Posts Tagged ‘haunted hotels’

10 Haunted Places I Want to Visit Before I Become A Ghost, Part X

Posted: September 1, 2025 in Scary Stuff
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This image will never not be spooky.

Wow, this is my tenth in this series of posts. You think I should do like the Friday the 13th franchise and go to space for this one? Yeah, you’re right. Not a lot of haunted locations outside of Earth’s atmosphere. However, there are plenty on Earth, and I have ten I want to visit. So, let’s start listing them. Perhaps you’ll visit them this Halloween season.

Or stay far away from them. That’s also a possibility.

Old Absinthe House, New Orleans, LA
This is the first of many locations on this list that are located in New Orleans, so I’ll have to plan a trip back one of these days. Anyway, the Old Absinthe House, also known as Jean Lafitte’s Old Absinthe House, was first built as a grocery store in 1806 before becoming a bar. And through the years, through wars and Prohibition and more. it has remained a bar specializing in absinthe.

It also is home to several ghosts. Some include then-General Andrew Jackson and pirate captain Jean Lafitte, who supposedly met there to plan a collaboration in the final days of the War of 1812. Other ghosts include Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau; a woman in a white dress; and a little girl who plays on the building’s third floor.

You know, I didn’t care for absinthe the first time I tried it, but I’d be willing to try it again. Especially if it came with a side of ghosts!

The Hollywood Sign, Hollywood, CA
Do I need to go into the history of the Hollywood sign? No, because it’s not relevant here, and it’s already so iconic. So let’s talk about the supposed haunting. in 1932, actress Peg Entwistle climbed to the top of the H in the sign and jumped from it to her death. It’s believed that she killed herself because most of her role in the one film she was in, Thirteen Women, was largely cut due to her playing a lesbian. As you can bet, this was rather controversial at the time.

Today, people visiting or working at the sign at night sometimes smell the scent of gardenias, which was Entwistle’s favorite perfume. And they sometimes also see a woman in clothing from the 1930s, who disappears upon being approached.

I’ve never been that far west before, but this makes me want to go there. And maybe make a night visit to the sign.

The Faulkner House Bookstore, New Orleans, LA
In an alleyway in New Orleans is a bookstore where the former home of writer William Faulkner used to be. It was in this home that Faulkner wrote his first novel, as well as first started his writing career. Today, his writing desk is still in the bookstore, which deals in fine literature and rare books, especially of Faulkner’s works.

Faulkner himself is also supposed to be in the bookstore, even though he died in 1962. If you go there sometimes, you can smell his tobacco pipe, and maybe even see him writing at his writing desk. Maybe if I head down during business hours, we could have a nice discussion about literature. You never know.

The Bullock Hotel, Deadwood, SD
This beautiful and historic building, made of stone and built in a Victorian Italianate style, was built by Seth Bullock, an early sheriff of Deadwood, in the 1890s. It was later turned into a hardware store, but was converted back into a hotel in the 1990s, with the new owners decorating the hotel to look as much like it might have in the Victorian era as possible while still having modern amenities.

Seth Bullock’s ghost is also regularly seen around the hotel, making sure guests are enjoying themselves, and that the staff is hard at work. Other apparitions and orbs are seen aplenty, and there are regular ghost tours and ghost hunts in the hotel. So if you need a reason to visit South Dakota besides Mount Rushmore (like me), here’s your excuse!

The Pharmacy Museum, New Orleans, LA
Dedicated to the history of pharmacology and apothecary in the United States, this historic building was first owned and operated by Dr. Louis Dulfilho, America’s first certified pharmacist. It later went to Dr. James Dupas, and then became a paper warehouse before becoming a museum. In the time since then, rumors of hauntings have accumulated at the museum. Most are linked to Dr. Dupas, who is alleged to have done inhuman experiments on enslaved people (though there is no historical evidence that this occurred).

Regardless, people have reported seeing the doctor around the museum, as well as ghostly women in the courtyard. Some have also reported being shoved and touched, only to see no one there. The museum’s website does claim that, like every building in the French quarter, it is likely haunted, though they don’t permit paranormal investigations. They prefer to educate. That being said, the next time I’m in New Orleans, I’m going to learn both about the history of pharmacology, and maybe spy some ghosts while I’m at it!

The Loveland castle in Loveland, OH

Loveland Castle, Loveland, OH
Back in the 1920s, local medievalist, WWI veteran and Boy Scout troop leader Harry D. Andrews bought some land in Loveland, OH and started doing what I’ve always dreamed of: building a castle on his land. The castle was completed after his death, and is now stewarded by the Knights of the Golden Trail, a collective of armored knights born from Andrews’ old Boy Scout troop.

According to my friend and fellow Ohio author John Kachuba, the castle is beautiful to visit. And it’s haunted. Supposedly, the knights will tell you all about the spooky hauntings in the castle, mostly from Andrews’ spirit.

I really have to make a trip there one of these days.

Marie Laveau’s House, New Orleans, LA
If you haven’t heard of Marie Laveau, she was the greatest voodoo priestess in New Orleans history. Her home no longer stands, but there are buildings in the spot where that building used to be. Laveau used to open her home to people to help them through healing and ritual. It’s said the buildings where her home used to be sometimes experience supernatural activity, and it might not be impossible to do ghost hunts there.

I’ve been outside the home on a haunted ghost tour of the French Quarter, but to actually go inside! That could be amazing to experience.

The Morris-Jumel Mansion, Manhattan, NY
Located in Upper Manhattan, the Morris-Jumel Mansion is the oldest extant house in New York City, and is a three-story colonial that now operates as a museum dedicated to its history. The house is named after two of the families who originally owned it, including the family of Eliza Jumel, who was Aaron Burr’s second wife. Yes, that Aaron Burr. And speaking of which, Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote parts of Hamilton in the house, which was also at one point used by George Washington as headquarters for the Continental Army.

The Morris-Jumel Mansion.

Today, the museum offers tours and all sorts of programs, including ghost tours and paranormal investigations. Even ghost hunting shows have been in the mansion, which is said to be haunted by Eliza Jumel, Aaron Burr, and at least three other ghosts.

You think I should go there dressed as a colonial soldier, rap some Hamilton, and try to find some ghosts?

The Golden Lamb Inn, Lebanon, OH
Located in scenic Lebanon, this hotel has gone by many names over the years. However, no matter the name, it has never once been closed, and instead has been in continual operation since opening in 1803. The hotel sports a nice, all day restaurant, a bar, a beautiful Colonial building, and more. It’s no wonder this hotel is a historic landmark, and has seen some high-profile guests over the years, including famous political figures.

According to some, a few of these famous guests never left. A former Ohio politician who accidentally shot himself has been seen walking around the hotel, as had a former Supreme Court justice who got ill and died at the hotel. There’s also rumors of a little girl haunting the premises, possibly the daughter of a 19th-century Kentucky senator who got unexpectedly sick and died when the family stayed the night at the hotel.

No idea if it’ll displace the Lafayette as my favorite Ohio haunted hotel, but I’d like to find out.

Ohio Museum of Horror, Galion, OH
This is the newest entry on the list. Opening earlier this year, the Ohio Museum of Horror is owned by Nate Thompson, who also runs the Michigan Museum of Horror (entry for a few list?), and contains everything from horror movie memorabilia to haunted and cursed objects to items formerly owned by serial killers. There’s also a restaurant in the building called The Last Meal, where you can eat meals based on what death row inmates ate as their last meals. It’s generated all sorts of interest and controversy, as you can imagine.

And the good news is, I might be visiting this one sooner than we think. It’s only an hour from where I live, tickets can be used anytime after they’re bought, and I have an opportunity to go up coming soon. I’m quite looking forward to it. Maybe I’ll see something spooky while I’m there. And if not, maybe I can meet with someone there and convince them to put on an event with me and my fellow horror writers.

Have you visited any of these, my Followers of Fear? What was your experience like? And are there any you would like to add? Let’s discuss.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m off to enjoy my Labor Day weekend and maybe get some scary stories out. Until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and 60 days till Halloween. Let the Party of Frights begin!

10 Haunted Locations I Want to Visit Before I Become a Ghost, Part IX

Posted: January 16, 2025 in Scary Stuff
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One of the locations in today’s posts. It’s got quite the history. As do all the locations.

It’s no secret that I love visiting haunted locations, and have visited quite a few of the ones on the previous lists. I’ve even experienced some freaky and frightening stuff in those locations! And as time goes on, I’ve learned of many more locations, which means I not only want to visit them, but I want to list them here. Either to inspire my fellow horror fans and writers, just to spread the knowledge of my fellow ghost hunters, or to scare those who are freaked out by the very idea of a place with real ghosts in it (you know who you are).

So, without further ado, here are ten haunted locations I want to visit before I become a ghost.

Chateau d’Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Ah France! So beautiful. So cultured. So historical. And so full of blood and death, it’s no surprise there are ghosts all over the place. The Chateau d’Amboise, a massive estate in the Loire Valley, is no exception. It’s a beautiful and immense castle that was a favorite of the royal family for years. However, it also has its fair share of darkness. In addition to a failed rebellion that occurred there, a man named Jacques de Breze murdered his wife, Charlotte, and her lover, Breze’s stepbrother (awkward!). Charlotte’s said to wander and wail through the halls in a green dress, giving her the nickname “the green lady.”

Other ghosts include King Charles VIII, who died while hitting his head on a lintel in 1498, and Leonardo da Vinci, who is supposed to be buried there. Hmm…maybe I should start brushing up on my French.

Manhattan Well, Soho, New York City
In 1799, the body of Guilelma “Elma” Sands was found dead in the Manhattan Well in what is today Soho in Manhattan. An architect who had been courting her, Levi Weeks, was accused of the murder, but thanks in part to representation by Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, he was acquitted (this even gets a mention in the song “Non-Stop” from Hamilton). Meanwhile, the well was built itself over and resided under homes and shops.

Today, the well can be found in the basement of a Soho clothing store, where it has since become something of a minor tourist attraction. However, after dark, it’s said that the spirit of Elma Sands still haunts the well, crying over her murder by Weeks and attempting to get out of the well. And I now have another reason to visit New York City.

Thurber House, Columbus, OH
I was at this local Columbus writing center and arts organization back around Halloween, and before doing a reading and selling some books, I did a tour of the old house, which was the home of local writer and humorist James Thurber. Apparently, this house is said to still be inhabited by the spirits of Thurber and his family.

And it’s available for rent for the night! So, hopefully, someday soon, I can join some friends to ghost hunt in the place one of these days. I mean, a writer who ghost hunts hunting in the house of a local writer who’s now a ghost? What’s not to love?

Also, the house is where I took this spooky photo.

Even for Halloween decor, this was inspired. Hats off to the folks running Thurber House!

Boleskine House, Loch Ness, Scotland
Have you ever heard of Aleister Crowley? If you haven’t, he was a early 20th-century magician who dabbled in a lot of occult practices. He owned Boleskine House for fourteen years. While he was there, he supposedly engaged in a ritual he never finished, and which, according to some, caused demons to remain on the property.

In the years since, there’s been a number of tragedies in the house, including a suicide and two fires. Plus, former residents, including a man who worked for rocker Jimmy Page while the latter owned the house, have experienced numerous strange and terrifying phenomena. It’s set to open up again this year after lots of restoration due to the second fire. I wonder if they’ll let people rent the place for ghost hunts? If they do, I want to sign up.

Abbey of Thelema, Cefalu, Sicily
Boleskine House wasn’t Aleister Crowley’s only notorious home. In 1920, he bought a small cottage in Italy, where he planned to start a magic school and preach his Thelema religion. He stayed there for three years, leaving once Mussolini’s government forced them out. The house has since fallen into ruins, but it’s said that if you step inside, spirits from the strange rituals Crowley and his followers performed there might say hi.

You know, I hear Italy is beautiful this time of year. Anyone want to come with me?

Hampton Court Palace, London, England
Ah, England! Such history! Such culture! Such haunted locations! Hampton Court Palace used to be one of the favorite residences of the Royal Family. Today’s it’s a museum that’s open to the public, but that doesn’t mean the royals moved out. In fact, some are said to hang around. Two of Henry VIII’s wives are said to haunt the palace: Jane Seymour, who died of complications of childbirth, and Catherine Seymour, who was executed for having multiple affairs.

In addition to the queens, a woman named Sybil Penn may be haunting the palace. Known as the Grey Lady, she nursed Elizabeth I through smallpox, caught it after the future queen recovered, and died. I wonder if I could run into all three ghosts and play songs from the musical SIX to the queens. That would be fun.

Plenty of ghosts hiding here. I want to visit and find them!

The White House, Washington DC
I don’t need to go into the history of this place. You know it, who lives there and what they do there. But did you know it’s haunted? Abraham Lincoln, as well as one of his sons, Thomas Jefferson, Dolly Madison and Abigail Adams, and several other famous former presidents are said to haunt the White House.

Obviously, it would be extremely difficult to even get into the White House just for a tour. It would be even harder to get permission to ghost hunt there, if not impossible. And I would not want to do it with the incoming administration. But it would still be cool if I could. If I could see what’s haunting the White House.

St. Michan’s Church, Dublin, Ireland
Not a traditionally haunted location, but it is spooky nonetheless. This Church of Ireland church dates back to the 17th century (though a church has been on the site since the 11th century), and has something unique about it: in its basement, there are numerous mummified remains which have survived centuries, desecration and even a fire.

I wonder if there’s anything freaky associated with those mummies?

The Dauphine Orleans Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana
The Dauphine Orleans Hotel has a storied history. At one point, it was one of the most notorious brothels in New Orleans, especially its onsite bar, May Baily’s Place. It was also a place where numerous Civil War soldiers would hang out, which explains why numerous spirits of Confederate soldiers and prostitutes continue to haunt the property.

Maybe I should stay there the next time I’m down there.

The Haunted Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana
Or I can stay here. Located on Ursulines’ Ave, this hotel is considered one of the oldest hotels in the French Quarter, and prides itself on being the most haunted. In fact, the website says the hotel has been haunted since 1918, when the serial killer the Axeman went on a murder spree through the city.

I’m interested to see if the hotel is all hype. Or if it’s really is the most haunted hotel in New Orleans.

Have you been to any of these locations? Have you experienced anything? Do you have any suggestions for where I should investigate someday? Let me know in the comments below.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m off to dream of spooky things and write them into stories. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Ghost Hunting Across Marietta, OH

Posted: September 29, 2024 in Living and Life, Scary Stuff, Tales across the US
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The Anchorage Mansion looks so creepy in the dead of night, doesn’t it?

So, as many of you know, I was in Marietta, OH this weekend for the Hidden Marietta Paranormal Expo. And you probably also know that I not only freaking love Marietta, but that it’s filled with haunted buildings. And while I was in Marietta, I made sure to do some ghost hunting at two of my favorite places: the Lafayette Hotel, where I was staying, and the Anchorage Mansion, where Hidden Marietta does their main business.

And hoo boy, did I get some results!

Now, for those unaware, I tend to use dowsing rods quite a bit when I ghost hunt. These are copper, L-shaped rods that have copper cylinders around the handles. The idea is that the ghosts can manipulate the rods to answer yes-or-no questions or to point. And the cylinders around the handles keep the questioner from manipulating the rods.

My first session was in my hotel room, where I contacted the spirit of a former employee. And, given the answers I got, I felt kind of sad for her.

After that, I decided to try getting some responses in the hallway. Where, by the by, I got some amazing results with some friends about two years ago (see that post here). And this time around, I got results again!

Pretty awesome, huh? The most amazing thing is, when I played the video back, you could clearly hear that thumping noise! My audio clearly picked that up! Now, as to what caused it, or for my camera to go out of focus for a couple of minutes, I don’t know. Still, it was pretty cool! (Also, I met the husband of the couple at breakfast the next morning and got to fill him in on my results. I wonder if he’s a believer now?)

With my exploration of the third floor completed, I headed down to the basement. According to the guy at reception, there are nine spirits of children haunting the hotel, as well as several dogs and a cat. (He also thought he’d heard of a woman who used to work at the hotel dying in the last twenty years and a guest having a heart attack in the 1980s, though he wasn’t sure of the details and couldn’t remember where the employee who died used to work.) The most active and famous of these children is Thomas, whom I was told during my first stay at the Lafayette can be contacted from the basement.

So, to the basement I went! And Thomas reacted to my calls.

How spooky is that? At 5:48 and 8:42, you can clearly hear a snapping sound that likely isn’t the front door! And at 8:08, I could have sworn I heard a whisper coming from down the basement hallway!

Well, after that, I headed to the Anchorage Mansion, where I met my friend Jeff Ignatowski, and we were led on a tour of the Anchorage, hearing about its history and ghost stories. And let me tell you, there’s been some new stories. For instance, there’s apparently a nasty new spirit in the attic and tower that’s pretty territorial. It’s even forced Henrietta and Clarabelle, the two little girls who play up in the attic, out of the attic and to the second floor! The staff have been moving their toys down so they’re not constantly being harassed by this new, mean entity.

Now, after the tour, Jeff and I went to the servants quarters, which is on a sub-floor leading off the second floor. Here, another malevolent entity that has a problem with women is supposed to lurk. Here, we tried to contact said entity and get some answers.

Creepy, right? We didn’t get any answers, but it was interesting how some of those entities reminded me of the Donner Party. And I nearly hit my head on a barrier hanging from the ceiling. Was something leading me there, hoping I’d hurt myself?

Well, after that, we spent a bit of time in the room where Clarabelle and Henrietta’s room, or the room where their dolls, pictured below, are now. The dolls in the rocking chair are theirs, and were designed based on their feedback. Supposedly, you mess with the dolls, they’ll mess with you right back. One college student touched them, and then got slapped on the back. There was a child-sized handprint on his back, according to the stories.

After that, Jeff and I tried messing with some of the equipment to rent in the dining room, but it didn’t really work for us. And that ended the evening. Still, it was pretty cool. And I always enjoy coming to the Anchorage Mansion. Hell, I always love coming to Marietta! And I’m so glad it gave me some amazing experiences again.

Though my experiences with scary stuff didn’t end once I left Marietta. You see, after I left the convention, I stopped by a computer store in Columbus to pick up something. And while I was there, I found something that filled me with fright! You can see the video below!

3D printers! After writing an entire novel about an evil one, so many of them in one place filled me with fright! And I’m sure if the novel ever gets published, a gathering of them will scare plenty of people!

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. Remember, we’re 32 days away from Halloween, so if you’re still looking for something spooky to read this October, I’ve got plenty of stories to offer. Plant/human hybrids and strange gods, Mafia-hunting serial killers, and carnivorous horses! Just check out the button below and you’ll find all my published works, including some free stuff available for download.

And if you end up reading any of my work, please leave a review! Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps other readers find my work.

Also be sure to check out my YouTube channel. If you like it, you can subscribe and be the first to watch my videos when it uploads.

Until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Book Links and Excerpts

Ten More Haunted Locations I Want to Visit Part VIII

Posted: June 8, 2024 in Living and Life, Scary Stuff
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Photo by Pedro Figueras on Pexels.com

So, I realized something while going over previous articles about haunted locations I want to visit before I become a ghost myself: I have, in the past, repeated entries. Accidentally, of course. And can you blame me? There are so many cool haunted locations out there, so it’s natural that I might get one or two mixed up or end up repeating them!

That being said, I think all the ones in this article are making their first appearances on this blog. So hopefully I don’t accidentally repeat any in future articles. And if I do, maybe it just means I really want to go there.

So, without further ado, let’s list ten more haunted locations I want to visit before I become a ghost myself.

Chateau de Brissac, France

A historic chateau built in the 11th century, this beautiful palace has seven stories and was once the tallest chateau in all of France. Today, it is still the tallest chateau in the Loire Valley, has been used as a film set for television shows, is also the site of a festival, and is available for day tours and overnight stays.

It’s also haunted by the Green Lady, who is supposedly the illegitimate daughter of King Charles VII. According to legend, her husband came home from hunting one evening and went to bed, but was then informed by his servant that his wife was having a meeting with a lover. Enraged, he murdered the couple, but soon after left the chateau because he kept hearing his wife and her lover moaning throughout the place (not sure what kind of moaning). Today, her lover’s spirit isn’t so much heard, but she is, and when she’s seen, she’s supposed to have holes for eyes and a nose, possibly a memento from when her husband murdered her.

Whatever the case, I’d like to see if I can meet this ghost while staying in a luxurious castle. Wouldn’t you?

Museum of Shadows, Omaha, Nebraska

Supposedly the most haunted museum in the world, the Museum of Shadows claims to have over three thousand haunted objects within its walls. Occupying two floors of a four-floor building, there are skulls, dolls and puppets, crosses, bones, and God only knows what else. It is available for tours and ghost hunts, and they have empty rooms available for Sit Challenges, where you sit in complete darkness for ten whole minutes and see if anything happens to you.

Guess who wants to do all three? ME!!!

Lumber Baron Inn, Denver, Colorado

Featured last year on the Netflix miniseries 28 Days Haunted, the Lumber Baron Inn is a beautiful Victorian era building that was built by Scottish lumber baron John Mouat (hence the name). Today, it’s a bed and breakfast that also offers tours and acts as an event space, but between Mouat and his family and today, the place had quite a few owners. At one point, it was a tenement building, and two young women were violently murdered while living there. It’s believed this incident caused the entire building to become haunted.

Anyone want to head out to Denver with me? Anyone? Bueller?

Kiyotaki Tunnel, Kyoto, Japan

Considered one of the most haunted locations in Japan (and considering the country has separate categories for violent ghosts depending on their reason for haunting, each with their own dangers to beware of, that’s saying something), the tunnel is around 500 yards long and used to be part of a railway line. Nowadays, it’s a one-way tunnel that’s rumored to be very haunted.

Some of the hauntings are rumored to be the spirits of laborers who died building the tunnel. Others may be those of people who have had accidents in the tunnel or who have taken advantage of the tunnel’s woodland location to commit suicide. These ghosts are rumored to wander the tunnel at night, scream loudly, and change traffic signals to cause accidents. One spirit of a woman in white is said to run out of the tunnel and jump onto car hoods like a crazy person (she sounds delightful).

If I ever get to Japan, I’ll add it to the list!

Ramada Plaza Laredo, Laredo, Texas

This one was told to me by my boss. Years before I met her, she was out at Laredo for work and was staying at this hotel. According to her, during the two nights she was staying there, the writing desk in her suite kept shaking every time she went to bed and turned out the lights. As if someone was either writing on it, or as if someone wanted to scare her out of the room. And it worked, because she got out of there and never went back.

Nowadays, the hotel is permanently closed and may not even be standing. However, my boss’s story was enough that if I’m ever out that way, I want to check it out and see if anything’s haunting the building. And I know someone who could go with me.

La Posada Hotel, Laredo, Texas

Speaking of Laredo, Texas, the La Posada Hotel is a beautiful old hotel that used to be a convent. Nowadays, it’s a hotel, but it’s said the nuns are still hanging about. They often manifest as hotel staff and try to trick the guests, but they oddly cannot speak. Cold spots, objects being thrown, and running footsteps in the ballroom are also reported.

Again, I know a certain someone in the area whom I could take with me. Whether she wanted to go or not!

House of Wills, Cleveland, Ohio

I heard about this one from my friend Jeff Ignatowski, whom you saw in my various videos from the ghost hunt at the Ohio State Reformatory (see that blog post here). Built in 1900 in what was then a heavily German and Jewish area, it was the home for a singing and dancing group, the Cleveland Hebrew Institute, and, most famously, a funeral home and a meeting place for the African American community. In fact, John Walter Wills, the man whom the house is named, was a founder of the Cleveland NAACP and remodeled some of the rooms in the house to be elaborate viewing rooms with Egyptian, dream, and cloud themes.

Today, the house is undergoing restoration after being closed down in 2005, and is open for architectural and ghost tours and ghost hunts. A rumor I heard said at some point, someone might have done magical or even dark rituals, which may have super-charged the hauntings there. Without anything to verify that, I’m treating that as just rumor, but I’d still be interested in checking out the house. And maybe dragging friends and family living in Cleveland with me.

Roads Hotel, Atlanta, Indiana

This location actually had a table at ParaPsyCon last month. Founded in the early 1900s, the hotel was owned by the Roads family for a number of years until being sold and becoming a speakeasy and brothel. After that, it was empty for a time, then went through several owners until being taken over by a charity in 2017. Throughout its history, death has been part of the house. The Roads’ youngest child Everett died there, as did a preacher who killed himself, and possibly one of the women of the night working at the brothel.

Today, the hotel is open for public and private investigations, and is said to have lots of whispers, shadows, and other spooky occurrences. It’s even been named Indiana’s most haunted house. Sounds like I need to check in one of these days.

South Carolina State Hospital, Columbia, South Carolina

You know that when you get a hospital for people with mental illness, hauntings are bound to pop up after a while. Founded in 1821, it was one of the first publicly funded mental institutions in the United States and at one point held over a thousand patients. However, staffing, funding and legal troubles, as well as a move away from public institutions and more communal therapy, eventually led to the hospital’s closure in the 1990s.

Nowadays, some of the buildings are still in use, and others have been sold off to private owners, but the buildings that remain are said to be quite haunted. In fact, some people consider the SCSH to be one of the state’s most haunted locations. Sounds like I should check in the next time I’m down that way.

The Whaley House, San Diego, California

This location has been a private home, a general store, a county courthouse, and even a theater. Now, it’s a museum and is also a heavily haunted location, known for footsteps and strange apparitions. It has been featured on numerous ghost hunting shows and even been the subject of one or two (really bad) horror movies.

During StokerCon this year, many people went to visit and tour the house due to its spooky reputation. As someone who couldn’t go to StokerCon this year (I am going next year, though), I was really jealous. Hopefully one day I can go, though. Maybe I’ll even stay overnight. That would be fun.

Tell me, my Followers of Fear: have you been to any of these locations? What did you experience? And do you have any you think I should add to the list? Let’s discuss.

Until next time (which should be very soon), good night and pleasant nightmares!

Ten Haunted Locations I Want to Visit Before I Become a Ghost

Posted: January 22, 2024 in Scary Stuff
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Photo by Pedro Figueras on Pexels.com

I love investigating haunted locations. I love visiting them and trying to communicate with the spirits. Sometimes, I get incredible results. And so, I list the places I want to eventually visit before I become a ghost myself. Yes, I’m planning on possibly becoming a ghost after death. It’s one of several options I’m planning. And yes, the result might be out of my hands, but since when have I ever followed the paths everyone else has gone down?

Anyway, here’s the latest addition to my list of haunted locations I want to visit. Hope you find them plenty spooky.

The Ross House, Bellaire, Ohio

Turns out the Bellaire House isn’t the only haunted house in Bellaire, Ohio. In fact, they’re down the street from one another! According to the Ross House’s website, it’s located on a ley line, a vein of supernatural energy underneath the earth that power strange phenomena. Regardless of what you think of that idea, the house reportedly has a lot of spirits and I’ve seen a couple of videos showing weird happenings there. Perhaps I should head there and get some evidence myself.

The Victoria Theater, Dayton, Ohio

Ah, the theater! The art! The stories! The hauntings! According to rumor, this 19th-century theater is home to a few spirits. One is known as Victoria or “Miss Vicky,” and is supposedly the ghost of an actress who disappeared while on her way to her dressing room. Many say that they see her in that dressing room while looking in the mirror. Another spirit is of a man who committed suicide in the theater and is sometimes seen around the curtains.

Who wants to buy a ticket with me for an after-hours show?

Thomas House Hotel, Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee

Built in the late 19th century to take advantage of the boom in resorts centered around hot springs, this beautiful hotel has been featured on several paranormal shows. Room 37 is said to be the most haunted, supposedly by the daughter of one of the hotel founders. There’s also supposed to be a ghost of a man who fell off a horse into a river and drowned. Sounds like a fun road trip, and probably easier to get into than the Stanley Hotel.

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Los Angeles, California

You’ve probably seen it in a movie or on TV. It has a huge sign on the roof that’s kind of iconic. It’s Los Angeles’s longest continually-operating hotel and has seen its fair share of celebrities. And it’s haunted. The Roosevelt Hotel is rumored to be haunted by some of its famous former ghosts, such as Errol Flynn and Marilyn Monroe, as well as a little girl in a blue dress named Caroline.

If I ever go out to LA, I’ll consider staying there along with the Cecil.

Yankee Pedlar Inn, Torrington, Connecticut

This historic hotel was the set and the setting of the film The Innkeepers, which I highly recommend. And speaking of which, that film is supposed to be based on the actual hauntings in the hotel. The most haunted room is supposedly Room 353, where the original owner, Alice Conley, died.

Sadly, the current owners of the building have let it sit in neglect, so it won’t be taking reservations anytime soon. However, renovations are supposed to start up next month. Maybe in a year or two, I could make a visit and see what the movie got right.

The Ohio Theater, Columbus, Ohio

I have been to the Ohio countless times for ballets, traveling Broadway shows, and local productions. However, I recently heard that the theater may have some spirits. One of the staff members at the ticket booth said they’ve heard mop buckets move on their own, and shadow figures moving around in the basement. And once or twice, I thought I’ve seen shadow figures moving around and disappearing at the very edge of the theater.

Maybe someday I can do an investigation there. Or set a story there. Or both!

The Red Brick Tavern, London, Ohio

Like the name says, this Colonial style building is made of red brick and looks like it would be right at home in a historical village. Built in 1836, it has been an inn, a tavern, a schoolhouse, and a private residence. It is now a restaurant, but some people say that on the upper floors, there’s the spirit of a woman who used to live there. According to legend, after her lover forsook her, she embroidered a handkerchief with the words “Remember Me” and then killed herself. From what I hear, that piece of embroidery is still on the building’s second floor and so is she, making creaking noises and creeping out guests.

Sounds like a place I should go one of these days.

Hotel Del Coronado, San Diego, California

Considered one of the top ten resort hotels in the world, the Hotel Del Coronado is a massive sprawling complex centered around the original building, one of the few surviving examples of the Victorian wooden beachfront hotel. Since opening in 1886, it has been featured in books and films and hosted all sorts of famous people. One of those famous people is Kate Morgan, a maid who arrived at the hotel in 1902 presumably to meet a lover. After five days, she took her own life, and is now a permanent resident of the hotel. Her room, which is one of the most requested rooms in the hotel, has been a hotspot for paranormal activity, and she’s been seen throughout the hotel as well.

I want to go there, I want to experience some paranormal activity, and I want to write a book there. Who wants to join me?

Miami Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables, Florida

Designed to look like the medieval tower of a Spanish cathedral, the Biltmore Hotel was at one point the tallest building in Florida. It has a massive pool, and one of the best spas in the world as well. It also has a golf course and a beautiful ballroom. It’s a beautiful place, but it’s got some secrets. In its nearly 100-year history, the hotel was also a hospital, a medical school, and was abandoned for a number of years. To this day, it’s supposed to be haunted by the spirit of a dead gangster, a dancing couple in the ballroom, and a woman in white, among others. Plus the 13th floor is just freaky!

I might want to check into one of the rooms. And then include the hotel in a story after experiencing a ghost. It sounds like a good excuse to go to Florida.

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Alberta, Canada

Located in Banff National Park at nearly five-thousand feet above sea level, the historic Banff Springs Hotel was original a small, wooden railway hotel. However, it has since grown into a massive complex with multiple buildings, twelve restaurants, multiple event spaces, a ballroom, outdoor activities, and a bowling alley, among other things. Among its amenities: ghosts. Supposedly, the ghost of a longtime bellhop named Sam still hangs around and helps guests, while a bride who fell down the stairs on her wedding day is still seen gliding down the stairs and dancing in the ballroom.

You know, I would like to visit Canada someday. Maybe this is another good reason to go.

Well, there we go, Followers of Fear. Ten locations full of ghosts that I would like to explore before I become a ghost myself. But tell me, have you been to any of these places? Did you experience anything? And are there any places I should put on a future list? Let’s discuss.

And until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Ten More Haunted Places I Want to Visit, Chapter Eight

Posted: November 19, 2022 in Scary Stuff
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The RMS Queen Mary, one of the locations I would like to visit someday.

So I may be super busy these days writing a hundred different projects while also working a day job, but there’s one thing I can always make time for: looking up haunted places I want to investigate. And as expected, I have ten more I want to visit and even investigate. And some of them are even close! I hope that means I can get into them eventually.

Anyway, let’s talk about some haunted locations I will want to visit, investigate, and eventually force one of you to join me for a night of terrifying occurrences. Yes, I might kidnap one of you, Followers of Fear. You know I’m capable of it.

Marsh’s Library, Dublin, Ireland
Marsh’s Library was the first public library in Ireland, and dates back 300 years. From what I hear, folks like Bram Stoker and James Joyce may have spent time researching there and going through its over 25,000 volumes and manuscripts, some dating back centuries! Perhaps some of those books have spirits attached to them. What is known is that there are rumors that the library is haunted by its founder, Archbishop Narcissus Marsh, who is buried near the library. According to one legend, his beloved niece eloped and left a note for him in one of the books, so he’s searching for it.
Seems a dumb reason to haunt a library, but that’s just the one legend I was able to find. Perhaps there are other stories behind it. Other ghosts. Which leads me to ask: when can I check in?

Central Ohio Fire Museum, Columbus, Ohio
This one’s really close to me. Like, just a few miles away! Originally a working fire station until 1982, the building was turned into a museum by some firefighters wanting to preserve the history of firefighting. Today, it’s an educational center that teaches about fire safety and preserves the history of the profession in Ohio. However, there are some spooky happenings in that building as well: ghostly thoroughbred horses from the days before fire engines had engines are said to haunt the building, as does a dead fire captain who likes to take inventory. There are also reports of singing coming from nowhere.
I don’t think this place is open to ghost hunts. Still, if I could, I would go.

Pine Street Saloon, Paso Robles, California
The Pine Street Saloon is one of the oldest buildings in the area, having been around since the 1800s and used for various kinds of businesses. Today, it’s a working bar that’s open to the public and that has its fair share of spooky ghosts hanging around. I wouldn’t mind getting out the dowsing rods and doing a spirit session while also drinking a pint or two

Satan’s Hollow, Cincinnati, Ohio
Supposedly there’s a storm drain in the Blue Ash neighborhood of Cincinnati that’s supposedly a portal to Hell. If you manage to find it and go inside, you’ll hear strange noises, ghostly voices, and even demonic growls. Videos online taken in the storm drain often have creepy voices that will deliver shivers to any viewer! Sadly, this place is on private property and going there means you’re trespassing. Apparently the police have to go there multiple times a year because of trespassing calls, especially around Halloween. Makes you feel sorry for the landowners, who are probably lovely people.
Still, it would be cool to investigate. Just make sure to bring some sage with you before you go.

The Yellow House, Six Flags Over Arlington, Texas
In Texas long ago, a little girl named Annie was found dead in a creek. Years later, the Six Flags company built Six Flags Over Arlington, and the land where that creek used to be became part of the park. Annie is sometimes seen around the park, but is well-known to stay at the Yellow House, a yellow building/concession stand near the entrance of the roller coaster the Texas Giant. From what I hear, a paranormal group investigated the building and did get some recordings from Annie, who is generally a kind and mischievous spirit.
I’m not much for theme parks these days (too much standing around in line in the hot summer sun), but if I could investigate the park one night, I’d make the trip.

Sylvan Beach Amusement Park, Sylvan Beach, New York
Another amusement park, but this one is supposedly haunted all over the place, and the park even acknowledges its history of hauntings with ghost tours. Supposedly, people who love the park so much in life stay behind after death just to enjoy the rides and games for all eternity. I’d be willing to come by after hours to check this place out.

Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, Michigan
The Grand Hotel is one of Michigan’s most beautiful resorts! Built in the 19th century, it’s a lovely building with great architecture and some lovely golf courses, stables, dining facilities and other attractions. However, there’s a dark history to the area. The island used to be home to both Native Americans and an Army fort, so there were a lot of deaths over the years. Supposedly, so many skeletons were found during construction, the construction crew gave up trying to excavate them all and just built over them. Stories of spirits haunting the place include a woman in Victorian clothing traipsing through the halls and climbing into beds at night, a man with a top hat smoking a cigar in the piano lounge, and a malevolent shadow figure with red eyes that was once spotted in the theater.
I don’t know if they lean into their haunted history at all, but if they do, invite me over. I want to find some spooks!

Cachtice Castle, Slovakia
Ever heard of Elizabeth Bathory? For those of you who haven’t, she was a Hungarian noblewoman who was accused of killing many young girls and women for the sadistic pleasure of it. Some legends even claim she bathed in the blood of her victims as part of a macabre beauty regimen (likely false, as it was first recorded a century after Bathory’s death and ascribes a very stereotypical reason for the murders. I guess for some people, women being sadistic for sadism’s sake is just too ludicrous).
Nowadays, there’s a lot of doubt that Bathory did commit those murders, or as many as is popularly rumored. Instead, she may have been the victim of a witch hunt, accused of heinous crimes because she was a powerful landowning woman whom even the King of Hungary owed a favor to. God forbid they just let a woman be independent and capable and even a national leader!
But even if the stories are lies, the castle where she supposedly committed those crimes is still around. Whether or not it’s the sight of terrible horrors, it’s probably picked up a ghost or two. Maybe even Elizabeth Bathory’s ghost. Who wants to visit with me?

Queen Mary, Long Beach, California
A former British ocean liner, the Queen Mary was used as a commercial passenger ship and, during WWII, a naval troopship. In 1967, it was retired and moored in Long Beach, California, where the city purchased it and converted it into a hotel, museum and tourist attraction. Given its history, it’s not surprising that it’s gained a reputation for being haunted. One stateroom is home to the spirit of a man who was allegedly murdered, and a former third-class cabin is said to be, by the Queen Mary’s own admission, “notoriously haunted.” I want to go there, I want to investigate, and I want to write a story based in the hotel. Who’s with me?

Catalina Casino, Catalina, California
A lot of California locations this time around, isn’t there? Anyway, this isn’t a gambling establishment, but instead comes from the original Spanish word for casino, “gathering place.” Indeed, the casino has a theater and a ballroom, and is where the residents of Catalina Island are supposed to head to when disaster strikes. However, the place is filled with a lot of spirits. A very aggressive woman supposedly haunts one of the lounges, spirits are sometimes heard knocking around the theater, and the casino once held a museum inside featuring skeletons of the local natives, which probably contributed to the hauntings.
Anyone want to make a trip out to California?

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I haven’t had anything really worth blogging about lately, so I’m glad I was able to at least get together a list of haunted locations to visit at the right time and post about it. But tell me, have you been to any of these places? Are there any I should add to my list for next time? Do you plan to become a ghost after you die, or do you have other plans? Let’s discuss.

Until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Paranormal Activity at the Lafayette Hotel

Posted: January 30, 2022 in Living and Life, Scary Stuff
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The Lafayette Hotel. Definitely worth the trip on so many levels.

As many of you were probably aware, I drove out to Marietta, Ohio for the Hidden Marietta Paranormal Expo. The expo took place at the Historic Lafayette Hotel, a beautiful historic hotel that is also purported to be haunted. Since I was going to be at a hotel anyway, I didn’t want to get up early on a Saturday to drive out to the expo, and I knew its reputation, I decided to stay the night before the expo and see if anything happened.

Ladies and gentlemen, I can confirm that the Historic Lafayette Hotel is indeed haunted.

First, let me tell you about the hotel. It is a beautiful place that words can’t do justice. You step inside the building, and it’s like stepping through time: there’s all this gold and bright colors and mahogany and you almost expect to see people in Edwardian dresses and suits smoking cigars and discussing President Roosevelt or something! There’s a giant steering wheel from an old steamboat on the ceiling, a grandfather clock, and so much more scattered around. I was enchanted from the moment I stepped in!

Now, there are a few places in the hotel that are supposed to be haunted. One is the third floor, which is where I stayed. The other is the basement, where the spirit of a little boy named Thomas is supposed to hang out. (There might be more, but I didn’t have a chance to learn about them.)

After getting settled into my room, I went down to explore the hotel. During the course of my journey, I ran Carita and Viva, two of the folks who run Hidden Marietta and the expo, as well as Jeff and Caitlin, two more vendors. The latter two would become good friends of mine over the weekend and we would hang out quite a bit. Anyway, Carita and Viva gave us a short tour of the hotel, starting from the ballroom where the expo would be and going around the first floor. We then all decided to meet in the lobby and do a bit of ghost hunting at 7 PM.

Well, 7 PM arrived and I arrived in the lobby. Carita and Viva messaged to let us know they may not be able to make it due to prepping for the expo, so I ended up hanging out with Jeff, Caitlin and the hotel staff. And yes, the staff had LOTS of stories to tell. They’ve seen shadow figures and other things while working in the hotel.

Around 8 PM, we decided to go up to the third floor and see if we caught anything. Jeff and Caitlin had a lot of their own equipment, including an EMF meter (measures changes in electromagnetic energy), a paranormal puck (has an electronic dictionary in it that spirits supposedly can manipulate to answer questions), and an SLS camera (maps figures like certain video game systems do, so any figure without a person attached to it might be a spirit). So, for the first time in my life, I got to work with paranormal equipment I’d only seen on TV before! The result was the below video.

Pretty cool, right? We mapped a spirit using the SLS camera, and got some interesting answers on the paranormal puck device. Also, if you’re wondering why I said Jeff and Caitlin’s nicknames are “Wolf and Roses,” it’s because the spirits they’ve encountered in the past have called them that for reasons I’m not going to get into.

After that testing session, we kept trying to get some responses. And that’s when things got very weird and very funny.

So the spirit had us call for a dog, which may have been a demon dog; we heard the words “help” and “shit” on the spirit box (you can hear them too if you listen closely), and after we’re joined by that family, the spirit lets us know someone’s ORDER of pizza is on its way; it’s a great DEAL; and it’ll be here in a TICK! Yeah, that was hysterical.

We messed around in the hallway for a little bit longer, and the only thing I remember getting is that the puck at one point said “TOP” and “JESUS.” This will be relevant later.

At some point we moved on to using my dowsing rods in my room, and that was when things got really scary.

Yeah, so whatever we were communicating with in my hotel room was not a friendly spirit. Remember when I said the spirit said “TOP JESUS?” Well, possibly that was the same spirit we encountered in my room, and it would make sense for something malevolent to say it’s stronger than Jesus. And after I stopped recording, Caitlin started laughing uncontrollably. It was kind of scary, and she said later she had no idea why she was laughing! I think at that point I pulled the rods out of Caitlin’s hands to break the connection. Quite possibly, something was laughing through her.

Yeah, after that, we did a cleansing energy ritual to make sure I could sleep that night. And thankfully it worked, because I slept comfortably that night and none of us had any scary dreams that would indicate an evil entity was trying to attach to us. I still needed a beer from the hotel bar and then a few prayers to my higher power before I felt entirely calm, though.

And that’s the last time I do ghost hunting without first creating an energy barrier around myself!

That’s the last video I took that night, and we wrapped up our ghost hunting afterwards. To say the least, it was an experience. We laughed, we got freaked out, and we got some good evidence on camera. I’m glad I was able to do it, and I am glad I was able to do it with Jeff and Caitlin beside me.

Also, I’m going to note here that while we were waiting for Carita and Viva, I did stop in the basement for a brief moment. Let me tell you, that basement may be warm to the point of balmy, but it gave me the creeps! Maybe it was how odd that floor was laid out, but I had chills being down there and quickly went back up.

I’m going to leave it at that, Followers of Fear. To say the least, the Historic Lafayette Hotel is an active location and if you go there, you’re probably going to experience something. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with my video of the Expo. It was a lot of fun and there were plenty of cool booths there, too.

Also, check out Jeff and Caitlin’s game, Killers the Card Game! It looks like a ton of fun, and if you think you can find someone to play with, you should. You can buy it from here: https://linktr.ee/killerstcg

Until next time, Followers of Fear, good night, pleasant nightmares, and remember, ghosts know when your pizza is arriving!

Finding My Mistakes a Little Too Late

Posted: January 26, 2022 in Reflections, Writing
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Well, this is embarrassing to admit.

I’ve been reading a lot more slowly lately, so I only just started reading an anthology I was published in last year. Last night, I finally got to my own story, which I consider some of my best work. And I found some editing errors I missed.

It wasn’t anything too bad. A couple of words missing here, a couple of phrases that should have been cut there, and one time I used the word “skeleton” instead of “scream.” Not like a horrible run-on sentence, a ton of spelling mistakes, and punctuation and grammar to make a lover of literature cry.

Still, it was disheartening to see how many mistakes were missed. And while part of that was also on the publisher, I should have been more cognizant of my own work. I should have shown more diligence in finding errors. Maybe even using that feature on Word where the story is read aloud, annoying as that is.

You know, my high school English teacher, Mr. G, used to say that a story is never “perfect,” but “done.” You can only do so much work to a story on it, but you’ll never get it perfect. You can just do enough work on it that you can’t fix it anymore. It’s done. I was aware that that applied to cleaning it up as much as it did to story, but this made me more aware of that.

And my American history professor in college, Dr. S, made an analogy about editing. He said he always got students who got annoyed when they were marked down on grammar and spelling when it was a History class. Why should a few spelling mistakes or whatever make a difference, these students wonder. He said, and this is pretty close to quoting:

Well, if this were an engineering class, would it be okay to have a little bad math? Or if this were a physics class, would it be okay to have a few incorrect equations? If the answer is yes, then let me know what bridges you’ve constructed or what planes you’ve built, so I can know to avoid them! Good grammar is important in History, even if it’s not an English class. And I expect good grammar in your papers.”

Dr. S, American History from 1920-1963, 2014

You can apply that right back to storytelling. No matter how good the story is, if the story has a bunch of grammar/spelling/punctuation errors, the story will suffer. And my story, while still good, suffered a bit with these issues.

I’ll remember reading this story and finding these issues from here on out. I’ll use it so that when any future stories come out, they’ll be as error-free as possible. I can’t stand a story of mine being brought low by my own laziness and missing some errors. I’ll work harder to make sure this is the last time I find a story with such glaring problems (or glaring to me, anyway).

Please stop by if you can. I’ll be selling books and doing Tarot readings.

And if this story gets published again, like in a collection someday, I’ll make sure to fix those errors. God knows I only want to give you all my best work.

Anyway, that all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’ve got a lot of writing to do tonight, so I better get to work on everything else that needs taking care of before then (like dinner and laundry). I’ll hit you guys up after the Hidden Marietta Paranormal Expo (especially if I get any paranormal activity on camera). Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Ten Haunted Places I Want to Visit Before I Become a Ghost Myself, Part 7

Posted: January 19, 2022 in Scary Stuff
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Photo by Pedro Figueras on Pexels.com

For those of you who have been following me for a while, every now and then I post about haunted locations I want to visit before I become a ghost myself (because if I get the chance, I probably will become one). Over the past several years, I’ve been lucky enough to visit some of the places I want to visit (in the case of the Ohio State Reformatory, multiple times). My most recent visit was to Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada, and boy, did I experience some stuff (click here to read more about that).

However, as many as I manage to visit every year, several more always pop up on my lists. So that I have a record of the new places I want to visit, as well as the places some of you will now know to avoid from here on out, here’s my latest list of haunted locations! Prepare to be scared.

Great Saltair Pavilion, Salt Lake City, Utah

There have actually been several Saltair pavilions near the Salt Lake outside Salt Lake City, Utah and they’ve been resorts, amusement parks, concert venues, and dance palaces. Saltair II was even a set piece in the 1962 horror movie Carnival of Souls (which I highly recommend). Currently, only one, Saltair III, is standing, and it’s said that the building houses quite a few spirits. Some of which sometimes get violent when a concert is held in the building.

Both for the history and the hauntings, I want to go.

The Hinsdale House, Hinsdale, New York

I think this is a house my sister told me about. Anyway, the house has quite the history. According to legend, a family moved into the house in the 1970s and came into contact with numerous spirits. And some of these spirits were apparently not very friendly, as a priest from a local Catholic university had to stop by and perform exorcisms several times. Eventually the family moved out, and it went through several hands before the current owner, who turned it into an investigative hot spot.

I wonder who I know in the New York area who would want to join me there?

Virginia City, Nevada

This town was a real Wild West town, and many of the buildings in its historic district are from the 1860s and 70s. Several have been or are being converted into museums, as well as hotels, restaurants, saloons, and more. And from what I understand, quite a few cemeteries and mines from the era as well. And apparently, the majority of them are haunted! To the point you could probably spend a month there and still find new locations to investigate! Um, count me in!

Marietta, Ohio

This is another city I’ve heard has plenty of haunted locations, including the Anchorage Mansion, the Blennerhassett Island and Mansion, the Blennerhassett Regional History Museum, and the Lafayette Hotel, among others. Luckily, I’ll be visiting at least one of the locations at the end of the month for the Hidden Marietta Paranormal Expo, so maybe I can stay in a haunted room the night before and experience something spooky.

The Mark Twain House, Hartford, Connecticut

This historic Victorian mansion was the home of Samuel Clemens, AKA Mark Twain, and his family for nearly 17 years. Today the house is a museum open for tours, educational institute, and (at least before the pandemic) a place for writers’ retreats and weekends. And it might be the home to a few spirits, including the spirit of the great writer himself.

The house of a writer that’s also haunted by said writer? When can I stop by?!

Mary King’s Close, Edinburgh, Scotland

A “close” is a Scottish term for an alleyway, and they’re usually named after a famous occupant. In this case, Mary King’s Close is named after the 17th century merchant Mary King. A century after her death, however, the close was built over for the creation of the Royal Exchange. For centuries, it’s been rumored to be haunted, and since it’s been opened and excavated, those stories have only continued. Is it maybe hallucinogenic gases from a nearby bog? Or is there something still living there, in a sense? I want to find out.

Windsor Castle, England

One of the homes of the British royal family, all sorts of spirits are said to haunt that place! King Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Queen Victoria, and quite a few more. I doubt the Queen or her family would let any ghost hunting team, let alone me, but it’s fun to dream. And it would be fun just to go. Who knows? Something could happen if I went on a tour!

Eloise Asylum, Westland, Michigan

Pretty sure one of my uncles told me about this one. Just not sure which one. Anyway, located about 30 miles outside Detroit, the Eloise Asylum was originally a poor house before becoming a hospital and insane asylum. It operated for nearly a hundred years and was a massive complex. Today, only a couple buildings still stand, but those that do, as well as a nearby cemetery, are reputed to be heavily haunted. The building is home to regular ghost investigations, as well as haunted attractions during October.

Ah, the number of excuses to visit my relatives in Detroit keep building up.

Punderson Manor, Punderson State Park, Ohio

This giant Tudor-style manor has been a resort since the 1950s and is a scenic place to get away from the world. You can hike, swim, fish, canoe and kayak, sleep, and relax. At least, if the ghosts don’t bug you. Apparently there are spirits who mess around with the staff and guests every now and then. Laughter is heard, objects moved without reason, lights flicker, and apparently terrifying apparitions show up. But if you ignore all that, it could make for a nice weekend getaway.

Hmm…my dad and stepmom live near there. Maybe I can convince them to stop by with me if I sell them on the weekend away from it all.

The Buxton Inn, Granville, Ohio

My most recent discovery is actually a short drive from me. This beautiful colonial house was opened in 1812 and has plenty of history and stories to match its beauty. That, and possibly a few spirits. Orbs, phantom footsteps, a ghost cat, and a “Blue Lady” in room 9 are among the hauntings reported. It sounds like the perfect place for me to hang out this upcoming Halloween…as well as maybe to tell a story at.

Well, that’s my latest list. If I visit any of these locations in the near future, I’ll be sure to let you know. Especially if I experience any activity. But tell me, Followers of Fear, have you been to any of these locations? What were your experiences? Where would you like to go? And which would you absolutely avoid at all costs? Let’s discuss.

Until next time, my Followers of Fear, pleasant nightmares!

Ten Haunted Places I Want to Visit Before I Become a Ghost Myself, Part 6

Posted: July 11, 2021 in Living and Life, Scary Stuff
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The Ancient Ram Inn, one of the most haunted locations in England. As you can guess, I want to go.

As many of you know, I love going to haunted locations, and I keep a list on this blog of some of the ones I want to visit a bit more. And the longer I live, the more places I find that I want to visit. Both in this life, and the next. Here is my latest list of haunted locations to visit.

And for some of my readers, it’s a list of places to avoid like the plague.

Houska Castle, Czech Republic
Our first entry is rather infamous, though not as well known as other places in Europe. Houska Castle was built in the 1400s, with the chapel built over a deep, possibly bottomless pit. Some people believe that the pit is a gateway to Hell and that the chapel keeps the demons in the pit. Even if the pit is sealed, however, there are plenty of stories of ghosts and dark entities haunting the castle. Coupled with the strange architecture of the place and the gruesome murals in the chapels, it’s a creepy building even without the legends.
Ever since I heard of this place, I’ve wanted to visit it. I’ve already used it in a short story (admittedly a terrible one) and I could see myself using it in another story someday. Imagine what sort of story I could write if I actually visited the castle!

El Rancho Hotel, Gallup, New Mexico
This historic hotel in New Mexico is a beautiful building, filled to the brim with Indian art and photos of celebrities who used to stay there. In fact, at one point this hotel was the go-to place for film crews making Westerns.
There’s also been a spike in supernatural activity in the hotel, possibly due to an alleged ritual performed there. Some have quit because of the activity, and at least one ghost hunting crew has investigated there (which is how I heard of it). If I ever go to New Mexico, I want to stay there and see if I get anything strange or creepy to happen.

Terrace Inn, Petoskey, Michigan
At the upper edge of the lower half of Michigan, the Terrace Inn and its attached 1911 restaurant is one of only a few historic hotels in Petoskey. It’s also said that there are spirits haunting the inn, and it’s been featured on the news and one or two paranormal investigations shows. “
Given that my relatives in Michigan are always asking me to come visit and I have a novel that I’d need to visit Michigan to research, I think this could be added to the itinerary.

Vulture City and Mines, Vulture City, Arizona
Mining towns from the 1800s are notorious for becoming haunted, usually for a history of violence, greed and death. The Vulture City and the nearby mines are no exception, but some believe active mining in the area have let loose some much more evil and powerful entities. Even if it hasn’t, it has already acquired a reputation for being haunted, as attested to by many paranormal investigators.
Sounds like a good excuse to go to Arizona if you ask me.

Ancient Ram Inn, Wotton-under-Edge, England
Originally built in 1145, this inn outside of Gloucestershire is said to be one of England’s most haunted locations. Many different spirits are said to haunt the place: a Roman centurion on horseback, religious clerics and monks, a witch who was burned at the stake, etc. The inn is open to paranormal tourists, and many do stay overnight.
Since I plan to go back to England some time in the next couple years, I hope I can make a reservation and stay overnight.

Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland
The imposing body of Edinburgh Castle has been part of Scottish history for centuries. Not only as a royal residence, but as a symbol of Scottish independence and as a major symbol of the city of Edinburgh. It’s also said that various spirits haunt the castle, as one could expect. Prisoners in the dungeons, floating mists and orbs, you name it, they’re there. And I would like to find some of them. If I can.

Edinburgh Vaults, Edinburgh, Scotland
Also in Edinburgh, the vaults are chambers underneath the arches of South Bridge. They’ve been used as workshops and storage areas for craftsmen and merchants, as well as taverns, illegal gambling dens, refuges for the homeless and hives for criminal activity. These days the vaults are closed to the public and strictly controlled, and I’m not surprised. Besides being an area of archeological importance, as well as possibly in need of preservation due to years of wear and tear, spirits are said to haunt the vaults. In fact, plenty of paranormal investigators have been down there and possibly detected supernatural or paranormal activity.
Honestly, I would love the stay the night here with a few friends. We can grab a nap, then see if we can grab some proof of spirits. Anyone want to join me?

The Berkeley Ferry, San Diego, California
This historical steam ferry is an actual floating museum in San Diego. You can go on, tour the boat, and then have it go out onto the water. However, there are supposedly a bunch of spirits who call the ferry home, and some of them are not too friendly. Even crazier, some report that the ferry’s spirits have gotten more active and even more aggressive since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Which just means I have more of a chance to see something happening, right?

Haunted 1889 McInteer Villa, Atchinson, Kansas
I actually met the owners of this villa at ParaPsyCon two months ago, and was intrigued enough to look them up when I got home. This Victorian manor has been a private home, a rooming house, and now is a paranormal hotspot. At least nine people have died naturally in the house, and there was one suicide. And that’s the ones they know about.
These deaths are possibly the cause of lights flickering or turning on and off, mysterious footsteps, feeling watched, and more. There have even been shadow figures spotted!
If I ever make it to Kansas, I think I’ll make a visit. While making as many Wizard of Oz references as possible, of course.

So, those are the latest haunted locations I’ve added to my list to visit. If you want to see the other lists, which include some of the ones I’ve visited, I’ll include links below. And in the meantime, let me ask you: have you visited any of these places? What was your experience like? Anything you couldn’t explain? Would you consider visiting them in the future? Let’s discuss.

Ten Haunted Locations, Part 5
Ten Haunted Locations, Part 4
Ten Haunted Locations, Part 3
Ten Haunted Locations, Part 2
Ten Haunted Locations, Part 1

As you are no doubt aware, Followers of Fear, my ten-year blogging anniversary is next month. And to celebrate, I’m having an Ask Me Anything, or AMA, to celebrate. And one lucky participant will win a special prize! If you want to participate and be eligible for a prize, just send me an email with your location and your question to ramiungar@ramiungarthewriter.com. If you get your question in by 11:59 PM on July 28th, 2021, your question will be answered and you’ll be eligible to win the prize.

I look forward to reading your questions. In the meantime, I’m going to be working on my latest story. Until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Also, who or what is that standing behind you? It’s about to grab your shoulder! Run!

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