By Logan Andrew | FreeWire — Your News, Your Voice
GALION / MONROE — A weekend event intended to celebrate the “odd and macabre” has instead left dozens of small business owners demanding answers from a local entrepreneur with deep ties to Crawford County.
Nate Thompson, 29, owner of the Ohio Museum of Horror and The Last Meal restaurant in Galion, is at the center of a growing controversy following the “Michigan Oddities and Horror Fest” held this past weekend in Monroe, MI.
Reports from the scene indicate that between 30 and 150 vendors—many of whom traveled hundreds of miles and paid hundreds of dollars in fees—arrived Saturday morning only to be told there was no space for them. Local authorities in Monroe were called to the venue as frustrated vendors sought police reports to document what some are calling a “predatory” business practice.
A Pattern of Issues?
While this is the most significant disruption to date, research into the event’s history suggests a recurring theme of organizational chaos.
- 2024 & 2025: While previous years were touted as successes by Thompson, individual vendors have come forward documenting “overbooking” issues where they were squeezed into non-vending areas or corners not visible to the public.
- 2026: This year’s failure appears to be a total collapse of logistics, with a “saturation” of vendors that physically could not fit into the building.
The Response and Due Process
In the court of law, every individual is afforded the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. While the “court of public opinion” on social media often moves much faster, FreeWire is committed to a fair accounting of the facts.
While Thompson has not yet provided an official statement to FreeWire, his recent public activity on social media suggests a person grappling with the fallout. In various posts and communications with local Michigan media, Thompson has expressed remorse for the situation, citing being “overwhelmed” by the scale of the event. He has reportedly begun the process of issuing refunds to the 20–25 vendors he claims were affected, though many in the vendor community argue the number of impacted businesses is significantly higher.
Local Impact
Thompson’s footprint in Galion has expanded rapidly since opening the Ohio Museum of Horror and its controversial “Last Meal” restaurant concept in 2025. Thompson has repeatedly claimed that a portion of his profits goes to “victim support foundations,” though specific organizations have yet to be publicly named.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
FreeWire is currently investigating the operational history of the Ohio Museum of Horror and The Last Meal. We are reaching out to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, local health departments, and affected vendors to provide a complete picture of the situation. As Thompson continues to grow his presence in Crawford County, FreeWire is seeking clarity on whether the Michigan overbooking reflects a broader pattern, the specific identities of the “victim support organizations” his businesses claim to fund, and what operational standards are being implemented in Galion to prevent similar logistical failures. Our goal is to provide a fair and thorough accounting of how these business practices impact our local economy.
About The Author
From social media posts I’ve seen .He’s also purchased skulls from the recent accused grave robber Johnathan Gerlach. That he has displayed in his museum.
I worked for Nate Thompson in the past. He pays under the table and it’s not much more than minimum wage. He did not pay me my last check after I was fired for asking if we had any certificates of authenticity at the museum. I guess his response means that we didn’t. He’s not a good person, I saw many bruises on his fiancé. He was cruel in how he spoke to her to the point of making her cry. I highly suggest not supporting any of his businesses.