Hollow Hill

How to Find Haunted Cemeteries – Video Lesson

Are you looking for ghosts? Start with haunted cemeteries. Many of them aren’t just haunted… they’re very haunted.

This video will help you learn the basics and find haunted cemeteries near you.

Tips for Finding Haunted Cemeteries

People drive by cemeteries every day and don’t notice them. The more ignored the cemetery is, the more likely it is to be haunted. Abandoned cemeteries and neglected graveyards are among the best for your research.

Haunted cemeteries are often in the middle of nowhere or — at the opposite extreme — they’re near strip malls, motels, home improvement superstores, and used car lots. Always look in back of malls and superstores. You may be surprised at what’s behind them or nearby.

For some reason — I don’t know why, yet — the left side (or back left corner) of haunted cemeteries is often odd. The fence is broken, or that corner of the cemetery is neglected, or it’s strangely dark in that corner.

You’re also looking for 19th-century graves or evidence that the cemetery was at its peak in the 19th century. Those cemeteries and graves are often the most haunted.

(If you’re looking for information about specific cemeteries online, remember that people sometimes misspell “cemetery” as “cemetary,” “cemetry” or “cementary.” Use those spellings at search engines and you may find ghost stories, too.)

Once you’ve identified a cemetery that might be haunted, it’s time to explore the graves and headstones (usually in daylight, at first) for places to research.

How to Find Haunted Graves

Here’s a video with real-life examples, to help you find haunted graves.

More tips for finding haunted graves.

Gravestones that indicate money, power, tragedy, or drama. Inscriptions and artwork can reveal a lot about the person and the circumstances of his or her death.
Graves with multiple spouses, especially if the gravestone is unusual.
Family plots that are missing some headstones, or have one or more unmarked graves.
Grave markers that aren’t aligned with the other headstones in the cemetery. Generally, headstones in 19th-century cemeteries (or earlier) are aligned in an east-west direction. If one or more aren’t, investigate why.
Look for unmarked, neglected, abandoned, and old, vandalized graves. (Avoid recently vandalized graves. They’re not worth the potential trouble from the living and the dead.)
Generally, look for anything odd about a grave or a family plot.

Haunted cemeteries can be the best places for paranormal research. Though “creepy” cemeteries can be worth checking, some of the best haunted graves are in cemeteries that are simply overlooked or neglected.

The photos in this video are from a cemetery on Rte. 3, just north of the Tilton (NH) outlet malls, and a nearby cemetery at Arch Hill in Northfield, NH.

For more videos about ghost hunting, see my YouTube channel, Ghosts and Haunted Places, with Fiona Broome.

If you’re interested in learning more, read my book, Ghost Hunting in Haunted Cemeteries.

In that book, you’ll discover:

How to find “forgotten” cemeteries in your area.
Exactly what to look for (and where the “hot spots” usually are).
What gravestone inscriptions and artwork can mean, and…
How to uncover the ghosts’ real stories.

You’ll also learn tips to help your ghost hunting team get the most from each investigation.

Haunted cemeteries are among the best investigation sites for beginners and pros, alike. It’s where the ghosts are!

Poltergeists – What They Are, and Famous Stories

Poltergeists cause unexplained noises, and move objects with unseen hands.

At many hauntings, those mischievous (and sometimes angry) spirits throw things… sometimes vigorously.

On TV, one of the most famous examples was in the Ghost Adventures episode filmed at the Goldfield Hotel.

Though I can’t clearly see enough to claim it’s a genuine event, Zak Bagans continues to refer to it as one of the scariest moments in the show’s history.

If he had reason to suspect it was a hoax, I doubt that he’d keep revisiting this topic. He’d probably hope people forgot it.

So, I take this seriously. (Note: Often, Zak – or the show’s producers – and I have very different views about ghost hunting and safety issues.)

Ghost Adventures Flying Brick 1080p HD

Goldfield, Nevada, Goldfield Inn evidence of paranormal. Brick flying across room from unknown force captured in 2008 by Zak B. and Nick G. during their firs…

According to Wikipedia,

In folklore and parapsychology, a Poltergeist (German for ‘noisy ghost’ or ‘noisy spirit’) is a type of ghost or other supernatural entity which is responsible for physical disturbances, such as loud noises and objects being moved or destroyed. They are purportedly capable of pinching, biting, hitting, and tripping people. Most accounts of poltergeists describe the movement or levitation of objects such as furniture and cutlery, or noises such as knocking on doors.

Professional opinions

Among paranormal researchers, opinions vary widely. Some insist that a ghost – and only a ghost – causes the activity.

Others believe a living person triggers it, and is sometimes the target of particularly vicious physical attacks.

And some dismiss poltergeists entirely. They point to hoaxes, and vibrations from sources such as a passing train or heavy truck.

No simple, single answer that applies to all cases.

In my opinion, people who casually shrug off all poltergeists have never witnessed much poltergeist activity.

I’ve seen enough to believe it’s real, and sometimes very dangerous.

When poltergeist activity is infrequent or not especially dangerous, a bowl of salt seems to reduce or eliminate the problem. Place the salt where most of the activity occurs.

Of course, if the activity puts anyone at risk – especially physically – it’s important to get professional help quickly. I refer people to spiritual advisors such as priests and ministers.

However, avoid leaping to idea that the activity is demonic. That’s very rarely the case.

Meanwhile, some scientists are aggressively studying psychokinesis (PK), which may explain some poltergeist activity. So, we may have better answers, soon.

More about poltergeists

The following references may be useful:

Colin Wilson – Ghost Sightings

This book reads like a children’s series of “ghost stories.” But, it’s actually filled with unique and fascinating information about ghosts and poltergeists.

He was the first researcher I heard mention an eerie connection between poltergeist activity and water, especially unexplained water residues.

Often overlooked by researchers, this book is among my favorite resources for unusual insights about the spirit world. I keep a copy by my desk. Though the stories and descriptions seem light, Wilson includes some unique and useful insights.

Also, I agree with Wilson when he says, “…the evidence is that we do continue to exist. And I don’t think that there’s any possible doubt about it.”

Winchester Mansion (aka Winchester Mystery House) – Wikipedia entry

One of the world’s strangest and most haunted houses. Often, its poltergeist activity is accompanied by small, unexplained pools of water. Those pools occur in rooms with no windows and no adjoining plumbing.

Cases: The Drummer of Tedworth, Enfield Poltergeist

(I will write more about these events, later, and include previously unreported facts. They may shed new light on these famous poltergeist stories.)

Movies: The Entity

This movie — difficult to find as a DVD, since the movie studio discontinued it — is one of the most notorious stories of poltergeist activity.

It also claims it’s based on a true story. Frankly, I’m not convinced, and I don’t recommend it. The content in this film is very disturbing, and sexually explicit. And, oh yes, not very realistic.

Produced in the early 1980s, the movie is dated. Those who’ve watched it consistently describe it as sick, and too realistic for entertainment.

That may be why the movie was discontinued. Or, the atmosphere it created around viewers may have attracted annoying – or even worrisome – entities.

Books: Harry Potter books, by J. K. Rowling

The poltergeist, Peeves, appears during every school year. However, when he is visible, he generally looks solid. (That’s not common among poltergeists. Few appear in visible form.)

Other Hogwarts spirits, such as Nearly Headless Nick, usually look translucent and slightly glistening or pearlescent. They’re more likely to be ghosts, not poltergeists.

Note: Peeves wasn’t in the Harry Potter movies, but he is in a video on YouTube:

In general, I regard poltergeists as mischievous spirits, sometimes given energy by emotional people (especially young teens) in the general vicinity.

Ignored, their activity may seem to get worse, briefly, and then stop or occur infrequently. So — in the long run — it’s best to give them minimal attention, before taking more aggressive steps to deal with the situation.

How to Join a Ghost Hunting Team

cem1-pd Many people have asked me about finding and joining a local ghost hunting group.

THE BASICS

First, be sure to read the articles in my free ghost hunting course, Introduction to Ghost Hunting.

From the second lesson:

Locate at least one ghost hunting group in your area. Search at Google, Yahoo, etc., using the name of your city or town, plus the word “ghosts.” If that doesn’t work, try your county name and the word “ghosts.” If that still doesn’t help, try your state or regional name, and the word “ghosts.”

If you don’t find a local group, or none of them are right for you, ask friends if they’d be interested in ghost hunting at dusk or later.

When think that you have enough people — and collective expertise — to try a ghost hunt, choose a well-known haunted site (a place that’s open to the public) and visit it shortly before dusk.

If you decide to start your own group, be sure to take my free course first, and carefully read Part 4. Learn what to think about when you launch a ghost hunting group.

COMMITMENTS

If you’re asked to sign an agreement, make sure that you can leave the group easily — and without penalties of any kind — if it’s not a good match for your interests.

If there are any “non-disclosure” terms, don’t join that group. Be suspicious of anyone who’s keeping secrets from others.

THE MONEY QUESTION

Groups may charge a small fee to cover their actual expenses. However, be sure you know where the money goes and be certain that you’re getting your money’s worth.

Money key Don’t pay anyone for anything at all, unless the price is extremely low. It’s not that the course (or whatever) isn’t worth it, but if you’re on a shoestring budget or beginning this as a hobby, for now, there’s no reason to pay someone over $100 for.. well, anything.

Of course, weekend conferences and professionally-taught courses are an exception to the $100 rule. But, even then, don’t spend money you can’t afford.

If you pay in advance for a class, a conference, or a ghost-related event, always get a written receipt with the refund information on it. Don’t be uncomfortable about asking for one.

You can dispute payments made through PayPal, but it helps if you have either an email stating refund terms, or a screenshot of the group/event’s website page explaining refund policies.

Here are a few other points to watch for.

Don’t pay anyone an “investment” fee to be part of an entourage or work with anyone. (At least one questionable investigator is using that term to solicit money.)
Don’t buy supplies for anyone or any group, with the idea that you’ll be paid back in the future or given special status.
Don’t believe anyone’s promises that they’ll make you a star or build a career for you. (That’s another line some con artists use.)

You can learn ghost hunting without spending a cent. It’ll take you more time than if you took classes with a professional (or a good, experienced group), but you can acquire a very solid foundation in paranormal research, on your own.

MAKING CONTACT

Have patience when you contact groups. The good ones are overloaded with work, and under-staffed.

(Each year, the media begin contacting me in July for Halloween-related interviews. So, don’t expect quick responses from any professional-level group, from September through mid-November.)

Affiliate with no group until you’ve worked with them for at least a month. Well, except TAPS, maybe. (That is, the real TAPS and their family of investigators, not some group that’s illegally using the TAPS name.)

Other than that… get a good sense of whether the chemistry works and if their views fit with yours, before you make any kind of commitment.

IN GENERAL

Most ghost hunting groups have a website. You can usually find them with Google, combining “ghost hunting” and your town or city name.

If a group has been around for at least two or three years, and you respect the members, ask if you can join them for a few ghost hunts.

If you can’t find a local group, go to free events at bookstores, etc., related to paranormal topics. (They’re most popular around Halloween.) Ask friends at school or work if they’re interested in ghosts and haunted places.

Find at least two or three people to explore ghost hunting with you, and you’ll soon attract others with similar interests.

The vast majority of ghost enthusiasts are wonderful people and you’ll enjoy your research with them. However, it’s smart to be cautious at first.

Use common sense. Don’t be afraid to admit if you’re uncomfortable with a person or a group, or if a haunted location seems “not right.” Leave immediately, and then see if you can figure out what bothered you.

Participate in ghost research and investigations as long as it’s fun and interesting. That could continue for a month, a year, or much longer.

With no formal system of credentials and certification, this field can seem confusing to newcomers. However, with just a little experience, you’ll soon learn the questions to ask and what to look for when you accompany a group on an investigation.

What Ghost Hunting Equipment Should Every Ghost Hunter Have?

Ghost hunting equipment can be useful in any haunted setting.

Some researchers confirm anomalies using cameras, EVP recorders, digital thermometers, compasses, EMF devices, and so on.

Others focus on psychic readings with Tarot cards or other divinatory tools.

Some people use dowsing rods and pendulums, which some claim are psychic tools, while other point to their scientific support.

(I no longer recommend any divinatory tools, including dowsing rods and pendulums, except to rule out underground streams or electrical wiring that could produce false anomalies. Since 2021, there’s been a dramatic uptick in demon-like activity in connection with divination, and not just Ouija boards.)

But, the question remains:

**What tools must every beginner have for ghost hunting?**

Here’s my answer: Nothing!

You need no special equipment, not even a camera.

You don’t need special training, either.

Really.

If you’re a beginner – or just curious – you should be able to show up at a place that’s haunted and sense something odd there.

That’s what ghost hunting is.

You go to places that might be haunted, and see if you sense anything odd there.

If it doesn’t make sense or can’t be explained, it’s called an anomaly.

The more often you go on ghost hunts, the more sensitive you’ll become to ghostly anomalies. It’s that simple.

What to Expect on a Ghost Hunt

On a successful ghost hunt, you may experience an eerie feeling, a chill, or hair lifting on the back of your arms.

Some people hear things, which can range from noises that everyone hears – tapping, for example.

You may hear strange sounds that no one else does.

(Here’s a good way to ask others about it, without tipping your hand: Ask “Did you notice anything odd?” or “Did you hear something?”)

Some people receive strong impressions, or see something flicker, off to one side. Or, they may detect a perfume or an aroma.

Any of the five senses can be involved, or you may have a ‘sixth sense’ experience.

Those are the experiences that will make the biggest impressions. That’s what confirms that a site really is haunted.

Never feel that you must own or invest in ghost hunting equipment.

Sure, your phone may have a great camera for ghost hunting. Or a voice recorder for EVP.

But what if it doesn’t…? Or what if your phone quits working at a haunted site? (It happens, often. Some of us blame that on quirky EMF levels.)

Just go and enjoy the ghost hunt!

Ghost Hunting is About Observing

On 90% of investigations, ghost hunting is about the experience.

When you’re ready to add ghost hunting equipment – and you never have to – go slowly.

Experiment. Borrow others’ equipment for a few minutes on a ghost hunt. See if it works for you.

Some people never seem to get anything interesting in photos or videos.
Others see no results with EMF detectors.
Me…? I’ve never had much success with EVP. I have a voice recorder for ghost hunting but rarely use it.

No two researchers are the same. Don’t invest in equipment unless you’re sure that it’s useful for you.

Meanwhile, don’t worry that you’re missing out on anything.

ALL You Need is an Interest in Ghosts

There are no tools and there is no training that you absolutely must have to be a successful ghost hunter.

Sure, courses can help shorten your trial-and-error phase, and you can learn from team leaders and even ghost hunting TV shows.

However, I want to make this very clear: You need no equipment at all to be a successful ghost hunter.

Just get out there with a friend or two. Start investigating.

No tools. Just your five (or six) senses.

That’s all.

With each investigation, you’ll become more accomplished as a ghost hunter.

Here’s an “insider” secret.

Many – perhaps most – professionals in this field aren’t impressed when someone talks about their ghost hunting equipment.

First tell us what you experienced. Then – and only then – if you have EVP to share, or you can describe simultaneous EMF spikes, or have other evidence to support what you witnessed, we’re interested.

What matters is when you can state confidently, “This is what happened,” and then tell us the story.

Ghost hunting equipment going wonky…? It could mean anything.

Or it might mean something we can’t fully understand, yet…

What matters is your experience.

And, for that, you don’t need ghost hunting equipment.

Residual Energy Hauntings

Many ghost hunters – including me – have theories about residual energy hauntings.

That is, eerie, repeating energy at haunted sites, and what they mean.

First, let’s start with the two most common types of hauntings.

Two kinds of hauntings

The first are active or ‘intelligent’ hauntings, involving the presence of a sentient spirit or ghost.

The rest are usually residual energy imprint hauntings, often called “residual energy hauntings” or just “imprints.” Most result from an emotional incident, and usually a violent event.

Perhaps, just like an iron remains hot long after it’s turned off, strong energy seems to be stored in physical surroundings, at least for a while.

When someone witnesses this kind of haunting and is startled by it, that energy may refuel the setting so that the manifestations and/or impressions continue.

(This may also explain haunted objects. Maybe they’re just storing residual, emotional energy.)

How experts explain residual energy hauntings

Ghost hunters may disagree about the frequency and importance of residual energy hauntings.

We may use different terms for it. But, we usually agree about what it is:

In Ghosts, Spirits and Hauntings, author Patricia Telesco uses the term ‘memory imprint‘ and describes it as, ‘An energy remnant that leaves a mark on a room or region.’

Although it’s dismiss it as unlikely, in The Field Guide to Ghosts and Other Apparitions, authors Evans and Huyghe call it a ‘memory trace‘ and relate it to a psychic ‘tape recording of a voice’ that some witnesses can perceive.

In The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Ghosts & Hauntings, Tom Ogden describes a ‘residual haunting… a sudden displacement in time during which you see into or experience the past’.

Cassandra Eason, in Ghost Encounters, refers to imprints in terms of a ‘worn-out reel of film constantly replaying in an empty cinema’ and dismisses them as hauntings.

In his study, How to Hunt Ghosts : A Practical Guide, Joshua P. Warren says, ‘Regardless of exactly how time functions, paranormal imprints show us that, for whatever reason, events can be recorded in an environment.’ (Important note: Joshua is not related to Ed & Lorraine Warren, often associated with the Amityville House hauntings.)

And, in The Ghost Hunter’s Guidebook, Troy Taylor talks about residual hauntings saying, ‘This type of phenomena is much more common than people think’. I agree with him.

Here are some of my thoughts

But really, we’re all guessing

I’ve encountered many ghosts and hauntings, in a variety of settings, from cemeteries to apartment buildings.

It appears that at least 50% of all reported hauntings — and perhaps more — are the product of residual energy.

However, that’s just a guess. It may only reflect the kinds of haunted sites I’ve visited. I tend to favor ancient sites, and hauntings from the 19th century.

In some cases, if the residual energy is bothering those currently living in (or regularly visiting) the site, you can try some residual energy solutions.

Hauntings can involve both residual energy and actual ghosts

It can be difficult to tell which is which.

In my experience, residual energy hauntings don’t change very much.

An extreme is Gilson Road Cemetery in Nashua, NH. I’ve encountered the exact same energy, day after day, starting at about noon. That’s why I’ve used it to teach ghost hunting; the ghostly energy is predictable!

Generally, residual energy hauntings provide the ‘good scare‘ that many ghost hunters enjoy.

By contrast, an active haunting — caused by an actual ghost, spirit, or apparition — can surprise you.

Many ghosts will react to the people who are in ‘their’ area. Each visit to a site with a ghost will be a little different. It’s often not fun, and it can be more intense than people expect.

Residual energy hauntings provide a window to the past.

When you’re psychically ‘seeing’ something that seems like a movie, it may be an imprint of the event on the environment.

Or it might be something else.

As ghost hunters, we’re still trying to figure out what’s behind our experiences at haunted places.

For now, those are my best guesses about residual energy hauntings.

If you have more insights, please share them in comments below!

A radical, delightfully geeky theory:

When you feel as if you’re “seeing” (or experiencing) an entire event from the past, it may actually be a window through time.

In other words, it might relate to a parallel universe or be a weird ripple in time.

I’ve discussed this in my Are Ghosts Dead? article, too.

(If those concepts intrigue you, I recommend following the evolution of string theory, M theory, and related quantum and physics studies. One of the best introductions is a PBS television show called ‘The Elegant Universe‘ and the Science Channel’s ‘Parallel Universe‘ program.)

How to Find Local Ghosts

Almost every city and town has ghost stories. Many have active hauntings. The biggest challenge for new ghost hunters is to find really haunted places.

Look at the photo to the left. It doesn’t look especially haunted, does it?

That’s a photo of the most haunted wing of one of America’s most haunted houses, The Myrtles Plantation, in Louisiana.

Few places are as haunted as that house. However, no matter where you live, you can find haunted places nearby.

Q. How do I find local ghosts?

Start ghost hunting near your own home. That’s usually the easiest place to find haunted sites.

Search using Google or another search engine. Enter the name of your city, town, state, or region, using words such as “ghosts” and “haunted.”

Remember, a lot of this is based in folklore, and the stories are more fiction than fact. Many websites list every location that is even rumored to be haunted. (I like Dave Juliano’s website, The Shadowlands.) In my experience, only a small percentage of listed locations have actual ghosts. However, if sites are nearby, they’re worth looking into.

Check news headlines for recent reports of hauntings. Search at Google News using words such as “ghosts,” “haunted houses,” and so on. (I regularly review those kinds of reports, but I can’t investigate – or even list – all of them.)

Read books at the library. Most public libraries have a section that includes paranormal books. Also look among books describing your local geographical area, especially folklore. Libraries usually have a section specifically about their town or city, and the region in general.

While “ghost” books – collections of stories – can be unreliable, they are a good place to start.

Ask people. Almost everyone has heard of a few local places with ghost stories and haunted histories. Generally, college, high-school and middle school students know the most rumors about local haunted places.

Check back issues of local newspapers. Most regional newspapers feature haunted sites during the week before Halloween.

Ask the police. Police are often the best resource for information about hauntings. They know which places generate complaints about odd activity–noises, weird lights, and so on–but have no reasonable explanations.

Q. Are there some places almost always haunted?

Yes, and some of these classic cliches can help you to locate haunted places.

Cemeteries are usually mildly haunted. Older cemeteries – from the 19th century and earlier – are far more likely to have ghosts. Explore the oldest sections of cemeteries for the best results. However, many cemeteries are closed between dusk and dawn. Observe local laws whenever you’re ghost hunting.

Abandoned buildings are often haunted. People rarely walk away from a perfectly good house or building unless something’s really wrong with it. What’s “wrong” may be a ghost. A few commercial locations in Salem, Massachusetts, are like that. (However, never trespass on private property. Get permission.)

Theaters – those with a stage the people have performed on – are almost always haunted. Usually, these are fun ghost. Look for ghosts on the stage, in the audience, backstage, and just outside the auditorium doors. Many theaters have a ghost that visits during rehearsals, and can be seen sitting or standing on the balcony.

Most colleges and some schools have at least one poltergeist. Ask students. To narrow your focus, remember that poltergeist activity is usually connected with water or a water source (streams, ponds, and – indoors – faucets). Also look for unusual, mobile EMF spikes.

Avoid investigating private homes when you are new to ghost hunting. Safety issues are just part of the problem. Some people who are troubled by ghosts – or proud of them – may have expectations you’re not able to meet.

These tips will help you find good local haunts. In addition, rely on your gut instinct. If a location looks haunted, it might be a good place to investigate.

Also, be sure to check my Guidelines for Ghosthunters before going on your first ghost hunt.