Ghost Hunters of Asheville

Defining Shadow People (Pt. 2)

2011-11-21T10:44:00.018-05:00

There are no current scientific tests to prove the existence of shadow people or what they might be. There are , however, many theories attempting to explain the phenomenon. These include:

1. Optical Illusions? Brought on by physiological or psychological circumstances, drug use, side effects of medication, schizophrenia or sleep deprivation. The brain incorrectly interprets random patterns of light and shadow as familiar patterns such as faces and human forms. (See 5.10.10 blog entry: Do You See What I See? on matrixing).

2. Time Travelers? Could people from the future have found a way to time travel and be visiting us in the form of shadow people?

3. Ghosts? Shadow people may be only one more type of ghostly manifestation along with ectoplasmic mist, orbs and apparitions.

4. Demons? Accompanying feelings of malevolence and darkness lead researchers to theorize that shadow people might be possible demons.

5. Astral Bodies? Author and lecturer Jerry Gross claims we all travel out of our bodies when we sleep. Could shadow people be the essences or shadows of people having out-of-body experiences?

6. Hypnagogia? Also known as "waking sleep," hypnagogia is the physiological state when a person is between sleep and full consciousness allowing for subconscious perceptions which could include the "seeing" of shadow people.

Next Up: Ghost Hunters of Asheville Tours' experience with the shadow person phenomenon. Coming in Defining Shadow People (Pt. 3)!

Shadow People Defined (Pt. 1)

2010-09-28T23:27:00.008-04:00

Haven't we all seen something move out of the corner of our eye -- only to turn and look ... to see nothing? Paranormalists term this as a shadow person phenomenon. Commonly described as black, human-like silhouettes, shadow people are called thus because they appear as, well, a shadow. Sightings have been reported all over the world (most frequently in Rhode Island and North Carolina in the U.S.) and most commonly in homes. Shadow ghosts of animals have also been reported.

Shadow people are dark in color (shadow-like), appear vaporous, and although lacking details in appearance, can have glowing red or yellow eyes. Observers of shadow people say these forms appear at the edge of their field of vision for only a brief second.

On our Ghost Hunter of Asheville tours, shadow people have been captured on film in building windows. Because of their density, light will not pass through them and they can cast a shadow which shows up in a photograph as demonstrated above and below.

Next Up: An intriguing theory and what a TAPS investigator had to say. Stay tuned for Shadow People Defined, Pt. 2!

(Note: These are unverified photographs.)

NC Ghost Hunter Killed

2010-09-07T01:30:00.007-04:00

In my blog entry on foiled ghost hunters (Busted! But Not by the Ghosts! July 10, 2010), I got a few responses from people who had personally met up with the law whilst searching for the spiritual realm. The cost, however, can be much worse than a fine and a night in jail. Look at what happened a few weeks ago in North Carolina. Video link and text included here.

Video Link: http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/08/27/north.carolina.ghost.train/index.html?ref=nf

'Ghost Train' Hunter Killed by Train in North Carolina * By Phil Gast, CNN, August 28, 2010 2:38 p.m. EDT

(CNN) -- The facts: On August 27, 1891, a passenger train jumped the tracks on a tall bridge near Statesville, North Carolina, sending seven rail cars below and about 30 people to their deaths.

The legend: On the wreck's anniversary, the sounds of screeching wheels, screaming passengers and a horrific crash might still be heard. You might also see a uniformed man with a gold watch.

Shortly before 3 a.m. Friday, on the 119th anniversary of the Bostian Bridge train tragedy and at about the same time, between 10 and 12 ghost hunters were on that approximately 300-foot long span.

They were hoping to hear the sounds of the crash, and perhaps see something.

Instead, a real Norfolk-Southern train -- three engines and one car -- turned the corner as it headed east to Statesville, about 35 miles north of Charlotte, authorities said.

The terrified "amateur ghost watchers" ran away, back toward Statesville, trying to cover the nearly 150 feet to safety, said Iredell County Sheriff's Office Capt. Darren Campbell.

All but two made it.

Christopher Kaiser, 29, of Charlotte, was struck and killed, said Campbell.

A woman who witnesses say Kaiser pushed to safety fell about 30 to 40 feet from the trestle and was injured. Her name and condition were not known Friday night. She was being treated at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

"There was no way out," said Campbell. "They almost made it."

The engineer of the train, which was traveling at its customary 35 to 40 mph, hit the horn and "stopped as fast as he could," Campbell said.

Campbell, 38, is from the area and has heard all the stories, although he said he knows of no one who has ever seen or heard the "ghost train."

On the 50th anniversary of the Bostian Bridge incident, a woman said she witnessed it all again. In 1991, hawkers sold T-shirts and other memorabilia, and there were an estimated 150 people waiting for the train, according to the Charlotte Observer.

There are occasional reports of railroad crossing arms dropping without cause, Campbell said.

The ghost trip on the anniversary has become an annual tradition of sorts.

A woman who did not want to be identified, but who was part of the group of onlookers, told CNN affiliate WCNC, "We were there looking for what people say happened. You hear the train wreck or hear people screaming. We were just watching."

Kaiser's mother said the family was too distraught to talk about the incident, WCNC said.

Campbell said most of the ghost hunters, who were from out of town, have been interviewed. Many fled because they were trespassing on railroad property, he said. Campbell said there were no patrols near the bridge early Friday.

Although the investigation is continuing, Campbell said the incident appears to be an accident.

At least two blogs that cover the phenomena, N.C. Ghost Guide and CreepyNC.com, detail the 1891 wreck's legend. While accounts vary somewhat, a man with a gold watch reportedly was first seen on the first anniversary.

According to CreepyNC.com, Hugh K. Linster was a baggage master for the Asheville-bound train that crashed into Third Creek that August of 1891.

"Hugh Linster never made it to retirement," the blog reads. "His body was found in the wreck having been killed immediately upon impact with a broken neck."

One year later, a group of people at the bridge said they saw a man in a railroad uniform, holding a watch.

Legend has it, he vanished before their eyes.

Not Even a Full Moon

2010-08-12T23:37:00.007-04:00

It's different every night when The Ghost Hunters of Asheville Tours hit the streets. You never know what paranormal activity will be out there. You never know what photographic evidence will be captured. You never know how the group will gel -- or not. You never know if a pop-up rainstorm will suddenly appear. You also never know what unusual, non-paranormal experiences may occur. But if I assure you, if there is such a thing as the Ghost Tour from Hell, the following one qualifies:

* A clean-cut youth approached the group, begging us for LSD. Are you kidding me?! For such a stupid move with a .00000000000000001% chance of success, he'd already had too much of something for such lack of judgment.

* Another guy was running alongside the smallest toy Chihuahua I've ever seen. “Hurry! Hurry!” he kept yelling in hopeful encouragement. Sorry, dude, but those 2" legs can only move so fast.

* A woman asked me to drive her to Weaverville (you bet, will abandon this tour right now) because her son had been in a car accident with an ex, blah, blah, blah. There was no extra charge for satisfying our group's soap opera fix.

* The group was approached by a man in mad search of a restaurant that he was standing right in front of.

* We were approached by a suited-up gentleman claiming to be an attorney and owner of a haunted building on the tour. "Treat it with respect," he implored us. What does that mean? Dim the lights on our camera flashes? Speak in hushed tones as we impart the building's sordid history?

Yes, folks, it was a wild night on the Asheville streets that night. And it wasn't even a full moon! Thankfully, the group had a great sense of humor. And despite all the extra-curricular excitement, we STILL got plenty of those guaranteed paranormal photos!

The Tulip Staircase Ghost

2010-07-29T07:31:00.001-04:00

Fourth in a Series of Famous Paranormal Photographs.

This 1966 photograph was snapped by retired clergyman Ralph Hardy in the Queen's House section of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England. When taking the photograph of the property's elegantly spiraled "Tulip Staircase," Hardy also inadvertently captured a shrouded figure appearing to be climbing the stairs, holding the railing with both hands. Experts, including some from Kodak, have examined the original negative and concluded there had been no tampering. Unexplained figures and phantom footsteps have always been reported in the vicinity of this staircase.

This 400-year-old Queen's House has hosted many paranormal occurrences: the choral chanting of children, slamming doors, and the pinching of tourists by unseen fingers. Other apparition sightings have included the figure of a woman frantically mopping blood at the bottom of the Staircase -- reportedly from an incident 300 years ago when a maid was thrown from the highest banister, plunging 50 feet to her death.

Tools of a Ghost Hunter

2010-07-18T00:49:00.002-04:00

Ghost hunting has far advanced from the old days of teenagers clambering through the rotted remnants of a decrepit, abandoned homestead in search of the scary. Ghost hunting has instead evolved to become a viable trade and even a newly recognized science. Even though the following list is not a comprehensive one, it does encompass some of the most commonly used equipment today's ghost hunters use.

GHOST METER / EMF METER, $25 -
EMF Detectors pick up electronic fields at a variety of frequencies. Typically where there are ghosts, there are disruptions in the electronic magnetic field, alerting hunters to the possible presence of a spirit.

MOTION DETECTOR, ($18.00 - $150.00+)
The discrepancy in price depends on the possible add-ons. A passive motion detector is cheapest and designed for a vacant room setting only. More expensive models can include a combination of digital camera, infrared (IR) lighting and pyroelectric ("passive") infrared (PIR) sensor. The latter takes infrared digital photos of anything that trips the motion sensor. Motion sensors can also catch moving objects pushed by an unseen force.

AIR ION COUNTER, Approximately $369
These useful instruments measure the natural balance of positive and negative ions in the air. A ghostly presence creates higher amounts of positive ions as spirits give off higher amounts of electromagnetic discharges.

INFRARED THERMAL SCANNER: $2000+
Scanners allow us to see changes in temperature even across a room or outside area. Although expensive, these thermal scanners are the most sought after pieces of ghost hunting equipment. They add great credibility to any investigation and allow ghost hunters to actually "see" heat images.

WIND CHIMES: $5:00 - 10.00
Wind chimes are an inexpensive and thrilling way to experience paranormal phenomena as many spirits will tinkle the chimes when present. It's advisable to go light-weight and paint the chimes with glow-in-the-dark paint for added thrill.

DOWSING RODS, Around $10.00
Dowsing rods work for most people and can be used to indicate the presence and directional force of paranormal energy as well as communicating (i.e., "dialoging") with spirits.

BAROMETERS, $15.00 and up
Ghosts may cause a localized drop in atmospheric pressure.

THERMOMETERS, $18.00 - 80.00
A good, digital thermometer detects changes in air temperature -- a good tool as cooler temperatures (i.e., cold spots) develop when a ghostly spectre is present.

NIGHT VISION EQUIPMENT, $31.00 - 200.00
Night vision scopes can be attached to cameras and video recorders so individuals can see and shoot photographs in near total darkness.

DIGITAL CAMERA
It’s all about the megapixles! The higher the resolution, the better zoom capability on your photos.

DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER, $35 - 55.
Quality is important to obtain excellent sound quality. A static-free, external shotgun microphone allows a good DVR to also function as a digital audio recorder. An external mic is highly recommended as mics built into many handheld units are unable to capture the wider range of frequencies. The DVR USB port allows audio files to be downloaded directly to a computer for analysis.

DIGITAL IMAGE EDITING PROGRAM:
Programs such as Photoshop can adjust contrast, shadows, highlights or colors to find elements in a photograph previously unseen or noticed.

Ghost Hunters of Asheville is the only city's paranormal tour company that uses equipment (currently EMF meters and dowsing rods).

Resources:
Shadowlands Ghost Hunter Store
The Ghost Stop
www.ghost-hunter-equipment.com

Busted! (But Not by the Ghosts!)

2010-07-10T02:59:00.002-04:00

On our Ghost Hunters of Asheville tours, I'm asked frequently what I consider to be the scariest place in Asheville. For me, it's the tuberculosis wing of the old Veterans Hospital. The spirits are reportedly very disturbed and have been known to literally scratch, push and scream in the faces of the paranormally sensitive. I've never been there myself, and based on the following report of what can happen to trespassing ghost hunters, I won't be adventuring there any time soon!
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At 10:15pm on 4/12/2010
Monday, April 12 2010, 10:16 PM EDT
Ghost Hunting Arrests
by Holly Headrick

A group of teenagers go ghost hunting Saturday night and get a scare they hadn't planned on. Veterans Affairs police say they arrested eight people for trespassing at the VA Hospital in Asheville. 18-year-old Brooklyn Robinson was one of them. The Enka High School senior tells News 13, "We heard it from one of our friends it was haunted. That's why we went is because they've been in it and said it was haunted." Robinson says she never expected to spend two nights in the Buncombe County Jail. The VA is federal property which means they had to wait in the jail until Monday to see a federal magistrate judge.

Her mother Libby Perry said it was, "something I wouldn't wish on anybody, any parent have to lay in bed for two nights and have to worry about your child." A poor decision she says the whole family's learned from.

VA officers say they heavily patrol the area because of numerous break-ins. They say it's more of a safety issue because the building is full of asbestos, lead paint and has water damage making the floors unsafe.

The Ghost of Freddy Jackson

2010-06-04T22:51:00.019-04:00

Third in a Series of Famous Paranormal Photographs.

This 1919 group portrait was taken of a WWI flight squadron which served at the HMS Daedalus training facility. Looking carefully, the face of a man can clearly be seen in back of the airman positioned on the top row, fourth from the left. Squadron members identify the face as that of Freddy Jackson, an air mechanic accidentally killed by an airplane propeller two days earlier. Jackson's funeral took place the day this photograph was snapped. It has been suggested that Jackson, unaware of his death, decided to show up for the group photo.

This picture was first published in 1975 by a member of the squadron, Sir Victor Goddard, a retired R.A.F. officer.

Do Not Do This at Home (Or in the Library Either!)

2010-05-22T01:04:00.013-04:00

"Ghostbusters" Scene (Sort of) Reenacted at New York Landmark
by Mike Ryan
May 18, 2010

New York Public Library visitors got quite the surprise when comedy troupe, Improv Everywhere, dressed up as the "Ghostbusters" gang and reenacted a scene from the famed movie about a trio of down-on-their-luck guys who turn to supernatural-seeking in order to make some money. Check out the clip below:

The pranksters were easily recognizable in their specter-exterminating gear in the hallowed literary halls of the Library's Rose Main Reading Room, chasing around actors draped in Halloween-costumey white sheets. Observers' expressions -- those who dared to peek up from their books and laptops -- ranged from giddily amused to frightened to the typical New York "seen it all" blase.

And let's be honest: This is just a video of four guys in pajamas chasing around a couple of guys wearing sheets while a knockoff version of Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters" theme plays in the background. Pure cheese.

Face it: Everyone is just plain better off on a Ghost Hunters of Asheville tour!

Lord Combermere's Ghost

2010-05-16T22:17:00.032-04:00

Second in a Series of Famous Paranormal Photographs.

This 1891 photograph presents the figure of a man faintly seen sitting in the lefthand chair. The head, collar and right arm are clearly discernable; the spectre is believed to be the ghost of Lord Combermere.

Lord Combermere was an early 1800s British cavalry commander who distinguished himself in several military campaigns. He was struck and killed by a horse-drawn carriage in 1891. At the time of his funeral held 4 miles away, Sybell Corbet took the above photo. She reported that the photographic exposure took about an hour. While some believed the image could have thus been produced by a servant who, during this time, wandered into the room and sat in the chair., this idea was later refuted by members of the household as all personnel were attending Lord Combermere's funeral.

Combermere Abbey is located in Chesire, England, and is today a tourist attraction and hotel.

Do You See What I See?

2010-05-09T23:55:00.070-04:00

Matrixing: The phenomenon occurring when the human brain, presented with a random set of patterns, attempts to make sense of what it is seeing. Finding pictures in clouds and the Man in the Moon are two examples and, while matrixing is responsible for our abilities to read and recognize one another, it also commonly leads to misidentification in the paranormal field -- literally "seeing" what is perhaps not there. Human faces, skulls and figures are the most commonly matrixed images.

So how to know if you really have "something"? Grant Wilson of TAPS posts the following suggestions:

(1) Tree branches, mirrors, shiny furniture, cluttered closets and glass are a few of the prime candidates of matrixing issues. Their complex shapes and patterns hold a higher potential for the mind to construct a face or body out of something that isn't there.

(2) The face or figure should not appear to be part of the surrounding material. In Wilson's words: "If the picture is of a forest ... look to see if the face is made up of the brances and leaves from the trees ... or if the face is separated from then and [is] a completely separate material from the trees."

(3) Consider facial and body proportions. These should be of realistic proportions and not cartoonish.

This blog includes 3 photographs in which guests have claimed to see paranormal images. What do you think?!

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Streaking to the Other Side

2010-05-06T12:59:00.001-04:00

Ghost Hunters of Asheville sometimes gets streaks running across their photos. Usually reddish to orange in color, guests will sometimes capture a single streak; others discover many streaks racing across their picture. Paranormalists are familiar with this phenomenon -- as are skeptics.

Believers report the streaks are typically uncovered at night or indoors and are found in paranormal hot spots. In our years of touring, we've found that individuals who have higher paranormal sensitivity tend to get streaks, apparitions and mist. These same people seldom get orbs. Conversely, the guests who capture a lot of orbs never get the streaks.

According to the organization Paranormal Study & Investigative Reseach Organization, squiggles and streaks "are caused by small objects caught on camera while it is in Night Mode or even if it just has the flash turned off."

With Night Mode (or the flash turned off) the camera's shutter is open to capture any available light. The slightest movement -- including one's heartbeat or breathing -- can cause blurring and/or streaking to occur.

This image was posted on PSIRO's site as an example of similar photos that many people send to them as evidence of spiritual or paranormal activity. Notice how the wall and window sill seems to be completely in focus. The organization's conclusion: The streaks are due to "low shutter speed and low lighting. The light streaks themselves can be caused by a number of variables from reflections of camera flash, red eye reducer, unnoticeable lights and reflections. The cause of the streak is simply the camera moving from shaking hands or walking about."

Sounds reasonable, logical, maybe even probable. But how, then, to explain the below photo? These streaks aren't even the "right" color.

For us, the jury is still out.

From the Mouths of Babes

2010-04-29T23:06:00.016-04:00

I recently spoke at a school Career Fair with classes of 3rd, 4th and 5th grades. Try as I might, they really weren't as interested in what I did or what I'd learned in school as it was the ghostly photographs that grabbed the attention. And whether you spell it "gost" "goast" or "ghost," these kids had plenty to say...

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hey Mrs. Maddox,

I think you have an interesting career! I love your profession and think you are an interesting lady. You're career is risky--

p.s. barlys is "NOT" haunted.

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Dear Ms. Maddox,
Thank you for coming. I am really intrested in ghosts.
Sincerely,
V.
P.S. Your a brave person.

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Dear Ms Maddox
Thank you for showing us those pictures of those ghost they could be a little scary but when I get a little older I could come
sincerely
A.G.
P.S ghost are scary

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So I'm interesting, brave and a risk-taker?! And Barley's not haunted? The staff who have had paranormal experiences may not buy into that. And how else to explain the image in the blog "Barley's Boo" (December 7, 2009) or this picture taken in front of Barley's door!?

The Most Famous Ghost Picture

2010-04-19T23:41:00.042-04:00

Faking paranormal pictures is an age-old practice and has gone on as long as people have been taking photos. There are some famous images, however, who are considered genuine -- having stood up to time, studies, investigations and laboratory tests. The portrait below is arguably the most famous of this elite grouping.

The Brown Lady
Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount of Raynham, and his wife Dorothy Townshend, were residents of Raynham Hall in Norfolk, England in the early 1700s. Before their nuptials, it was rumored that Dorothy had been a mistress of Lord Wharton and the Viscount came to believe the affair had never ended. Although legal records say Dorothy died and was buried in 1726, it is suspected that Charles staged a fake funeral and kept his wife locked away until her death many years later.

The Sightings
Dorothy's ghost is said to haunt Raynham Hall, particularly the oak staircase. While staying at Raynham Hall in the early 1800s, King George IV witnessed the spectre as a woman in a brown dress standing beside his bed. Christmas 1835: Colonel Loftus saw her twice in her brown satin dress. A few years after, Captain Frederick Marryat and two friends also witnessed The Brown Lady gliding along an upstairs hallway carrying a lantern. Marryat fired a pistol at the apparition. The bullet passed through it.

This famous photo was taken in September, 1936 by Captain Provand and Indre Shira, two photographers who were assigned to photograph Raynham Hall for Country Life magazine. It was published in the December 16, 1936 issue.

The Brown Lady is still seen occasionally.

And When The Mist Rolls In

2010-04-15T01:05:00.019-04:00

Ghost Hunters of Asheville tours guarantee paranormal photographs. Most of our guests' pictures involve orbs, but 15 to 20 percent of our paranormal photographs involve apparitions, half-apparitions or the form of a ghost known as an ectoplasmic mist. This mist shows up as a seemingly swirling, thick fog that appears when an apparition is either beginning or ending its manifestation. Therefore, faces and bodies will sometimes manifest within the mist. (See the photo on the February 2010's "Chattanooga Choo Choo Chimera" blog for a good example of this phenomenon.)

Although predominantly white, ectoplasmic mist can appear in many colors. It can be captured by either camera or video and has been known to affect paranormal meters and gauges.

Skeptics attribute this mist to moisture, climatic fog, smoke, cigarette smoke, steam or breath in the cold. The picture below, though, doesn't appear to fit any of these alternate explanations. Taken on the Blue Ridge Parkway by one of our guests, this ectoplasmic mist is far enough away from the photographer to debunk breath or smoke and isn't shaped like climatic fog.

To avoid confusion, hold your breath for 3 to 5 seconds before taking a picture in colder temperatures and avoid smokers. Taking 3 photos in quick succession also helps eliminate the possibility of external factors. A lone mist, orb or apparition in the photographic succession adds validity that you have indeed captured the paranormal.

The Tipping Point

2010-04-09T23:03:00.003-04:00

It's been a hellacious winter. Schools have missed between 11 - 16 days of school, thousands of trees downed by heavy snow and ice, 50,000+ homes without power for days. Ghosts don't mind; they're always out. And so apparently are ghost hunters -- even when maybe we shouldn't be??!

Take the above group for example. They set Ghost Hunter of Asheville's all-time record for braving the cold to seek spirits. The stats:

* Wind Chill Advisory
* Wind: 33 mph
* Temperature: 13.7 degrees
* Humidity: 84%
* Wind Chill: 7 degrees

We had numerous tours when it was exceedingly cold this winter. So many that I had to finally implement a 20 Degree Rule . . . If windchill was less than 20 degrees, we wouldn't go out. That didn't stop paranormal enthusiasts calling on those nights though. Now THAT'S hard core ghost hunting! :)

The Man in the Basement

2010-03-25T00:18:00.000-04:00

The S&W Cafeteria has been featured before on this blog, but with all its Asheville and paranormal history, it's more than worth a second glance.

This time it's the basement of the Cafeteria that grabs our attention. There have long been tales of employees "hearing" and "feeling" things downstairs, but here is substantive photographic proof that someone, indeed, lurks there.

This image was taken by former manager Brad Boughton. Brad was alone in the basement taking pictures when he reportedly felt "something" and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. He snapped this picture and captured ... well, something.

Some people see a woman, some see a man. What is clear is that there is something in the corner. Some type of disturbance, some irregularity in the light and brick. Someone perhaps enjoying a last tipple in a place that holds some of their dearest memories.

You can now make some special memories of your own in the basement of the S&W Cafeteria where the Funny Bones Comedy Club recently opened. Or come join us on a Ghost Hunters of Asheville tour and share other memories of ghosts long past.

Thanks, Chad Moore, for the zoom and cropping job!

Highland Hospital Haunts, Pt. II

2010-03-13T00:53:00.018-05:00

This summer, psychic Angelique Clark from Arizona joined one of our Ghost Hunters of Asheville tours, the Haunted Montford Stroll. It always promises to be a livelier evening when someone who is paranormally sensitive joins the tour. This night was no different and, although there were plenty of paranormal sightings along the trail, most of the truly fascinating occurrences happened at the Highlands Hospital site.

The first indication we were not alone came in the form of a whistle. Angelique and another guest were standing apart from the group snapping photos when they heard tuneful whistling. Turning to each other, the duo saw that neither of them was whistling although the source of the sound appeared to be right beside them.

Then, two blocks further on the Highland Hospital complex, Angelique snapped the above photo -- a running figure appearing to be on fire. The photograph was taken on the site of the Central Hall dormitory before it burned to the ground over 60 years ago.

Highland Hospital Haunts, Pt. I

2010-03-12T22:03:00.022-05:00

A 15-acre complex stands on the northern end of Asheville's historic Montford district. A complex once known as Highland Hospital and run by the nationally-known psychiatrist, Dr. Robert Carroll. Highland Hospital functioned as a psychiatric facility for over 70 years. Here, the rich and famous came to be treated for a variety of nervous and mental disorders. Zelda Fitgerald, wife of author F. Scott Fitzgerald, was a long-time patient.

Among Dr. Carroll's questionable practices of electroshock and insulin therapy was his hiring of former, "cured", patients. On March 10, 1948, Night Supervisor Willie Mae Hall -- one of these former patients -- systematically gave a double sedative to those patients she did not like, locking their bedroom doors in the Central Hall dormitory. She then set a fire in the kitchen. Quickly spreading to the building's dumbwaiter shaft, the fire reached all three floors in record speed.

There were bars on the patents' windows. The fire escape was wooden. Willie Mae Hall had cut the telephone lines. By the time the fire department was contacted and arrived over 30 minutes later, the place was ablaze. One thousand citizens watched helplessly. A nurse later said, "All we could do was watch, hear the screams and smell the flesh burning."

Nine women died in the fire, including Zelda Fitzgerald. She was first identified by her charred slipper found underneath her body.

Next up: An incredible tour photo captured at the fire's site.

They Keep Going and Going and Going...

2010-02-28T04:06:00.009-05:00

Ghosts need energy to manifest and move, but cannot create their own energy sources. Their solution is to steal the energy needed. Unfortunately for our Ghost Hunters of Asheville guests, this oftentimes includes energy from camera batteries.

Such ghostly thefts appear to run in cycles on our tours. Cameras remain undisturbed for a few months, then run out of juice nightly for 2 - 3 weeks. We always tell guests to come touring with full camera power and perhaps extra batteries "just in case". We also sell batteries along the tour.

To all those guests who have experienced the frustration, for those who have said, "I thought you were kidding about the batteries", to the gentleman who lost all energy on just one shot at our tour's most haunted location... The following article is of importance -- as it it to any ghost hunter, really. Failure of equipment guarantees a lack of results.

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What are the Longest-Lasting Batteries?
by Althea Chang
Sunday, February 21, 2010

Store brands may save you money on household necessities, but generic batteries might not be your best bet, according to recent tests comparing name brand and store brand batteries.

CVS AA Long Lasting alkaline batteries didn't actually last longer than other batteries tested under the same conditions by Consumer Reports. In fact, those generics had less than half the power as Panasonic Evolta alkaline batteries, Consumer Reports found.

Among the longest-lasting AA batteries overall were Energizer's Ultimate single-use lithium batteries, which took 678 pictures before dying, compared with 92 shots taken with a camera using the CVS batteries. As a group, lithium batteries lasted the longest, but budget-friendly rechargeable batteries performed nearly as well, Consumer Reports said.

And rechargeables like those made by Energizer and Duracell could be your best bet for use in digital cameras and favorite toys, Consumer Reports suggests.

For remote controls, flashlights and other devices, alkaline batteries might be your best bet since their charge could last you several years, while rechargeable ones can lose their charge over time, as MainStreet previously reported.

Consumers may not want to rule out store-brand batteries completely, however. Kirkland Signature AA batteries, sold at Costco only in packs of 48, lasted nearly as long as the Panasonic batteries, according to Consumer Reports.

The Ghost Tree Redux

2010-02-19T22:48:00.008-05:00

A few posts ago, I'd featured a new hot spot that had appeared and gone within the matter of a few weeks in our Ghost Hunters of Asheville downtown tour. [See "The Ghost Tree" blog entry.]

The orbs in this spot were nearly always low to the ground and, since the orbs were always clustered around only the tree, I sensed that it may well be the spirit of a pet. I personally felt it was a dog buried there by a parishioner who wanted it laid to rest by the church.

A few days ago, I received this photo from a couple on the tour taken at the spot. Notice the figure of the dog on the left. This, despite there were no lone dogs around us that night. Not only are loose dogs against the law, but I keep a very watchful eye on the activity around us during the tour -- and there were no dogs. That the car's tire can be seen through the canine is added credence to it being a ghost. The glowing eyes are what give me the creeps!!

Chattanooga Choo Choo Chimera

2010-02-11T23:15:00.019-05:00

The Chattannooga Choo Choo Holiday Inn celebrates that city's flirtations with trains by offering special accommodations aboard authentic Victorian railcars. John West and his wife stayed in these special accommodations in August 2004, only to find they weren't alone. In John West's words:

"Our evening there began with a TV which seemed to have a mind of its own. We had instances where channels would be changing without any input from ourselves. We also had items moved from locations where they had been placed to be discovered in other locations. The wife sensed the presence of a being passing behind her back."

John took the above photo outside their room around 11:00pm. It's a great example of ectoplasmic mist. He says he sees the shape of someone crawling although I see an elongated face on the right too.

Thanks to these former Ghost Hunters of Asheville guests for sharing this remarkable image.

The Ghost Tree

2010-02-04T22:16:00.003-05:00

After nearly two years of downtown ghost-hunting, one would think we at Ghost Hunters of Asheville would know the area like the back of our hand. We do ... until it changes! And change it does: Energies come and go, previously haunted locations go fallow, new places arise. It keeps the hunting exciting; you never know what to expect.

One evening our group stumbled across a seemingly haunted tree. Alerted when the meters went wild, we were able to isolate the area of the energy source. Laura Gonzalez of Chicago took a photo, capturing an orb. There were no meter readings the next night and no paranormal entities captured on film. The yellow orb was there again the third night. And so it went -- on and off -- for two weeks. Excepting one evening, there was a positive correlation between meter activity and orbs -- or no meter activity, no orbs. And now? Nothing. Ever. Just like before.

Every night, you just never know.

Can You Hear Me Now?

2010-01-25T16:13:00.006-05:00

The following study just out, and while scientists may be perplexed, paranormal beliefs fall right in line with the results. Children ARE more paranormally sensitive, but often put up blocks, thus "losing" their abilities because of disbelieving and pooh-poohing adults. That the 'great majority' of young people who have these experiences never become mentally ill would lend itself again to the possibility of paranormal activity as the source of the voices. That rural children are more apt to hear voices wouldn't come as a surprise to paranormalists either; the quieter the setting, the fewer the distractions, the better to hear the spirits.

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Many Children 'Hear Voices'; Most Aren't Bothered

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Nearly 1 in 10 seven- to eight-year-olds hears voices that aren't really there, according to a new study.

But most children who hear voices don't find them troubling or disruptive to their thinking, the study team found. "These voices in general have a limited impact in daily life," Agna A. Bartels-Velthuis of University Medical Center Groningen in The Netherlands wrote in an email to Reuters Health.

And parents whose children hear voices should not be overly concerned, she added. "In most cases the voices will just disappear. I would advise them to reassure their child and to watch him or her closely."

Up to 16 percent of mentally healthy children and teens may hear voices, the researchers note in the British Journal of Psychiatry. While hearing voices can signal a heightened risk of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders in later life, they add, the "great majority" of young people who have these experiences never become mentally ill.

To further investigate how common these "auditory vocal hallucinations" are and whether they are associated with developmental and behavioral factors, the researchers looked at 3,870 Groningen primary schoolers. All were asked whether they had heard "one or more voices that only you and no one else could hear" in the past year.

Nine percent of the children answered yes. Only 15 percent of these children said the voices caused them serious suffering, and 19 percent said the voices interfered with their thinking. Boys and girls were equally likely to report hearing voices, but girls were more likely to report suffering and anxiety due to the voices.

While past studies have linked complications in the womb or during early infancy with the likelihood of hearing voices, Bartels-Velthuis and her team found no such relationship. The researcher said that she and her colleagues had expected that hearing voices would be more common among urban children than among their rural peers, "but to our surprise, the contrary was the case in our sample. We have no explanation for this finding."

Although urban children were less likely to hear voices, they were more troubled by them, the researchers found. They were more likely to report hearing several voices at once, voices speaking for a longer time, and voices that interfered with their thinking.

This greater severity suggests that the urban children who heard voices might be at higher risk of going on to develop psychotic illness, the researchers say.

Bartels-Velthuis and her team are now conducting a five-year follow-up study of the children to see how the voice-hearing plays out and what effect, if any, it has on behavior.

SOURCE: The British Journal of Psychiatry, January 2010.

Right Out of the Blue

2010-01-17T23:11:00.015-05:00

Ghost Hunters of Asheville always recommend our guests put their photographs on a computer to both get a larger view of interesting images plus have the added capability for zooming in on those images. The following photographs illustrate this perfectly.

The Story Behind the Photo
For his birthday, Kristi Moore surprised her husband with two tickets to our Ghost Hunters of Asheville downtown tour. A spirit made a guest appearance for their celebration.

Chad Moore took the picture above in front of the Central United Methodist Church. See if you can find the orb; it takes a careful look. To be honest, I missed it at the first look-see and, when I did notice it, I thought it so small I would never have enlarged it myself. And there's the lesson in all this: Never overlook ANYTHING.

Chad Moore didn't overlook anything and was rewarded with an image the like I've never before seen -- a spirit seemingly in the act of emerging from a blue orb. A green face looks toward the left. The eye, nose, and slight grin of a young child can plainly be seen.

What a treasure! Thanks, Chad!

It's Not Just About Water Anymore

2010-01-14T21:52:00.021-05:00

People have been dowsing for centuries for a variety of reasons: to find underground water, determine the sex of an unborn child, locate unmarked graves, find lost items or pets, receive spiritual guidance on important issues, and to detect bodily illness. On our Ghost Hunter of Asheville tours, we dowse using L-shaped rods to help determine the presence of paranormal energy. The rods move when an energy field is present. Most of our guests experience dowsing activity on our tour and some report a feeling of energy moving up into their hands and arms.

The American Society of Dowsers believes that everyone possesses the innate intuition to sense and respond to unseen energies. How does dowsing work? It's not entirely known although common beliefs are that either (1) The unconscioius mind causes slight movements of the hand muscles, (2) The interaction between body and earth energy fields cause a force in the rods so they move, or (3) Spiritual guides or activities move the rods indicating their presence or to answer a dowser's specific question.

Rods move in the direction of detected energy. In the following video, Crewe and Nantwich England Tour Guide, Tim Prevett, demonstrates an experience in which he was obviously surrounded by a lot of energy! Tim wrote: "The most spectacular dowsing I have ever experienced, at a church, remaining unnamed, in Wales. It felt as if I was plugged into an electric generator, and got static shocks from the dowsing rods all day. I had never experienced anything quite like it before, or since. Taken there by a Druid. Video credit to a friend called Alan."

They're Ba-a-a-ck!

2010-01-08T23:37:00.000-05:00

The activity began with a blip in one spot. The activity was EMF readings off the charts. The spot was at the corner of Patton and Haywood across from the S&W Cafeteria building.

Ghost Hunters of Asheville use ghost meters on our tours. From that one blip, the meter readings occurred nightly and, over the ensuing weeks, grew stronger. Eventually, the ghost meters would ring out more than a block away from the Steak and Wine Restaurant. We also got high EMF readings down the side of the DRHUMOR Building on Church Street. Oddly, all meters stopped when we reached the end of the building.

Then ... it just all went away the Monday after July's Bele Chere weekend. Not a single red blip. Didn't know why. Not very happy about it. Tours not as much fun. But ...

THEY'RE BACK! The readings began in both locations one night in early November. As strong and consistent as ever.

I don't know why the energies seem linked. I don't know why the ghosts left. I don't know why they came back. I'm just glad they did. It makes our Ghost Hunters of Asheville tours a LOT more fun!

First Guest Photo!

2009-12-27T13:16:00.015-05:00

It is the policy of Ghost Hunters of Asheville tours to not use material from the Internet (with Photoshop et.al, who knows what is real?), but I have a few paranormal associates who I trust to send me the goods. The above photograph was kindly sent by Christopher Parsons, a member of the Southeastern Paranormal Investigation Team. He took this very clear profile of a flying spectre at Lee Memorial Cemetery in Lee County, VA. The site is near the grave of a known Statanist who committed suicide around 20 years ago. Chris reports there was no fog, rain or smoke in the area that night and that he "had a very creepy feeling that night, like my skin was crawling." I bet!!

Spirits Are Not Ghosts, Ghosts Are Not Spirits

2009-12-23T09:48:00.040-05:00

When conducting tours for Ghost Hunters of Asheville, I'm always aware of using the terms "spirit" and "ghost" appropriately. These terms are oftentimes used interchangeably, but shouldn't be paranormally speaking. Although both a ghost and a spirit involve the soul of a once living person or animal and can manifest as orbs, there are nonetheless a multitude of differences between them. I think the differences are worth noting since their dissimilarities can tell us important things about any apparitions we may be lucky enough to run across.

Ghosts
According to Millers Paranormal Research, ghosts are earthbound entities that, when appearing as apparitions, look as they did upon death. They remain the same age, display wounds that may have been received and are dressed in the same clothes as when passing from life. Ghosts can be rather mischievious beings, announcing their presence by making noise and moving objects.

Spirits
In contrast, spirits are souls that have passed into The Light and are able to move between worlds. A halo of light commonly surrounds a spirit. They are able to manifest however they choose in terms of age and dress. Typically visiting or passing through, spirits do not engage in the same impish activities attributed to ghosts.

Below are examples of what I believe could be two spirits and a ghost. (These photos will be featured in upcoming "Story Behind the Photo" blogs.)

Barley's Big Boo

2009-12-07T02:40:00.011-05:00

I've always said Barley's Taproom & Pizzeria has outstanding pizza, unbelievable beer selection, and the greatest of ghosts. The paranormal sightings and stories abound. Just ask any employee!

The Story Behind the Photo
Many folks choose to go on our Ghost Hunters of Asheville tours for birthday celebrations. And so it was on an evening about a month ago when it was "Aunt Katherine"'s 50th birthday. Joined by a newly wedded couple who were newbies to the ghost tour experience, we headed out into the night for adventure. There was a lot of activity, but even I wasn't expecting what (or who?) we found.

While relaying Barley's various paranormal tales, Melissa Ennis had the epiphany we females should hit their women's restroom on the first floor -- the origin of many a spookily told spiel. The men gallantly waited while we women excitedly filed into the small bathroom. It was empty, lights were turned off, and the lightbulbs on cameras started popping.

Melissa captured the above image. As sometimes happens, the form appeared clearer on the camera than it subsequently has on paper or computer, but the figure of a ghostly face can still be seen. It would seem the bathroom was more crowded than we'd at first thought!

The Orbs of the Rainbow

2009-12-01T18:31:00.013-05:00

Orbs have been around for a long time, but were relatively uncommon until digital cameras came along. They've now become almost routine, and on our Ghost Hunters of Asheville Downtown Tour, someone's camera captures them at nearly every haunted stop. Although most orbs are white, orbs can be found in every color of the spectrum.

Orb Color Theory (OCT) is yet a very unprecise science, but paranormalists have developed charts detailing the emotional status of a spirit or ghost according to the color of their orb. To determine these correlations, paranormalists have "interviewed" spirits regarding the meanings of the colors.

Above is a detailed color chart associating various colors with their associated meanings. More examples and information can be found on http://www.moonspenders.com/orbcolors.htm.

Ghost Busters!

2009-11-26T02:02:00.013-05:00

We at Ghost Hunters of Asheville strive for ghost tours offering the greatest of entertainment, excitement and thrills, but there are times we just can't compete with the City of Asheville. Take tonight: The ghosties were plentiful, but so was Asheville oddity.

Thirteen of us launched from the Haywood Park Hotel. Immediately, we ran into a questionable young fellow with a basketful of paper slips -- ostensibly our personal fortunes just waiting to be plucked from the pile. There was no getting past him. We lined up and chose our fortunes -- prophetic declarations as "When you give love, you will receive love. This is the law of attraction" and "There is no way to peace. Peace is the way." All courtesy of Brett Rodgers, massage therapist, phone number, website. Hm-m-m. Well, Brett gets an "A" for creative marketing, but an "F" for actual prophecy. Not one of our fortunes carried even a whiff of warning for the 4th "911" call I'd make in my 18 months of touring.*

We were benignly walking down a sidewalk when it happened -- a car suddenly veered right in front of us, hitting a parked motorcycle, then driving down the street. Throwing down my backpack and notebook, I took off after him. It is testament to my stubborn sense of justice and Asheville red lights (certainly not ANY modicum of fitness, I assure you) that I caught the car 3 blocks away. The New Yorker got his tag number called into "911" and the tour was supportive of the slight delay. There was no extra charge for added excitement.

Ghost touring is never boring. On any given evening, you never know what's in store -- paranormal or otherwise.

*(Other calls involved a fight among locals and 2 passed out 'inebriates'.)

100 Years and Counting

2009-11-17T17:49:00.010-05:00

Ghost Hunters of Asheville's newest tour takes a haunted stroll through Asheville's most elegant and historic neighborhood of Montford, seeking out the many spectres that reside there among the manses built between 1890 - 1920s. (I personally think the majority of Montford's homes are haunted and this is not a claim I make lightly.) Here is a prime example.

The Story Behind the Photo
The proprietors of the Inn on Montford 1900 were kind enough to share this photograph shot by a guest in their backyard. Famous psychic Sylvia Brown investigated this case, revealing that the middle figure is Elizabeth Anderson. In 1895, this young woman lost a golden locket on the then-barren lot. So focused on searching for the necklace, Elizabeth never heard the trolley coming. It struck her dead, and over 110 years later, she still roams the property in search of her precious necklace.

The Ghoul in School

2009-11-14T11:19:00.008-05:00

I have read the most haunted buildings are churches and schools, the latter typically haunted by former students. One of Asheville's most famous spirits seems to reside in Asheville High School.

The Asheville High School building was constructed between 1927 and 1929 by one of Asheville's premier architects, Douglas Ellington. Ellington specialized in art deco design; he used art deco's colorful architectural elements in Asheville High School's design as well. The high school has been placed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Old buildings usually have ghostly tales to tell. Asheville High School certainly does. One of their night motion detectors captured an active ghost in the school one evening -- a clip that was eventually elevated to CNN news schedule and seen nationwide.

Spooked, Freaked, Scared

2009-11-08T03:48:00.005-05:00

One of the most frequently asked questions on the tour is "What has been your spookiest experience [on the tour]?" Ghost Hunters of Asheville's Downtown Interactive Tour is a family-oriented, kid-friendly tour so there really wasn't much of an answer to this ... until now.

It was an intimate, adult-only tour. There was an opportunity to enter a darkened, extremely haunted, venue. Paranormally sensitive guests and psychics had warned that a very angry ghost inhabited this structure. An older balding man in overalls, the spectre doesn't even realize he's dead. He is angered by ouside presences and photographic evidence points that he has chased away most of the numerous spirits who once inhabited the place.

Walking through a dark, haunted facility, armed only with flashlights, was thrilling, fun, and exhilarating -- until we came to the doorstep of a basement room. I lack the words to adequately describe the foreboding, heaviness, all-nerves-on-alert feeling that literally slammed my psyche. I asked a guest to take a picture of the room. It was filled with pilot blue orbs in every photo he took. There would be no paranormal photos in any other space of the building.

It may seem a fairly innocuous experience (e.g., What's the big deal?), but to someone who has never before felt this type of presence, it was shatteringly disturbing. I actually felt dirty and shaken until mid-day the following afternoon. It was, for all intents and purposes, my first truly paranormal encounter. That I "called" it -- verified by photos -- increased my awe and shock.

I've purposely stayed paranormally insensitive, but have noticed a recent intuitive awakening. I guess you can't be around this stuff as much as I am without it affecting -- and changing -- who you are. Nonetheless, I find it jolting. Believing something is "out there" is very different from experiencing what is out there.

The Orb Defined

2009-10-30T17:01:00.002-04:00

An orb is loosely defined as "the soul of a once living person or animal that appears in photographs as a spherical[ly] shaped light." Both ghosts and spirits can manifest as an orb (The Orb Controversy, Miller's Paranormal Research, 2001). Many paranormal investigators pooh-pooh most orbs in photographs as dust, small flying insects, light refractions, et.al. Whatever. All I know is that we, at Ghost Hunters of Asheville Tours, get a lot of them.

An orb is the lowest-energy manifestation of a ghost or spirit. Ghosts need energy to manifest and move, but cannot create energy -- only steal it. Common sources of such paranormal theft on our tour include lightning, electrical wiring, cell phone batteries, even us! Once ghosts' reservoirs are full, they tend to be conservative with their supply so most often choose to manifest as orbs since these take the least amount of their energy.

If you get an orb in a photograph, you might want to zoom in on it as faces and words can sometimes be embedded in them.

A last, sobering thought regarding orbs: Guests reveal that the most orbs they've ever gotten in photographs are at Ground Zero.

The Flying Nun

2009-10-30T14:20:00.014-04:00

I entered this business unconvinced about the reality of ghosts -- unsure, but open to their existence. Now, 18 months later, I must admit: There IS something out there. This photograph was one of those instances that made me draw this conclusion.

The Story Behind the Photo
Chris Krukar of Lexington, KY took this photo on one of my tours on Church Street -- one of Asheville's two most haunted pathways. When I first saw it, I immediately thought/ sensed it was a nun. Yet, this made no sense; there are no Catholic churches on Church Street.

Two weeks later, I uncovered a ghost story that explained it all. Apparently, the Trinity Episcopal Church once had priests and nuns in service. The nun met an untimely and sordid end (this tale is told in detail on the Ghost Hunters of Asheville Downtown Interactive tour) and her restless spirit haunts the area. This picture was taken on the street corner across from the Trinity Episcopal Church. It took a few psychics and some investigative research to uncover the nuances of the story, but my first intuitive thought was correct: This spirit is a nun.

The Patterns We (Don't) See

2009-10-20T22:43:00.000-04:00

I've been doing ghost tours for 18 months now and have uncovered some paranormal patterns as they relate to weather, age, et.al. Others may have different experiences, but on the Ghost Hunters of Asheville tours we've discovered:

* There is more paranormal activity if there's a chill in the air.
* Ghosts will be scarcer if it's been an overly hot, humid day.
* The worst night for ghost-hunting is a sky overcast with heavy gray clouds pregnant with rain that doesn't fall.
* The full moon does not make a quantifiable difference in our paranormal sightings.
* Dogs have been of no help in locating spirits on our tours -- although they are very welcome and add a lot of fun to a tour.
* Pre-teens get the best paranormal photos. Their energy, enthusiasm and over-the-top clicking of photographs nets them awesome photographic results.

We'll keep observing and record any more info as we continuing touring.

What is Going On at the Battery Hotel?

2009-10-15T16:08:00.002-04:00

Built in 1924, Asheville's 14-story Battery Park Hotel is currently inhabited by three known spirits. We've frequently gotten paranormal photographs at the Hotel, but some Ghost Hunters of Asheville guests have run into a recent problem: They are unable to take a photograph of the TOP of the hotel. This has happened twice in the past five outings. Pictures of the main lower story clearly appear, but when some people try to photograph the upper stories, they get only a black screen. Not a dark screen, mind you. A totally BLACK screen. Switching back and forth, top to bottom, multiple photographs, these guests get repetitive results: Perfect pictures on ground level, black photos above. I've been told that ghosts are blocking energy from the camera, making it impossible to take a photograph. The real question is, though, what are the ghosts trying to prevent us from seeing? Hm-m-m.

Photo courtesy of City Development, City of Asheville, North Carolina

Ghosts Over the Pond

2009-10-10T04:04:00.010-04:00

Tim Prevett

We get guests from all over the United States and even some beyond our borders -- most recently the Bahamas and Britain. Tim Prevett, the British fellow, joined the Ghost Hunters of Asheville downtown tour and was a sheer delight as he is a fellow ghost tour guide and ghost hunter back in the UK. He runs two tours -- one in Crewe, the other in Nantwich. Tim Prevett started running ghost tours back in 2007, and while in the States, went on a few of the spirit hunts we feature here. It was the greatest of fun to compare experiences, photos and war stories while he was here. Although we stay in touch via the Internet, he is most certainly missed.

Tim says that American tour guests differ quite a bit from those in England. While Americans tend to quickly and eagerly embrace that they've captured orbs in their photographs, Brits are quite the opposite: "A spot of dust." "It must be a night fly." "A sprinkle of water." Tim says they are so cynical, they come up with any semblance of reason why the image is not an orb -- the very opposite of Americans. There is probably more reality to their perspective, but I have to think that our way tends to be more fun!

Tim is an excellent photographer. You can check out his stuff at http://www.crewetours.com/. (Feel free to weigh in with any corrections or info, Tim.)

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Is 'Paranormal Activity' the Next 'Blair Witch Project'? - Inside Movies

2009-10-07T02:54:00.001-04:00

Is 'Paranormal Activity' the Next 'Blair Witch Project'? - Inside Movies

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Reach Out and Touch Someone

2009-10-03T01:38:00.001-04:00

Nearly all photos featured on the Ghost Hunters of Asheville tours were taken during our nightly ventures. This is a rare exception.

The story behind the photo...

The Mountain Xpress newspaper sponsored a photographic event known as "A Day in the Life of Asheville." They put numerous throw-away cameras around town for people to pick up and snap pictures with them. This image was captured on Asheville's infamous Eagle Street. The spirit originates from one of the corner windows above Limones Restaurant. It is an excellent example of a rare photo allowing a glimpse into the daylight world of the paranormal.

Spirits are always around us although -- photographically -- orbs, mist and such show up far better at night-time as the camera flash helps illuminate and reflect the many colors and anomalies in haunted locations.

Man Naked!

2009-09-29T02:54:00.001-04:00

Yet, another first for the Ghost Hunters of Asheville tour tonight. While surveying the multi-windowed historic Battery Park Hotel, we captured a full moon -- and it wasn't of the planetary variety. I've been asked what has been my weirdest experience on the tour and I always ask for clarification: Does the questioner mean paranormally or courtesy of the locals?!

The tour was particularly interesting as we had three guests who were hardcore ghost hunters. David and Jennifer of Naples, FL had all the bells and whistles equipment and Matt has been on numerous investigations as a member of a Mississippi Paranormal Investigation team. Jennifer got orbs at almost all our haunted venues and Matt was a wealth of information for all -- perhaps the most well-versed guest I've ever hosted. The spirits responded!

Man Arrested!

2009-09-24T12:52:00.001-04:00

Last night the Ghost Hunters of Asheville tour had yet another first: We saw someone arrested!

A lone man had approached our group on Church Street, eyeing us (no doubt trying to figure out what we were doing with all the flashing and beeping ghost equipment), and cheerfully yelling "Boo!" at us as he moved on down the street. Two blocks later we caught up to him, handcuffed and sitting on the curb, being questioned by officers. Another three blocks later, here he came -- strapped in the backseat of an electric police car on the way to jail. He'd been friendly enough, didn't seem inebriated, but we all agreed: There's just no dignity in being hauled to jail in the equivalent of a golf cart, strapped into the back seat so you don't fall out the side!

The ghosties were active -- orbs of many colors (rose red, pilot blue, white, and green) plus a spiritual fog between the City Hall and County buildings.