Here is what we know...​

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Back in the mid to late 1980s, the Pataskala Lions Club came up with an idea to raise money for local youth sports: a haunted attraction deep in the woods of Pataskala, Ohio. And so, the Pataskala Lions Haunted Forest was born—just off Refugee Road, near where the Southwest Licking Youth Football and Baseball teams now play.

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But what started as a fundraiser took a dark and unexpected turn…

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As volunteers explored the woods to plan their layout, they stumbled across the charred ruins of what looked like a small house. Roughly 30 feet away stood a crude grave marker, etched with a single word: “Murdock.” Attempts to uncover the history of the building or the Murdock name turned up nothing—no records, no stories, nothing. It was as if whatever had happened here had been completely erased.

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Still, they moved forward, clearing debris and laying out plans. But from the moment construction began, strange things started happening. Nails refused to stay in place. Lightbulbs shattered with no cause. Disembodied voices whispered through the trees. People felt watched—touched—grabbed... when no one else was around. Shadows moved through empty buildings. And over time, the activity only grew more intense.

That’s when the legend of The Murdock Family began to take shape.

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According to the tale, the land once belonged to Ezekiel Murdock, a twisted patriarch who commanded his family to kill and mutilate anyone who dared step onto their property. Whether legend or truth, unexplained occurrences still plague the woods—and the Murdock name has become a permanent part of the Haunted Forest's chilling lore.

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That lone grave marker remains hidden somewhere within the forest. Only a few trusted workers know its location. And they’re not talking—because no one wants to disturb it…

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No one wants to know what might happen if they do.

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