ONE GHOST NOT ENOUGH??? HOW ABOUT A HAUNTED HOTEL WITH SIX!!!!!!

We all love old haunted hotels, right?  We book a room with the hopes of seeing at least one ghost or have some sort of paranormal encounter.  Well, the Ben Lomond Suites Hotel in Ogden, Utah has at least six!  The hotel has been around in one form or another for more than 200 years!  Don't you just love hotels that have been around for hundred's of years?  I always think about the walls.  I know, I know....the walls right???  But I do.  I think about what the walls must have seen over the years and if they could talk what would they tell us.  Would they say..."hey, I remember the day that a man shot his wife and blood splattered all over me!" LOL  Ok....that's a little weird...but you get what I mean.... :)



Mr. Ben Lomond

Trains, trains and more trains that's all Jay ever thought about. (kinda' like us ghost hunters, all we ever think about are ghosts and more ghosts. LOL)  Anyway to say that Jay LOVED trains was an understatement.  His life long dream was to travel to west Utah to stand on Promontory Summit, where back in 1869 a ceremonial golden spike was driven in to link the United Pacific and Central Pacific rail lines, creating the first transcontinental railroad.

After thirty-five years with the same company, Jay retired and the next spring started on his DREAM vacation to travel across the nation by rail.  His last stop would be on May 10, the anniversary of the date on which the fabled spike had been driven, when there would be a reenactment of the ceremony, including two steam engines meeting nose to nose on the same track.

He had been on the train headed to the Summit for quite a long time, when Jay welcomed a much needed break to spend a couple nights in a REAL BED in a luxury hotel in Ogden, the Ben Lomond Suites.

In 1891, E.A. Reed built a four-story hotel, which he named after himself, at the corner of Washington Boulevard and Twenty-fifth Street.  A. Perry, the president and cofounder of the Ogden Bank, felt that with a rapidly growing city like Ogden it needed a first-class hotel, so in 1926 he formed a corporation with three hundred stockholders to purchase the Reed Hotel and completely remodeled it.  Included in the remodel would be an eight-story L-shaped tower with 350 guest rooms attached to the rear of the original hotel. 

The newly remodeled hotel rechristened Bigelow Hotel opened instantly to being ranked as one of the top hotels in the state in 1927.  In 1933, Marriner S. Eccles, another Utah banker, purchased the Bigelow and added a two-story penthouse, and changed the name to the Ben Lomond Hotel.  For more than 40 years it remained a city favorite.  After 40 years, and changing hands many times, the

 Radisson chain in the 1980's purchased the property and it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

Jay was so glad to be in a hotel, he decided to pamper himself and stay in one of the condo's at the hotel located on the upper floors.  Room 1102.  Once inside he showered and feel asleep as soon as his head hit his pillow.

Jay awoke the next morning a new man.  Ready to take on the sites of Ogden and particular the things having to do with the railroad...off he went.  After a long day of site seeing, Jay decided he needed a nice, long, hot bath.  Yes, that's what he needed!  As he opened his condo door, he immediately knew something was wrong.  Water was already running in the bathroom!!!!!! He rushed in and sure enough, the water was running in the bathtub.  Thank goodness the drain was open!  With a little confusion....had he leave the water on or had house keeping been in and left the water running.... oh well....no real harm done.  So he pulled the drain pug up so that the water would fill up in the tub.  In just a few minutes, Jay got in and leaned back to immerse himself into relation!  Drifting back on his perfect day.....all the sudden he feels something pushing on his back.  Was he imaging things????  Then not 10 seconds later...he felt invisible hands grab his arms and hands as to pull him out of the tub.  SOMETHING or SOMEONE wanted him OUT of the tub!!!!  He took the hint....he jumped out and dried off and laid on his bed trying to figure out....what just happened??????

Stories like Jay's are frequent at the Ben Lomond Hotel.  Rumor has it that a women on her honeymoon drowned in the tub in room 1102.  No known dates or names have been given to this story, but ever since, people have experienced coming into their rooms and the water is running, feeling hands on them in the tub and sometimes trying to PUSH THEM UNDER!!!!

Another spirit is said the be the drowning victim's son who after coming to the hotel to pick up his Mother's things decided to stay in the room right next to the room where his Mother drown.......room 1101.  Overcome with despair.......he committed suicide. 

Mary Eccles

Reports from the hotel staff include, phantom voices coming from both rooms when know one is staying in them.  The housekeepers report that sometimes after making the beds, they turn around and there are indentions as if someone is laying on the bed.  And there's another room that seems to be giving the hotel staff trouble.......room 1106.  Legend has it that a Mother checked into room 1106 to wait for her son to return from World War II.  Upon learning of his death, she stopped eating and starved to death in that very room.  The desk clerks say that they will get phone calls from that room and when they answer the line goes dead.........not to mention.....know one is checked into that room.

Mary, Eccles's first wife whom he was married to when he bought the hotel, is said to roam the corridors, the fifth floor, the top floor and in the elevators.  They say you will know it's Mary because you will smell her lilac perfume.  Another spirit is said to be that of a sixty-five year male clerk that was stabbed to death late at night while being robbed in 1976 by a fifteen year old boy.  Although he has not been "seen" he is felt by turning on the music in the foyer and fiddling with the phone cords. 

Other sightings and experiences include, a female apparition on the third-floor gymnasium, guests in room 212 have felt hands pushing them, cold spots, footsteps, doors opening and closing by themselves, elevators acting up and stopping randomly at the fifth and tenth floors when know call button has been pushed.

So, if you DARE to stay at the Ben Lomond Hotel, don't take a bath....I suggest a shower!!! LOL

EVPS-ARE YOU REALLY HEARING VOICES FROM "THE OTHER SIDE"?

"Get out", "leave", "yes", "no", "die"  have you ever gotten words like this on your recorder???  Man, I have!!!  Is it cool??? You better believe it!!!!  BUT is it REALLY voices from the "other side"???

Whether you are looking to become a full-fledged paranormal investigator or just someone "testing the waters" capturing a voice that you KNOW is not yours or someone with you can be THRILLING and CHILLING!!! 

There are two types of vocal evidence: the disembodied voice and the EVP.  A disembodied voice, as the name implies, is a physically audible human voice that seems to come from nowhere, no one, nobody.  You can hear this with your own ears in real time.  I can tell you, this is one of my favorite things that happens when I am out investigating haunted locations.  But of course, nothing makes it better EXCEPT to capture it on a digital recorder (of course, so you can let others hear what you heard right?).  I love going back through my recordings and finding an EVP that I heard in real time and then it was also caught on the recorder!  BINGO!!!!!  The other kind of vocal evidence is the EVP.  EVP(Electronic Voice Phenomenon) is a voice that is captured on an electronic device, typically a digital voice recorder or camcorder.

Now, will ANY recorder work?  YES.  Record on your cell phone ,with a digital recorder or a  camcorder anything that records is a possible tool for collecting EVP's.  Of course, some better than others but you have lots of things that you can use without going out and buying some expensive device that records.

There are 3 different kind of classifications for EVP's.  Class A, Class B, and Class C.  No....that doesn't mean different classrooms with different teachers haha....

Class A-Now this is the BEST EVP that you can capture.  This type of EVP is loud, clear, and of very high quality.  The voice is easily understandable and does not need enhancement or amplification.  There is no mistaking WHAT the EVP says.  This EVP is usually in response to a question from an intelligent spirit.  But it can be residual as well.

Class B-This is the most common type of EVP.  This type of EVP is of a somewhat lower quality and clarity than a Class A EVP but still very audible.  Class B EVP's often do need some degree of enhancement or amplification to be heard clearer.  The voice may not be clear enough to be totally understood or there may be disagreements as to what it is saying.  These may not always be in direct response to a question.  This is often the Class EVP that gets debated on what is being said.

Class C-This is the lowest quality EVP.  With a Class C EVP even the best enhancement and amplification may not be sufficient to make the voice audible or clear.  There may be even a debate whether or not the EVP is actually present.  Many times, many different interpretations maybe heard.

Below are a couple of video's that have some EVP's in them.  Some Class A, some Class B and some Class C.  Can you decide which ones are which???  Now, enjoy the video's because only a REAL ghost hunter would post them FREAKING OUT! LOL

The first video is at Mineral Springs Hotel in Alton, Illinois.  The second is in Kingston, Arkansas and the third is at The Hill House Manor in Gainesville, Tx.

Now, get out there and TALK.....TALK.....TALK....  I want to know about your EVP's and what Class EVP you caught.  Email me at Becksghosthunters.com and share your experiences. :)

HAUNTED MCPIKE MANSION-AND THAT'S NOT ALL!!!

OMG!!!  I am soooo glad to be back with you guys!!!!  These last couple of weeks have been CRAZY busy for me so thank you guys for hanging in there!!!  I have soooo much to tell you.....so I'm not going to waste anymore time and get going...

First, between the Ghost Conference in Alton, the overnight in the VERY HAUNTED MCPIKE MANSION, staying with a friend who has paranormal activity in her apartment, and experiencing a phone app that was crazy.....I am ALMOST(but not yet) "GHOSTED OUT"!!!!!( I just made that word up, so know need to look it up)

I want to start out by telling you about something that happened at the American Ghost Society Conference that just goes to shows......ALWAYS expect the UNEXPECTED when you are a ghost hunter. A couple years ago, my good friend and founder of White Dog Paranormal, Michele Pellegrino and her nephew, Anthony Pellegrino went to the AGS Conference.  At the conference, they offer different tours to show you haunted places in the area.  Michele and Anthony took a tour that I did not.  I'm sorry, but I forget the name of the place but it was an old cemetery in Decatur, Illinois.  Just as any ghost hunter would do, Michele started taking photos at the cemetery.  She noticed an older gentlemen that started to walk across the burial grounds.  Without thinking twice.....Michele snapped a picture of the man.

Anthony, Becky and Michele.
No comments.  We were cold and tired!!!

Later, when she was reviewing her photos, she noticed something she couldn't believe!!!  Behind the older man, there was a dark shadow that seemed to be ATTACHED to him!!!!!!!!! Michele showed me the photo and was REALLY torn as to whether or not to tell the man about what she had captured in her picture..........if she tells him....will it "scare" him........will he think it is the "Grim Reaper" or did she just keep it to herself???  Long story short......she made a decision NOT to tell him about it and I totally agreed with her decision.

Now, fast forward two years from then to now.......the AGS Conference in Alton, Illinois.  We are sitting in on one of the classes with Troy Taylor, along with a panel of guest of paranormal investigators and mediums, etc.  Michele raises her hand and ask a question about "shadow people"........ especially ones that seem to ATTACH themselves to people.  Rosemary Guiley, an expert on ghosts and spirits, proceeded to give her opinion on why "shadow people" are here and why they may become attached to someone. FYI she says...."it's not always a bad thing".

Anyway, later that afternoon.....we sat in on another class.  And can I just add.....we DID not sit in the same seats as before.  The room probably held 200-250 people.  Michele is sitting on one side of me and Anthony on the other.  As we are listening to the speaker....Anthony leans over and taps me on the shoulder.  I quietly bend down to hear him and he whispers......"look behind you........the guy that Michele took that picture of with the shadow is sitting RIGHT BEHIND HER"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I kinda of look at Anthony like.....NO WAY.....what are the chances of that???????????  But trying to be sneaky....I glanced over my shoulder and almost fell out of my chair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  IT WAS HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Of all the people he sits RIGHT BEHIND MICHELE!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And let me be clear.......other than taking a picture of the man.....Michele does not know this man....nor has even seen him since the moment she took the picture.  

Well..............one thing you need to know about me is ........I get EXCITED easily!!!!!  It was all I could do not to stand up and yell......."Michele......look at that GUY seating right behind you 

OMG"!!!!!

 Ok...take a DEEP BREATH and be COOL about this Beck....and tell Michele to look behind her.  So, I tapped Michele on the shoulder...and said "don't look now (isn't that what we always say when we WANT people to LOOK.LOL) but I am going to point to something over your shoulder and you look behind you at the man sitting in the chair".  She nods....and looks over her shoulder.....just like me and Anthony SHE CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Her jaw dropped !!!  So as we all sat there....not hearing a WORD the speaker was saying...all the sudden we hear the applause and realize the class is over.  As we stand up and start to walk between the isles.....SOMEONE says...."excuse me..........are you the lady that took the picture of the older man with a shadow figure following him"? I almost choked as did Michele. She was so startled at the question she just stood there for a minute then said "yes, that was me". The young man (I'm guessing around 20) said "can you tell me WHO it was"?  DID HE REALLY JUST ASK THAT QUESTION WITH THE OLDER MAN STANDING RIGHT BESIDE HIM????  How does Michele handle this?  She looks at the older man and back at the younger man and hesitates.......but then says " do you REALLY want to know......it was him" and she pointed at the older gentlemen.  OMG!  Now what???  Would this man freak out....would it scare him.....how was he going to react!!!  But much to our surprise........the young man says......"that EXPLAINS it!  Ever since we went to that cemetery bad things have been happening to us"!  He said he was the man's grandson and was with him that night in the cemetery.  The older man did not seem to be to "phased" by the news that it was HIM in the picture.  His grandson went on to say that they had been in bad car wrecks, had a couple of big fires, been sick, family problems and on and on.  And that they felt something had followed his grandfather home from there.   Michele offered to show him the picture if he wanted to see it.  Of course, he said yes.

Photo by Michele Pellegrino.

Later that evening, Michele showed him the picture and they exchanged information to keep in touch.  Now....you tell me....WHAT ARE THE ODDS this man.....first would be at the SAME conference.....TWO YEARS LATER......at a DIFFERENT location....KNOW that Michele's question MIGHT pertain to him...........and then not knowing anything about Michele SIT right behind her in a room full of people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  AMAZING!!!!

I do want to say that Michele has a REAL gift with the paranormal.  She is an excellent investigator and really has a great ability for communicating with the spirits.  I believe she was meant to take that picture and I also believe that she was meant to be at THAT conference to cross paths with that gentlemen and to offer him some kind of explanation for his misfortune.  I hope this man is able to "shake" his bad luck and I know Michele is the perfect person to help him if she can.

Ok........now, because I talked soooo long above, I will cut my story on the McPike Mansion investigation short.  Let me just say.............it was just like in the SCARY MOVIES.  As we started to walk around the back of the Mansion, to where the old well and two unknown graves where.......all the sudden the wind starts BLOWING really HARD.......the trees start to bend and.......then comes the lightening and thunder.  What the heck?  It was suppose to be a very clear night.  Anyway, as the owner, Sharyn Luedke hurries everyone into the cellar and begins telling us about the history of the place.  There was about 20 people at first for about an hour and half then only the professional investigators stayed for to do a real investigation....about 6 of us total.

The old well at the back of the McPike Mansion

Two graves at the back of the house that
know one really knows who they are.  They
are believed to be that of  two young children
of  Henry McPike.

Without getting to detailed (see this is what happens when I don't get to really post good weekly...I talk to much.lol) I will tell you....we had some pretty amazing personal experiences.  I felt completely surrounded by a BLACK MASS in a totally pitch black room but I could STILL see this darkness...so much so that I was leaned back in my chair as far as I could gripping to the sides of my chair because it seemed like SOMETHING or SOMEONE was standing RIGHT over me up in my face....  I began saying "please....just back up a little bit so that I can catch my breath".  And sure enough...it all of the sudden went away.  Michele and Anthony also experienced being touched.  We would all suddenly feel "CHILLS" and within minutes.....it would be gone.  We also got some AMAZING EVP's that indicates that the spirits that haunt the McPike Mansion are intelligent as they were answering DIRECT questions.  Also, we heard footsteps in the hallway, experienced the laser grids being turned off when asked, hearing voices BUT the MOST IMPRESSIVE thing I think I witnessed was our communication with the K-2 meters.  

We all were sitting on one end of the cellar with the equipment and camera's facing the opposite end.  I would say around 1:30 am we started getting hits on the K-2's.  What that means is when a spirit is around the K-2 will light up five little colored lights as a way of communicating.  One light may light up and no others.....and sometimes.....all five lights light up at the same time.  We started asking questions and asking the spirits to light up the K2 so that we might be able to communicate with them.  

Now, here's the BEST part......we had two K2 meters. One sitting on the floor by a chair and other I would guess about 10-15 ft from there.  BOTH the K2's were responding EXACTLY THE SAME!!!! I mean if one lite up three lights at the VERY SAME TIME the other one would light up 3 lights! They were so in unison it blew my mind!  I have been investigating for years and years and have NEVER seen this happen before!!  And it just wasn't once or twice....it was a lot!!!!  They would turn on at the exact same time and turn off at the exact same time and were in different locations!!!!  I have used the K2 for years and have been able to get communication on more than one but NEVER at the exact same time.  AMAZING!!!!  And yes....it was caught on video.

Ok...below I have posted some of the pictures from that night. There are so many EVP's to share with you guys, I am still cropping them after hours and hours of investigating.  I hope to have them completed for next weeks post along with an experience we had with a new app for your phone.  I can tell you.....I WAS TOTALLY CREEPED OUT by it!!!

Anyway, that's it for tonight....hope you guys had a great 4th of July and see you next week.  Don't forget to follow me on Becks Ghost Hunters Facebook page as I post all kinds of thing there all the time. :)

Here is the web address if you would like to experience the paranormal at it's best at the McPike Mansion.                        http://www.mcpikemansion.com/ 

An orb down in the cellar.

Orb by Anthony.

Mist on the outside of the mansion around
2:30 am.

Notice time stamp.  No orb.

Orbs on the side of the mansion.

The guys from another group.  Sorry I
forgot their group name.  Is that something'
in the top window?

Orb.  Notice time stamp.  Just after the
mist.

Inside mansion.

Notice time stamp.  The picture BEFORE
and the picture AFTER DOES NOT
show the figure of a man in them.

Just enlarged.

Is this Henry McPike?