Weather and Ghosts in Kansas

“In Kansas, you know you’re in trouble when the storm chasers and the ghost investigators are in your town at the same time,” points out investigator and guide Devin Cooper.

An investigation in Leavenworth April 25, 2009 proved to be somewhat challenging. “I was really freaking out,” recalls Andrea Isaia, PRI investigator, “we followed a tornado for about 20 miles as we traveled from Lawrence to Leavenworth. We saw houses and trees damaged.” A 40 minute trip lasted nearly 2 hours.
During the investigation at Leavenworth’s Santa Fe Depot Diner, some of the team members sat in the basement while the tornado sirens were sounding.

Paranormal investigators theorize that weather has an impact on ghost activity.

“There was more activity during this second investigation,” explains Cathy Ramirez, “we think part of that is because of the storm and the electricity from the lightening. Spirits need energy to manifest, and lightening can provide this energy.”

Other investigations may have been impacted by weather.
“At the Holton Country Club during the first investigation we had a rain storm.” said Devin, “before it started raining we had a variety of activity. After the rain, activity seemed to just stop.”

There are many theories concerning the effect of weather and moon phases on paranormal activity but the bottom line for most investigators is “Every day is a good day for a ghost hunt.”

-From the book "Ghosts in Kansas" publish date 2010.

Former Mortuary Tops Kansas Most Haunted List

Ghost Tours of Kansas today announced the top 5 most haunted places in Kansas.

"Each year we select the locations based on the quality of evidence and personal accounts of hauntings," said Beth Cooper, co-owner of Ghost Tours of Kansas, "for 2009 the Holton House tops the list as most haunted".

The Holton House is one of 48 locations that was investigated by Paranormal Research Investigators and ghost tour staff. Formerly a mortuary, the Holton House in Holton provides a rich environment for paranormal investigators.

"We were running a FLIR thermal sweep when we saw a profile on the screen walk through a closed door," explained Nick Spantgos, Co-Founder of Paranormal Reserach Investigators, "It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen.”

Along with personal experiences, disembodied voices and EVP’s (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) it is easy to see why the Holton house is labeled as the most haunted location.

"It was a surprise to us that Holton had so many haunted places," said Cooper, "I am sure the locations will change as we continue to investigate across the state."

The top 5 most haunted locations in Kansas are:

1. Holton House Bed and Breakfast- Holton
2. Constitution Hall- Topeka
3. St. Mary’s Church- Kansas City
4. Hotel Josephine- Holton
5. Holton Country Club- Holton

Comments from October 2008 Ghost Tours

Thank you and your team so much for the fantastic tour last night! I know the Chamber group really enjoyed it. I heard many people mention how many locations we visited that they didn't even know existed in our community! The ghost stories are wonderful; both for their spooky nature, but for their historical information, too. Again, thank you!!

~Megan

We had a great time!
Thanks again - Kim and Shelby

We had a wonderful time on both. I got some interesting EVP's. I am looking forward to any future tours and investigations you have.
Kathy


Hi Beth,

We had a great time on your ghost tour! I tried really hard to relate all the haunted locations back to my mom, she was so jealous!

I wanted you to know we had a great time on the tour! Is there any way to get a copy of the script? There was so much information given, that we can't remember what went with which location. We hope to make it on a few of your other tours soon.

Thanks for a great time,
Wendi

That was excellent !!! I was wondering if they ever go back into St.
Mary's Church in KCK if there was any way I could come along ? I really like to see the inside of the church.

Rich


I just wanted to respond to this since i didn't have the number with me Saturday night - there were 5 of us at the 10 pm tour. Thanks for a fun time - very interesting - we all enjoyed it.

Jane

Haunted or Not- EMF and Ghosts

Recently the Paranormal Research Investigators team was asked to visit a home that was extremely active with several hauntings. The owner explained to us that their child was seeing and communicating with several ghostly entities.

The first step for investigators was to meet with the family in their home, and do a walk through of the child's bedroom. Astoundingly, the EMF detector registered energy that was off the chart.
A keyboard, fan and electric outlets were emitting an electro-magnetic field at levels dangerous to human health. Most often the culprits of high EMF readings are ceiling fans, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, breaker boxes, and any electronics with a transformer inside.

Studies indicate that high levels of EMF can cause feelings of paranoia, delusions and anxiety, as well as poor health and illness.

The team made several recommendations to the family, including removing the keyboard and fan, and checking the wiring in the outlets.

Many stories of hauntings have been debunked simply by calling an electrician. Haunted? Or not?

Comments from a Constitution Hall Investigation Guest

"We had a fabulous time! The PRI guys were very informative and stayed and talked to us for quite a while. I have not had time to go through all the stuff on the digital recorder. I did have my hair lightly pulled at the constitution hall and when I came out the pictures tim took of me showed one loop in my hair were it was pulled through the barrett. That was exciting and believe it or not didn't scare me like I thought it would. I think it only made us more curious. although we do have two pictures from the tour you took us on. One picture taken in the big six room at about 2 am has a weird face in the mirror and some other unexplainable shadows. We were the only ones down there and the bar was closed. Also one of the pictures we took at the Haskel cemetery has a weird reflection but you can see an eye in it and there is no way that I can see to get one eye floating in the trees. Thank you very much for the tickets and we will be in touch. We are looking forward to getting more equipment and joining more investigations. "

Comments from people who have taken our tours

Comments

"I just want to send out a BIG THANKS to Kathy, Nick and Lance for helping out with Ghost Camp last week. Kathy did a great job; the kids really did love the Haunting and history of all the places. Thanks to Kathy for all her time, energy, effort, flexibility and patience with camp. I appreciate all that you did for us!"
Andrea

"I wanted to tell you how much my boyfriend and I enjoyed your Lawrence Ghost Tour. We appreciated the information given, especially all the history. We both learned a lot about the Lawrence area. We plan on attending more events in the future and look forward to seeing you again! "
Mitzi

"Lawrence tour proved to me that Lawrence is a crazy place! Can't wait to take another ghost tour."
Cherie

"For Halloween I took three tours in one night, was tired but very happy! I never knew there were so many ghosts, right here in my own town."
Jim

"I was thumped on the head at Curtis Cemetery. You said hands on experience, I didn't know you meant THEIR hand!"
Mary

"I just wanted to tell you that we had a blast on the tour last night. We really, really had a good time. And, if we get a chance, would love to do one of the other tours. Thanks a ton for a good time around Topeka. You guys were really great."
Richard

"I want to thank you for making this tour possible for us. It was the highlight of our Topeka trip and gave us an experience that we will always remember. be sure to tell your sister and daughter they did a great job! Very professional and very interesting!"
Veronica

"Your tour gave me one of the scariest experiences of my life when the pinwheel at the cemetery started spinning for no reason. I have been on tours in Atchison and San Antonio. The Topeka tour is the BEST!"
Debbie

"My girlfriend and I had a good time on the Lawrence tour. We learned alot about history and the ghosts. I wish they had a tour like this in Nebraska."
Daniel

Constitution Hall-Topeka is the Most Haunted Building in Kansas

Within the confines of the basement of the oldest building in Topeka, visitors are surrounded by history. Built in 1855, dramatic events representing a nation in turmoil began to unfold, first with the dispersal of the Free State legislature, then the mad struggles of abolitionist John Brown as he made Constitution Hall a stop on the Underground Railroad. Even the charismatic, vain and self-absorbed Senator Jim Lane left his imprint on the location that nearly brought the country to civil war in 1856.

Constitution Hall is the most haunted building in Kansas, with at least 11 entities, including the ghost of a young girl, and the spirit of a man named "Roberts". A local group of professional paranormal investigators have spent many hours investigating and documenting the spirits of the past at Constitution Hall. They have seen shadows walking across a room, been physically touched, and heard voices out loud. The investigators have collected over 50 Electornic Voice Phenomena (EVP), evidence that visitors are not alone in the building.

Currently a theory about the extreme haunting of the location relates to the spiritualist movement in Topeka around 1900. Franklin Crane, early founder of Topeka and developer of Topeka Cemetery, held séances in Constitution Hall. Perhaps his actions opened a gateway for spirits into the building, yet offered no doorway out. Several deaths are attached to the building, including a murder, and death from a fire.

Today a restoration is planned to bring Constitution Hall to its proper place as a landmark in Kansas and national history.