Hollow Hill

Houston’s Haunted Cemeteries at Bear Creek Park

Looking for ghosts in Houston, Texas? Try this cluster of haunted parks and haunted cemeteries.

Bear Creek Pioneers Park is a favorite spot for picnics, sports events, and ghost hunting. Its official address is 3535 War Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas. The most convenient entrances are off Patterson Road, between Highway 6 and Eldridge Parkway, or off Clay Road. [Google Maps]

This was the site of a thriving German community in the 19th century, when it was a railroad stop for the MKT line. The nearest town was Addicks, established in 1850 and named after its postmaster, Henry Addicks.

Both Addicks and the Bear Creek community were destroyed in the 1900 flood brought inland by the Galveston hurricane.

Today, the original town of Addicks is covered with water, under the Addicks Dam Reservoir between Patterson Road and I-10. Part of this area is shown in my photo.

You can hike in on a dirt road to see the reservoir, but only posted, private, paved roads lead to the perimeter of it. [Google Maps]

The town was relocated and is a very small suburb of Houston by Highway 6 and I-10, latitude 29.78 & longitude -95.64.

Cemeteries and memorials

In addition to this submerged “ghost town,” there are at least three haunted Houston cemeteries in or near Bear Creek Park, plus a war memorial.

Blue Light Cemetery

bearcreek9 — Bear Creek Park, looking towards “Blue Light” Cemetery.

Blue Light Cemetery is the local nickname for Hillendahl Cemetery, also called Hillendahl-Eggling Cemetery. (There is another Hillendahl Cemetery in Houston.)

This small cemetery in Houston’s Bear Creek Park acquired its name because a blue glow seems to emanate from the graves at night.

The effect was more dramatic when the headstones were still there. Many of them were made from Labradorite (Calcium sodium aluminum silicate) which catches light and creates a glow so unique that it’s called “labradorescence.”

Today, the glow can still be seen on nights when the moon is especially bright.

It’s probably caused by shards of the broken headstones. Some credit the glow to swamp gas, since this area floods regularly and is very damp.

The cemetery is isolated, near patches of poison ivy, and attracts poisonous snakes. It’s surrounded by a 14′ high Federal fence, due to repeated vandalism and grave robbing.

It’s also been a crime scene, and the victim of Halloween pranks.

Park rangers have done their best to make it difficult to reach this cemetery. Some researchers report that one headstone remains; others say that none are there.

We’ve heard no first-person ghost stories about this Houston cemetery. Its glowing blue lights seem to have brought it to the attention of ghost hunters, without other paranormal activity.

Directions vary. According to some researchers, it’s off a path the starts at Pavilions 9 and 12 and leads SSW. The photo above shows the area you’ll be walking through. It’s fairly marshy in some areas. If you’re using GPS, this is noted as 29 degrees 49’45″N, 95 degrees 39’03″W. [Google Maps]

Harris County War Memorial

warmemorial1 — Harris County War Memorial

Although this isn’t a cemetery, we’ve noticed that many war memorials – especially those with names on them – are haunted. We notice consistent orbs in our pictures taken near them.

The memorial at Bear Creek Pioneers Park covers a wide, open, paved area. Several monuments list the names of Harris County soldiers who gave their lives in battle.

The memorial is at 3535 War Memorial Drive, just off Eldridge Parkway, and it has its own parking area.

The memorial is next to the park office; night visits aren’t recommended. However, late in the day, it’s a great place to visit, and you may get some orbs around dusk.

The wildlife habitat is in the same area, and features a wide variety of animals. Take some photos of the animals, and then stroll to the War Memorial for more pictures.

Addicks-Bear Creek Methodist Cemetery

Sign at Addicks Bear Creek Cemetery, Houston, TX

At the corner of Patterson Road and Highway 6 near Bear Creek Park, Addicks – Bear Creek Cemetery is a 20th century cemetery. It was moved there after repeated flooding in the town of Addicks, including the Galveston flood of 1900 which destroyed the town.

The cemetery is relatively new, and actively in use. It’s on a busy street, and padlocked to prevent visitors. However, the parking lot is not posted, and you can probably take photos through the chain link fence.

This cemetery has no ghost stories that we’ve heard about. According to some genealogists, “Blue Light” Cemetery is technically part of Addicks-Bear Creek Methodist Cemetery.

[Google Maps]

Beeler Family Cemetery

Beeler Family Cemetery is part of Beeler Memorial Park, 1150 Enclave Parkway, Houston, Texas. It was the family cemetery of pioneers James and Amanda Beeler and their descendants, as well as some other pioneer families.

When the cemetery was neglected, Harris County took responsibility for maintaining it.

To visit the cemetery, take Eldridge Parkway south from Patterson Road. After I-10 and Memorial Drive, look for Enclave Parkway on the left. (There is a traffic light with a protected left turn.)

Shortly after turning onto Enclave Pkwy, look for the Pocket Park sign on your right.

Turn right immediately after it; it will look like a driveway, and there is room for about four or five cars in the small parking area. The cemetery is surrounded by a black metal fence in a wooded area.

If you drive past Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation on the right, you’ve gone too far.

If you approach from Briar Forest, take Enclave Parkway almost to where it intersects Eldridge. Look for Cabot Oil & Gas on your left. Turn left at the driveway immediately after Cabot’s sign. [Google Maps]

We’ve heard no ghost stories related to this cemetery, but have found considerable evidence of hauntings.

For additional reading: (links take you to other websites)

Addicks-Bear Creek Methodist Cemetery

Bear Creek Blue Light Cemetery (Unexplained Mysteries)

Handbook of Texas Online: Addicks, TX

Hillendahl-Eggling Cemetery

The Mineral Labradorite

What to Do if a Ghost Hunt Frightens You

After a particularly vivid ghost hunt, people sometimes get nervous about what they’ve just experienced.

Some people feel genuinely frightened.

If you’re one of them, it’s okay to be worried. Some ghost hunts are scary. Commercial events and tours can be designed to provide the “good scare” many guests expect.

Generally, there is nothing to be afraid of. Not from the dead, anyway. Here are a few facts to remember, from an article I wrote in 2005. My opinions haven’t changed much since then.

Ghosts aren’t likely to follow you home. Ghosts haunt a location, particularly cemeteries, for a reason. If they felt like they could leave, they wouldn’t be at the cemetery (or house, or battlefield) in the first place. Except for legends like The Flying Dutchman (a ghost ship) and the John Alford Tyng hauntings, few stories describe a ghost that moves from one location to another.

Ghosts cannot make you do things you don’t want to do. Ghosts are not hypnotists and they do not have powers beyond those that they had in life. Frankly, any spirit of the dead that’s tied to the earthly plane, has a specific reason for being here. Usually, their powers are significantly less than an average living person’s.

If you’re having “unwanted thoughts” after encountering a ghost, seek professional advice. Ghosts are not the problem. Hollywood imagery can be fun, but it’s not real. Steering wheels don’t jerk out of your hand. Bed canopies don’t sprout spikes and fall on people. People are not “taken over” by ghosts unless they agree to accept the trance state, or unwittingly give permission for something to use their bodies. Usually, if someone is “possessed,” something else is going on. It’s not a ghost. Get help right away.

Ghosts do not “curse” you. Ghosts are just people living in another dimension, or perhaps on another plane. They have no superhuman powers other than – perhaps – enhanced telepathy. They cannot curse you. They do not turn into “witches” when they die.

Ghosts cannot hurt you. Poltergeists are the only “ghosts” that ever harm people, and even then it’s usually nothing worse than bruising. People often ask why I warn against ghost hunting alone. It’s not because of ghosts, it’s because you might turn an ankle in a neglected yard or cemetery, and need help. Or you might encounter a bunch of drunk teens or (animal) hunters who don’t want you around. I’m not afraid of ghosts, but I’m very wary of isolated sites.

Ghosts will not haunt your dreams, keep you awake at night, etc. Unless you’re deliberately sleeping in a haunted house or camping at a haunted battleground, ghosts do not usually travel from their earthly locations to bother you.

Most ghosts “move on,” eventually. Spirits of the dead remain on earth for a specific reason. Usually, they’re fighting reality and want to turn back the clock. They want to change an event from the past. In rare cases, they simply have a message to pass on, or a minor task to accomplish. I’ve only encountered this once in hundreds of hauntings. One notable exception is when a spirit returns to help a friend or family member, or just check to be sure you’re okay. Spirit guides, angels, and totems, are a different topic. They are not malicious, ever. Don’t worry about them. You never have to worry about a ghost following you forever. It simply doesn’t happen.

Spiritual energy is pretty much all the same to a casual observer. If you’re in a setting where there is poltergeist phenomena, you probably won’t be able to guess whether it’s from a spirit of the dead, or someone nearby with RSPK. (RSPK is Remote Spontaneous PsychoKinesis, or the ability to move things using your thoughts, consciously or not). Don’t assume that the dish that flew across the room was propelled by a spirit of the dead. It could be a prank – or unintentional movement – caused by an ESP-gifted person who is very much alive, and near you.

I hope this puts your mind at rest.

Young woman, anxious. Ghost hunting is fun. For people like me, it’s fascinating to encounter ghostly manifestations.

Haunted sites can have risks, but they’re usually physical (like frail floorboards in the attic, or uneven stairs).

It’s nothing directly related to ghosts.

Ghost hunting itself is not hazardous, and ghosts are not maliciously wandering the earth as portrayed in movies and novels.

Nothing bad is likely to happen to you if you go on a ghost tour or public ghost investigation and take proper precautions.

(For example, always take a friend with you to an event or tour. If you’re on your own, watch your back and never treat the evening like speed dating.)

Frankly, most of your concerns should be about the living, not the spirits of the dead.

Consider another hobby if spirits and hauntings really frighten you.

It’s worth repeating: If ghost hunting isn’t fun, find something else for your spare time.

The more you go ghost hunting, the more spirits and manifestations you’re likely to encounter. If you’re uncomfortably nervous now, things will only get more intense if you continue.

8 Things NOT to Do in a Haunted Cemetery

Haunted cemeteries can be ideal for ghost hunting.

Usually, they’re free to visit, and — no matter where you are — a creepy cemetery is probably nearby.

Many cemeteries are haunted, day and night. For example, at New Hampshire’s Gilson Road Cemetery, ghostly activity often starts shortly before noon.

So, even if an eerie cemetery closes at dusk, it may still be a great location for daytime paranormal research.

With that in mind, here are some tips… sort of “cemetery etiquette.”

1. Don’t talk about ghosts with strangers.

In any cemetery, you may see other visitors. Some may be genealogists, historians, or descendants of the deceased. You may also find people who love to photograph (or transcribe) headstone engravings, or families making gravestone rubbings where the latter are allowed.

Babbling happily about ghosts may distract or even offend these people.

Many people expect respectful silence in a cemetery.

Worse, if someone is visiting the grave of a recently deceased family member, your comments may upset them. They’d rather believe that every departed person has crossed over, and is in a happier place… not lingering around a cemetery.

So, it’s best to speak in subdued tones, and not approach strangers unless they initiate conversation.

2. Avoid jokes about ghosts, the deceased, and death in general.

I’m not saying you have to be dour, but some jokes are in very poor taste.

Sure, even experienced ghost hunters can get nervous sometimes, and manage to blurt the worst possible things.

Avoid saying things that may offend the ghosts.

As a guideline, here are a few “jokes” that could irritate the dead, and probably annoy the living as well:

“Oops, didn’t mean to shout loud enough to wake the dead. Ha-ha-ha.”
“Gee, he must have been a cheapskate, not giving his wife her own headstone.”
“So, when do the ghouls show up, huh? Ha-ha-ha.”
“Let’s leave soon, I’m feeling dead tired.”
“Can’t you take a joke? I mean, hey, you’re looking pretty grave. Ha-ha-ha.”

You get the idea. Lines like that might be funny at Disney’s Haunted Mansion… but not at actual cemeteries and graveyards.

If someone starts joking, stop them immediately or leave the cemetery.

I’ve seen jokers suddenly twist an ankle where the ground had seemed perfectly level before, or hear menacing whispers, or encounter other odd problems.

Just the jokers. No one else.

Maybe the ghosts were “getting even.”

If so, it worked. Every time — no exceptions — the joker was terrified. Most quit ghost hunting that night.

3. Don’t trespass.

If the cemetery says, “Closed dusk to dawn,” get permission to visit it after hours.

If you inadvertently stay past dusk, remember that you are breaking the law; leave cheerfully and quickly when you realize your mistake.

Likewise, if the gate is locked, the cemetery is closed. Stay out!

4. Don’t be a vandal, even by mistake.

Cemetery gates, paths, crypts, and grave markers can be old or even ancient. They’re exposed to harsh elements, too.

So, don’t lean against or sit on fragile headstones.

Don’t use shaving cream to reveal inscriptions; many contain perfumes or other ingredients which contribute to decay. (Tip: A halogen flashlight at a sharp angle will reveal nearly as much – and sometimes more – than shaving cream would.)

5. You’re in the ghosts’ “home.” Be polite.

You are visiting – or perhaps trespassing – on the ghosts’ property. It’s okay to ignore belligerent, territorial ghosts, but be as understanding as you can.

Step carefully on graves.
Leave no litter.
Speak in soft tones.
Loud voices can annoy or frighten some spirits. That may reduce your chances of getting a great photo.

Some people recommend waiting at least a half an hour before taking photos. Then, respectfully ask permission of the deceased. I don’t do this, but many ghost hunters do. Use your best judgement.

6. Don’t bring “gifts” to the dead.

The only exceptions are flowers and (rarely) liquor.

If you’re leaving flowers — even artificial flowers — make sure you return regularly to make sure they still look nice. (If they don’t, remove them.)
Other gifts — especially toys for the ghosts of deceased children — may lead the child to remain (as a ghost) rather than abandon the gift you’d given them. (This has been an issue in Edinburgh, where well-meaning visitors have left dolls for the little girl ghost.) If you’ve already made this mistake, return to the cemetery and explain to the ghost that it’s time for the toy or doll to go back to its own home. Then remove the toy and thank the child for relinquishing it.
Some spiritual and cultural traditions include pouring liquor onto the grave of a loved one. If you do that, aim for an area where the alcohol won’t splash on anything above ground, and won’t seep into the ground to damage the coffin. Then, be sure to fill in any depression made by the liquid.

Note: If the police show up, they may not understand why you have an open bottle of scotch with you. In some communities, they may be able to arrest you, or at least take you to the police station to clarify what you were doing in the cemetery. Generally, I don’t allow anyone to bring alcoholic beverages to our ghost investigations.

7. Don’t move or remove anything.

Leave plants, markers, badges, ribbons, and so on, exactly where you found them. Do not pick anything, even autumn leaves from the trees.

However, if you find obvious trash, empty beer cans, or fast-food wrappers, you can help the cemetery caretaker by putting them in a nearby trash container. (If there’s no trash container nearby, find one, quickly. Never take anything home — even rubbish — from a cemetery.)

8. Do not eat or smoke in the cemetery.

Step outside the cemetery you’re hungry or need a cigarette.

Note: Cigarette smoke can cause false anomalies in photos and videos. So, even when you’re outside the cemetery, be sure no smoke drifts into investigation areas.

So, now you know eight important things NOT to do in a haunted cemetery. I’m sure you can think of others.

How to Get Permission for a Ghost Investigation

bw-pantheon-150h Here’s some advice before you ghost hunt in an apparently deserted or empty building.

What can you do when an empty home or building seems haunted?

Ghost hunters should never trespass. But, not everyone knows how to get permission to visit an empty site, and what to ask for.

EMPTY HOMES

If a home is empty, it may be owned by a ‘snowbird’. That’s slang for people who spend chilly winter months in warm locations, and return north when summer heat becomes unbearable at their second homes.

Or, the home may be for sale. If it’s been on the market for a long time, it may be neglected by the owner. Often, those owners live out of state and don’t realize how dilapidated their former home is. Or, it might be a repossessed home, owned by a bank that just hasn’t listed the property yet. Look for a realtor’s sign somewhere around the property. If you don’t see one, call any local realtor and see if the house is listed by anyone.

The house may be owned by someone elderly living in a retirement community, who is unable to maintain the home but doesn’t want to let it go, either. That’s not uncommon, especially if the house had been in the family for generations.

So, how you you get permission to investigate an empty house that seems haunted?

1. Ask the neighbors. They probably know who owns the house. A neighbor may even have contact information and a key to the house, to check on it regularly.

2. Ask the homeowners’ association. If the home is in a subdivision, there is probably a homeowners’ association. They almost always have a list of the houses, who owns each one, and complete contact information for every homeowner.

3. Ask the police. Many ghost hunters feel intimidated by the police. This is generally a needless worry. In fact, many of my favorite haunted locations were recommended by police who’d been called to those sites repeatedly… and couldn’t figure out what caused the noises, lights, or other signs of ghosts.

If a home has been empty for awhile, the police probably know about it… and its history. They may be able to tell you who owns it, or point you in the direction of someone with that info.

4. Ask the reference librarian at the nearest public library. He or she may know all about it. Reference librarians are wonderful resources.

EMPTY BUSINESSES AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

If a store or commercial building looks empty, look for a realtor’s sign. Do an Internet search on the exact street address; it may reveal who was there last. Check for their current address and phone number, and they may provide contact information about the landlord or the new owner of their old building.

If that doesn’t work, the research process is about the same as for an empty house.

1. Ask nearby businesses. In some cases, landlords are waiting for all of the tenants’ leases to expire, so that they can tear down the building and replace it with something better or larger.

2. Ask the Chamber of Commerce, or Convention & Visitors’ Bureau. They often know every neighborhood in commercial districts, and who owns which blocks.

3. Ask the police. Empty storefronts can be targets of vandals, and homeless people can try to use them as temporary shelters. So, the police may have information about the owners.

IF ALL ELSE FAILS

Sometimes, no one has a clue. I’ve never encountered that kind of problem, in over 30 years of research.

If a site is that difficult to research, find somewhere else to ghost hunt. Trespassing is never an acceptable alternative.

But, if you’re absolutely fascinated with an empty home or business, start with old, published “reverse” directories. They will probably turn up someone who was in the building in the past, and they may have information for you.

You can also go to the courthouse and research civil records, including tax histories, liens, and probate records. (In some areas, recent records are closed to the public unless you can prove a specific and compelling reason to access that information.)

Some courthouses charge a fee for this, some have indexed records, and some require you to contact them by mail (not email) and wait for a reply. Call ahead. You’ll probably reach a recording telling you how to access their records.

WHAT TO ASK FOR

In most cases, you’ll want the homeowner or landlord to let you into the building and remain there while you do your research. That prevents lawsuits, especially if the site has been vandalized while it was empty. Never risk being blamed for damage that you didn’t do.

If the owner simply hands you the key, have them sign a brief permission form, along with the date and time.

The permission form should list the address being investigated, the names of the researchers who are allowed into the premises, and the date and exact hours that you are allowed to be there. The owner should sign and date this form, and you should carry it with you.

When you return the key to the owner, have him or her sign the permission form again, noting that the key was returned, and when. It’s just a receipt, in case questions are asked, later.

Never make a copy of the key. Never let another team member borrow it. Use the key for your investigation, and — if possible — return it that same day, in person. Don’t just drop it into the mailbox at the owner’s home. (If the owner isn’t available when you want to leave the key, take the key to the nearest police station and ask if they’ll hold it for the owner. Do not mention ghost hunting. Say you were “interested in the building.” They’ll assume you were looking at renting or buying it.)

There are many liabilities connected with researching in empty buildings. Generally, I advise against that kind of research. There are plenty of other, more accessible sites for investigations.

But, I have never run into a stone wall when researching an empty home or building. Usually, the neighbors are the best resource. If you knock on enough doors and talk to enough people, you’ll generally get the answers that you need.

Is That Noise a Ghost? Maybe Not!

As I write this, it is December (2005), a time of year when many people start hearing “ghostly noises” in their homes.

In many cases, these will be ghosts.

However, there may be logical explanations, and those should be considered, first:

Temperature changes cause houses to moan, shift, and creak. Desert climates have the widest temperature swings between day and night, but even temperate climates have seasonal changes that can cause your house to shift slightly. And when a couple of floorboards rub against each other and echo in an attic, the noise can sound like someone in agony.

Settling houses make snaps, thuds, creaks, and groans. If your house is new, it may be settling. A hastily-poured foundation, or one poured at the wrong time of year, can produce outrageous noises for years after the house has been built.There are other reasons why a house can “settle.” If you’ve had an earthquake in your region, your house may now be settling back into place. If you’ve had unusually high rainfall, or a drought, the ground around your house will shift. A piano or waterbed moved in or out of a room can cause the whole house to readjust itself.
Critters in the walls or attic can sound bizarre. The scurrying noises alone can sound like little ghostly footsteps. A bushy tail of a squirrel or raccoon, rubbing on all sides of a narrow passageway inside a wall or alongside a chimney… Well, you’ll be convinced that a ghostly woman in a full Victorian skirt just passed you.If two animals decide to argue or chat within your walls, in your basement, or overhead in your attic, sometimes they sound like ghostly whispers, or a full-fledged argument in a strange dialect!
Check for even smaller critters, such as wood ants or termites. If they’re weakening the house’s structure, the house will moan and groan as it shifts its weight.
Is there construction going on near you? Perhaps rocks tumble from their recently-blasted niches, at a certain hour of the night when the temperature dips low enough to cause contractions and shifts. The roof of a new house can make astonishing noises, especially at night. Ask anyone who’s put a roof on a house, or repaired one, about the nails that pop out overnight.
If it happens at the same time every night, it’s not necessarily a ghostly hour. Temperatures and humidity change at night. When these natural effects reach a “critical mass” level, the house may shift. A loose shingle may pop up again. The mortar in your chimney may contract just enough to cause dust to echo as it tumbles to the ground or hearth. These kinds of things happen night after night. It’s part of the natural cycle of a house.This “critical mass” effect is usually at approximately the same time, each night. Seasonal changes and unseasonable variations can shift the hour back or forward, but it’s still within the same approximate time period.
Do you live near a commercial area? You may live far enough from a shopping center that you don’t hear the garbage collectors’ trucks. However, when they lift one of those huge containers of trash and empty it into the truck… wow! If that noise echoes off a neighbor’s siding or cement wall, it can seem as if something is crashing on your patio, or in an another room, particularly if the windows are open.

Not all ghostly noises are this easily explained. However, consider the logical answers first. Perhaps your noise is a ghost, but you won’t know unless you use your critical thinking skills to explore the alternatives.

And, just because the noise could be faked, or caused by something logical… well, that doesn’t mean that it is.

Webmaster’s note: When I was a kid, I used to hear noises in the attic overhead, many nights. My parents dismissed my insistence that it was a ghost. “Squirrels in the attic,” they replied, and nodded sagely.

Well, we did have a lot of very friendly squirrels in our neighborhood, and a nest in our backyard. I tried to accept my parents’ logical explanation of the noises.

However, when we were selling our house and had it inspected, I mentioned the squirrels in the attic.

“No evidence of that,” the house inspector replied. “I’ll check again.”

And so he did. And he found no place where a squirrel could get into the attic, and no evidence that animals of any kind had been up there.

So, even when the answer seems logical, it might still be ghosts. I may never know if our house’s nightly noises had been a ghost, or something else.

Can You Go Ghost Hunting During the Day?

It’s true that ghost hunters may get the best research results after dark.

Maybe it’s like radio stations that can be heard more clearly without interference from the sun.

Whatever the reason, after-dark ghost hunts usually seem more successful.

However…

Daytime ghost hunts aren’t a waste of time.

In fact, at some haunted places, ghosts can be even more startling than at night.

Daytime ghosts at Gilson Road

Gilson Road Cemetery in Nashua, New Hampshire (USA) is haunted day and night.

Ghostly energy builds there each day, starting around 11:30 or noon.

Pay close attention to the woods in back of the cemetery. Even in broad daylight, you may sense (or even see) some very odd things.

One autumn afternoon at Gilson Road cemetery, I saw a figure in what looked like a capote — a hooded coat usually made from a Hudson Bay blanket — as he walked through the woods about 100 feet from me. I was a bit alarmed because he looked like he was carrying a hunting bow, or perhaps a very slender rifle.

Then, he walked behind a tree. That tree’s trunk was narrower than the man I thought I’d seen… but he seemed to disappear behind it.

And then he never emerged.

I trudged back to where the tree was, and there were no footsteps in the damp ground. There was also no place he could have gone without me seeing him.

By night, eerie lights seem to flicker in those same woods. Animals are “too quiet,” or suddenly seem to panic for no reason. A few people see a hooded figure with glowing eyes. Compasses and EMF meters go haywire. Strange things happen.

That energy is gone by dawn. Around noon the next day, the cycle starts all over again.

More daytime ghosts

In Texas, I like downtown Houston’s La Carafe wine bar at 813 Congress Street. Though the bar is closed in the morning, people who work there report odd discoveries when they arrive to open for business. It’s haunted enough to provide anomalies, 24/7.

Look for locations with a long history of power struggles or violence. Battlefields are a good example. (Gilson Road Cemetery in Nashua, NH, was the site of multiple Native American wars, as well as violent clashes with colonists.)

Check your daily commute. Look for roadside historical markers. Many indicate sites of violent clashes and intense, emotion-rich meetings of powerful people. Something important happened there. The question is why, and did it at least leave some residual energy?

Former hospitals, funeral homes, and politicians’ homes are also good sites for daytime paranormal research.

If your only available research time is during daylight hours, don’t worry. Somewhere nearby, at least one site is haunted, day and night.

Ghosts don’t only come out at night.

Many haunt during the day, waiting for someone to notice them.

You may need to investigate several sites to find one that’s active in daylight, but with enough patience and persistence, you’ll succeed.

Carpe diem!