Ghost Tours

[norcalchick]

i've been to the winchester mystery housein san jose, ca. i didn't see any ghosts though. it was creepy just to be in there because it was a wierd house. old houses creep me out to begin with because of all the history they have,

[NutBrnHair]

Originally posted by honeychile
I would SO love that tour - but 1988 would have been extra special! Do you agree with Patricia Cornwall, or do you have another thought about the identity of Jack the Ripper?

In 1988, they didn't have the advancements that Patricia Cornwall has/had, so back then -- I agreed with those who thought the Ripper was Aaron Kosminski. (I actually wrote my thesis on this, so I knew waaaay more back then when I was in the throws of my research via the London Times on microfische! (I date myself!) Anyway, it's difficult to dispute what Cornwall says today.

[AchtungBaby80]

I went on one this past Halloween around the downtown area of my city. It was great! I'm interested in the paranormal, so I would jump at the chance whenever a ghost tour is offered, but I think they're fun even if you are skeptical.

While at UH-M I was privileged to have taken a class with the late Glen Grant, Hawaii's premier ghosthunter and storyteller.

Dr. Grant wasn't born in Hawaii, and he attended UCLA and came here to do graduate work at UH. Still, he gained the respect of many in the community (regardless of ethnicity) because he was so intrigued by "local" customs and lore.

Dr. Grant started a business called "The Haunt"...and twice a week he'd lead ghost tours either in downtown or trolley tours around the island. While taking his course, he led us on a free tour of downtown -- stops included Washington Place (where the Queen was jailed), `Iolani Palace (the only royal palace in the US), the Post Office (site of a former courthouse where the infamous Massie Case was held), and the cemetary.

While we were at `Iolani Palace, I kept on noticing in the corner of my eye a flickering of light...kind of like a candle. No one else saw it, but Dr. Grant knew what it was when I told him about it. It was the spirit of Robert Wilcox -- one the Queen's supporters who tried in vain to re-establish the Kingdom. During the tour, a girl in my class broke down in tears. We didn't know what the hell happened, she just broke down. We found out weeks later that she was a direct descendant of none other than Robert Wilcox. Her ancestor had tried to connect with her!

And then at the post office, a book flew out of nowhere and almost hit Dr. Grant in the head. He called it his "Rose Red". See, at that time Dr. Grant was doing extensive research of the Massie Case for a book he was writing. Something in that room did not like him being there. It was eerie.

On our way to the cemetery I kept on smelling formaldehyde. Turns out on the buildings we passed (not on the tour) was a former morgue -- at the turn of the 20th century!!!

I'm not psychic, but damn my mom and then women in my family for being sensitive to the paranormal!

[Tom Earp]

Damn OTW, Always Knew You Were Physco, oops mean Physic.! Going to Fix Mahi-Mahi in respect for You! Like it too!

Saw "Blue Crush" The other Night and thought of You!!!!

WOW, You get upon a pencil Dick Board and do thst S**T, Lady, You are My Greek Idol!

Originally posted by Tom Earp
Damn OTW, Always Knew You Were Physco, oops mean Physic.! Going to Fix Mahi-Mahi in respect for You! Like it too!

Saw "Blue Crush" The other Night and thought of You!!!!

WOW, You get upon a pencil Dick Board and do thst S**T, Lady, You are My Greek Idol!

OMG Tom, please don't ever associate me with that shitty movie!

Seriously though, I refused to see it in the theatres even though they filmed it here. Hollywood never seems to accurately depict the true surfer life, and I literally wanted to reach in to the TV and strangle Kate Bosworth the other night when it was on USA. That soooo wasn't her riding those waves!

I've been riding since I was 4, so everytime a movie like this comes out I feel like bashing my head into a wall.

I suggest watching "The Ride" and "Step Into Liquid". "The Ride" was produced by my chapter sister's father -- and many of us served as extras on that film.

[/off-topic]

[ShyViolet]

I went on a ghost tour in Edinburgh, it was pretty good. I think the best bit was the information that the judges and solicitors working at the High Court now park on an old graveyard.

Ghost stories are big in St. Andrews as well, apparently there's the face of someone in the cathedral wall and Patrick Hamilton won't let you graduate if you step on the spot he was burned.

I want to do the tour of the crypts, or the one that's billed as really frightening (it ends up in a pub for a shot of whiskey to calm your nerves, hehe).

ps - SSS1365, you're going to have a blast in London!! PM me if you're looking for ideas of what to see. The Tower of London is good for ghost stories as well.

[BetteDavisEyes]

I have done the tour of the Queen Mary & the ghosts that reside there. It's very creepy especially when they take you all the way down to the very bottom of the ship.

I also went to the Winchester Mansion & took the tour of that. It's really creepy. I'll have to post pics when I develop them.

[NutBrnHair]

When I stayed at the Hotel Del Coronado in 1997, I was given the haunted room (although I had not asked to be there & had no knowledge of it!). The only thing I noticed during my 3 day stay was the constant flow of tourists passing by my door & trying to peep in the windows!!!

Here's the scoop on the ghost:

Haunted Hotel: Hotel Del Coronado in Coronado, California

The Story: In 1892, a young woman checked into the Hotel Del Coronado to meet her estranged husband for Thanksgiving. He never arrived to meet her, and a few days later, she was found dead on the hotel steps near the ocean. Since then, guests and staff of the Hotel Del Coronado have noticed strange breezes, ghostly noises and the pale figure of a young lady walking in a black lace dress.

The Haunting of the Hotel Del Coronado: Within room 3502, more than 37 abnormal readings were taken by parapsychologists in a single day.

[CutiePie2000]

Yes, I have been on a Haunted Walking Tour of Ottawa, a Haunted Walking Tour in Edmonton and a Jack the Ripper Walk in London (by Ripping Yarns...EXCELLENT).

I also have visited the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, CA (mentioned earlier in the thread), but it's not haunted.

[carnation]

Originally posted by OohTeenyWahine
While at UH-M I was privileged to have taken a class with the late Glen Grant, Hawaii's premier ghosthunter and storyteller.

I didn't know he'd passed away. His book Chicken Skin-- . I sure had that after reading it.

[phisigduchesscv]

I went to the Winchester Mystery house years ago. It was interesting but didn't see or sense anything there.

I did the "Dark Side of London Tour" back in 1990. You start out in the late afternoon and the tour takes you to haunted areas and buildings, past a potters field that can never be dug up or built on because everyone in it died of the plague, and then it ended by driving us by all the places associated with the Jack the Ripper murders. I found out about the tour from the hotel concierge and definintely recommend it to anyone with a slight interest in things like this. One word of warning though - the tour ended close to midnight and although it picked me up from my hotel didn't drop me back off at it. This was my first night in London and I learned when I got dropped off at a different hotel at the end of the tour that everything (pubs, etc) shut down at 11 pm, including finding a cab. Now for a girl from Los Angeles, on her own in a strange country, walking down the dark streets with no one and no cars in sight to get back to her hotel, it was very unnerving - especially after just hearing about all the various Jack the Ripper murders. I was never so glad to see a hotel as I was to see mine when I saw it that night.

If you get a chance check out the Egyptian display at the London Museum. Both my boyfriend and I have gone to the London Museum and we both got a very oppressive and strange feeling in the mummy room. We went at different times and didn't know each other when we went. We just happened to talk one day about our London trip and the strange feelings we got in the Egyptian area - it was weird (hope I don't get that feeling when I go see the King Tut display when it gets here to LA).

Carolyn

[moe.ron]

Originally posted by honeychile
We went on the Haunted DC tour once, but it was totally silly. I have heard from several insiders about one place or another that really does seem to be haunted, and the tour didn't mention even ONE of those! Instead, the guide mentioned the Sullivan brothers (4 brothers on the same ship or submarine, all killed) haunting at least three different places. No mention of Blair House, certain houses in Georgetown, etc. What a waste!

Did you stop in front of the Indonesian embassy during that tour? During the 80s, my dad was posted there and I used to pick him up with my mum at night. That embassy is creepy as hell. The ghost of Evalyn Walsh McLean supposed to walk the stairs of the embassy.

[sageofages]

I love this website..

GhostWeb

Dave and his team have been featured on several "info-news" shows and even some legit news shows.

Originally posted by carnation
I didn't know he'd passed away. His book Chicken Skin-- . I sure had that after reading it.

Yeah, he passed away in late 2002 after a long battle with Prostate Cancer. No one really knew about his condition because he kept on teaching every day like normal. My class was the last one he taught at UH.

I attended his funeral service at Kaena Point (the "jumping off point" for Hawaiian spirits) where his ashes were scattered. I wonder if he's ever going to try to make contact?