Tips for Beginners Archives - Ghosts and Haunted Places

Haunted Places – Legal and Illegal

video camera warning to ghost hunters — graphic courtesy of Jason Antony and FreeImages.com

In the past, ghost hunters could discreetly slip into haunted sites that weren’t clearly open to the public. If it was public property – or abandoned – and it wasn’t posted, some investigators thought, “Why not?”

I’ve always advised against investigating sites that aren’t clearly open to the public for ghost research.

For example, in New England, Danvers (MA) State Hospital site has been notorious for trespassing, vandalism, and arrests of well-meaning ghost enthusiasts.

It’s one of many locations with eerie reputations, and vigilant security or police patrols.

Like many other locations in isolated spots, it’s easy for police to observe trespassers from a distance. Ghost hunters are at risk as soon as they drive up the road or driveway, or turn on their flashlights. Quite literally, they shed light on their own crimes.

Today, surveillance cameras and other devices — similar to the tools we use in our research — make trespassing even more risky.

The following December 2015 story – from KUTV (Utah, USA) – is a good example of what can happen if you break the law.

‘Haunted’ Property Owner Asks Trespassers to Keep Out

By Amy Nay Sunday, December 13th 2015

(KUTV)In Northern Utah, authorities are looking to the public in help finding a few people they want to talk to after vandalism was discovered at a former Catholic retreat believed to be haunted. The pictures are clear, taken from surveillance video a new property owner installed in recent weeks… Despite multiple signs posted on the property – “No Trespassing” and “Keep Out”, threatening fines and jail time for violators, individuals are still coming through the area… In some publications and online sites, the area has been described as a good ghost hunting location, a fun place to take a date and get a thrill, but authorities say this is no laughing matter. (Emphasis added.)

[Click here to read the rest of the article at KUTV’s website.]

That particular location – St. Anne’s, in Logan Canyon – is mentioned at many websites, including credible YouTube videos, as a reliable place to find ghosts. You can even find St. Anne’s ghost story at otherwise-trustworthy websites like the Weird US site.

This is why you must investigate site accessibility, even before you decide if a location might be haunted enough to explore.

If you don’t, or if you choose to risk getting caught, the quality of surveillance footage – day or night – can be good enough to convict you.

Don’t expect to see warning signs.

Don’t waste your time looking for the cameras, either. They can be tiny or well-concealed in hollowed-out tree branches or fence posts.

Ghost hunting might not be as popular as it once was, but modern surveillance equipment has become inexpensive and easy to use. Many locations are using it to detect trespassers, and fine them for vandalism they might be responsible for.

In the case of the Utah ghost hunters, that’s a $10,000 door that someone had kicked in.

(Really, if you’re facing a jury and trying to explain that, yes, you did trespass, but no, you didn’t damage anything, do you expect them to believe you? Is ghost hunting worth that risk?)

Trespassing can be a felony in some American communities. Jail time can be as much as a year, and fines can be as high as $4,000 per person, at the discretion of the judge.

If you’re an American convicted of a felony, you can be denied your right to vote in the U.S. You can also be denied travel to some other countries, including Canada and parts of Europe. If an employer or landlord runs a background check on you, a felony conviction looks very bad.

Since my earliest articles at Yankee Haunts (mid-1990s) and HollowHill.com, I’ve always focused on haunted locations people can investigate, with permission. Nearly all sites I talk about – at websites, on TV and radio, and in books – are open to the public.

What happened to the kids who were caught in Utah could happen to anyone. Don’t take that chance.

If you’re not sure whether a location is open to the public for ghost investigations:

Visit the location and look for signs, or ask the staff (if any) about restrictions.
Ask the reference librarian at the local public library, or check with the regional historical society.
Stop at the local visitors’ center or chamber of commerce, and verify the location and the hours it’s open to the public.

Of course, I always recommend visiting each haunted site during the daytime, to evaluate it for research and plan your investigation.

But, if that’s not possible, be sure to confirm when the location is open to the public for ghost hunting, and if any fees, rules, or limits apply.

Or, limit your ghost hunting to daytime hours, as well as ghost tours, public ghost hunting events, and ghost vigils.

Learn the best ways to find ghosts, in local (and legal!) places…

GHOST HUNTING IN HAUNTED CEMETERIES – A How-To Guide : CLASSIC EDITION

Step into the eerie realm of haunted cemeteries.

In “Ghost Hunting in Haunted Cemeteries – Classic Edition,” you’ll learn to discover haunted cemeteries near you, pinpoint the most active areas, and identify the graves most likely to hold supernatural secrets.

With step-by-step instructions and expert tips, you’ll learn how to conduct thorough investigations that reveal the true nature of haunted cemeteries and graveyards.

This is the classic guide, updated and expanded. It goes far beyond the basics. Whether you’re a seasoned ghost hunter, or someone intrigued by eerie places, this book is your key to unlocking the mysteries that lie within haunted cemeteries.

Available at Amazon and other booksellers.

Ghost Hunting on TV… Is It Real or Not?

Since I’ve been a resource for TV and movie producers, people ask me if ghost hunting on TV shows are real.

The (too simple) answer is no, they’re not.

Those shows may represent what we do, as ghost hunters. But even the most authentic shows are edited to make them more entertaining.

They have to be. If the shows were 100% real, few would watch them. What really happens at haunted sites isn’t nearly as exciting as what you see on your TV, or heavily-edited YouTube (etc.) videos.

So, don’t try to use ghost hunting TV shows as training for your own investigations.

That can be risky, foolhardy, and —in some cases — miss the point of real ghost research.

Here are some points to keep in mind

1. **TV shows don’t represent how many houses we visit that aren’t haunted.**

The majority of houses that seem haunted are either victims of high EMF or infrasound levels, or some other very normal (if odd) explanation.

Even if they are haunted, the issue could be related to residual energy, not a ghost or an active entity.

So, what you’re seeing on TV represents a tiny percent of the sites are visited (by location scouts like me) before we find one that seems actually haunted and worth filming

2. Demons and malicious spirits are very rare.

If you think you’re being bothered by a demon, call an expert, not just the local ghost hunting club.

However, demons and evil entities appear at about 1% of the hauntings we’ve encounter… if that many.

It’s important to recognize the difference between hostile spirits that want their homes (or lives) back, and actual malicious entities like demons.

3. Don’t let TV shows convince you that most ghosts are evil or dangerous.

They’re not. Watch the “ghostly” TV shows & movies of the past, and see how they portrayed ghosts.

Though they’re not accurate, either. However, they might provide balance to the panic and fear featured on many of today’s ghost-related TV shows.

Topper – the Cary Grant movies
Topper – the TV series
Ghost & Mrs. Muir – original movie with Rex Harrison
Ghost & Mrs. Muir – TV series (unavailable in Dec 09)
One Step Beyond – TV series (described as “historic accounts” of paranormal events) (Episode on YouTube (one of many)

4. Provoking ghosts? No. Please don’t do that.

Instead, look for someone like “ghostbait”: Someone who, just by being there, seems to attract ghosts and hauntings. Most ghost hunting teams seem to have one member that attracts ghosts like a magnet.

When filming TV shows, provoking may be a fast way to get a dramatic response for the camera. In real life, it’s a bad idea.

5. ‘Tis the season!

When you’re watching “A Christmas Carol,” think how you might interpret Scrooge if you were at a location that he (and his ghostly companion) were visiting. Would you think Jacob Marley was a ghost that is scary, or needs help to “cross over”?

TV shows aren’t “reality.”

(Even TV producers changed the term to “unscripted,” since they didn’t want to be sued for pretending a show was “real.”)

Don’t try to mimic TV shows or movies. Don’t take seriously any advice from paranormal TV shows. In many cases, the ghost hunter didn’t really say whatever-it-is; their advice was edited to give the audience chills.

Learn what ghostly phenomena really are. Study the history of paranormal research. Discover what psychics and ghost hunting equipment really do.

Explore haunted places with a pro. Events are a good starting point.

Never go ghost hunting alone. Always have a level-headed person with you, and — if you feel frightened during an investigation — leave at the first hint of danger.

**TV shows can be fun to watch, but most don’t represent what we really do as ghost hunters.**

You’re seeing an edited version, sometimes staged, and filmed with a specific production goal in mind.

Real ghost hunting is different.

How Much Should I Budget for Ghost Hunting Equipment?

Here’s something most TV shows won’t tell you:

You don’t need ANY ghost hunting equipment.

First, make sure this will be a long-term interest, hobby, or profession.

With experience…

You’ll know what kind of ghost hunting you enjoy.
You’ll know how much you’re willing to budget for equipment (if any).
You’ll have seen others’ equipment, and know what works best where you investigate.

But, whether you’re a beginner or a pro, never invest more money than you can afford to lose.

Expensive Mistakes with Ghost Hunting Equipment

trees and moonlight in haunted setting Expensive ghost hunting tools come with risks.

For example:

– People drop things when they’re startled. In the dark, you might not find what you dropped.

(The problem becomes worse if you drop what you’re carrying, and run away in terror.)

– If you drop a sensitive $5k camera or a $2k heat-sensing device, it can break the same as a $40 camera or a $15 digital thermometer.

If you didn’t buy a replacement warranty, or it doesn’t cover that kind of accident, you may have wasted thousands of dollars.

– Electronic equipment can fail in extremely haunted settings. In fact, unexplained equipment failure can indicate intense paranormal activity.

I think EMF spikes are to blame. Most electrical devices will glitch or fail when exposed to intense magnetic energy. That’s reasonable, unless it’s remarkably well shielded.

If your expensive camera or other device won’t work when you’re ghost hunting, you’ve wasted your money. Worse, it can be difficult to return that equipment if it shows any wear, or if you can’t demonstrate how it fails.

Here’s one of my videos about ghost hunting equipment failing at haunted sites.

Instead, focus on just one aspect of ghost hunting.

For example, if you like ghost photography, invest in photographic equipment.

As a New Ghost Hunter on a Budget…

If I were starting fresh, today, I’d probably spend $100 or less. Maybe far less.

– I’d use the camera in my phone. It’s good enough. I wouldn’t bother with a fancy ($$) after-market lens attachment, either.

For many investigations, that’s all you need.

– I’d use the voice recorder on my phone, or buy an inexpensive one at an office supply store or warehouse. (Make sure the microphone is omni-directional, so it picks up sounds all around you, not just in one direction.)

– I’d buy an inexpensive flashlight with a metal case. I’d make sure the light bulb housing unscrews easily. Then, for fun, I could test yes/no responses when the housing is loosened. (Do I take that seriously? Of course not. There are too many normal – and some odd – explanations, so even correct yes/no answers might not be ghostly.)

– I’d carry good surgical-type masks that protect me from toxins, bacteria, and viruses around me. (This was my recommendation long before Covid. Remember, some ghost hunters have died from exposure to toxic fumes, diseases in rat droppings, etc.)

Since Covid, you’ll find lots of good options. For ghost hunting, I like disposable masks, but be certain they’re actually good. (Many free masks at doctors’ offices are designed to contain germs inside the mask… not keep bad things out. Make sure your mask actually protects you.)

– I’d also add a small, inexpensive first aid kit.

– I’d put all of that in a backpack with several pockets or dividers (to find things in complete darkness).

My own backpack is the basic Amazon one. My cameras, Ovilus, etc., go in the big pocket. Maps, pen & a notebook, small first aid kit, etc., in the next largest. Spare batteries in the outside pocket. And so on.

Don’t spread yourself too thin, in terms of learning or financial investment. Set a firm spending limit and do not exceed that.

It’s easy to get carried away. Keep your ghost hunting expenses low.

Above all, don’t let ghost hunting jeopardize other aspects of your personal, professional, or family life.

When you’re a beginner, see how well you enjoy ghost hunting, before you spend much money.

You’re likely to decide that you don’t need the ghost hunting equipment you’ve seen on TV. In fact, the experience… the ambience, might be what you really seek.

Are All Haunted Houses Scary? What Steve Gonsalves Said

Looking for a haunted house? Not sure what to expect, or disappointed when you visited the (supposedly?) haunted house?

In this short (two minute) video, Steve Gonsalves talks about one of his early investigations.

I agree with him completely: Sometimes, there’s nothing scary about a haunted house. In fact, the ghosts can be comforting.

Steve Gonsalves & The Ghost Whisper – MIDNIGHT in the DESERT with Dave Schrader ep 036

Today’s Supernatural Short brings a visit from one of the most popular crew members of the famous Ghost Hunters TV program on the SyFy Channel, Steve Gonsalv…

If you’re afraid of ghosts, especially when you’re in or near a haunted house, some of my other articles may help.

Learn more about ghosts and haunted places at my YouTube channel, Ghost Hunting with Fiona Broome.

FEAR – Why It’s Important in Ghost Hunting

Do you jump when a light flickers in an empty room?

Many of us do that.

But others can dismiss a clearly outlined shadow person as if it’s just ho-hum. (I hope you NEVER become that jaded about ghost hunting.)

Fear depends on context.

When you’re investigating a haunted site, your experiences are your own.

Fear can be important!

Fear can signal something you should be afraid of. And, that fear may be deeply personal.

Sure, it might be something silly that startled you.

That’s okay. We all have those embarrassing moments.

Ask a more experienced ghost hunter about whatever worries you.

It might be something easily explained.
It might be something paranormal, but nothing to fear.
Or, it may be something other ghost hunters will want to double-check. You might have stumbled onto something that’s truly ghostly… OR DANGEROUS.

When you’re truly afraid…

Don’t let anyone dismiss your concerns as “nothing important,” or – worse – ask you, “Are you sure you didn’t imagine that?”

Whether they realize it or not, every ghost hunter has their own agenda.

They got into this field for a reason.

Usually, it’s a question related to something in their past. A scare they had as a child. Or a chilling story from a movie or TV show, or told to them by a relative.

They’re looking for answers they haven’t found yet.

Past experiences influence every ghost hunter’s reactions… pros and newbies.

They may be astonished by a door that closes itself, on command.
They may be terrified by a sobbing sound that’s behind a sealed wall.
Or, they may react to their own fears by trivializing others’ experiences at the haunted site. (That’s important to remember!)

Likewise, a new ghost hunter will have a different experience – and reaction – from someone who’s been in this field for years.

Be respectful.

Allow each person to witness what happens (if anything) during an investigation, or even a ghost tour.

However, since that’s not always possible…

When fear seeps into those at the site, it’s important to trust your senses.

Ignoring them could mean missing out on something truly fascinating.

Worse, dismissing your internal radar could put you at risk from the living and the dead.

If you feel afraid, maybe there’s a good reason for it.

Stay alert, and be mindful of others’ reactions during the investigation… and immediately after it.

And, if you’re truly afraid, it’s okay to leave the site. You don’t need to explain anything to anyone.

This video may help with the #1 reason many new ghost hunters become anxious…

Are Ghosts Hiding in Plain Sight?

Are you looking for a “hiding in plain sight” haunted location?

Start with your local library.

Really. I mean it.

In large and moderately large public libraries, there’s almost always one room that everyone – including the staff – prefer to avoid.

Often, it’s a room dedicated to genealogical and historical records. Do the spirits of the dead linger there, hoping to read about their lives, or even their obituaries?

Another likely haunt is the library’s storage room with dusty old magazines and newspapers, if they weren’t yet digitized.

Or, it might be the library’s collection of law books.

Those haunts are usually in the basement or on the top floor, in a room few even notice.

That quote by author Shirley Jackson, is her typically understated way of pointing ghost hunters in the direction of old bookstores and libraries.

In fact, Ms. Jackson’s book, The Haunting of Hill House, may be the most compelling and accurate ghost story ever written. I’ve read it at least a dozen times, and still enjoy it.

Skip the movie remakes of her story. The old b&w version with Julie Harris – called just “The Haunting” – is pretty faithful to Jackson’s tale. I’ve probably watched it a dozen times. It’s available on some streaming services. (The 1999 version with Catherine Zeta-Jones was regrettable.)

From time to time, libraries offer “ghost cam” views of their most haunted areas.

The Grey Lady of Willard Library offers the most opportunities to spot something odd among the books and hallways. (And though I wince at the editing, the first episode of Haunted Collector was filmed at a haunted library in Deep River, Connecticut.)

Or, you might check the list of the 10 most haunted libraries in the U.S. and the 10 most haunted libraries in the U.K.

Go local

Libraries are so haunted, you’ll probably find one near you. A friendly librarian may admit to the site’s ghosts, but other staff members may give you a stern look and tell you to go away; they don’t want anyone to know they believe in ghosts and actually have to work near one.

Start local, anyway. You may stumble upon something fascinated and very haunted.

For example, I visited the Tilton-Northfield (NH) public library regularly, not realizing its basement was haunted. I shared some of that story in my article about Tilton’s “Mystery Tunnels.”

(I think you’ll find more about related ghosts in Rue Taylor Cote’s book, Ghost Hunting in Tilton, NH. I contributed some stories to that book, but it’s been awhile since I read it.)

Remember that community libraries may be the tip of the iceberg if you’re looking for haunted libraries.

Also look for university libraries, law libraries, family history libraries, and so on. Not all will open their doors to you and some may object to you investigating their ghosts.

However, as Ms. Jackson suggested, if you’re looking for “hiding in plain sight” haunts, libraries and old bookstores are good places to start.