October 26, 2006
A Haunted Halloween Tour
Written by Kimberly Logan in Jaunty PostAfter spending the past several days watching a long list of scary movies along with the entire first season of Supernatural on DVD, it has most definitely succeeded in putting me in a spooky sort of mood. (As a matter of fact, I’ve been leaving my bedroom light on much later than usual lately! Brrrrrr!) Those cute Winchester brothers have also gotten me thinking about my own life-long fascination with the supernatural. (There is a reason that Halloween is my favorite holiday, after all.) I have always had an interest in the subject. One of my fellow writer friends used to belong to the Louisville Ghost Hunters Society, and we have discussed her experiences with the group more than once. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that I believe whole-heartedly that there are restless spirits out there, but I do keep an open mind and am willing to say that I think it’s possible. I’ve found that most people say that they’ve had at least one brush with something they can’t explain at some point in their lives.
So, in celebration of Halloween, I decided to try going on a bit of a ghost hunting expedition of my own, checking out several well-known and supposedly haunted places in my area. Armed with my trusty flashlight and with my intrepid porcupine sidekick at my side, I ventured forth, and I was surprised by what I found. And creeped out. Majorly.
The first stop on our spooky little tour is the Waverly Hills Sanitorium in Louisville, Kentucky. Built in the early 1900’s, it was once a tuberculosis hospital before it became a geriatric hospital and then eventually closed down. I don’t know whether I believe it is haunted or not, but all you have to do is take a look at the picture to get an idea of why this one is at the top of my creepy list! Named the most haunted place in America, it has been profiled on several television shows, including the Linda Blair-hosted show The Scariest Places on Earth and Sci-Fi Channel’s Ghost Hunters. An independently made horror movie was also filmed there not all that long ago, and there were all sorts of stories leaked from the cast and crew about the strange happenings that occurred while they were filming. I can tell you one thing: I won’t be venturing into those dark hallways again anytime soon! To learn more about the history of the sanitorium as well as some of the paranormal experiences people claim to have had there, you can check out http://www.underworldtales.com/waverly.htm
Next on the list is historic Bardstown, Kentucky, site of my Old Kentucky Home and host to so many alleged hauntings that I couldn’t even begin to list them all. Most notable among them are Federal Hill Cemetary with its famous moving headstone and the Jailer’s Inn, which has been featured on the Travel Channel as one of the most haunted places in America. I could give you a long list, but instead, try checking out http://tinyurl.com/yg6hxo for more info. Or go to http://www.ghosthunter.com/ghosttrek2.htm to see some paranormal pics that were taken during a recent ghost trek there. (Scroll to the bottom of the page.) Evidence of spirits or a faulty camera? Judge for yourself…
We end our tour in quaint, downtown New Albany, Indiana at the historic Culbertson Mansion. This is the only stop on our tour that I have personally visited more than once, and while I can’t say that I have ever seen any evidence of the paranormal, I sure won’t be volunteering to stay there overnight! As lovely as the house is, I have to admit that I used to get some pretty strange vibes whenever I went there on school trips in elementary school. And that was before word got out that it was haunted by the ghost of the owner’s first wife. You can read a bit more about the haunting at http://tinyurl.com/yxjmf7
Well, that brings us to the end of the road–er, I mean, the end of our tour. Your turn now. Any brushes with the supernatural you’d like to share? Any supposedly haunted places in your area? I’m in the mood for a good ghost story. (And if Jaunty P doesn’t come clean with me as to the indentity of our mystery Quill pretty darn soon, he might find himself bound and gagged and spending the night alone in one of these places. Are you listening, Jaunty…?)
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Rainy Says:
I, too, have a fascination with the supernatural. There are so many possibilities. Who knows?
My ghost story is really my daughter’s story. We used to own a c1792 house in Southern Vermont. One night my daughter was sleeping, but woke up to see a tall man with an Abe Lincoln sort of hat and a cloakish kind of coat appear in her room. Freaked her out. But he never came back.
Also, we had some friends who bought a small saltbox home in Ipswich, MA, supposed to be the oldest home in Massachusetts. In the dirt cellar, they discovered some bones that looked human. After that, strange things began to happen. Objects disappeared and reappeared somewhere else. One time they saw a spatula levitate. When you went up the narrow stairs to the bedrooms, the air became chillier, then cold. Our friend, Bernie said that he was going upstairs once and blacked out or something, because he woke up sitting on the steps with a lot of time gone by. They finally decided to write a note to the ghost saying they were friendly and wouldn’t the ghost like to move or something to that effect. It quieted,so I guess it did move on.
Jenna Petersen Says:
I was driving home from my then-boyfriend’s house (now husband) back in 1994 or 5 and saw this bright light coming toward me on the road. I figured it was another car, but I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. It got brighter and bigger and then it swooped over top of me and was gone. I’ve always wondered what it was. It didn’t make any noise.
Another time, in my dorm room, a couple of us were sitting by the elevator doors just chatting when a cold breeze swooped past us, kind of like when someone runs really fast and there’s a little stir of air. But no one was there and none of the doors had been opened around us to explain it.
Also a couple of years ago, a friend of Mike’s who is a realtor took us to a house in the country. We weren’t really looking to buy, but she said it was big and had land and we said we’d look. The house was really big and the land was nice, but there was just a horrible feeling I got from the house. Like something really bad had happened there. I looked all over online later, but never found anything. Still, I wouldn’t have bought the house.
Dorothy Says:
Me too! I’ve been fascinated with ghosts and paranormal for years. There are several places in my area, Albany, NY, that are reported as being haunted. Two cemeteries are said to be haunted, Forest Park Cemetery, is listed in the top ten haunted cemeteries, and Oakwood Cemetery. I took some pictures in Oakwood and got some strange lights orbs. The New York State Capital is said to be haunted by custodian that was killed in a fire many years ago. Cohoes Music Hall, a 19th century music hall, is said to be haunted by several ghosts, both on stage and in the balcony. A local college, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is said to have a haunted classroom building that had been a hospital before being converted for RPI. These are just a few of the places said to be haunted in my area. I would love to check them out, but most are locked and you can’t get into them.
There are really good website
http://www.theshadowlands.net that has a whole bunch of stuff about hauntings and places. They also have a listing by state of haunted places.
Kimberly, what a great topic right before Halloween!
Jaunty P. Quills Says:
I’m listening! And how can you threaten me after I saved you from all those ghosts and goblins? I risked my quills for you!
Kim, come on now, you know you love me. And tell the truth. SINS OF THE PORCUPINE. It’s about me, isn’t it?
AndreaW Says:
I’ve never had a brush with the supernatural (at least not that I know of), but your blog is fascinating, Kim. I really enjoyed the tour. I’m now going to look up haunted/scary places in or near Atlanta. Thanks!
Anne Mallory Says:
I read through the Waverly one, and now I’m looking over my shoulder every ten seconds. Thanks, Kim.
In my hometown there is a square abandoned building. Almost zero windows, standing at the back of an empty parcel of land - like nothing would grow around it. Rumors of gang initiations and satanic cults using it abounded in high school. The building is on a main road, so I passed it a lot. It is just one of those freaky buildings that looks haunted without even having to step foot inside. We always joked about going in there at night or on Halloween, but we were more afraid of some live crazy person than a dead one.
I’ve had my share of strange occurrences and I have a really wild imagination. But I’ll spare you guys.
I have a pseudo ghost hunter in my November book, but he’s a bit off his rocker. 
A new Supernatural tonight! WHOOHOO!
Lois Says:
Thankfully, I have no ghost stories. LOL Sure, once or twice, I could have sworn I saw someone there, only to see no one, once I wasn’t sure what it was I saw in the sky, and wondered if it was a ufo, but thankfully, nothing that you would find on the sci-fi channel or the X-FIles. LOL
And hope never to either. . . *shiver*
Lois
Kimberly Logan Says:
Fellow supernatural junkies, eh, Rainy and Dorothy? That’s great! I love surfing the ghost-related sites and listening to all the EVP recordings that are supposedly voices from beyond the grave. Whether they really are or not, some are enough to give you the shivers.
Ooops. Sorry about that, Anne. Guess it’s a little late for the warning, but I wouldn’t read the Waverly one if you’re home alone.
And yay, new Supernatural! That’s always a good thing. 
Saved me, Jaunty? I could have sworn that was a flash of yellow I saw running up your quilled spine as you took off with the only flashlight and left me standing in the dark at our last stop, choking on the dust you stirred up with your hasty exit. No, I can’t say love described my emotions right about then…
Haven Rich Says:
The Waverly place sounds interesting, but more of a historical pov..but who knows what might be seen or felt hehe. As I read over the message board, avoiding the rude comments of course, I saw one that stated if you’re sensitive to paranormal things, to avoid it. Well, it is true that women are more likely to “feel” things than men, and just reading over the site make me a bit queasy to my stomach. Who knows what could happen there if visited.
I’ve had a few hauntings but have always been told I was just seeing things, or my imagination was running wild. But I’ll tell ya’ll about the oddest and most true…
When I was 12/13..we lived in a house and I kept having dreams of a little girl, say 1800’s, asking me to play with her. I could see her face clearly in my dreams and she told me details of what why she didn’t have a family. Her home was burned, killing her younger baby brother and parents. I woke up all freaked out of course. Well, being the odd person I am, I went to the library to research it in the newspaper archives. It did indeed happen. The little girl also perished in the fire, but it seems she didn’t know this. The fire was started from their fireplace while they slept.
BTW I had never heard rumors of this happening that would cause such dreams..like watching a movie and having dreams about it.
The house I lived at is not on any famous haunted list or anything.
Haven Rich Says:
Oh forgot to add, that last photo you posted, that is a beautiful home! That is the type of house I’d love to own one day…ya know after I’m rich and have Anne Rice’s money haha.
Kimberly Logan Says:
Yes, Haven, the Waverly place is definitely fascinating, even just from a historical standpoint. But horrible at the same time, if you know what I mean. I had no idea of the history behind it all until the last couple of years. If any place was going to be haunted, this would be it. I’ve heard that a lot of people who have taken the tour there have mentioned feeling ill the whole time they are in the building, only to magically feel better the moment they leave. Of course, it could just be the power of suggestion, or maybe they are more sensitive to all of the spirtual “vibes.”
And what a great, spooky tale! Yes, I could see how a dream like that would be enough to scare you.
Haven Rich Says:
I wasn’t scared by the dream actually. It was like I was a big sister playing with the little girl. Only later, after I read the news sheet did my stomach flop into some huge mess lol.
BTW for those that believe in mystical happenings, watch your pets. They are very sensitive to paranormal happenings. If a cat refuses to go into a room and gets this “Kill me now or I’ll claw your eyes out” freaked look, then you may have a ghost haha. Dogs are also sensitive to this stuff, but not nearly as much. Which is why witch’s familiars are cats…they can sense the evil and warn the witch.
Psstt…Anne, if all this ghost talk is spooking you…just get some Lavender incense. Not only will it calm you, it’s also used as a protection herb.
Shirley Karr Says:
I had to practically peel myself off the ceiling this afternoon, *twice*, and it’s all Kim’s fault. I followed the Waverly links and was reading its history, home alone, me with both kitties at my feet. I had just read the part of the ghost hunter guy jumping at seeing a silhouette when I heard loud noises at the other end of the house. I’d forgotten dh was going to be home early to paint a customer’s latticework here.
A little later, I was fixing a late lunch in the kitchen and heard voices. DH often talks to himself, especially when the paint sprayer needs encouragement, and through the window I could see him messing with the sprayer. Then the door from the garage to the kitchen suddenly opened. My mom had stopped by and come through the garage since it was open.
Nope, don’t need no nap, I’m wide awake now.
ladydawgfan Says:
Interesting that the reactions of our pets was mentioned. When I was growing up outside of Chicago, the house that we lived in had three bedrooms. I had two sisters, so the three of us were given the largest bedroom, which happened to be at the front of the house. Our cat, Tabby, refused to go into our bedroom for any reason. We tried picking her up and carrying her into the room, but as soon as we got into the room, she went a little crazy, started hissing and scratching and struggling, and then would absolutely FLY out of the room as though her tail were on fire!!!
In this same house, I used to get strange vibes in the upstairs bathroom. I used to bathe with the door opened because of the feeling that I was being watched and the feeling that I was not alone in the room. I hated looking in the mirror in that bathroom. I was convinced that I was going to see something in it besides my own reflection.
Not too long before we moved out, we discovered that a previous tenant in the house had had a daughter who had died suddenly of a mysterious stomach ailment - in the front bedroom. I never did discover the connection between that room and the bathroom, but I know what I felt. When I mentioned it to my sister, she said that she had felt it as well, but hadn’t said anything because she didn’t want to look silly.
We eventually moved, but I will never forget the strange feelings associated with that one house.
Kimberly Logan Says:
LOL, Shirley! I’m so, so sorry. But hey, at least you’re all ready for Halloween now.
Actually, I used to do this sort of thing to myself all the time. I love shows like Unsolved Mysteries and The Scariest Places on Earth, despite the fact that they scare the beejeebers out of me. Whenever shows like that are on, they just draw me in and I wind up watching them, even though I know I’ll be sorry for it later on. I’ve had to peel myself off the ceiling more than once after watching one of them.
Intrigued Says:
In addition to “Scariest Places on Earth,” “Ghosthunters” and “A Haunting” that airs on TDC every Thur. night at 8pmcst., has everyone been watching, “Celebrity Paranormal” on VH-1? Last week’s episode was at Waverly Hills.
I’ve seen every edition of all of these shows I’ve mentioned. I’m convinced Waverly Hills is the scariest place in the USA, and maybe, the world.