Haunted tours are not for the faint of heart

I have felt the presence of another numerous times while ghost hunting at many haunted locations, such as New Orleans, Galveston, the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, Calif., The Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, La., Atchison, Kan., the Tower of London and the Jack the Ripper tour, both in London, England. I admit going ghost hunting is not everyone’s cup of tea. To me it’s a thrill and I love to hear the history behind every building. Your tour guide will tell you stories of the people who once inhibited the place and some of the events that occurred there. They also may give you information on the architecture of the building itself.

I have never experienced any paranormal activity while touring these places, but I have captured some genuine orbs in the background of my pictures. The two places that scared me most was the Winchester Mystery House and the Myrtles Plantation.

Here are some of the reasons why: 

• There is a strong feeling that you are not alone there

• The temperature drops in some areas

• Orbs were caught in photos of the area

• You get a sense you should not be there

While I was at the Myrtles Plantation I was unable to capture a shot of the front porch area because all of my shots kept coming out blurry, yet all the rest of my photos came out clear. I tried to get closer but every time I tried I either slipped or felt like I was being pulled back from the area. 

When you go on a ghost tour or to a haunted place, the first thing you want to do immediately is take many pictures because you want to capture an apparition of a ghost or an orb. Many times people cannot see ghosts because the human eye cannot pick up electromagnetic fields. Many say orbs and apparitions in photos are not real and there must be a more plausible explanation for them such as lights, reflections or dust on a camera lens. Real or not, it’s kind of fun to see how your imagination gets carried away. 

My favorite ghost tour was in Atchison, Kan., which is the home of Amelia Earhart and is well-known as the most haunted city in Kansas. Tourists ride on a trolley as the tour guide gives intriguing stories of murder, mystery and accidents beyond control. The trolley starts off in historical downtown Atchison, then takes you through the park before going into the residential side of town. Some spooky places in Atchison are the Gargoyle Home and Sallie's, the Heartland Ghost’s home. The following information was found on the Atchison, Kansas – The Most Haunted City in Kansas website: 

• Gargoyle Home: this turn-of-the-century home was built in 1884-1885 by B.P. Waggener, who was a lawyer and politician in the Atchison area in the late 1800’s. While gargoyles are usually erected to scare off evil spirits, legend has it that Waggener accumulated his wealth through a deal with the devil and the gargoyles were constructed in honor of the pact. 

It is said that the house is afflicted by an evil curse. One homeowner, who attempted to remove the gargoyles, fell to his death on the staircase. A segment on the Travel Channel reported that Kansas City Ghost Hunters, while visiting the home, picked up the presence of ghosts on their special equipment and reported having felt a presence in the house. 

• Sallie’s Home- The tale of Sallie’s ghost has been featured three times on the popular 1990’s paranormal television show Sightings, as well as Unexplained Mysteries. Long ago, six-year old Sallie grew terribly sick during the night with severe abdominal pains. Sallie’s mother rushed her to the doctor’s house, where his family lived on the upper floor and he operated his practice on the main floor.

  Sallie’s mother listened as the doctor diagnosed young Sallie with a severe case of appendicitis, requiring immediate surgery. The little girl panicked at the sight of the surgical tools and the doctor was forced to hold her down to give her ether.

However, in his haste, the physician did not allow the anesthesia to take its full effect and began operating. Sallie awoke during the initial incision and began fighting and wresting against the pain. Before she died, she was said to have looked at the doctor with both fear and loathing, and remains within the house to this day.

  If it’s murder and mystery you crave, go on the Jack the Ripper tour in London. Many of the tour guides give their spin on the story, based on their research and who they think is behind the gruesome murders of Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly. There is one corner in the older side of London, that is the exact replica of what Jack the Ripper would see as he walked the streets of London in the Whitechapel district. Most of the Whitechapel district was bombed during World War II so there were very few buildings from Jack the Ripper’s time left standing. On that corner where Jack the Ripper stood, there is a church building that some say Adolf Hitler liked. Hitler told his soldiers to not bomb that location because he really liked the church. 

When you stand on that very corner there is an eerie, yet historical sense. It’s mind boggling to know those few buildings were around during the late 1800s. 

The tour guide takes you where each murder was committed, where Jack the Ripper had met his victims and where the victim’s homes were. The tour guide also tells the stories of each victim. 

So if you are an historical buff, craves excitement or just wants to be told a suspenseful or horrific story, touring haunted places is just the right ticket for you. Just remember haunted tours are not for the faint-hearted.