Theresa Travels: To Louisville, Kentucky!

Waverly Hills
August 10, 2024

This past weekend, I traveled from Charleston, WV to Louisville, KY for a bucket-list level visit to Waverly Hills Sanatorium. I was joined by SRI founder/president, Brian Clary, and my spooky buddy Angie for an intense, six hour investigation of the old tuberculosis hospital. That was the main focus for our trip, and it certainly was the highlight.  Waverly Hills is one of those top haunted locations in the world, but even though its less than four hours away, I had never had the opportunity to tour it. But, even though we came for Waverly, we couldn't come to town without cramming in as much spooky fun as we could. We were only there for a short amount of time, but we filled nearly every minute with what Louisville's paranormal scene had to offer. Join me on my trip to haunted, historic Louisville!

Angie and I drove down together from Charleston, while Brian left from Huntington. We left around 10am and had a nice, easy drive down I-64, stopping briefly for lunch at CookOut. The trip was uneventful, but we spent the 3.5 hours chatting about the ghosts of Waverly Hills...and laughing more than necessary at topics that bear no repeating here! It was fun, and we were in great spirits as we pulled into town and met Brian in Old Louisville. Since we still had about an hour before we could check into our AirBnB, we decided to officially start our trip with a little side trip.

The Witches' Tree, located on the corner of S. 6th St. and Park Avenue, is like something out of a fairy tale. The large, knotted, gnarled tree dominates the landscape, covered in offerings of beads, coins, crafts, toys, and much more. It stands as a stark reminder not to mess with the local witches! As the tale goes, during the late 19th century, a coven of witches gathered at this particular tree, which was located just outside of town. Despite being an integral part of the witches' ceremonies, the town decided the large maple would make an excellent Maypole for their annual celebration. Amid warnings from the witches, the town went ahead and cut the tree down, an act that would result in a curse. 

The curse would finally take hold 11 months later on March 27, 1890. Around 8:30pm, a massive tornado ripped through the area. It lasted only five minutes, but resulted in the death of 100 people, dozens more injured, and extensive property damage. Amid the rubble, a new tree began growing from the stump of the Witches' Tree. It grew into the twisted, writhing, knotted giant that is there today. Of course, we had to get plenty of pictures, and leave a few offerings of our own. 

Next, it was time to head to our AirBnB! Brian had suggested a Halloween/Horror themed house about 15 minutes from Waverly Hills known as The Haunted Hideaway at The Black House. Decked out in spooky decor, including a 12 foot skeleton in the backyard, the house was the perfect place to crash for a few hours before and after our investigation. It was clean and comfortable, with a twin bed, a Queen, a futon, and a GIANT couch. It's also pet-friendly if you need to take your furbabies with you. I highly recommend it to anyone staying in the area, even though we didn't really get to spend that much time there, as we were so busy. My only complaint would be that there is only ONE BATHROOM. That made things a little difficult with three people trying to rush to shower and get ready before check-out. 

The Haunted Hideaway AirBnB

Anyway, we got in a quick power nap before we had to leave to start the first part of our evening. Now, I had my heart set on finding a haunted restaurant for dinner, but Brian, who visits Louisville fairly regularly, suggested an awesome little Irish pub, called the Irish Rover. I am so glad we took his suggestion, because it was fantastic. It was a cozy little diner located in a historic building with a menu filled with authentic Irish cuisine and even quite a few vegetarian options. The prices were extremely fair, the service was great, and the food was served really quickly.  I REALLY wanted to be adventurous and try the Cottage Pie, but a heavy bread bowl with mashed potatoes and smothered with cheese probably would have killed me after walking around so much later on. Instead, I had a safe grilled chicken sandwich and fries, which was delicious. We shared some Cordon Bleu Fritters, which were to die for---a mix of cheese, chicken and ham in a deep-fried fritter.

Dinner was followed by a trip to downtown Louisville where we met up in front of the Brown Hotel with Robert 'Ghost Walker' Parker of Louisville Ghost Walks! I was a little nervous about taking a walking tour right before an all-nighter at the gigantic Waverly Hills...but it wasn't bad at all. Our tour lasted a little under two hours, and it was just our little group, so it was like a private tour. The walk was completely flat, nice and easy, and there were plenty of long stops, several with places to comfortably sit while we listened to the haunted history of Louisville. Robert is an awesome story teller, and was extremely knowledgeable about the city and its spooky past. We got some great information about the Brown Hotel, the Brennan House, the Palace Theater, and many other spots. Robert even gave us some information about Waverly Hills. 

Tickets for Louisville Ghost Walks run $25 and tours are held on both Friday and Saturday evenings starting in August. There are several different tour companies throughout Louisville, but I definitely recommend a tour with Robert if you're in the downtown area. Parking is available close by, but a word of caution---Louisville had a much larger and much more visible population of unhoused individuals than I realized. For the most part, we were in well-populated areas and still had plenty of sunlight throughout the tour. Only once did an individual approach our group, but quickly left when asked. I felt completely safe the entire time. Still, there were a couple of places where you just needed to uh, watch your step. 

With our Louisville Ghost Walk 
tour guide, Robert

Being downtown, we stopped in for a quick drink/snack break at Sicilian's Pizza before heading back to the AirBnB to rest up for the big event!

We only had about an hour and a half before we had to leave for Waverly, so I got in another quick power nap and changed into my SRI t-shirt. We loaded up all the equipment that we had left charging at the house, and made the 15 minute drive to Waverly Hills. 

There are two addresses listed for Waverly Hills, but only one will take you to the gate you need to go to. The problem was, my GPS kept trying to re-reroute us to the wrong gate, no matter what we did. So, it was a little harrowing as we finally just had to trust that we could find the correct road without electronic help, which we successfully did. Eventually. Security is everything that people tell you it is. We had to go through two different checkpoints before arriving at the parking area. We pulled up about 20 minutes before our midnight start time, and there were already about a dozen people outside, milling around, taking pictures, and gasping about how spooky and massive the structure was. 

We were quickly allowed inside to the gift shop where we had to officially sign in and were allowed to make any purchases while we waited. I was a little disappointed in the selection; I had my heart set on some new books, but they didn't have any. T-shirt and hoodie designs/sizes were extremely limited, but the prices weren't too bad. I bought a t-shirt. Drinks, snacks, batteries, OTC meds, and small equipment pieces were also available. We had a few minutes to use the restroom while we waited for the 8pm paranormal tour finished up, and that's when Angie had HER first paranormal experience of the evening! She actually got locked into a stall and ended up having to crawl under the door to get out!

Base Camp

Shortly after, we were taken upstairs to the second floor base camp area. There were about 50 guests that night, and we were divided into two groups for a quick tour and safety briefing. The tour lasted around a half hour and took us to all five floors of the old hospital. It was suggested to leave flashlights turned off and let our eyes adjust to the dark. Unfortunately, that meant that we really didn't get a good look at much of the hospital. Our guide would be telling us stories and locations, and we just couldn't see anything. People were also stumbling around and bumping into things, which didn't seem like that good of an idea. Overall, my one disappointment for the evening was that you couldn't really see a lot. There were no daytime history tours of the hospital being held that day, and the 8pm-12am paranormal tour was completely sold out. With security so strict, we couldn't get anywhere near the building within daylight hours to really take some decent pictures or just appreciate the building in the light.

I'll be sharing more about our investigation in an upcoming blog post, but we had a blast. After the tour, we were allowed to free-roam pretty much the entire the building, including the roof. Although there were a lot of people walking around without lights and sound traveled pretty easily, we actually had a few experiences that we couldn't necessarily blame on the uncontrolled environment. We absolutely sat and played peek-a-boo with multiple humanoid shadows on the fifth floor after we knew for a fact that we were alone up there. Later, we heard and felt some crazy stuff in the Death Tunnel, including what sounded like the clatter of a plastic bowl or cup being thrown at us. For it to have been another person, they would have had to silently and swiftly got the hell out of there without responding to us asking who was there. 

Death Tunnel

The investigation lasted until 6am, but those wanting to bow out early had the option at 2am or 4am. We stuck it out to the last minute. I was really proud of myself for doing as well as I did. I had to take some pain medication, which helped a lot with my back issues, but caused me to have some brief bouts of heavy nausea. Still, I powered through with the help and understanding of Brian and Angie. We got to see and investigate every area of the hospital, which after awhile, I found was a little less intimidating in regards to its size. I thought for sure I'd get lost, but once you knew the basic layout, it was easy to navigate. The second, third, and fourth floors are nearly identical, and the staircases/EXIT signs are the one thing that ARE well-lit. 

We were sad to leave, but worn out and ready to head back to the house to get as much sleep as we could. We all walked away with a desire to return to Waverly Hills, potentially for a private investigation in the future. But first, sleep. I crawled into my bed as soon as we got in and must have fallen asleep almost immediately. I woke up just in time to get a quick shower before having to lock up and say goodbye to spooky AirBnB. Brian left a little early, but Angie and I rolled out right before 11, still tired but ready for one last adventure.

You can't go to Louisville without making a stop at the nearby Pope Lick Train Trestle for a visit with the Pope Lick Monster! The Pope Lick Monster is a man-goat-sheep monstrosity that haunts a train trestle outside Louisville. Depending on who's telling the legend, he was a circus freak that escaped, or a farmer that sold his soul. Sometimes he's said to jump down at cars driving under the bridge, sometimes he's seen with an axe, and sometimes it is said he is summoned by crossing the trestle. Unfortunately, several people have been killed while hunting for the Pope Lick Monster, as the train trestle is still an active rail line. There are plenty of fences and No Trespassing signs in the area, but that still isn't a huge deterrent for some. However, there is a walking/bike path that runs directly under the trestle, so it's easy to visit the area SAFELY. We stopped and got a few pictures, but didn't have high hopes of running into the monster at noon on a sunny, summer afternoon with so many people out. 

I'm planning on dedicating a blog post to the Pope Lick Monster legend, but I will say that I'm really glad we took the few extra minutes to stop. I don't know when I'll be back in Louisville, and I would have regretted not stopping by to pay my respects. It was a nice little end to a fun-filled paranormal adventure in Louisville, Kentucky.  Louisville is a town full of history and hauntings, and there was no shortage of spooky adventures to be had. There were so many more places we could have visited, but I'm happy. It was a great weekend with great friends, and I think we really made the most out of the short amount of time we had there. I can't wait to go back!

Pope Lick Trestle

For more pictures of our adventures, please see Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State on Facebook! 

A Tale of Two Sisters: Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Lois Higgs at 
Waverly Hills Sanatorium c. 1950's

Between 1926 and 1961, countless patients suffering from tuberculosis called Louisville's Waverly Hills Sanatorium home. Unfortunately, it would become a permanent home for many, as their only escape from the massive brick structure would be through death. Today, two of the facility's most well-known and well-loved patients are a pair of sisters who were both in and out of the hospital several times as young women. However, the outcome for these two ladies would be very different...

Audrey Mae and Lois Lindsey were just two of at least nine children born to William Roscoe Lindsey and Unia Myrtle "Minnie" White Lindsey. Audrey was the older of the two, being born on February 27, 1921, while lil' sis Lois was born on May 15, 1928. In the 1930 census, the family is living in Edmonson County Kentucky, and their father's occupation is listed as 'farmer.' 

At some point in the girls' lives, they contracted the dreaded 'White Plague.' According to various sources, both girls were in and out of Waverly Hills. At some point early on, Audrey gave birth to two boys, Bill and Roger Goode (according to a newspaper article, Roger was 13 in 1959). As of this writing, I couldn't determine if Audrey was divorced, never married, or simply just kept her last name, but she was still known as Audrey Lindsey during her hospital stays. 

The Courier-Journal
19 August 1956

Lois, on the other hand, was definitely married. She and her husband, Charlie Higgs, had three boys. The first, Ronnie, was born in 1947 and died in infancy. Charles Von/Vaughn would come next around 1949, and finally Larry would be born around 1952. Sadly, it is told to Waverly Hills tour patrons that (presumably) Larry was conceived on a rare sabbatical when Lois was well enough to leave the hospital and visit home. But, to protect the infant from catching TB, he was taken away from her right after birth. She watched him grow up from the solarium outside of her hospital room, while family members in the parking lot below would hold him up for her to see and to wave to. 

Although I haven't been able to pinpoint exactly when the two sisters were at Waverly Hills, they both are listed as being patients there on the 1950 census. In fact, Audrey and Lois shared a room: Room 220. And sadly, we also know that Lois was a patient at Waverly Hills in 1956 because that is where she passed away on August 18 at 4:30am. Her funeral was held at Sweeden Baptist Church, and she was buried in the church's graveyard. 

But, life moves on. Charles would remarry and have several more children, one whom he named Lois after his first wife. Audrey would go on to recover from tuberculosis. She got married to a man with the last name Wright, and had a daughter. Audrey passed away in Louisville on November 18, 1996. She had finally joined her sister in the afterlife. Whether or not either one actually moved on is up for debate...

The Courier-Journal
19 November 1996

Audrey and Lois were extremely close in life. Lois, who seemingly spent much more time at Waverly Hills, struggled with loneliness and isolation away from her family. I'm sure it was a huge comfort to have her older sister literally right by her side during this struggle towards health. As a result of this closeness, many believe the two girls are still in Room 220, eager to interact with visitors to the hospital. The girls loved the music of Elvis Presley, so ghost hunters eagerly play favorite songs and leave gifts, especially flowers. They are often rewarded with seeing things like mists and other light anomalies, or catching EVPs in the room. Several people have caught EVPs or heard messages through various ghost boxes calling for Audrey, asking for cigarettes, etc.  While SRI was visiting in August 2024, it sounded like 'Audrey' came over the SB-7, but I couldn't be sure. 

If you're planning a visit to Waverly Hills, make sure to stop by the second floor patient room where Lois took her last breath. You'll know it's the right room because it's the only one set up with a bed and a small table. If so inclined, leave a small gift for the girls. Play some Elvis for them. And most importantly, remember that each of the thousands of patients who called Waverly Hills home have their own story to tell, and if you listen closely, you might just hear it. 

1950 Census

Photos from SRI's Investigation on 10 August 2024

The Waverly Hills Orderly Murder

Waverly Hills Sanitarium

Waverly Hills Sanitarium is one of those dichotomous locations, so often found in paranormal research. While it was designed to be a state-of-the-art treatment facility and a beacon of hope for those suffering from the 'White Plague,' it was also a location filled with sickness and death. While many patients' health improved among morale-building activities and 'modern' medicine, countless others died painful deaths, and/or watched friends and loved ones succumb to the dreaded tuberculosis. But, tuberculosis (and the sometimes horrendous treatment methods) wasn't the only threat to be found within the halls. 

On January 29, 1954, 24 year old John Louis Griggs began a career as an orderly at the Waverly Hills Sanitarium, Kentucky's main tuberculosis treatment center. Griggs was a parolee from the LaGrange Reformatory, where he had been incarcerated since October 1952 for unlawfully detaining a woman while he was a soldier at Fort Knox. Arguably, he had been trying to turn his life around, when tragedy struck. 

Griggs, along with another orderly, 52 year old Edwin Albert Bareis were off-duty and in the orderlies' recreation room. According to Griggs, Bareis was intoxicated and began cursing at him, and threatening to kill him with a knife. Griggs claimed that he told Bareis that he was trying to live a "Christian life" and didn't want to fight him. Bareis apparently left, but then came back and started in on Griggs again, calling him a convict and going as far as to slap him. 

Being the bigger man, Griggs allegedly went to his bedroom, but was followed by Bareis and Peter J. Simon, a 40 year old telephone operator at the sanitarium. Griggs claimed the two started beating him, and Bareis had pulled a knife. So, Griggs grabbed him and threw him into the hallway, where Bareis hit his head on a wall. Griggs followed up with a punch to Bareis' jaw, after which Bareis fell and didn't get back up.

However, Simon told a different story. Simon claimed that Griggs and Bareis never left the recreation room. Griggs punched Bareis in the face, then proceeded to jump and stomp on his face and chest. Joseph Knott, a hospital maintenance man, also witnessed the event, and testified that Griggs was kicking and stomping Bareis, telling him he was "tired of you running over me."

No knife was ever found, and an autopsy revealed that Bareis suffered from major head trauma, broken ribs, and a ruptured spleen. However, despite the extent of injuries AND the statements of both Simon and Knott, Griggs was acquitted of murder. 

If I were a patient at Waverly Hills during this time, I'm not sure how I'd feel about the hospital hiring a parolee for direct patient care. But, from other articles I've read, it was difficult finding help, as the threat of contracting the disease or bringing it home to loved ones was a very real possibility. I'm usually all for giving second chances and providing employment for the previously incarcerated, but it seems like it was a big point of contention with other staff members...and a decision that would end with violence. 

The Courier-Journal
2 March 1954

The Courier-Journal
22 April 1954

Book Review for Haunted Journeys: Waverly Hills

Title--Haunted Journeys: Waverly Hills
Authors--Sarah French and Joe Knetter
Published--by CreateSpace (September 2017)
Amazon Purchase Information

Ya'll know I can't resist a book about one of the most haunted locations in the world!  Waverly Hills is one of those iconic, bucket-list locations that every paranormal enthusiast loves to discuss.  So much has already been written about the infamous TB hospital where so many people suffered tremendously before losing their lives, but that hasn't stopped me from collecting everything I can on it!

Therefore, I was pretty thrilled when Aaron sent me a photo of books for sale at a Kentucky flea market and asked if I wanted any.  Of the offerings available, I picked Haunted Journeys: Waverly Hills, by Sarah French and Joe Knetter.

This was an...interesting....book, lol.  Sarah is a horror actress and Joe is a horror writer, and together they enjoy investigating haunted locations and writing about their experiences.  I love reading the experiences of other investigators, especially at iconic locations.  I love to keep up with what techniques and equipment others in the field are using, what their ideologies entail, and what kinds of personal experiences they have.

I also love to read the history of haunted locations, and Waverly Hills is definitely FULL of history.  There was some history covered in the book.  It wasn't an overwhelming amount, but sufficient to set up the atmosphere and background for the investigation aspects of the book.  Sarah and Joe explore some of the most haunted locations throughout Waverly's maze of hallways and floors.  And, they had some pretty awesome experiences, including seeing Waverly's shadow people, having a ball roll away and then return without any noticeable wind, and witnessing some pretty intriguing interaction with a flashlight.

The authors do try to debunk their experiences, and acknowledge a skeptical point of view without compromising what they truly feel is paranormal.  It was fun to read about their experiences, learn a little more about the most common reports of activity from Waverly Hills, and see their photos. The only thing about this book that took a little getting used to was the style in which it was written.  It was written in a very post-investigation/during-investigation conversational viewpoint between the two authors.  That in and of itself was okay, albeit a tad distracting a times, but often they'd go way off-topic, loving to talk about things of a sexual nature.  Throughout my reading, I was stuck between thinking this was at least something new and different than your normal book of this type...and thinking that this was just a non-funny clawing at trying to fill out page count, lol.  But, when it was all said and done, the style of writing doesn't really bother me, and I'd definitely be willing to try one of the other books the authors were plugging during this one.

It was a fun read...but it was a QUICK read.  The font in this book was huge, and there were plenty of pictures to help fill out the space.  If you're planning a trip to Waverly Hills for an investigation, this would be a nice little read to give you some tips on what to expect and where to go, and to set the mood for your experience.  There are even some music recommendations and a recipe to try! I would probably not let anyone under 13 read it, though, lol. 

Craving MORE Waverly Hills blogs from Theresa's Haunted History?  Try:

Mary Lee's Ghost Photo
Faces of Waverly Hills: Slideshow of Historic Photos

Richard T. Cooper's Otherworldly Art

According to HorrorPedia, Richard Tennant Cooper was an obscure British artist whose metaphorical phantasmic paintings show the negative effects of both disease and medical cures on the human body. Born in 1885 and leaving this life in 1957, there isn't a whole lot known about Cooper, but he's left behind a legacy of REALLY creepy paintings with a paranormal element.  

I've chosen to highlight this particular watercolor completed around 1912.I can't figure out if it has no title, and just a description...or if the description is just a really long title, lol. Either way, the painting is known as "A sickly female invalid sits covered up on a balcony overlooking a beautiful view, death (a ghostly skeleton clenching a scythe and an hourglass) is standing next to her.”

I specifically chose a painting with a tuberculosis theme to it because of the idea that the disease itself has such a link to paranormal phenomenon. Over the years, TB, or consumption, was mistaken for vampirism, such as with the case of Mercy Brown. And, as many paranormal enthusiasts will attest, Kentucky's Waverly Hills, a former TB hospital, is one of the most haunted locations in the country.  Before the discovery of penicillin as an effective way to combat TB, a common 'treatment' at Waverly Hills and other TB sanitariums was giving the patient plenty of fresh air. Large balconies filled with patient beds were a staple in these places, despite the outside temperatures.  Cooper seems to have beautifully, and creepily, captured a young woman waiting for the inevitable death sentence that so often accompanied a TB diagnosis in those early days.

To see more of Cooper's work, please check out the HorrorPedia article linked above. 

Real-life balcony. Source

The Ghost of Mary Lee at Waverly Hills

Honestly, I was pretty hesitant to post today's blog as there is so little information on this particular photo, and what information there is seems pretty contradictory and changes dramatically from website to website.  Still, I thought it was interesting enough to at least start the research process on, share what little IS known, and just keep this particular entry as a work in progress. Anyway...

This photo was taken on September 10, 2006 at the famous Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky. It was taken by Tom Halstead during an overnight investigation of the facility by Missouri Paranormal Research. The photo was taken on the 4th floor of the main hospital building around 7am.

The camera used was a Pentax K1000 35mm film camera with a Pro-Master 5600 extendable flash. ILFORDHP5 black and white 400 ISO film was used. According to team data, the camera settings were at a 1/60 second speed and F-stop of 5.6.

With Mary Lee inset

As one can pretty plainly see, on the right of the frame there appears to be the apparition of a young woman with dark hair and a white nightgown or dress. But who is this woman? With the death toll well into the thousands, there seems like there could be a never-ending pool of potential suspects.  But, a few theories have prevailed.

She is commonly believed to be a young girl named Mary Lee, based on a photograph that was found of a similar looking girl signed, "Love, Mary Lee" on the back. But who was Mary Lee? One website claims that SHE is the legendary nurse who allegedly hung herself in room 502 after either learning that she was pregnant by a doctor or had TB or both. Others say that Mary Lee was the daughter of a doctor who often visited the patients and tried to cheer them up. Unfortunately, she herself contracted TB and passed away. And others just simply believe she was one of many of the patients who lived and died in the facility over the years. 

Sources:
Paranormal Task Force
Waverly Hills History and Legends
Paranormal Association
Michael Phillip Cash's Blog 

Faces of Waverly Hills

I've posted this video before on Theresa's Haunted History Facebook page, but I thought it deserved a more permanent homage here on the blog.  The first time I saw this video, I completely fell in love with it.  As you all know, I am obviously drawn to the historic research aspect of paranormal investigation.  In addition to the history, I'm drawn to the human element behind the hauntings.  In each case, no matter how small or how big, I think we need to get to know the people behind a suspected haunting, give them the respect and recognition they deserve, and honor their memories.  So much bad is associated with Waverly Hills--this video does an excellent job showing the role the institution played in so many peoples' lives, including happier times.

This video was posted to Youtube on March 2, 2014 by kingzimage.  In the description, he notes that these photos are from a period between 1922 and 2008.  The photos and video came from a variety of sources, from internet research, to family photos from the Mattingly's, and even footage taken by the Youtube user himself.  The music is 'Any Other Name' from American Beauty. 

Book Review for Haunted: Asylums, Prisons and Sanatoriums

Title:  Haunted: Asylums, Prisons and Sanatoriums
By: Jamie Davis, with Samuel Queen
Published 2013 by Llewellyn Publishing

First off, let me say that I really thought the premise of this book was a great idea.  Two friends with an interest in the paranormal travel the United States, investigating some of the country's most well known (and most haunted!) pay-to-play locations.  And, as the title suggests, many of these types of institutions that allow for public ghost hunting are places such as asylums, prisons, and sanatoriums.  Examples include Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Waverly Hills, Mansfield Reformatory, and St. Albans Sanatorium.

Each chapter covers a different location, with the main author giving a brief history of the location and the results of their investigative experience.  Included is the information that is desperately needed for those planning an investigation of the location.  This information ranges from the mundane, such as the nearest airports and where to eat nearby, but it also offers information that you rarely see in these types of travel guides.  The authors graciously provide handy tips such as if the location has restrooms on site, safe room amenities, price, and whether or not the facility operates as a haunted house attraction during the Halloween season.

I personally have never been a huge fan of the pay-to-play locations, but I fully understand that there are many people who just want to have fun with ghost hunting, or try a low-pressure venue to get their feet wet before investing their time, money, and sanity into going "full-time" in the field.  This book is a great resource for that purpose, and its a fairly fun read on top of that.

Unfortunately, I did have a few problems with the book that prevented me from giving it a higher rating than I normally would have.  For starters, the book just wasn't super well-written.  I know that seems a little nit-picky, but it felt choppy and amateurish in spots.  Secondly, there were two locations thrown in that although the duo did investigate, completely deviate from what the book was allegedly about.  One location was the Farrar School, which while does have a reputation, was a plain ol' school...it didn't house children who were physically or mentally ill or criminals--just normal kids.  The other place was Yorktown Hospital in Texas.  While it seemed to fit the theme a bit better, this location is actually not a classic pay-to-play location.  The closing remarks clearly state that this location is not open to the public and the owners must be contacted directly for permission to investigate.

But, the aspect of the book that just had me gritting my teeth in frustration was the investigation style of the pair, especially the main author.  As the book progresses, the constant theme of, "I'm not saying I'm an empath, but I'm an empath" was absolutely grating.  For one who claims to approach the subject with skepticism, this chick sure got the crud scared out of her a lot...and put a lot of stock into perceived events.

And, once again, I do realize that the authors don't dedicate their lives to the field of paranormal research, and aside from having the means to jet set all over the country for public ghost hunts don't have much experience...but the dedication to the "flashlight trick" as gospel was beyond irritating.  This method, which for those who aren't familiar with it, I'll post a link below, has been debunked numerous times, yet made up the largest part of these investigations.  Each chapter made sure to include a lengthy transcribed interaction between the authors and the suspected entities, with the author jumping to conclusions, making assumptions, and adding her own lil' commentary. The appendix even contains a list of questions to ask during this process!

Anyway, I know I was pretty hard on this one, but its not an awful book.  It's not necessarily one I would recommend to seasoned investigators, but again, its a great resource for those looking for play-to-play action.  I especially enjoyed the section of the appendix with additional tips on what you should and shouldn't do on public ghost hunts.  There was some great information there that even though it may seem like common sense, isn't really something you necessarily think about, especially when you're excited and ready to get down to the hunt.

Here's the video from Colorado Para-Tech investigating the flashlight method: