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.
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.
Or… once you know what to look for, you might find one in your own home.
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 livingand 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…
Every Halloween – or whenever ghost hunting is trending – people ask, “Where can I find ghosts?” They’re not just looking for places to find ghosts.
Most are looking for places guaranteed to be haunted.
Unfortunately, there are no guarantees, but some locations are more haunted than others.
The top 10 places to look for ghosts
Of course, you’ll ask local friends if they’ve heard of any place that’s known to be haunted.
That may sound silly, but sometimes people think “everyone knows” about a haunted spot, so they neglect to mention it.
Local newspapers and magazines usually feature noteworthy haunts in their Halloween issues. Check past years for those stories.
If all else fails, here’s where I start when I’m scouting locations for TV shows and movies.
1. Old hotels… and their ghost stories
Every old hotel has witnessed a tragedy – and has a ghost story – even if they don’t admit it.
Ask to stay in their least expensive room (because people avoid it) or their most expensive room (because that’s where some of the greatest dramas were played out).
If neither are available, choose a room on a top floor, preferably with an unattractive view out the window.
In the past, those rooms may have been where the servants and hotel staff lived. Their lives were often tragic, and those rooms may harbor residual energy at the very least.
2. Neglected cemeteries… waiting for investigators!
Well-kept cemeteries may have ghosts, but the older, more neglected cemeteries are usually more haunted.
They may also be the most interesting to investigate.
You can use Google Maps to find those overlooked cemeteries.
When you visit them with a group of friends or your team, follow the same steps you’d use to investigate any haunted cemetery.
If this is your first time, here are a few tips.
First of all, never go to an isolated site alone. In fact, when visiting neglected cemeteries, I recommend a group of friends (or a team) of at least six people.
Park as close as you can to the cemetery entrance, in case you need to make a quick getaway. After all, there’s a reason people stopped visiting – and maintaining – that cemetery.
Start outside the formal entrance to the cemetery… the gate through which hearses pass. See if any spirits got that far and – seeing where they were going – halted. In some cases, they’re still waiting there, refusing to admit that they’re dead, and unwilling to see their own graves.
Then, start at the most popular entrance to the cemetery. Sometimes, that’s not the formal entrance. It might be a shortcut through the cemetery, or closest to the parking lot.
From there, walk to the back left corner of the cemetery (relative to that entrance). From my experience, if the cemetery is haunted, that corner is where you’ll find ghosts.
3. Very old restaurants, or places that used to be restaurants
Between raucous parties that went very wrong, to emotional break-ups that happened over dessert, restaurants can harbor very odd – and ghostly – energy.
Old and haunted restaurant’s “hot spots” tend to be the rest rooms (bathrooms), the kitchen, and outdoors, just outside the kitchen door (often in an alley).
You’re looking for the ghosts of people who died soon after whatever happened there… the kinds of things done and said when a person has too much to drink, and turns morose.
Other ghosts might be former kitchen staff. Often, they weren’t paid well or treated right.
A restaurant with a high rate of staff quitting is a major sign of a haunting. Truly haunted restaurants can have startling poltergeist activity… which the current owners/managers would like to stop. (Either that, or they pretend it doesn’t happen… and look very uneasy when the subject is raised.)
No matter who’s haunting the restaurant (or just outside it), they almost always want to turn back the clock and either say or do something differently. They have the idea that – if they fix things – they can resume their lives and everything will be fine.
4. Racetracks, or places that used to be racetracks
These are among the most overlooked sites for residual energy hauntings.
Racetracks are where emotions consistently run high, whether it’s tension as the crowd watches the race, or the windows where people received their winnings, or the sad walk from the track after losing money the person shouldn’t have bet in the first place.
An audio recording of a past, major race can trigger a residual energy response, or attract an actual ghost who won (or lost) it all at the track.
In Colonial times, before there were funeral parlors, ministers often accepted responsibility for tending the dead.
Those ministers’ literal parlors – today, what we might (ironically) call a living room or a reception room – were where the dead were placed for several days, prior to burial.
There, you’re not necessarily looking for ghosts of the people whose bodies had been on display during the wake and morning period. You’re just as likely to encounter ghostly energy from those who sat near the body, hoping the person was actually catatonic and would wake up.
Today, many of those old homes are restaurants or other places of business, and some may welcome ghost hunters during their off-hours. A local historical society may be a good resource to identify them.
6. Crossroads
Though in history and legend, crossroads are often associated with death, the “between worlds” and the afterlife, there’s another reason to investigate crossroads.
Simply, it’s a natural crossing of ley lines.
I’ve talked about ley lines before, especially in Salem, Massachusetts. If you extend the “Judges’ Line” in either direction, you’ll find even more haunted places.
However, there’s a lingering question: Which came first, the ley line or the roads (and energy) that flow along it?
When two ancient, busy roads cross, that’s a place to investigate. Old maps can be most helpful. Try OldMapsOnline.org.
7. Desanctified churches, redundant churches, and closed churches
Over the centuries, as populations shifted, many church sites – and adjoining churchyards (burial places) – were desanctified. (They may also be described as “redundant” or “closed churches.”
Those sites can be very haunted, and sometimes dangerously so. After all, when they were desanctified, they ceased being protected by their previous sacred status.
At those locations, the ghosts and ghostly energy you’ll most likely encounter is related to two or three kinds of spiritual energy.
First, there are the ghosts of people who died with a guilty conscience. Some of them are still trying to get into their local (but now desanctified) church to ask forgiveness.
Then there’s the burial yard. Many churches make sure the graves are either protected for the future, or moved to another location.
The cost of that – either maintenance or removals – may be beyond the budget of the church that’s had to close its doors.
So, those neglected graves may harbor some ghosts.
I’m reminded of a conversation I had with a minister next door to Salem, Massachusetts’ “Witch House.”
He explained that when the Witch House was moved, it was placed on land that had been part of the church’s cemetery.
At the time, the church’s staff tried to be certain all the graves had been moved, but it was long before ground-penetrating radar, and the churchyard records weren’t complete.
Add the possibility of unmarked graves, and there are good reasons for that site to be haunted: Graves may still be there, and at least partially under Witch House. That’s probably not an association some of the deceased aspired to.
Finally, there may be residual energy at the site of the closed/desanctified church. After all, people attended that church for joyous reasons and tragic ones, through good times and bad.
Realtors may be helpful in identifying those locations. Newspapers – including USAToday – sometimes write about them, as well.
8. The “creepy old house”
In or near almost every community, you’ll hear about a “creepy old house.” It’s the place kids whisper about, saying it’s haunted. Often, it’s an abandoned site, so I can’t recommend it for ghost hunting. Not without permission, at the very least.
Don’t expect much. The eeriness of the house may be due to its disrepair, or even amateur carpentry when it was originally built.
(From my experience, 90% of “haunted stairways” seem troubling because they were badly built.)
However, by exploring the history of that house and what used to be in that part of town, you may stumble upon a neglected cemetery or other sites that are truly haunted.
That’s the main reason I recommend asking teens and pre-teens about rumored ghosts and nearby haunts. If they even hint at a “the creepy house,” that may point to the most haunted part of town… even if the actual house isn’t the focal point of ghosts.
9. Where the factory workers lived
In the late 19th century, most communities had factories or mills, big or small.
The people who worked at there, also lived nearby, often in multi-family homes or other communal housing. (These may be “outsider” haunts.)
Today, many of them are apartments or condos, or even single-family homes, and almost 100% of those residences are haunted.
I lived in one in the 1990s, and I’m living in one (a different one) as I write this.
In those kinds of locations, when I mention the ghosts in our home, the neighbors look at me and say, “Of course.”
It’s as if I’d just said “the sky is blue,” or “rain is wet.”
And then they tell me about the ghosts in their homes. The topic seems so mundane to them, they’re amused that anyone is interested.
Realtors may avoid the topic, but – quietly – they’re among your most likely resources, at least in terms of general areas where several homes or businesses may be haunted.
If there was a factory or mill in the area, and mill workers lived there, you’ll find haunted residences. Some of their owners or tenants may be thrilled to tell their stories, or even invite you to investigate their haunted home.
And, of course, many actual mill buildings are haunted, but they can be dangerous (or illegal) to explore.
If you’re not sure what kinds of mills to look for in your area, see this British article about mills in Cumbria. (Often, it’s easy to overlook what may have been a thriving mill, centuries ago.)
Once you’ve identified the kinds of mills that may have been near your current location, you can use old city directories and maps to spot where they were, and where the mill workers lived. Historical societies and museums can be helpful, too.
10. Places of battles, feuds, and duels
Famous battle sites are well-known for their ghosts. However, I believe the ghostly energy may be so diluted by the energy of hundreds (or thousands) of ghost hunters trekking through the site, it’s just not that interesting any more.
On the other hand, some locations witnessed skirmishes or feuds that people have almost forgotten about. They can still provide powerful residual energy for an investigation, and perhaps a few ghosts.
And then there are the isolated parks and other locations where, at dawn, a few people would gather for a duel “to the death.”
Those are among the most overlooked and obscure haunts, but they can also have dramatic ghostly energy. After all, the duelists in Disney’s Haunted Mansion are there for a reason: They represent long-forgotten ghosts. You may have some near your home and not realize it.
For example, you may find clues to these dueling locations and sites of feuds mentioned at a local public library, historical society, or family history (genealogy) library.
And finally… Your childhood home or neighborhood
Almost everyone I’ve ever met with an interest in ghosts… that interest goes back to childhood.
And most of them have a ghost story to share with me, related to their own home or a friend’s house.
If that’s you, find out who lives in that house now. Or chat with childhood friends about your shared “haunted house” memories, and see if they’re interested in ghost hunting now.
By sharing your experiences and memories, you may recall haunted places close to home.
As you can see, there may be an abundance of haunted places near you. You may need to think creatively and use historical maps and records, but it’s likely you’ll find a genuinely haunted site close to where you are right now.
Even better, you and your team may be among the first to explore it and encounter its ghosts.
Can you suggest more classic haunts, or share tips for finding them no matter where the person is? (I’m thinking about haunted bridges, abandoned castles, eerie museums, etc.)
If so, I hope you’ll leave a comment to share with others. (All comments are moderated, but I try to approve them as quickly as possible.)
But here’s a time many ghost hunters overlook: anniversaries. They’re the dates when someone at that site died, or married, or something significant happened. (Birthdays can be surprisingly good days for ghost hunting, too.)
For more insights, watch this video to discover the best times – days and hours – for ghost hunting.
Of course, your results may be different. If you have suggestions, I hope you’ll share them with Hollow Hill readers. Leave your comments (and questions) at this site or at my ghost hunting YouTube channel.
https://youtu.be/YREpXYp8jKo
I’ve created a When to Go Ghost Hunting Worksheet, as well as an instruction sheet for using it.
The worksheet includes more than just times and days. I’ve also added lines for possible triggers that may improve your research results.
The worksheet instructions feature even more suggestions related to research, era cues, and other ways to enhance your investigations, specific to each location.
FIND GHOSTS TONIGHT! Learn how to find the most frightening, haunted graves in a cemetery near you.
IF YOU’RE A BEGINNER, YOU’LL DISCOVER:
– HOW to find a haunted cemetery near you.
– WHAT to look for (AND look out for).
– HOW to organize for the fastest (and scariest) results in ANY haunted cemetery.
– WHEN to arrive at the site, and how to avoid real-life dangers
– WHERE you’ll find the scariest ghosts… and sometimes malicious spirits.
– How long to stay… and WHEN TO LEAVE AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN!.
YOU CAN START TONIGHT. Read this book. It’s short but you’ll learn the basics.
Then go out and find real ghosts!
Available as an eBook at Amazon and other booksellers. (This is the updated edition of “A Beginner’s Guide to Ghost Hunting in Haunted Cemeteries.”)
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.
Modern equipment and the police
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.)
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.
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?)
More about trespassing and the law
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.
How to stay safe
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.
If the police show up…
If the police arrive, don’t run. Smile and look innocent, perhaps even stupid. (After all, you probably were stupid or at least didn’t check if the site was safe for ghost hunting.)
Answer all of their questions honestly. It may help to always say “sir” (or “ma’am”) at the end of each sentence.
Don’t smile. Don’t smirk.
If anyone on your team is being a jerk, call them out right away. Don’t just try to signal to them that they’re risking arrest. Say it straight out: “[Name], you’re not helping us here,” or “[Name], show some respect.”
Make it clear that the team member who’s acting like a fool does not represent you or the rest of the team.
Be prepared to empty your backpack and your pockets. If the officer wants to smell what’s in your beverage container, open it right away; after all, you have nothing to hide… right?
Also be prepared for at least one officer to be a ghost hunter as well. More than once, the same officer who’d been questioning us… Well, he’d then show us where the eeriest and most haunted areas are, at that site.
Show respect for the police and they’re more likely to respect you.
And you’ll avoid a citation or even arrest.
The police are not our enemies. Often, they’re among our best resources.
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.
When people contact me about a house that might have ghosts, they often say things like:
“Sometimes, when I’m in that part of the house, I get shaky, dizzy, and I feel weak all over.”
“I get a tightness in my chest, and I can’t catch my breath. Do you suppose the ghost died of a heart attack?”
“I’m okay during the day, but at night – especially when it’s cold out – it’s like something floats into my room through the bedroom window, and I can’t breathe.”
“The baby gets fussy in that room and seems to be looking at something that I don’t see, and the dog won’t go in there, ever.”
“I’m fine all day, but at night, when we close up the house and go to bed, I get headaches, it feels really stuffy in the room, and sometimes I feel kind of sick. I always have to get up and open the window, just to feel the breeze. About an hour or two later, around midnight, everything’s fine again.”
Well, those “symptoms” of a haunting can be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. That’s why carbon monoxide is now the first thing to check in a house that might be haunted. This is especially true if the ghosts started to be a problem when the house was sealed up for the winter, or – in warm climates – for the summer.
The following is an edited excerpt from the first edition of, Is Your House Haunted?, by Fiona Broome.
Before you do anything else…
Check the carbon monoxide levels at the possibly-haunted site.
Carbon monoxide is nicknamed “the silent killer.” Pets and children often react to it first. Carbon monoxide (CO), also called carbonous oxide, is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas.
It is highly toxic to humans and animals in higher quantities.
It can come from a variety of sources, including gas appliances, woodstoves, car exhaust, blocked flues, and even cigarette smoke.
Some people are more sensitive to carbon monoxide, and may show symptoms before others do.
Any of the following symptoms may indicate high levels of carbon monoxide.
Headaches.
A tight sensation in the chest.
Nausea.
Shortness of breath.
Vomiting.
Dizziness.
Fatigue.
A feeling of weakness.
Confusion or disorientation.
Visual disturbances.
Fainting and seizures.
Flu symptoms.
Infants may be irritable.
Pets can avoid certain areas.
Carbon monoxide can also affect the heart and central nervous system, and raise blood pressure. Carbon monoxide poisoning can damage the fetus of a pregnant woman.
Many areas in the UK, the US, and Canada have laws recommending (or even requiring) the use of carbon monoxide detectors in homes.
Older homeowners may not realize that. Even if the homeowner has no fireplace or woodstove, and no gas appliances, check the levels anyway.
For example, if a nearby neighbor has a wood stove and you (or the client) sleep with your window open, elevated carbon monoxide could explain some “symptoms” of a haunting.
If you regularly investigate haunted sites, be sure your home has very low levels of carbon monoxide, too.
If you’ve been sensitized to the gas, even low levels might trigger your symptoms at a “haunted” site. It could happen. Rule this out, immediately.
When you’re investigating a potentially haunted house and any symptoms match the warning list, carbon monoxide levels must be checked first.
If the homeowner does not have a carbon monoxide detector installed, and you don’t have a handheld monitor, call the fire department for advice.
Note: Before buying a handheld carbon monoxide meter, be sure to read the reviews.
If you’re investigating haunted homes and you can’t afford a good carbon monoxide detector, don’t bother with a cheap one. Either have the homeowner install carbon monoxide detectors in several places in the home – and use them for at least a week before you investigate – or ask the fire department if someone in the community can test the air for the homeowner.
A carbon monoxide meter that works is important. A cheap one that’s not reliable could put you and your client at risk.
So, either use a good detector or have the homeowner or someone else handle that part of the investigation.
Well-kept cemeteries may have ghosts, but the older, more neglected cemeteries are usually more haunted.
Over the centuries, as populations shifted, many church sites – and adjoining churchyards (burial places) – were desanctified. (They may also be described as “redundant” or “closed churches.”
“Sometimes, when I’m in that part of the house, I get shaky, dizzy, and I feel weak all over.”