Media Archives - Ghosts and Haunted Places

Halloween’s Over… Now What?

Halloween is over. What’s next for ghost hunters…?

Many people figure they won’t resume ghost hunting until the warm weather returns.

They’re wrong, and they’re likely to might miss a great opportunity.

Some of the most dramatic hauntings I’ve encountered were after Halloween night. The crowds have gone home, but the ghosts linger.

Ghost hunting doesn’t start (or stop) at Halloween. October 31st isn’t a binary, on/off switch.

In fact, increased ghostly activity generally continues through the first week of November, and sometimes later. (Personally, I think paranormal “prime time” extends at least until November 15th.)

So, continue your outdoor investigations – especially at haunted cemeteries, battlefields, and hiking trails – until the weather is too cold.

Hate the cold? Plan a southern vacation… for ghost hunting!

Of course, not every area is bitterly cold in November.

For example, in some parts of the U.S., cooler temperatures mean greater outdoor ghost hunting opportunities. New Orleans’ French Quarter and Metairie cemeteries come to mind, immediately.

Also, when I investigated Texas haunts, the drier winter air reduced the chance of false orbs in photos. An added bonus: in winter, our team usually encountered fewer bugs, snakes and other annoyances.

In Florida, theme parks may have great ghost stories… if they admit to them, that is.

(Important: When you ask, phrase your questions carefully. Ask as if it’s all in fun. Avoid anything that might seem ghoulish.)

The Haunted Mansion at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is a wonderful place to get “in the spirit” of ghost hunting.

Also, in another part of the Magic Kingdom, ask cast members about “George,” who might haunt the Pirates of the Caribbean gift shop and attraction.

Universal Studios’ theme parks have a couple of ghost stories. One of them is completely false. At least one other has some credibility.

Verify these kinds of stories before looking for ghosts.

(Remember, theme parks take pride in their safety precautions. So, when you hear a terrible ghost story at a theme park, it’s probably fake.)

In the South in general, look for the oldest neighborhoods, the oldest cemeteries, battlegrounds and parks steeped in history. You’ll find plenty with great ghost stories.

I can personally vouch for the ghosts of Houmas House, and it’s a fun place to tour, anyway.

While many ghostly Southern locations can be crowded during the summer vacation months, they’re often blissfully quiet in winter.

Let it snow…?

If your home is in the chilly north, don’t despair. You have options.

As the weather turns chilly, combine an outdoor investigation with an indoor one. Start your evening with an outdoor research site. Then, when temperatures drop, investigate a second site, indoors.

For example, let’s say you’d like to combine ghost hunting and skiing in northern New Hampshire (USA).

You might start with a roadside marker like the Roger’s Rangers marker at Haverhill, NH.

That’s a grim story and – as far as I know – the area hasn’t been thoroughly investigated. I’d expect some great EVP there.

From there, you’re about 30 minutes from the Norwich Inn. It can be a fascinating place to investigate with many credible ghost stories.

And, if you’re ready for skiing the next day, several ski resorts are within a short drive, including the Dartmouth Skiway.

Starting in November, many haunted hotels and B&Bs wish they’d had more Halloween publicity for their ghosts. They may be eager to welcome you, especially if you might visit regularly or tell others about their ghosts.

More ghost hunting opportunities when the weather’s cold

Here are additional tips for continuing your investigations, no matter what the weather.

Look for haunted theatres, hotels, restaurants, museums and haunted houses. Some may be busy during the holiday season. Others might be desolate, and perfect for a full investigation.

Wherever you go, ask people if they’ve heard any ghost stories nearby, or if they’ve ever encountered a ghost.

(In some areas, you’ll be overwhelmed with personal stories about living in haunted houses. Ask if you can investigate them.)

Don’t forget to investigate around Christmas, too. It can be more haunted than you expect.

Review last year’s investigations. Re-read your notes, review your photos and EVPs, and see which sites should be revisited for more research.

Plan the upcoming year. Include a ghost hunt at one location you’ve been planning to visit, but haven’t investigated yet. If it’s a popular location, make your travel reservations now.

Research other locations using new and popular ghost-related books.

Also study 19th century histories of your vicinity, looking for references to ghost stories, haunted places and other paranormal phenomena.

Practice using your ghost hunting tools. The better you understand them, and the easier it is for you to use them in the dark, the more you’ll be able to observe during future ghost investigations.

If it’s warm enough, resume outdoor investigations around April 30th. In many cultures, that’s a night when – like Halloween – the ghosts reportedly walk among us. Discover Walpurgisnacht (or Walpurgis Night) traditions and make the most of them on this second eerie and magical night for spirits.

Ghost hunting doesn’t stop at Halloween. If you’re enthusiastic about paranormal research, you’ll find plenty of investigation sites during the colder months.

Here’s my podcast about what to do after Halloween.

Extreme Hollow Hill (dot com) – Notes

As I’m adding more old podcasts to my Ghosts and Haunted Places YouTube channel, I’ve referenced an older website, Extreme Hollow Hill.

I’m looking for the articles from it (there weren’t many) and – when I find them – I’ll share those with merit, here.

One of the topics that still interests me is EIFs, also known as Experience Inducing Fields. I referenced them in this 2010 podcast:

I’ll add more content here, as time permits. For now, this is a placeholder for more “extreme” ideas.

Are Ghost Hunting TV Shows Real? – Podcast

In this 5-minute podcast, you’ll learn what’s (probably) real – and what isn’t – on ghost hunting TV shows.

In the past, I’ve talked about how “real” (or fake) ghost hunting is, on TV shows.

I’m always happy to explain why some of what you see on ghost hunting TV shows… Well, it had to be recreated from an earlier experience. That’s not quite “fake,” but it’s not entirely real, either.

Sometimes, no one with a camera was nearby, and a great, ghostly encounter wasn’t filmed. So, the cast and crew try to recreate it.
At other times, the ghost hunter was so stunned by what a ghost did, the ghost hunter didn’t react. It’s like they paused, almost frozen with surprise, thinking, “Wait, what the heck…?” And that moment also had to be recreated for the camera crew to film.
And yes, sometimes the show’s director (or other cast member) wants the ghost hunter to fake a big surprise, when — to the ghost hunter — whatever-it-was seemed silly, minor, or not paranormal. (Remember, stars of those shows are under contract, and the contract may require the star to follow all instructions from the episode’s director or producer… even if it’s at least 90% fake.)

For my related 2019 article – with a LOT more insights, and links to dig deeper. It might help you understand how ghost hunting on TV (and at YouTube, etc.) went a bit off-the-rails. It may also explain why some of the earliest stars of related shows… Well, they quit. Or they quit until they realized how difficult it was, going back to their lives before they became famous. Here’s that link: Ghost Hunting TV Shows – Are They Real?

For an even earlier article with additional details, especially for new ghost hunters, see my original article. It was written in 2009. To me, late 2008 looked like a turning point in ghost-related television shows. They were starting to add hype and artificial drama to the staged “ghost hunting” that fans were seeing. Here’s that link: Ghost Hunting on TV – Is It Real?

Talking about real ghost hunting, I often reference something we’ve called “baselining.” It’s rarely shown on TV, but most professionals consider it essential. For more information about how to baseline yourself before (and sometimes during) ghost investigations, see “Baseline Yourself for Ghost Hunting.”

AND THIS MAY BE HELPFUL, IF YOU WANT TO FIND GHOSTS YOURSELF…

Or… If you’d like to be ON a ghost hunting TV show, here’s that info:

The Real Ghost of Ocean-Born Mary – podcast

If you’re intrigued by real-life ghost stories, here’s my podcast about Ocean-Born Mary, the famous ghost of Henniker, New Hampshire, USA.

For my longer article about her legend – and the ghost – see Ocean-Born Mary – Her Ghost in Henniker, NH.

And, to find out what’s true about this ghost story, see Ocean-Born Mary – The Truth – Henniker, NH.

A snarky version of the story – not entirely reliable – is at Seacoast NH. Another version of the story is at the site of the New England Historical Society. The latter suggests other locations that investigators may want to explore.

If you’re going to visit the area where Ocean-Born Mary actually lived, learn more about the town at the Henniker, NH website.

Other graves – related to Mary Wallace – might be worth visiting and investigating. Here’s a useful FindAGrave list.

However, the actual house where she lived (and might haunt) is privately owned. Do NOT bother the owners! But, if you want to see what the house looked like, click here for the Library of Congress site’s larger photo.

“Living for the Dead” – Season One Review

If you’ve wondered whether “Living for the Dead” is worth watching, I understand. A lot of ghost-related TV shows aren’t impressive. In fact, they’re almost parodies of what genuine researchers do. (Can you hear my exasperation as I write that? Probably.)

However, “Living for the Dead” is different… on many levels.

In this 18-minute, unscripted review, I talk about the show and briefly describe what I liked (and didn’t) in each of the eight episodes.

(One episode was truly “meh” for me, but that’s not the fault of the cast. And, as an occasional location scout, I’ve seen this recurring problem far too often. I mention that in the video… while trying not to tell you too much, and spoil that episode altogether.)

Here’s my review, as a YouTube video. (I apologize for the audio quality. With seasonal allergies, my voice isn’t as reliable or consistent as I’d like, but I wanted to share this review as quickly as possible.)

And, if you’ve watched the series, I hope you’ll share your opinions in comments, below.