If you have had an experience with the paranormal or want to, this is the place for you. You will find ghost stories,unexplained pics, inexpensive ways to investigate a haunting, ghost hunting tools and equipment for your everyday Ghost Hunter. No fancy equipment required. Spirits and the whole "after life" has been questioned for centuries. Lets see if together, we can't come up with some answers. Take a haunted ghost tour with me to Goatman's Bridge! Evil never was so kind.
Behind Every Cloud is a Kindred Spirit (BECKS)I lost my grandfather when I was 17. I had a VERY difficult time getting over it. How could I still communicate with him? I loved him so much I didn't think I could live without him. I read everything I could get my hands on to do with the "afterlife" and that started it all...the love of Ghost Hunting and the Paranormal. I have been researching the paranormal for over 37 years!! It is my way of staying in touch with my grandfather. Being a Ghost Hunter is not always as exciting as it seems on TV. Many nights I have sat in the dark and not a thing happened. BUT it is those times you DO get that one voice, that one explainable picture or have an experience that sends chills down your back that makes it sooo worth it all!!! My purpose of this blog is not to make people believe in ghosts but maybe to open their minds just a little bit... I LOVE this crazy thing called Ghost Hunting. It is as much a part of me as breathing. I am just a girl that refuses to accept we can't still contact our loved ones after they die. My grandfather won't let me.
OMG!!! I have missed you guys!!! We have been on vacation for about 10 days and have not had internet connection. Can you believe I survived??? So, if you emailed me or IM'ed me I am just now responding to all your emails and notices.
I hope you all had a GREAT Labor Day. I wanted to talk about haunted prisons. Who doesn't love a good ol' haunted prison right??? Anyway, check out these for the CREEP FACTOR!!!!
Alcatraz — San Francisco, California
Arguably the most infamous state penitentiary in US history (its inmates included notorious mobsters Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly), this historic structure was once the site of many real-life horrors — over decades in operation, its name eventually became synonymous with violence and cruel, brutal prison conditions… but both before and after its shutdown in 1963, it has also developed an ominous paranormal reputation. Indigenous peoples of the area once believed it to be occupied by dangerous sprits; early explorers reported feeling uneasy upon reaching the island; and it’s now reputed to house the vengeful ghosts of abused and wrongly-convicted inmates, of those murdered at the hands of their fellow convicts and/or sadistic guards, and even soldiers who died during the Civil War, when Alcatraz was the site of a massive military fortress (the foundation of which is still beneath the prison itself).
The paranormal accounts are too many to list here, but some of the earliest rumors began among inmates and guards, who claimed to hear strange cries, screams and whispers from empty cells, experienced cold spots, observed ghostly lights and saw faint human forms walking the corridors. One infamous story involved an inmate who was terrified by red eyes in the darkness, and was found dead in his cell the next morning, apparently strangled. Since the prison’s closing and conversion to a historic monument, tourists have reported many of the same frightening phenomena once encountered by the inmates and guards, as well as some disturbing new ones — including the sound of harmonica and banjo music (Capone was known to have played the banjo while imprisoned there). The most intense and frightening of the unexplained occurences seem to take place around “The Hole,” a notorious solitary confinement cell.
The National Park Service has disavowed all claims of paranormal phenomena in and around Alcatraz, so there are no officially sanctioned ghost tours of the grounds… but paranormal tourism is a major draw, so they do allow groups to conduct their own ghost tours and investigations, many of which have been featured on episodes of Ghost Hunters and Most Haunted, and the Travel Channel documentary HAUNTED ALCATRAZ, to name just a few.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Eastern State Penitentiary — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Just one look at this immense gothic structure (which includes gargoyles guarding the entry gate) will put you in a haunted frame of mind. Considered by many to be the world’s most haunted prison, Eastern State has been the subject and location of numerous ghost hunts and investigations, as documented in several books (Philadelphia Haunts, Ghostly Tales from America’s Jailsand many more) and TV shows (Ghost Adventures, Most Haunted, Ghost Hunters,American Paranormal, etc.). In the 142 years before the prison’s closure in 1971, over 1,200 inmates died within its walls; most succumbed to the diseases of the time (particularly tuberculosis), but several died at the hands of other inmates. Horrific punishments handed out to prisoners included frostbite and constriction of limbs (which often led to amputation), and just like Alcatraz, the most feared penalty was “The Hole.”
Accounts of strange and unexplained phenomena began long before the prison closed, and hundreds of paranormal claims continue today: guards, inmates and tourists over the past century have reported seeing terrifying disembodied faces, and hearing mad laughter and screams. One of the most repeated and unsettling accounts originated around 20 years ago, from a maintenance employee who claimed an unseen force in one of the ancient cells grabbed him so tightly that he was unable to move.
Like Alcatraz, there is no official stance on any hauntings of Eastern State, but their tourist materials (which include an audio walk-through narrated by actor Steve Buscemi) do mention many stories of mysterious phenomenon reported by guards and inmates, as those rumors and legends are considered an integral part of the prison’s dark and ominous history. The prison also hosts an annual Halloween haunt entitled “Terror Behind the Walls,” which obviously makes good use of these terrifying legends to spook patrons.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Missouri State Penitentiary — Jefferson City, Missouri
First established in 1836, Missouri State was once the largest prison in the US, and the brutality and deaths that took place within its walls earned it the title of “Bloodiest 47 Acres in America” according to TIME magazine. 40 gas-chamber executions, inmate violence, suicides, and a massive, bloody riot/fire in 1954 definitely carved this prison’s name in infamy, and it’s no surprise that claims of horrific paranormal activity have come in the wake of the prison’s closing in 2004.
Many of these claims involve “A Hall,” the oldest still-standing structure on the grounds, which once housed Civil War prisoners; Housing Unit 1, which once held female inmates; and Housing Unit 3, the site where the 1954 riots began. Among the most repeated tales is the story of “Fast Jack,” the nickname given to an alleged resident spirit with a tendency to pop through walls and open locker doors in the blink of an eye. Jack has been sighted many times by prison staffers working in Housing Unit 1, who describe him as wearing a lab coat and carrying a clipboard; some say he is the ghost of a former infirmary employee. Other accounts include visitors suddenly feeling anger and anxiety in Housing Unit 3, and a few tourists reported physical contact with an unseen entity, including shoving and hair-pulling.
The penitentiary has now totally embraced its haunted legacy: not only do they conduct both historic and ghost-themed tours, but since 2011 they’ve offered ghost-hunting seminars and classes for aspiring paranormal investigators.
Image Credit: Browsing the Atlas
Ohio State Reformatory — Mansfield, Ohio
While it’s most famous for being featured in the award-winning film THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, based on Stephen King’s acclaimed non-horror novella, Ohio State Reformatory also has a spooky reputation befitting some of King’s more horrific tales.
The Reformatory is allegedly swarming with malicious presences, with the highest concentrations of haunting phenomena centering on the solitary confinement cells (every historic prison has some terrifying version of “The Hole”), where several suicides occurred. The main cell blocks, the former site of multiple murders, are also reportedly haunted by very noisy ghosts, and the chapel — believed to have originally been a place of execution — has been the site of some particularly intense visual and auditory anomalies. Even the attic and administrative offices are said to house some particularly nasty entities: in particular, the wife of former warden Glattke, whose gunshot death was reported as an accident but believed by some to be foul play, is said to haunt the administrative suites, and visitors have smelled her perfume wafting through the empty rooms. Throughout the grounds, stories and legends include detailed accounts of sudden temperature drops, intense feelings of nausea, and luminous floating shapes.
The Reformatory doesn’t officially conduct ghost tours, but their historic guided tours provide all the chills you need. Nevertheless, Halloween scare-seekers can also attend their annual “Haunted Prison Experience,” which adopts a different theme each year.
Image Credit: Samantha Sunne
West Virginia State Penitentiary — Moundsville, West Virginia
Built during the peak of the Civil War, this prison began with a fairly respectable reputation, but over the years conditions declined to such an extent that it would eventually make the U.S. Justice Department’s list of most violent correctional facilities. Corruption, overcrowding and rampant violence grew out of control, three dozen murders took place within its walls, and allegedly hundreds more deaths occurred over the prison’s 120-year tenure. 94 executions were conducted within the prison, and in 1986 it became the site of one of the most violent prison riots in U.S. history, when a group of 20 inmates took several guards hostage over a period of two days. Charles Manson once requested to be transferred to Moundsville, because members of his notorious “family” lived nearby (the request was denied).
As with any location with a blood-soaked past, tales of hauntings and unexplained phenomena run rampant at Moundsville, some dating back as early as the 1930s, when guards reported alarms being tripped for no apparent reason. The most infamous and consistently reported paranormal phenomenon is that of the “Shadow Man,” a featureless shape which visitors have seen lurking in various cells and corridors, camouflaged in areas of unnaturally deep darkness. Those who claim to have sighted the Shadow Man report feeling a sense of extreme, intense terror.
The penitentiary hosts their own popular Halloween haunt tour, “Dungeon of Horrors,” which draws over 10,000 visitors a year. The site is also the setting for the popular Left 4 Dead video game campaign “Moundsville Slammer.”
OH YES..... I DID IT!!!!! I WENT TO ALCATRAZ!!!! And before I tell you about my experience let me just say...if you are wanting to GO to Alcatraz......Book your tickets at least FOUR-FIVE MONTHS in advance! This was something that I did not know.....so our trip to one of the most famous HAUNTED prisons (and you guys know how I am about things that are HAUNTED) in the WORLD almost didn't happen. I could see it from the shore......but would I ever get there????
Ok....Deak and I went on a WONDERFUL vacation to San Francisco where the number one stop for us was Alcatraz! Everyone knows about Alcatraz and all the pure evil it has housed for so many years so I'm not going to go through it all again. Here we go...
As you board a large boat that takes you across the water to Alcatraz you suddenly realize that this is exactly how the prisoners of Alcatraz would have been taken over. Then your thoughts start to wonder....as the boat is hit with crashing waves over the top of the bow and rocking from side to side all you can do is stare out in front of you hardly blinking........ not even realizing what a rough ride it is to cross the water.......because you can't take your eyes of this impressive large "rock island" with unknown structures on it. As you get in the mind-set of what a prisoner must have been thinking.....the ride in front of you means.......chains.....torture.....no freedom......and more than likely .....DEATH.....and as you turn to look behind you....you see the beautiful shoreline of San Francisco with the blue sky's smiling over the city in all it's glory knowing that from this point on.....EVERYDAY you will be able to look across the water and see what you left behind..... just out of your reach...... from an island of pure HELL!!!! To me, let the "CRAZY" set in!!!
First, for some reason I expected it to be bigger. But no less extraordinary! It is now a National Park and is home to lots of birds. Yes...I said birds! But the one thing I didn't expect was this place to be covered with flowers and greenery! It was beautiful!!! You walk up a very steep incline to get to the main prison. So get your walking shoes on....and don't even think about wearing any kind of a heel. Bad, bad idea!!!
Now, I am going to try and make this short and sweet and just let you guys watch the video which has a lot of pictures and I posted some REALLY AMAZING EVP's at the end of it. When you go to Alcatraz DON'T expect to have to much "alone time". No! Not THAT kind of ALONE TIME.....the ghostly kind!!! The way this works is that you go in and they give you a headset and you are walked through the prison and told about different cells and inmates. Eventually, people start to spread out and you have a little more room to do your own thing. This I liked.
There were several times I found myself alone on a whole cell block. And just for the record...it is SUPER CREEPY to walk all alone down on of these cell blocks...especially being a woman. I could almost FEEL the hands reaching out for me and imagine men gawking at me. But I stayed true to the task at hand and that was to get some EVP's and hopefully some good evidence...a mist...or you know something like that.....I just did it with a little "quicker" step!!!
It is amazing....this place and all the evil that has been surrounded by these walls. When you are inside you feel all the pain and despair of the inmates that lived here. But once you walk outside....literally it is like walking into a beautiful botanical gardens! The flowers and greenery just take your breath away!
Now, I wish I could say that I had a ton of paranormal experiences but the truth is other than a few EVP's I didn't really capture anything in my photos. I can tell you that when I was alone on one of the cell blocks I DID hear in real time a whistle and voices which I captured on my recorder. Wait to you hear them!
Ok. That's it. I'm going to let you watch the video and listen to the EVP's. Hope you guys enjoy it and it is a bit long...so if you just want to get to the "GOOD STUFF" just jump toward the end to listen to the EVP's. Listen....we all do it!!! :) Have a great week everyone!
One of the most evil places in America!!! Yes.....Alcatraz! And I can't wait! I will be visiting this place NEXT WEEK!!!!! So, you guys hang around and when I get back in a couple of weeks, hopefully I will have some "good stuff" for you. :)
Below is just some information about Alcatraz but at the bottom is a great link about the GHOSTS particularly.....
In the late 1850s, the first inmates to occupy Alcatraz were military prisoners who were put to work building a new prison that later became known as "The Rock." The U.S. Army used the island until 1933, at which time the Federal Government decided to open a maximum-security, minimum-privilege penitentiary to deal with the most incorrigible inmates.
Alcatraz was designed to break rebellious prisoners by putting them in a structured, monotonous routine until their release. Prisoners were given four basic things - food, clothing, shelter and medical care. Receiving anything beyond that had to be earned. Famous criminals, such as Al Capone, George "Machine-Gun" Kelly, Alvin Karpis and Arthur "Doc" Barker, spent time inAlcatraz. Mobsters in other prisons often managed to manipulate special privileges from guards, but not at Alcatraz.
Tough Punishment
The Strip Cell Prisoners refusing to follow prison rules risked being confined to the Strip Cell, located on the lower tier of D Block. It was a dark steel cell, where inmates would be stripped naked and given water and bread once daily, an occasional meal and a mattress at night. The only 'toilet' was a hole in the cell floor and there was no sink. While there, convicts had no contact with others, spending their time in pitch-dark solitude.
The Hole on D Block Similar to the strip cell, there were five 'hole' cells also on the lower tier, where prisoners were kept in isolation for up to 19 days. The cells had a toilet, sink, lightbulb and a mattress provided during the night only.
Prison Closure
Because of the huge cost to refurbish the prison it was closed in 1963. Later the island and parts of the prison were reopened by the Parks Services for daily public tours.
Tales of Torture
The fact that Alcatraz was built on an island and kept so isolated from public view, tales of inmates being tortured and of their bitter spirits coming back to haunt the halls of Alcatraz began to circulate.
The Ghost Stories of Alcatraz
The Utility Corridor One of the areas which some claim is the most active with paranormal activity is a utility corridor where inmates Coy, Cretzer and Hubbard were plummeted with bullets after a failed prison escape. It is there that in 1976 a night security guard reported hearing unexplained eerie clanging sounds coming from inside.
Cell 14D Cell 14D, one of the 'hole' cells is believed by some to be very active with spirits. Visitors and employees have reported feeling a raw coldness and at times a sudden 'intensity' encompasses the cell.
Tales have been told of an event in the 1940s, when a prisoner locked-in 14D screamed throughout the night that a creature with glowing eyes was killing him. The next day guards found the man strangled to death in the cell. No one ever claimed responsibility for the convict's death, however the next day when doing head counts, the guards counted one too many prisoners. Some of the guards claimed seeing the dead convict in line with the other inmates, but only for a second before he vanished.
Warden Johnston Other stories have circulated that Warden Johnston, nicknamed "The Golden Rule Warden," also faced a bizarre event while showing some of his guests around the prison. According to the story, Johnston and his group heard someone sobbing from inside the prison walls, and then a cold wind whisked past the group. Johnston could never explain any reason for the occurances.
Cell blocks A, B, and C Visitors to cellblocks A and B. claim they have heard crying and moaning. A psychic visiting wrote that while in Block C he came upon a disruptive spirit name Butcher. Prison records show that another inmate in block C murdered Abie Maldowitz, a mob hitman known as Butcher.
The Ghost of Al CaponeAl Capone, who spent his last years at Alcatraz with his health in decline from untreated syphilis, took up playing the banjo with a prison band. Fearing he would be killed if he spent his recreational time in the "yard," Capone received permission to spend recreation time practicing his banjo in the shower room.
In recent years, a park ranger claimed he heard banjo music coming from the shower room. Not familiar with the history of Alcatraz, the ranger could not find a reason for the sound and documented the strange event. Other visitors and employees have reported hearing the sound of a banjo coming from the prison walls.
More Paranormal Reports Other odd events experienced over the years include guards smelling smoke, but finding no fire; sounds of unexplained crying and moaning; unexplained cold spots in areas of the prison and claims of seeing ghosts of prisoners or military personnel.
Below is a GREAT link about the ghosts of Alcatraz! Check it out. And btw...if you have ever been to Alcatraz I would LOVE to hear about your experience!!! Email me or leave a comment and let's see what others have experienced! :)
Only two more days!!!!! YEAH!!!! Hope you are having a great Halloween week. I know I am!
Ok...calm down Beck....back to business. LOL Today I thought I would pick the top 10 Most Haunted Places in the world. These are MY choices. I only choose places that I have read exclusively about and feel that I have somewhat a little bit of knowledge of the paranormal history at these places. These are places that I know someone that has actually been there or that I have just studied for years on.
I am not going into great detail on my choices, but I have posted a link so that you could find out some additional information if you like. Most of these places are, of course, on my BUCKET LIST to do.....and stay with me.....I WILL visit all the places listed below! If you guys have visited ANY of these places PLEASE PLEASE write and let me know.
2.The Winchester House-San Jose, CA http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchester
The house of Sara Winchester the air to the Winchester(gun) fortune. Sarah believed the spirits of all the people that had died by the Winchester gun, would come back to haunt her. So as long as she lived she built walls, stairs, etc...that lead to no where in hopes it would confuse the spirits and they couldn't find her.
4. The Stanley Hotel-Estes Park, Colorado http://www.hauntedplacesinamerica.com/the-stanley-hotel
The famous hotel that reportedly Stephen King wrote the "Shining" and reportedly had to leave the hotel because of paranormal activity.
8. The Amityville House-Long Island, New York http://www.amityvillemurders.com/
A man claims to be possessed by a demon a kills his family of 6. True Story.
Ok this may NOT be on anyone elses top ten but it is mine. I have been here and trust me when I say....there is LOTS of strange things going on in this house!
