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Is the Villisca Axe House Haunted? Content advisory: This episode discusses a real mass murder in which six children were killed, plus violence, death, and a 2014 self-harm incident. If you or someone you love is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (U.S.), any time. On a Sunday night in June 1912, eight people went to sleep in a modest two-story house in Villisca, Iowa, and none of them woke up. More than a century later, the case is still unsolved, the house is still standing, and you can still book a night inside. Kicking off our October series, Haunted Murder Houses, Rebecca follows the children who never stopped playing, while Pat lays out the suspect list: a confession that got taken back, a state senator with a grudge, and a hired man with a payroll alibi. You decide: genuine haunting, or entirely senseless talk? The History In 1912, Villisca was a small railroad town of about 2,000 people with nearly 30 trains stopping every day. On June 9, Josiah and Sarah Moore, their four children (Herman, Katherine, Boyd, and Paul), and two young overnight guests, sisters Lena and Ina Stillinger, came home from the Children’s Day program at the Presbyterian church. Sometime after midnight, someone entered the house with Joe Moore’s own axe and killed all eight. Mirrors and windows were draped, faces were covered, and the killer slipped out before dawn. Townspeople trampled the crime scene, and the suspects followed: state senator Frank Jones, the hired man William “Blackie” Mansfield, and the traveling preacher Rev. George Kelly, who confessed, recanted, and was acquitted in 1917. No one was ever convicted. Restored to its 1912 appearance in the 1990s and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997, the house is now open for tours and overnight stays. The Hauntings The children who never stopped playing — balls that roll across the kids’ room on their own, and doors that bang shut, according to former owner Darwin Linn. When WHO Radio’s Van and Bonnie spent the night, three balls “just took off all in different directions.” The man with the axe — in 1930, newlywed Bonnie Ritner said she saw a man holding an axe at the foot of her bed. Visitors have reported the same “shadow man” ever since. Lena’s closet — a closet door that banged behind Darwin Linn as he carried guests’ coins downstairs, and a 1999 investigator who called the house “borderline demonic.” Footsteps on the stairs — ordinary overnight guests hearing someone climb the stairs and walk overhead when nobody else was in the house. “But we knew what we heard.” The night things got real — a 2014 overnight that ended in an emergency, and the longtime caretaker who stopped staying the night afterward. Music Credits Music performed by Michael Rivers. “Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo. “Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher — gailgallaghermusic.com Weigh In Got a ghost story? Call or text us. Hear the phone number on the episode. You might hear it on the show. Vote by texting the episode title with YES (believer) or NO (skeptic), plus a haunting score from 1–10. Listener Mail Email [email protected] or the contact form at GhostlyPodcast.com, or write us at PO Box #264, Geneva, IL 60134. Support the Show Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, or join us on Patreon at GhostlyPodcast.com (tiers from $1–$10). Sources History The Ax Murderer Who Got Away — Smithsonian Magazine Villisca axe murders — Wikipedia Josiah B. and Sara Moore House — Wikipedia The Villisca Axe Murders — Iowa Cold Cases Henry Lee Moore — Wikipedia The Man from the Train — Wikipedia Hauntings & Paranormal Reports Villisca Axe Murder House — US Ghost Adventures (official site) Ax Murder House — Sioux City Journal Van and Bonnie Spend the Night at the Villisca Ax Murder House — WHO 13 Team of Ghost Hunters Investigate Infamous Villisca Axe Murder House — KETV My Experience at the Villisca Ax Murder House — JHS Black & White Strange Occurrences Abound at the Villisca Ax Murder House — Roadtrippers Why Did a Ghost Hunter Stab Himself Inside a Famous Axe-Murder House? — VICE The Time a Ghost Hunter Stabbed Himself at My Axe Murder Museum — VICE

It's one of the most impressive train stations ever built in America, and for most of its life, it's been standing completely empty. This episode, Rebecca tracks down the spirits who never left Buffalo's Central Terminal, while Pat digs into how a building this grand ended up abandoned for over forty years. You decide: genuine haunting, or entirely senseless talk?

Is Mary King’s Close Edinburgh’s Most Haunted Street? Beneath a grand 18th-century stone building on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile — one that gives no hint of what’s underneath — sits an entire street frozen in time. Rooms, staircases, even fireplaces, sealed beneath the foundations when the Royal Exchange went up in 1753. Mary King’s Close was home to merchants, tradespeople, and, in 1645, some of the city’s worst plague victims. Today it’s one of the most investigated haunted sites in the UK, and almost every tour still ends in the same small stone room, in front of a pile of children’s toys. This week, Rebecca walks through Wee Annie, the EVP session at Andrew Chesney’s house, the Coltheart family’s disembodied limbs, a namesake ghost caught on infrared, and a real University of Edinburgh study that found something genuinely hard to explain — while Pat digs into who Mary King actually was, what Edinburgh’s Old Town was really like, and why the close’s most famous “true story” doesn’t hold up to the historical record. Is Mary King’s Close genuinely haunted, or is four centuries of plague, poverty, and marketing doing a very convincing impression of one? You decide. What We Cover in This Episode The History (with Pat): Who Mary King really was — a 1630s textile merchant and one of the few women in 17th-century Scotland to hold full burgess rights What Edinburgh’s Old Town actually looked like: 8-to-12-story tenements, no sanitation, and a city crammed onto one narrow ridge The 1645 plague outbreak that devastated the close — and why the popular “300 people sealed in with a named plague doctor” story doesn’t hold up against the historical record How the Royal Exchange was built directly on top of the close in 1753, sealing it underground for 250 years Andrew Chesney, the close’s last documented resident, forced out between 1897 and 1902 The Real Mary King’s Close opening to the public in 2003 after years of restoration The Hauntings (with Rebecca): Evidence #1 — Wee Annie: Japanese psychic Aiko Gibo’s 1990s encounter that turned one small room into the close’s signature haunting — and its ever-growing pile of donated dolls Evidence #2 — Andrew Chesney’s House: an EVP session that allegedly caught his voice telling investigators to “just get out” Evidence #3 — The Coltheart Family: a 17th-century lawyer’s household terrorized by a disembodied arm, a phantom child, and a vanishing dog Evidence #4 — Mary King Herself: an infrared photograph said to show the close’s own namesake still walking her old street Evidence #5 — The University of Edinburgh’s Haunting Experiment: a real 2001 academic study that found a statistically significant gap between “haunted” and “ordinary” sections of the close Weigh the Evidence As always, it’s not up to us,  it’s up to YOU. After listening, text us the episode title, add YES if you’re a believer or NO if you’re a skeptic, and give it a haunting score from 1 to 10. (312) 869-9929 Or head to our social pages and tell us which piece of evidence convinced you — and which one Pat managed to talk you out of. Music Credits Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers. “Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo. “Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher — gailgallaghermusic.com Support Ghostly Podcast Love digging into the world’s most haunted locations with us? Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, early access, bonus investigations, and a say in which haunted location we cover next. Become a Ghostly Patron » Got a ghost story of your own? Email us at [email protected] or write to us at PO Box #264, Geneva, IL 60134. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review wherever you listen — it’s the easiest way to support the show and help other ghost-story lovers find us. Sources for This Week’s Episode Mary King (merchant) — Wikipedia Mary King’s Close — Wikipedia Edinburgh City Chambers — Wikipedia Edinburgh: The Old Town — Britannica The Eerily Abandoned 17th-Century Streets of Edinburgh — History Skills Lost Edinburgh: The Great Plague of 1645 — The Scotsman Eerily Fascinating Mary King’s Close in Line for Tourism Award — Edinburgh News The Plague in Scotland — National Library of Scotland The Real Mary King’s Close — Official Site Who Was Mary King? — Real Mary King’s Close Blog Edinburgh’s Plague Doctor: The True Story — Real Mary King’s Close Blog Mary King’s Close — Atlas Obscura 400 Years of History, Previously Buried — Traveling Boy Mary King’s Close — Exploring GB Mary King’s Close — Introducing Edinburgh Haunted Edinburgh: The Ghostly Spectres That Still Walk Mary King’s Close Today — Edinburgh News The Ghosts of Mary King’s Close — Spooky Isles The Ghosts of Mary King’s Close, Edinburgh — Haunted Rooms Ghost Finders Scotland Investigation — Ghost Club The Ghosts of Mary King’s Close — The Scotsman The Haunting Experiment of Edinburgh Castle (Wiseman/Watt study) — Association of Paranormal Study Mary King’s Close — Ghostwatch

Is Preston Castle Haunted? In this episode of Ghostly, we head to the tiny Gold Rush town of Ione, California, to explore Preston Castle — a red-brick, Romanesque Revival reform school with a dark past and a reputation as one of the West Coast’s most active haunted locations. Built to correct troubled boys, the castle instead became the site of beatings, escapes, and at least one unsolved murder. Decades after it closed, staff, tour guides, and paranormal investigators all say the same thing: it never really emptied out. History of Preston Castle Established in 1890 by the California State Legislature as a progressive reform school for juvenile offenders; the cornerstone was laid December 23, 1890, in front of roughly 2,500 spectators Built in the Romanesque Revival style — considered the finest example of that style in the Mother Lode — using bricks manufactured at San Quentin and Folsom prisons from locally quarried sandstone The first wards were accepted June 13, 1894, and the school officially opened July 1, 1894; electricity arrived the following year via a water-wheel-powered Pelton dynamo At its peak, the school held around 800 wards, employed 200 staff, and worked roughly 1,000 acres of surrounding farmland across some 50 buildings Discipline behind the scenes was harsh: public lashings, isolation, military-style drills, and “dunking baths” meant to treat lice were all part of daily life for the boys sent here The school closed in 1960 when the state opened newer facilities, and the castle sat vacant and deteriorating for more than 40 years Local preservationists fought off demolition; the nonprofit Preston Castle Foundation leased the property in 2001 and took full ownership in 2014 Today it’s a California Historical Landmark (#867) and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the Foundation running public tours and events on-site Reported Paranormal Activity Visitors, staff, and investigators have reported disembodied footsteps and voices, sudden temperature drops, physical touches ranging from a light brush to a hard poke, and cameras or recorders draining batteries or glitching with no explanation. It’s earned Preston Castle a spot on nearly every “most haunted place in California” list out there. The Ghost of Anna Corbin The castle’s most well-known haunting centers on Anna Corbin, the head housekeeper who was like a mother figure to the boys at Preston. In February 1950, she was beaten and strangled in a basement storeroom. Three separate trials followed — and nobody was ever convicted. Locals believe her spirit still can’t leave, and that she’s the one still walking the basement, and the halls, checking on “her boys.” The Infirmary Widely considered the most consistently active room in the building. The infirmary treated wards who fell ill, and some — including 8-year-old Grant Walker and 20-year-old Nicholas Hamilton — never left. Visitors report figures standing at the infirmary windows that vanish the moment they’re noticed, along with faint voices and movement in a room that should be empty. The Basement Beyond Anna’s room, the basement as a whole has a reputation as the heaviest, most unsettling part of the castle — cold spots with no source, shadow figures along the walls, and a dread so strong some investigators refuse to go down at all. On Camera: The Ghost Adventures Investigation When the Ghost Adventures crew investigated Preston Castle, they captured EVPs including “I don’t know,” “talk,” and “get out of here,” along with mist and orbs moving near their own heads on camera. More than one crew member came out of the basement with fresh, unexplained scratches — and Zak Bagans reportedly behaved so differently down there that the rest of the crew wondered if he’d been influenced by Anna herself. Spirits of the Wards Some of the castle’s activity is tied to the boys who lived — and in some cases died — here. Reports include child-like laughter with no children around, faint crying, and small shadow figures darting through the halls. Two names recur often in the lore: Sam Goins and Herman Huber, both shot by guards during separate escape attempts in the early 1900s. Listen now: GhostlyPodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts. Vote on the Evidence: Do you think Preston Castle is truly haunted? Cast your vote at GhostlyPodcast.com/polls Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter) Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review! And tell us – do you believe? #GhostlyPodcast #PrestonCastle #IoneCalifornia #CaliforniaGhosts #Paranormal #HauntedHistory #HauntedReformSchool #SpookyTravel Patreon and GhostlyX Join our Patreon for all sorts of great extra Ghostly, including early, commercial-free episodes. Join today: ghostlypodcast.com/support/ We want to hear from you with your ghost stories! Email us at [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at GhostlyPodcast. Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers “Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo “Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher gailgallaghermusic.com Sources for this week’s episode Preston Castle Foundation — History Preston Castle Foundation — Tours The Harsh, Eerie History of Preston Castle — Merced County Times The Preston Castle: A Tragic Blend of Mystery, History, and Horror — Calexplornia Historic Haunt — San Joaquin Magazine Preston Castle — Haunted US Preston Castle Ghost Stories and History — BeyondHaunted.com The History of Preston Castle — Paranormal Legacy Preston Castle (episode) — Ghost Adventures Wiki Preston Castle: A Paranormal Investigator’s Paradise — 209 Magazine Preston Castle — Haunted Reform School — Hauntpedia Ghost Hunt: Preston Castle in Ione, California — Ghostly Activities

Is Leap Castle in County Offaly, Ireland Haunted? Tucked into the quiet farmland of County Offaly, just north of the small town of Roscrea, sits a castle that has been unsettling visitors for the better part of eight hundred years. Leap Castle has survived clan warfare, a brother murdering a brother mid-Mass, the discovery of a pit holding over 150 human skeletons, a civil-war burning, and decades as a roofless ruin. This week, Rebecca dives into the legends of the Bloody Chapel, the oubliette, the Red Lady, the ghost children Emily and Charlotte, the Governess, and the bizarre entity known only as “the Elemental,” while Pat lays out the documented, true-crime-level history that makes this castle’s reputation almost too easy to believe. Is Leap Castle genuinely haunted, or is eight centuries of trauma just doing a very convincing impression of a haunting? You decide. What We Cover in This Episode The History How Leap Castle got its name — and the legend of the brothers’ deadly leap that decided who got to build it The O’Carroll succession war of 1532 and the murder of a priest at the altar of his own chapel The 19th-century discovery of a hidden oubliette beneath the chapel floor — and the three cartloads of human remains pulled out of it The 1922 burning of the castle during the Irish Civil War, and the fifty years it spent as a roofless ruin How the Ryan family rebuilt Leap Castle from a ruin into the private home — and haunted-tour destination — it is today The Hauntings Evidence #1 — The Bloody Chapel: the apparition of the murdered priest, Thaddeus, and EVP recordings of murmured prayers Evidence #2 — The Oubliette: the pit of forgotten prisoners, and the theory that disturbing their remains “woke” the castle Evidence #3 — The Elemental: Mildred Darby’s chilling first-person account of a grey, sheep-sized entity with a face unlike anything else in Irish folklore Evidence #4 — The Red Lady: the tragic spirit of an imprisoned woman, said to wander the upper floors in mourning Evidence #5 — Emily, Charlotte & the Governess: two ghost children and the nanny who still seems to be looking after them — and after blonde-haired guests Vote As always, it’s not up to us — it’s up to YOU. After listening, head to our social pages and tell us: which piece of evidence convinced you, and which one did Pat manage to talk you out of? Genuine haunting, or centuries of trauma playing tricks on the imagination? Cast your vote and join the conversation. Music & Sound Credits Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers. “Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo. “Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher — gailgallaghermusic.com Support Ghostly Podcast Love digging into the world’s most haunted locations with us? Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, early access, bonus investigations, and a say in which haunted location we cover next. Every pledge helps us keep the lights low and the questions coming. Become a Ghostly Patron Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review wherever you listen — it’s the easiest way to support the show and help other ghost-story lovers find us. Sources Leap Castle — Wikipedia History — LeapCastle.net (Official Site) The O’Carrolls — LeapCastle.net The Irish Castle Where Workers Found Three Cartloads of Human Bones — Love Ireland A Journey Through Time: The History of Leap Castle — IrishHistory.com Leap Castle: Ireland’s Most Haunted — European Waterways Leap Castle County Offaly: Ireland’s Haunted Fortress — Connolly Cove The Bloody Chapel — LeapCastle.net (Official Site) The Elemental — LeapCastle.net (Official Site) The Red Lady — LeapCastle.net (Official Site) Emily & Charlotte — LeapCastle.net (Official Site) Are you ready to be spooked by Leap Castle? — Ireland.com Leap Castle is the most haunted castle in Ireland and this story proves it — Irish Central The Most Haunted Castle in Ireland | Irish Ghost Stories — Emerald Isle The Ghosts of Leap Castle, Roscrea, Co. Offaly — Haunted Rooms Leap Castle Ireland: The Oubliette, the Elemental and Five Centuries of Violence — Haunted Silence The Governess of Leap Castle County Offaly: A Haunted Tale — Kinnitty.com Exploring the Paranormal at Leap Castle — Celtic Elegance The Haunting of Leap Castle: Ireland’s Most Haunted Fortress — Paranormal Case Files Haunted History: Dive Into The Secrets Of Leap Castle — Spirit Shack Leap Castle, Co Offaly: Ireland’s Most Haunted Castle — My Real Ireland Ireland’s Biggest Haunt – Leap Castle — Beyond the Bizarre

Is the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia haunted? Episode Summary This week on Ghostly, we walk into the largest hand-cut stone masonry building in North America — the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia. Pat traces the building from its hopeful 1858 origins under the Kirkbride Plan, through the Civil War occupation, the catastrophic overcrowding, the 1949 Charleston Gazette exposé, and into the dark summer of 1952 when Dr. Walter Freeman’s “Operation Ice Pick” lobotomized 228 West Virginians in twelve days. Rebecca brings the paranormal — Lily, the little girl in Ward R whose toys still move on command; Jacob, the alcoholic patient with a real paper trail who was first contacted on Ghost Hunters in 2008; Ruth, the man-hating spirit of the Civil War wing; the lobotomy recovery room and its growling shadows; and the nurse whose body lay undiscovered at the bottom of a stairwell for months. It is a story of good intentions, of a system that failed the people it promised to heal, and of the spirits who — by every account — never left. In This Episode Pat’s History Notes Construction begins in 1858 — Black convicts from Western Penitentiary at Staunton are transferred to the build site by order of the governor; German and Irish stonemasons later cut blue sandstone from Mount Clare, West Virginia The largest hand-cut stone masonry building in North America — over two million tons of hand-dressed stone, twenty-three years of labor, designed by Baltimore architect Richard Snowden Andrews The Kirkbride Plan — Dr. Thomas Story Kirkbride’s belief that architecture itself could heal a troubled mind; staggered wings, wide windows, open grounds as a “special apparatus for lunacy” Doors open in October 1864, during the height of the Civil War — Union and Confederate forces both occupy the partially built structure The crushing math of overcrowding: 250 patients by design, 717 by 1880, 1,661 by 1938, more than 2,600 by the 1950s — patients sleeping in shifts, sharing beds in rotation 1949 — Charleston Gazette journalist Charles Armentrout spends three weeks inside and reports the asylum looked “like a hogpen” and “smelled even worse”; the doors stay open another forty-five years The West Virginia Lobotomy Project (1951–1953) — Dr. Walter Freeman’s transorbital lobotomy campaign nicknamed “Operation Ice Pick”; 228 West Virginians lobotomized in twelve summer days in 1952; nearly 900 permanently damaged statewide May 1, 1994 — after 130 years of operation and a class action lawsuit, the asylum closes; patients are transferred to the William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital The early 2000s restoration — the building reopens as a historical site and museum, restoring its original 1864 name Rebecca’s Paranormal Evidence Lily of Ward R — the nine-year-old girl said to have been born and died of pneumonia inside the asylum, her fourth-floor room filled with decades of donated toys, the “mommy” EVP, and the rubber balls that roll on their own Jacob the Alcoholic — first contacted by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson on the 2008 Ghost Hunters episode; admission records later turned up Jacob Ayers, admitted 1890–1892 as a delusional alcoholic “convinced everyone was hiding his beer”; still active in the Civil War wing on K2 meters and flashlights Ruth and the Man-Hating Wing — the female patient on the first floor of the Civil War wing who allegedly throws objects at male visitors; the Ward 2 “get out” EVP; one woman’s account of severe head pain and overwhelming sadness on the women’s ward The Lobotomy Recovery Room — disembodied growling, tall shadow figures seen by two investigators on the same night, screams from the empty electroshock room, slamming doors and hysterical laughter from locked rooms The Nurse in the Stairwell — the staff member killed by a patient and hidden at the bottom of a stairwell for months; the third floor still haunted by “Elizabeth” and “Big Jim,” doors closing on their own, knocking from the inside of locked doors Music Credits Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers “Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo “Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher — gailgallaghermusic.com Support the Show Love what we do? Join us on Patreon for bonus episodes, early access, and behind-the-scenes content. Every pledge helps us keep digging up the dead. Become a Ghostly Patron » And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. It’s the best way to help other believers and skeptics find the show. Got a Ghost Story? Ghostly has an official phone line. Call or text us with your spooky encounters — and if you leave a voicemail, you might hear it on the show. You can also vote in our latest polls. Text the episode title. Add YES if you’re a believer, NO if you’re a skeptic. Then give it a haunting score from 1 to 10. Phone: (312) 869-9929 Email us your stories: [email protected] Show Notes & Sources Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum — History Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum — Wikipedia Explore Our History — Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (Official Site) The Kirkbride Plan — Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum Thomas Story Kirkbride — Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum Legacy Pages How The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum Went From A Curative Retreat To A House Of Horrors — All That’s Interesting Weston State Hospital — Asylum Projects Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum — Legends of America The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Then and Now — American Journal of Psychiatry Weston State Hospital — SAH Archipedia The Doctor Who Lobotomized 228 West Virginians in Just 12 Days — When In Your State American Horror Story Doctor Is Real — Dr. Walter Freeman — Ghost Walks Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum — Paranormal Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum — Official Ghost Tours Terrors Of The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum — US Ghost Adventures Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum — US Ghost Adventures I Spent the Night in a Haunted Asylum and I Still Can’t Explain What I Saw — Washingtonian The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum: West Virginia’s Haunted Hospital — Road Unraveled A Visit to the Trans-Allegheny Asylum — CrimeReads The Legend of Lily — Theresa’s Haunted History of the Tri-State Little Lily of the Asylum — Spookt Trans Allegheny Asylum — Little Lily and the Kitchen — Ghost Walks Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum and the Haunting Enigma of Lily — America’s Most Haunted Ghost Adventures: Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (2009) — Fandom Paranormal Lockdown: Trans-Allegheny Recap — Gretal’s Ghosts Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum Ghost Hunt — What We Captured on Camera — Paraghosts The Haunted Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum — Beyond Haunted Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum’s Famous Ghosts — Spartan Shield The Haunting History of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum — WOWK 13 News A Journey Through the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum — WV Ghosts Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum Reviews — TripAdvisor Shadow Man Encounter at Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum — YouTube Watch: Something unexplained caught on camera at Trans-Allegheny — WBOY

Is the Dead Children’s Playground in Huntsville, Alabama haunted? Episode Summary This week on Ghostly, we’re heading deep into northern Alabama to the oldest and largest cemetery in the state, Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville, and the small, unassuming playground tucked against its limestone bluff that locals call The Dead Children’s Playground. Pat walks us through the cemetery’s history, from John Hunt’s 1804 cabin to the autumn of 1918 when the Spanish flu carried away hundreds of Madison County’s children. Rebecca brings the swings that move on their own at midnight, the little boy in suspenders nobody else could see, the spectral carriage of Governor Thomas Bibb, the rocking chair ghost of Mary Chambers Bibb, and the silent Lady in White who drifts between the 1800s headstones. This episode was inspired by our most recent Book Club pick — The Dead Children’s Playground by James Kaine, the first book in his American Horrors series. Featured Book — The Dead Children’s Playground by James Kaine A #1 bestseller in U.S. Horror on Amazon. BookLife by Publishers Weekly called it a story that “will chill readers to the bone.” Kaine based the entire novel on the actual legend at Maple Hill — and after this episode, you’ll never look at that playground the same way again. The story centers on two sisters: Kylie (9, a cancer survivor with a quiet bravery) and Kayla (19, an angry older sister who lost herself in years of her family’s fight to keep Kylie alive). When the family relocates to Huntsville for a fresh start, something old and sinister begins to stir near the playground at the edge of Maple Hill Cemetery. Grab your copy on Amazon » In This Episode Pat’s History Notes The founding of Huntsville — John Hunt’s 1804 spring, LeRoy Pope’s failed attempt to name the town “Twickenham,” and the 1822 purchase of two acres that became Maple Hill The first burial: infant Mary Frances Atwood in 1820 A who’s-who of Maple Hill: 5 Alabama governors, 5 U.S. senators, 10 members of Congress, Albert Russel Erskine of Studebaker Motors, suffragist Priscilla Holmes Drake, and baseball’s Don Mincher 187 unknown Confederate soldiers buried in the northern section — most killed by disease in training camps, not battle Autumn 1918: the Spanish flu in Huntsville, the Birmingham News reports of a “desperate situation,” and the rows of small headstones with lambs carved on top The rise of the Dead Children’s Playground next to the lower section of the cemetery A short, careful primer on the difference between Hoodoo (a folk magic practice rooted in the African American South) and Vodou/Voodoo (a religion born in West Africa and shaped by Haiti) Rebecca’s Paranormal Evidence The Self-Swinging Swings — decades of reports of swings moving in rhythmic sync on windless nights, plus three first-person comments from visitors (2020, 2020, and 2023) sourced from Alabama Haunted Houses The Boy in Suspenders — a haunting YouTube comment from @thomasplouffe1363 on FOX54 News Huntsville’s video, describing a child playmate his mother insisted was never there Governor Thomas Bibb’s Moonlight Carriage Ride — a spectral carriage and white horses returning to a grave that should never have been moved Mary Chambers Bibb — The Rocking Chair Ghost — buried in her wedding dress, sitting up in her rocker, and answering knocks at her crypt The Lady in White — the silent figure drifting through the 1800s section of Maple Hill Music Credits Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers “Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo “Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher — gailgallaghermusic.com Support the Show Love what we do? Join us on Patreon for bonus episodes, early access, and behind-the-scenes content. Every pledge helps us keep digging up the dead. Become a Ghostly Patron » And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. It’s the best way to help other believers and skeptics find the show. Show Notes & Sources Maple Hill Cemetery — History & Overview Maple Hill Cemetery — Wikipedia Maple Hill Cemetery Is An Alabama Treasure — Hville Blast 9 Historic Graves in Maple Hill — The Bama Buzz Maple Hill Cemetery Historical Marker — HMDB A Virtual Tour of Historic Maple Hill Cemetery — Huntsville History Tours Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll Brings Huntsville History to Life — City of Huntsville LeRoy Pope — Encyclopedia of Alabama Dead Children’s Playground — Legend & Hauntings Dead Children’s Playground — Atlas Obscura Dead Children’s Playground — Alabama Haunted Houses Maple Hill Cemetery and the Dead Children’s Playground — US Ghost Adventures Dead Children’s Playground: Fact & Fiction — Rocket City Now (FOX54) Most Haunted: Maple Hill Cemetery — Our Valley Events / We Are Huntsville At Play in the Field of the Dead — Southern Spirit Guide The Moonlight Ride at Maple Hill — We Are Huntsville Haunted Huntsville — The Dead Children’s Playground — FOX54 / Rocket City Now The Startling Story of the Mary Chambers Bibb Mausoleum — Hville Blast The Dead Children’s Playground — Book by James Kaine Grab your copy on Amazon (Ghostly affiliate link) Hoodoo & Voodoo — History & Origins Hoodoo (Spirituality) — Wikipedia Louisiana Voodoo — Wikipedia Voodoo vs. Hoodoo: What’s the Difference? — ULC A History of Louisiana Voodoo — Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo The True History and Faith Behind Voodoo — New Orleans French Quarter What Is Hoodoo? — Louisiana Voodoo New Orleans Witchcraft: The Legacy of Hoodoo and Voodoo — Strange & Twisted Hashtags #GhostlyPodcast #HauntedAlabama #MapleHillCemetery #DeadChildrensPlayground #Huntsville #ParanormalPodcast #GhostStories #SouthernGothic #HauntedHistory #JamesKaine #AmericanHorrors #BookClub #1918FluPandemic #ThomasBibb #SpiritsOfAlabama #TrueHauntings #SkepticVsBeliever

In this episode of Ghostly Podcast, we travel to the salt-marsh shores of South Carolina’s Lowcountry to explore the legend of The Gray Man of Pawleys Island — one of America’s most famous (and most benevolent) ghosts. Just a quarter mile wide and three miles long, this barrier island south of Myrtle Beach has fewer than two hundred year-round residents — yet for three centuries it has drawn presidents, generals, millionaires, and movie stars. And for more than two hundred years, a solitary figure in gray has been spotted walking its beach in the hours before a hurricane makes landfall. He doesn’t haunt. He doesn’t frighten. He warns. And those who listen almost always return to find their homes untouched — sometimes the only ones left standing for miles. A Brief History of Pawleys Island The land was home to the Waccamaw and Winyah peoples for more than 10,000 years before European contact; Spanish explorers arrived in 1521, bringing disease, enslavement, and devastation. The Winyah were gone within two centuries. Waccamaw descendants still live in Conway, South Carolina today. Percival Pawley received colonial land grants on the island in 1711; his family sold parcels to wealthy rice planters looking for a summer retreat. By the early 1800s, Pawleys was the summer escape for the Alstons, Allstons, Tuckers, Wards, and Westons — the great planter families of Georgetown County. By 1860, Georgetown County was producing more rice than anywhere in the world outside of Calcutta. That wealth was built on the brutal labor of enslaved people working waist-deep in malarial rice fields while planter families fled to the island for the sea breeze. On April 28, 1791, George Washington spent the night on Pawleys Island during his southern tour, en route to visit the Alstons on the Waccamaw River. Beginning in 1905, financier Bernard Baruch assembled 14 former plantations into his 16,000-acre Hobcaw Barony north of Georgetown. His guests included Winston Churchill (1932) and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who spent four weeks there in the spring of 1944 — the longest vacation of his presidency. In 1986, residents incorporated as a town and banned commercial development. The motto: “Keep Pawleys as it is.” The Notebook (2004) was filmed largely in Georgetown County, drawing on the same marshes and old plantation land that gave the region its timeless feel. The Storm That Started a Legend In September of 1822, a massive hurricane tore through the coast, killing around 300 people in what are now Horry and Georgetown Counties. University of South Carolina climatologist Cary Mock has described the destruction as comparable to Hurricane Hugo in 1989 — one of the deadliest natural disasters in the region’s history. Out of that storm came a story that Pawleys Island still talks about today: a young man riding home to see his fiancée, caught in the thick pluff mud of the marsh, drowned before he could reach her. Not long after, she saw a figure on the beach — dressed in gray, the very image of her lost love. He told her to take her family and leave. She listened. Her home was one of the few that survived the storm. The Gray Man legend was first put into print by Julian Stevenson Bolick in his 1946 book Waccamaw Plantations and expanded in his 1956 ghost story collection. Who Is the Gray Man? Three Competing Identities Theory 1 — The Drowned Suitor (1822): The classic version. The young man who died in the pluff mud trying to reach his fiancée before the storm. Most ghost historians consider this the original and most credible version. Theory 2 — The Confederate Soldier: A Civil War soldier who somehow crossed back to warn his family of an approaching storm. They evacuated and survived — only to receive a telegram days later saying he had died on the battlefield weeks earlier. The timeline doesn’t line up with the 1822 first sighting, but that almost makes the legend more interesting: locals kept rewriting him into new eras. Theory 3 — Plowden Weston: A real historical figure, born 1819, a Georgetown rice-plantation aristocrat who owned the land that is now the famous Pelican Inn on Pawleys Island. He dressed his men in gray uniforms — unusual for the time — and died young of tuberculosis before the Civil War ended. Local lore says his gray-clad spirit still walks the shore. A footnote: the co-owner of the Pelican Inn has pointed out that Weston would have been a child at the time of the 1822 sighting. But nobody said ghosts have to follow timelines. Famous Sightings & Storm Warnings 1822 Hurricane — The first recorded sighting; the fiancée of the drowned suitor is warned and her home survives. Hurricane Hazel (1954) — A young woman walking the beach recognizes her deceased lover in the gray figure approaching her; he warns her to leave, and her home is spared. Hurricane Hugo (1989) — Jim and Clara Moore encounter a man in gray on the beach who vanishes as they raise a hand in greeting. Their home survives virtually unscathed. Their story airs on NBC’s Unsolved Mysteries on October 31, 1990, bringing national attention to the legend. A second Hugo account from Arney Love describes a figure mistaken for Arney’s father watching from a lookout on an empty property — their house was also spared. Hurricane Florence (2018) — Multiple tourists and locals report sightings on the north end of the island. A local photographer taking pre-storm shots later discovers a misty gray shape repeating across consecutive frames at the same spot on the beach. Hurricane Ian (2022) — Another round of reported sightings before landfall. Hurricane Idalia (2023) — WPDE meteorologist Ed Piotrowski shares a photograph on his Facebook page from Pawleys Island the day Idalia hit. On the left side of the image, at the waterline: an indistinct, gray, solitary figure. Reported Paranormal Activity A solitary figure in a gray coat and hat standing at the waterline. Sudden cold pressure in the chest or air when the figure turns toward witnesses. Disappearances without footprints, splashes, or any physical trace. Misty gray shapes appearing in photographs taken before major storms. A consistent message across 200 years: leave now, a storm is coming. Unlike almost every other ghost in American folklore, the Gray Man protects. Those who heed his warning consistently report returning home to find their property untouched — even when surrounding homes are destroyed. The Protective Promise Across every version of the legend — the drowned suitor, the Confederate soldier, Plowden Weston — the outcome is always the same: he appears before a storm, he delivers a warning, and if you listen, your home is saved. Not just your life. Your house. The thing you built. The thing that holds your memories. After 200 years of watching people he couldn’t save, he keeps coming back to try again. Still Standing Pawleys Island today looks much as it always has. The old cottages of cypress and pine still sit along the shore. No chain restaurants, no big hotels — the town meant it when it said it wanted to keep the island as it is. And every time a storm starts to build out over the Atlantic, a few people still make their way down to the beach. Not just to watch the sky. But to see if anyone’s walking along the shore in gray. Just in case. Listen now: GhostlyPodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts. Vote on the Evidence: Do you think the Gray Man of Pawleys Island is truly haunted? Cast your vote at GhostlyPodcast.com/polls Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter) Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review! And tell us — do you believe? #GhostlyPodcast #GrayMan #PawleysIsland #SouthCarolinaGhosts #Lowcountry #HauntedBeach #HurricaneHistory #Paranormal #HauntedHistory #SpookyTravel Patreon and GhostlyX Join our Patreon for all sorts of great extra Ghostly, including early, commercial-free episodes. Join today: ghostlypodcast.com/support/ We want to hear from you with your ghost stories! Email us at [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at GhostlyPodcast. Phone Got a ghost story you’re dying to share? Now you can! Ghostly has an official phone line. Call or text us with your spooky encounters — and if you leave a voicemail, you might hear it on the show! You can also just say hi, or make your voice heard in our latest polls. Here’s how to vote: Text the episode title. Add YES if you’re a believer, NO if you’re a skeptic. Then, give it a haunting score from 1 to 10. Your opinion matters. Let us know what you think. Here’s that number: (312) 869-9929 Music Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers “Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo “Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher — gailgallaghermusic.com Sources for this week’s episode The Gray Man Legend The Gray Man (ghost) — Wikipedia Who Is the Gray Man? — Garden & Gun Haunted History: The Gray Man of Pawleys Island — WCBD News 2 The Gray Man of Pawleys Island — Moon Mausoleum The Gray Man: Ghost, Guardian, or Storm Warning? — Traditional Legends The Gray Man Haunts Pawleys Island — Atlas Obscura Gray Man of Pawleys Island: Coastal Legend — Connect Paranormal Storm Sentinel: The Gray Man of Pawleys Island — MPD Cooperative Legends of Pawleys Island — Deep South Magazine Pawleys Island — Unsolved Mysteries Wiki The Gray Man: Grand Strand’s Most Famous Ghost Turns 200 — WPDE Eerie Photo Appears to Show the Gray Man — K 104.7 As Hurricane Florence Approaches, the Gray Man Warns Pawleys Island — Yahoo Lifestyle Hurricanes, History and Hauntings — University of South Carolina Pawleys Island History Pawleys Island,

Perched on the corner of Capitol Boulevard and Main Street in the heart of downtown Boise, Idaho, the Egyptian Theatre has been captivating audiences since 1927. Modeled after the newly discovered tomb of King Tutankhamun and decorated from floor to ceiling with hieroglyphs taken directly from the ancient Book of the Dead, this grand movie palace was practically built to be haunted. Today it operates as a beloved performing arts venue and historic landmark — but many believe something from the past never left the projection booth. In this episode, Pat and Rebecca explore the history and hauntings of the Egyptian Theatre, widely considered the most haunted building in Boise. History of the Egyptian Theatre By the early 1920s, Boise had outgrown its rowdy frontier image and was eager to establish itself as a city of culture and refinement. Local businessman Leo Falk saw an opportunity and commissioned prominent Boise architect Frederick C. Hummel of the firm Tourtellotte & Hummel to design a grand picture palace. The timing was perfect — the 1922 discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb had set off an Egyptian revival craze across the country, and Falk embraced it fully. The result was a stunning 850-seat theater decorated with lotus bud pillars, gilded scarabs, sphinxes, and murals copied from the Book of the Dead. The Egyptian Theatre opened on April 19, 1927 with a showing of John Barrymore’s silent film Don Juan, accompanied by the theater’s original Robert-Morton pipe organ — which still stands beside the stage today. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, narrowly escaping demolition during Boise’s urban renewal era thanks to an anonymous donor and later the preservation efforts of businessman Earl Hardy. A full restoration was completed in 1999, returning the theater to its original Egyptian glory. Today the Egyptian is the last remaining single-screen downtown theater in Boise and one of the few surviving movie palaces from the silent film era in the entire country. Reported Hauntings & Paranormal Activity Visitors, staff, and paranormal investigators have reported decades of unexplained activity throughout the theater. Joe the Projectionist The most well-known spirit at the Egyptian is believed to be a former projectionist named Joe, who worked at the theater from the late 1920s until he suffered a fatal heart attack on the stairs leading to the projection booth in the 1950s. Staff and visitors regularly report doors opening and closing on their own, lights flickering or switching on and off, strange sounds, and unexplained aromas drifting through the auditorium. The Shadow in the Projection Booth During a formal paranormal investigation, a researcher standing on the stage looked up toward the projection booth and saw the dark silhouette of a man staring down at him. When he went to check, the door was locked — and no one on the team had a key. Back on the stage, a detection device showed the distinct outline of a man standing directly beside him. The same investigation also captured a disembodied laugh and multiple reports of being touched on the shoulder. The Ouija Board Incident A former theater manager recounted that she and friends used a Ouija board in the hallway after closing. The moment they began, the planchette shot to “no” — and the projection room door slammed shut as every light in the building went out. Years later, her daughter visited the same hallway and watched her drink tip over on its own with no explanation. The Ceiling Collapse On November 27, 2016, during a Brothers Osborne concert, a large piece of the theater’s ceiling crumbled and crashed onto the stage, narrowly missing the band. It happened a second time that same night. The theater had been fully restored just years before, and no structural cause was identified. As always, Ghostly leaves the final judgment up to you. Listen Now Listen now: GhostlyPodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts. Vote on the Evidence: Do you think the Egyptian Theatre is truly haunted? Cast your vote at GhostlyPodcast.com/polls Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter) Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review! And tell us — do you believe? #GhostlyPodcast #HauntedTheater #EgyptianTheatre #Boise #IdahoGhosts #Paranormal #HauntedHistory #SpookyTravel Patreon and GhostlyX Join our Patreon for all sorts of great extra Ghostly, including early, commercial-free episodes. Join today: ghostlypodcast.com/support/ We want to hear from you with your ghost stories! Email us at [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at GhostlyPodcast. Phone Got a ghost story you’re dying to share? Now you can! Ghostly has an official phone line. Call or text us with your spooky encounters — and if you leave a voicemail, you might hear it on the show! You can also just say hi, or make your voice heard in our latest polls. Here’s how to vote: Text the episode title. Add YES if you’re a believer, NO if you’re a skeptic. Then, give it a haunting score from 1 to 10. Your opinion matters. Let us know what you think. Here’s that number: (312) 869-9929 Music Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers “Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo “Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher — gailgallaghermusic.com Sources History The Egyptian Theatre — Official Website The Egyptian Theatre — Wikipedia Egyptian Theater — Idaho Architecture Project Egyptian Theatre — Atlas Obscura Egyptian Theatre — Cinema Treasures Egyptian Theatre — National Register of Historic Places Nomination Hauntings & Paranormal Egyptian Theatre — Idaho Haunted Houses Egyptian Theatre — Haunted Places Egyptian Theatre — HauntedHouses.com Haunted Downtown Boise Tour — LocalWiki Most Haunted Places in Boise — Let’s Go Boise 9 Haunted Attractions in Idaho — Visit Idaho Haunted Idaho: Ghost Inside the Egyptian Theater — 103.5 KISS FM Boise Boise Ghost Tour — US Ghost Adventures Boise Theater — Travel Channel Ghost Stories Boise City Ghost Hunters — Boise as Seen on TV A Shoulder Tap at Idaho Theater — KEZJ Egyptian Theatre Episode Page — Ghostly Podcast

In this episode of Ghostly, we look at Charleston, South Carolina to explore the dark legend of John and Lavinia Fisher, the infamous owners of the Six Mile Wayfarer House. Often described as America’s first female serial killer, Lavinia Fisher has become one of the most notorious figures in American ghost lore. But how much of her story is true… and how much has been shaped by legend? After their arrest for highway robbery in 1819, John and Lavinia Fisher were imprisoned in Charleston’s Old City Jail and executed in 1820. Over the years, stories about their crimes — and their restless spirits — have grown into one of Charleston’s most famous hauntings. Today, visitors claim Lavinia Fisher still roams the halls of the Old City Jail, and her presence may also linger along the lonely road where the Six Mile Wayfarer House once stood. The Six Mile Wayfarer House The Six Mile Wayfarer House was an inn located just outside Charleston along a major road used by travelers entering the city. According to local legend, John and Lavinia Fisher ran the inn and secretly worked with a gang of highway robbers. The story goes that Lavinia would charm travelers into staying the night and offer them tea. After they went to sleep, the victims were supposedly murdered and robbed. However, historians have questioned parts of this legend. Some research suggests the Fishers were convicted only of highway robbery, not murder, and the number of bodies supposedly found near the inn may have been exaggerated over time. Regardless of the historical debate, the story of the Fisher couple quickly became part of Charleston folklore. Lavinia Fisher’s Famous Last Words On February 18, 1820, John and Lavinia Fisher were publicly executed outside Charleston. Legend says that as Lavinia stood on the gallows she defiantly told the crowd: “If you have a message you want to send to hell, give it to me, and I’ll carry it.” Whether these were her exact words or not, the dramatic quote helped cement her reputation as one of Charleston’s most infamous figures. Hauntings at the Old City Jail Charleston’s Old City Jail operated from 1802 to 1939 and housed criminals, pirates, and prisoners awaiting execution. With such a violent history, it has become widely known as one of the most haunted buildings in South Carolina. Among the many reported spirits, Lavinia Fisher is said to be the most frequently encountered. Reported paranormal activity includes: Sightings of a woman in white believed to be Lavinia Fisher walking the halls of the jail Apparitions appearing near the cells where the Fishers were once held Visitors feeling pushed, scratched, or touched by unseen forces Sudden choking sensations or shortness of breath on the staircase The sound of the old dumbwaiter moving between floors, even though it no longer operates Ghostly voices captured during paranormal investigations Some investigators have even claimed that when asking spirits questions inside the jail, a voice responded with the word “devil”, echoing Lavinia’s legendary final statement. As always, Ghostly leaves the final judgment up to you. Listen now: GhostlyPodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts. Vote on the Evidence: Do you think Sterling Hill Mine is truly haunted? Cast your vote at GhostlyPodcast.com/polls Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter) Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review! And tell us—do you believe? #GhostlyPodcast #HauntedHotels #HotelMonteVista #Flagstaff #ArizonaGhosts #Paranormal #HauntedHistory #SpookyTravel Patreon and GhostlyX Join our Patreon for all sorts of great extra Ghostly, including early, commercial-free episodes. Join today: ghostlypodcast.com/support/ We want to hear from you with your ghost stories! Email us at [email protected].  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at GhostlyPodcast.  Phone Got a ghost story you’re dying to share? Now you can! Ghostly has an official phone line. Call or text us with your spooky encounters—and if you leave a voicemail, you might hear it on the show! You can also just say hi, or make your voice heard in our latest polls. Here’s how to vote: Text the episode title. Add YES if you’re a believer, NO if you’re a skeptic. Then, give it a haunting score from 1 to 10. Your opinion matters. Let us know what you think. Here’s that number (312)869-9929 Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers “Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo “Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher gailgallaghermusic.com Sources https://www.tamedwild.com/a/blog/ghost-stories-the-six-mile-inn https://luxurysimplifiedretreats.com/a-haunting-in-charleston-the-legend-of-lavinia-fisher/ https://fairweatherlewis.wordpress.com/2010/05/18/the-killer-innkeepers-of-six-mile-house/ https://nightlyspirits.com/a-charleston-ghost-story-the-ghost-of-lavinia-fisher/ https://hauntedus.com/south-carolina/old-charleston-jail-haunted https://www.hauntedrooms.com/south-carolina/haunted-places/old-charleston-jail https://www.legendsofamerica.com/sc-laviniafisher/ https://www.murderbygaslight.com/2010/10/legend-of-lavinia-fisher.html https://www.southerngothicmedia.com/lavinia-fisher https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavinia_Fisher

Perched high in the West Hills overlooking Portland, Oregon, Pittock Mansion was completed in 1914 as the dream home of newspaper publisher Henry Pittock and his wife Georgiana. After only a few years in the home, both died, leaving behind the grand estate they had worked a lifetime to build. Today the mansion operates as a historic house museum — but many visitors and staff believe the Pittocks never truly left. In this episode, Pat and Rebecca explore the history and hauntings of Pittock Mansion, often described as one of Portland’s most active haunted locations. History of Pittock Mansion Henry Pittock, publisher of The Oregonian, and his wife Georgiana built their 46-room estate high above Portland to reflect their success and to capture sweeping views of the city and Mount Hood. Completed in 1914, the mansion featured modern luxuries for its time, including central vacuuming, an elevator, and intercoms. Georgiana died in 1918, and Henry passed away the following year. The mansion remained in the family until the 1950s and narrowly escaped demolition before Portland citizens rallied to preserve it. It opened as a public museum in 1965. Some believe the couple’s brief time in their long-awaited home may explain why their presence is still felt today. Reported Hauntings & Paranormal Activity Visitors, volunteers, and staff have reported decades of unexplained activity throughout the mansion. The Scent of Roses Guests frequently report the sudden smell of roses appearing in empty rooms, especially in upper bedrooms. Georgiana Pittock was an avid gardener known for her love of roses, leading many to believe the fragrance signals her presence. The Lights That Turn Back On Staff closing the museum at night have reported shutting off all the lights, leaving the building, and turning back to see the entire mansion illuminated again. The Groundskeeper Still at Work Near the north side of the property, visitors report hearing shovels striking soil and heavy work boots approaching the house. Many attribute the sounds to the spirit of a former groundskeeper continuing his duties. Moving Objects & the Watchful Portrait Staff have reported furniture and décor shifting positions, and Henry Pittock’s portrait is said to move or appear to watch visitors as they pass. The Playful Boy Spirit Some reports describe a mischievous boy heard running along the servants’ stairs, laughing in empty rooms, and moving objects — pranks that feel playful rather than threatening. As always, Ghostly leaves the final judgment up to you. Listen now: GhostlyPodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts. Vote on the Evidence: Do you think Sterling Hill Mine is truly haunted? Cast your vote at GhostlyPodcast.com/polls Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter) Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review! And tell us—do you believe? #GhostlyPodcast #HauntedHotels #HotelMonteVista #Flagstaff #ArizonaGhosts #Paranormal #HauntedHistory #SpookyTravel Patreon and GhostlyX Join our Patreon for all sorts of great extra Ghostly, including early, commercial-free episodes. Join today: ghostlypodcast.com/support/ We want to hear from you with your ghost stories! Email us at [email protected].  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at GhostlyPodcast. Phone Got a ghost story you’re dying to share? Now you can! Ghostly has an official phone line. Call or text us with your spooky encounters—and if you leave a voicemail, you might hear it on the show! You can also just say hi, or make your voice heard in our latest polls. Here’s how to vote: Text the episode title. Add YES if you’re a believer, NO if you’re a skeptic. Then, give it a haunting score from 1 to 10. Your opinion matters. Let us know what you think. Here’s that number (312)869-9929 Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers “Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo “Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher gailgallaghermusic.com Sources The Pittock Mansion – Portland Ghosts blog Haunted Pittock Mansion – US Ghost Adventures The Ghosts of the Haunted Pittock Mansion – Portland’s Most Haunted Estate | Ghost City Tours | Ghost City Tours beautiful Pittock Mansion : r/Portland Pittock Mansion | Portland Oregon | Real Haunted Place Pittock Mansion: America’s Happiest Haunted House? | Thought Catalog Pittock Mansion Haunted By Ghosts Of Original Owners – HUS Visit Portland’s Finest Historic House Museum | Pittock Mansion History and Haunting of Oregon’s Pittock Mansion – Moon Mausoleum Inside Pittock Mansion, The Legendary Haunted Estate Of Portland Pittock Mansion Is The Most Haunted House In Oregon Pittock Mansion – Wikipedia This historic Oregon mansion is said to be haunted and visitors still report strange experiences This Historic Oregon Mansion Is Said to Be Haunted and Visitors Still Report Strange Experiences The Pittock Mansion – Portland, Oregon | American Ghost Stories

Often called one of Savannah’s most haunted homes, the Sorrel–Weed House has earned a reputation built on tragic legends, unsettling experiences, and decades of reported paranormal activity. Located beside Madison Square, the house sits at the crossroads of history, folklore, and modern ghost stories. In this episode of Ghostly, we focus on the hauntings associated with the Sorrel–Weed House—examining the stories, the evidence, and the firsthand experiences that continue to draw visitors into its shadowed rooms. Hauntings & Paranormal Evidence Discussed • A Female Presence Upstairs Reports of cold spots, emotional heaviness, and the sensation of being watched—often linked to the tragic story of Matilda Sorrel. • The Carriage House and “Molly” A controversial and heavily debated legend involving an enslaved woman, with visitors reporting physical reactions such as nausea, pressure, and an urgent need to leave the space. • The Haunted Mirror Accounts of unexplained figures appearing in mirrors, reflections that don’t match reality, and photographs capturing what some believe are apparitions. • The Basement Shadow movement, unexplained footsteps, camera malfunctions, and a strong sense of dread reported by visitors and investigators alike. History vs. Folklore Some of the Sorrel–Weed House’s most famous ghost stories are debated by historians, and not all details can be fully verified. In this episode, we explore where documented history ends and folklore begins—and why, regardless of the facts, visitors continue to report powerful and unexplained experiences. As always, Ghostly leaves the final judgment up to you. Listen now: GhostlyPodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts. Vote on the Evidence: Do you think Sterling Hill Mine is truly haunted? Cast your vote at GhostlyPodcast.com/polls Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter) Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review! And tell us—do you believe? #GhostlyPodcast #HauntedHotels #HotelMonteVista #Flagstaff #ArizonaGhosts #Paranormal #HauntedHistory #SpookyTravel Patreon and GhostlyX Join our Patreon for all sorts of great extra Ghostly, including early, commercial-free episodes. Join today: ghostlypodcast.com/support/ We want to hear from you with your ghost stories! Email us at [email protected].  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at GhostlyPodcast.  Phone Got a ghost story you’re dying to share? Now you can! Ghostly has an official phone line. Call or text us with your spooky encounters—and if you leave a voicemail, you might hear it on the show! You can also just say hi, or make your voice heard in our latest polls. Here’s how to vote: Text the episode title. Add YES if you’re a believer, NO if you’re a skeptic. Then, give it a haunting score from 1 to 10. Your opinion matters. Let us know what you think. Here’s that number (312)869-9929 Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers “Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo “Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher gailgallaghermusic.com Sources for this Episode Was I Haunted at the Sorrel Weed House? – Deen on Deck. It’s a travel blog.The Historic Sorrel Weed House | Savannah’s Historic HomesSorrel Weed House | Most Haunted Locations in AmericaJames Caskey’s Blog: Chasing Phantoms – The Sorrel-Weed House: Haunted By Bad History? – September 05, 2013 17:04Haunted Savannah | Expedition X | DiscoveryGhosts of Sorrel Weed tour – Savannah Forum – TripadvisorSavannah Ghost Tours at the Sorrel Weed House | Haunted Ghost WalksSorrel Weed House | Savannah Georgia | Real Haunted PlaceSorrel Weed House: A Haunted GuideFamous Savannah Haunted House – Sorrel-Weed House — GET OUT N ABOUT With Kevin DurstHaunted History in Savannah: A Guide to the City’s Most Legendary Ghost Stories | Southern Belle Vacation RentalsUntimely Deaths and a Haunted Mirror: The Sorrel-Weed Houseofficialsavannahguide.com/sorrel-weed-houseSavannah Ghost Tours at the Sorrel Weed House | Haunted Ghost WalksSorrel–Weed House – WikipediaIs the Sorrel Weed House ghost tour worth it? : r/savannahSorrel Weed House: Let the Debunking Begin! – Savannah First-Timer’s GuideThe Sorrel-Weed House – US Ghost AdventuresGoing on the Sorrel-Weed House Ghost Tour ⋆ Middle JourneySorrel Weed House – Savannah Ghost ToursSavannah Ghost Tours at the Sorrel Weed House | Haunted Ghost WalksSorrel Weed House (Savannah, GA) Photos : r/ParanormalGhost Sightings in Savannah – Historic Sorrel-Weed House is Haunted

In this episode of Ghostly Podcast, we head to rural Coles County, Illinois to explore the haunted history and chilling paranormal activity reported at Ashmore Estates. Originally part of the Coles County Poor Farm in the late 1800s, Ashmore later became a psychiatric hospital before closing for good in 1986. With documented deaths, an on-site cemetery, and decades of neglect, many believe the spirits of former residents still linger within the building.  A Brief History Poor farm established in 1870, housing the impoverished and mentally ill 32 recorded deaths between 1870–1879 A cemetery built on-site due to high mortality Current structure built in 1916 Psychiatric hospital operations ended in 1986 Reported Paranormal Activity Visitors and investigators have reported: Shadow figures in hallways and stairwells Voices calling out names Sudden cold spots Objects moving or flying Physical encounters including touches, scratches, and being shoved Ashmore is often described as a place that responds to those inside it. The Spirit of Elva Skinner One of the most well-known spirits associated with Ashmore is Elva Skinner, a young child believed to have died in a fire in the original almshouse in the 1880s. Reports include childlike footsteps, whispers, laughter, and small hands tugging at clothing. The Basement & Boiler Room The basement—especially the boiler room—is considered the most intense area of activity. Visitors report aggressive encounters, loud bangs, heavy footsteps, and even being knocked to the ground by an unseen force. Listen now: GhostlyPodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts. Vote on the Evidence: Do you think Sterling Hill Mine is truly haunted? Cast your vote at GhostlyPodcast.com/polls Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter) Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review! And tell us—do you believe? #GhostlyPodcast #HauntedHotels #HotelMonteVista #Flagstaff #ArizonaGhosts #Paranormal #HauntedHistory #SpookyTravel Patreon and GhostlyX Join our Patreon for all sorts of great extra Ghostly, including early, commercial-free episodes. Join today: ghostlypodcast.com/support/ We want to hear from you with your ghost stories! Email us at [email protected].  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at GhostlyPodcast.  Phone Got a ghost story you’re dying to share? Now you can! Ghostly has an official phone line. Call or text us with your spooky encounters—and if you leave a voicemail, you might hear it on the show! You can also just say hi, or make your voice heard in our latest polls. Here’s how to vote: Text the episode title. Add YES if you’re a believer, NO if you’re a skeptic. Then, give it a haunting score from 1 to 10. Your opinion matters. Let us know what you think. Here’s that number (312) 869-9929 Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers “Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo “Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher gailgallaghermusic.com Sources for this week’s episode Ashmore Estates Ashmore Estates – Wikipedia Ashmore Estates | Ashmore Illinois | Real Haunted Place “illinois Ghost Stories And Pictures.” | “Ashmore Estates”, my nemesis | Facebook Ashmore Estates Frightening Haunting in Illinois – HUS A Grave Interest: Haunted Ashmore Estates – Ashmore, Illinois I stayed the night at the haunted Ashmore Estates asylum. Tragedy and Haunting of Ashmore Estates | Amy’s Crypt Discovering the haunts of Ashmore Estates – The Daily Eastern News Ashmore Estates – A Real Haunted House? – The Source Ashmore Estates Investigation Proof of Ghosts at Haunted Ashmore Estates Asylum/Poor Farm | Ashmore IL… : r/hauntedhouses Adventures of Ashmore Estates | The Navigator This Overnight Ghost Hunt In Ashmore, Illinois Will Haunt You The Malicious Spirits of Ashmore Estates – Sequoit Media Ashmore Estates Investigation 2020 Are the Ashmore Estates Haunted?

In this episode of Ghostly, Pat and Rebecca sit down with Mike Morrissey of the Last Three Rows of Horror Podcast to talk about his new documentary, Mike’s Paranormal Road Trip. Mike shares stories from the eerie locations he visited along the way – including sites previously featured on Ghostly, like the Bell Witch, the Roff House, and the Demon House of Indiana. His journey also led him to Ashmore Estates, where he encountered more than just an abandoned building. Listen to the episode, then check out the documentary for the full, spine-tingling experience. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review! And tell us—do you believe? #GhostlyPodcast #HauntedHotels #HotelMonteVista #Flagstaff #ArizonaGhosts #Paranormal #HauntedHistory #SpookyTravel Patreon and GhostlyX Join our Patreon for all sorts of great extra Ghostly, including early, commercial-free episodes. Join today: ghostlypodcast.com/support/ We want to hear from you with your ghost stories! Email us at [email protected].  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at GhostlyPodcast. Phone Got a ghost story you’re dying to share? Now you can! Ghostly has an official phone line. Call or text us with your spooky encounters—and if you leave a voicemail, you might hear it on the show! You can also just say hi, or make your voice heard in our latest polls. Here’s how to vote: Text the episode title. Add YES if you’re a believer, NO if you’re a skeptic. Then, give it a haunting score from 1 to 10. Your opinion matters. Let us know what you think. Here’s that number (312)869-9929 Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers “Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo “Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher gailgallaghermusic.com

New Year’s Predictions 2026: Automatic Writing, Scrying & Tarot Guest: Jacob Mayfield As we step across the threshold into 2026, Ghostly Podcast looks to the other side—using ancient divination practices to glimpse what the coming year may hold. For our annual New Year’s Predictions episode, we’re joined by Jacob Mayfield, who helps guide us through three forms of divination: Automatic Writing, Crystal Ball Scrying, and Tarot. This episode is part ritual, part experiment, and part prediction. Two of the divinations -Automatic Writing and Scrying – are interactive, meaning you can follow along and try them yourself at home as we do them in real time. Join Ghostly Society on Facebook or Patreon to see our results. Will the messages be symbolic? Psychological? Paranormal? Or something else entirely? That’s for you to decide. Divination #1: Automatic Writing We begin with Automatic Writing, a practice said to allow messages to flow from the subconscious—or possibly from something beyond—without conscious control. Listeners are invited to: ·        Set an intention for 2026 ·        Quiet their mind ·        Write continuously without editing or judgment As we write alongside you, we interpret the messages that emerge and discuss what they may reveal about themes, warnings, and opportunities in the year ahead. Divination #2: Crystal Ball Scrying Next, we turn to scrying with a crystal ball, one of the most iconic and misunderstood forms of divination. Together, we: ·        Explain how to prepare your space ·        Describe what to look for (and what not to look for) ·        Share what we personally experience during the scrying session Shadows, symbols, impressions, and mental imagery all come into play as we explore what 2026 may bring on a collective level. Divination #3: Tarot Reading Finally, we close with a Tarot reading for 2026, offering a structured look at the energies shaping the year ahead. The cards reveal: ·        Major themes and challenges ·        Areas of growth and transformation ·        Advice for navigating what’s coming We discuss the symbolism of each card and how it may apply broadly—or very personally—depending on the listener. Participate or Just Listen About our Guest Jacob Mayfield joins us for this episode to lend insight, interpretation, and grounded discussion as we explore these divination practices and what they might reveal about the year ahead. Jacob is “passionate about all things mystical, especially Tarot and Palm reading…[combining] traditional methods of divination and fortune-telling with a contemporary perspective.” What Do You See? Are these predictions glimpses of the future, reflections of the present, or something more mysterious? Listen, participate, and decide for yourself. Happy New Year from Ghostly Podcast—and welcome to 2026. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review! And tell us—do you believe? #GhostlyPodcast #HauntedHotels #HotelMonteVista #Flagstaff #ArizonaGhosts #Paranormal #HauntedHistory #SpookyTravel Patreon and GhostlyX Join our Patreon for all sorts of great extra Ghostly, including early, commercial-free episodes. Join today: ghostlypodcast.com/support/ We want to hear from you with your ghost stories! Email us at [email protected].  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at GhostlyPodcast. Phone Got a ghost story you’re dying to share? Now you can! Ghostly has an official phone line. Call or text us with your spooky encounters—and if you leave a voicemail, you might hear it on the show! You can also just say hi, or make your voice heard in our latest polls. Here’s how to vote: Text the episode title. Add YES if you’re a believer, NO if you’re a skeptic. Then, give it a haunting score from 1 to 10. Your opinion matters. Let us know what you think. Here’s that number (312)869-9929 Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers “Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo “Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher gailgallaghermusic.com