker room, up and down through all four floors (basement to attic), while talking about the past residents, mixing oxblood paint, hidden panels, walking us onto and off of stone balconies, allowing us to take a photo by the black mirror, sharing details of one raging fire, some underground tunnels, and showing us a glorious ballroom. There were areas we could take photos, and areas where pictures were off-limits. Like I wrote, I don't want to spoil it by sharing too much. If you are curious, definitely go and experience it for yourself. It is well worth the money spent. In addition to the paid tour, they offer overnight stays.

I plan to go back again, maybe next year on Groundhog Day to see the progress of the continued restorations and learn more about the paranormal monitoring that has been taking place. There won't ever be any overnight stays for this gal though! I don't have the constitution for that. While I did not see any poltergeists, I do believe the place is haunted. My spine was tingling throughout the entire experience. Thanks to Jens for the warm welcome to his castle. It far exceeded my...

Don’t waste your time or birthday. This tour was absolutely dreadful.

My girlfriend had planned this tour for me two months in advance as part of a birthday celebration. The night of my tour was my 24th birthday and to I was disappointed would be an understatement.

Our tour guide Jen was absolutely god awful. He could not keep a single thought straight while giving this tour. He jumped around so much I don’t think anyone in our tour group could follow what he was saying. And when he was forming cohesive sentences, he focused on the architecture and restoration of the house more than the history. The history of the Franklin castle and the haunting rumors that surround it are the entire reason why I wanted to go! On my birthday no less. Not to hear about how much redwood was used in the restoration of the house or how many engraved hinges are used on each door frame.

And you know, I could forgive all of this. All of it. If it wasn’t for this small bit of irony that goes along with my experience here. I work in the restoration field, I restore houses from 60’s and back as a profession. I’m the guy who someone like our tour guide, would hire to come in and tear out the previous paneling there and put up that beautiful redwood he spent so much talking about.

So, to not only waste 3 hours of my birthday on a nonsensical tour, he focused on the main components of what I do for living. On the one night, I was hoping to hear about something that actually interests me. You know, like the disturbing history this location has and ghost sightings that make up the reputation Franklin Castle.

Now I’m not gonna ask for a refund, from the other reviews I’ve read about people asking for one, it sounds like a nightmare. In fact, I’m gonna rate you guys 5 stars. Only because I know the 5 star reviews are the first ones people read when considering a tour here. And I’d like them to read my experience.

And to our tour guide Jen, if you’re wondering who this was in your tour group. I was the tall guy, in the black and white flannel who was rubbing his eyes and checking his phone every 5 minutes to make you aware that whatever you were talking about was not interesting. And I think you acknowledged that by asking my girlfriend every 15 minutes if we were still enjoying the tour. Please consider what I’ve said in my review for the next people who have the misfortune of getting you as a tour guide.

*Edit. Just in case our tour guides name wasn’t Jen, he was the German fellow. I’d hate for someone else to take...

I had the privilege of staying at Franklin Castle over the weekend, and I am still in awe of the captivating experience. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by Jens, our knowledgeable tour guide and resident of the castle. His passion for the history of this magnificent place was evident as he regaled us with fascinating tales and led us on an unforgettable journey through time.

Jens's dedication to the castle's restoration for the past 10 years was truly inspiring. His love for preserving its rich heritage was palpable in every conversation we had. It was evident that he poured his heart and soul into every nook and cranny, ensuring that its eerie charm and historical significance remained intact.

What truly amazed me was Jens's kindness and genuine concern for our comfort. He consistently went above and beyond to ensure we were well taken care of during our stay. From offering helpful recommendations for nearby attractions to making sure we had everything we needed, he made us feel like honored guests in his haunted abode.

One aspect that truly impressed me was Jens's openness to our exploration. As a paranormal enthusiast, I had brought along my own equipment to investigate the supernatural phenomena rumored to occur within the castle's walls. Jens not only accommodated this but also encouraged our exploration, allowing us to freely immerse ourselves in the mysterious atmosphere without any reservations.

The experience at Franklin Castle was worth every penny. The opportunity to spend a night in this atmospheric and historically significant landmark was truly unparalleled. The feeling of being enveloped by its haunting ambiance, walking in the footsteps of history, and perhaps even encountering something otherworldly is an adventure like no other.

I am already eagerly looking forward to my return next year, knowing that another enchanting stay at Franklin Castle awaits. If you're seeking an immersive, spine-tingling experience steeped in history, this is the place for you. Thank you, Jens, for your expertise, hospitality, and dedication to preserving...