My most official experience with the paranormal happened in Eureka Springs -- one of the most haunted towns in the U.S., according to some.
I say “experience.” In truth, I didn’t really feel much of anything, but I definitely enjoyed the ride.
I went to visit the summer before last with my halfsister Haley and my friend Charla. We just wanted a fun little girls’trip, and just it so happened that Haley had access to a vacation home there in the heart of downtown Eureka. We got in that evening, had some dinner, and spent some time sitting on the front porch of the house built in 1900, nervously joking about how we shouldn’t look too closely into the trees across the road.
Regardless of how you feel about ghosts, the supernatural or the paranormal, there is something magical in the air in Eureka Springs. In all of the Ozarks, in my opinion. Something ancient and heady that’s been watching generation after generation of people come through the area. Taking delight in every story or folklore that gets passed down.
And well, Eureka’s tour guides absolutely love to pass on stories.
Wetooktheunderground walking tour, learning about the history of the area and how it was settled and developed into what it is today -- a quirky town in the middle of the mountains where everyone is accepted. And then, we did some shopping and got some food before going to the Basin Park Hotel at 10 p.m. for our ghost investigation tour.
The guide provided everyone with various pieces of equipment. We desperately wanted the spirit box, but were too slow. Instead, we got two different kinds of meters and a pair of dowsing rods.
The tour started with us learning how to use and read our various devices as we walked around a large parlour. This also included taking a lot of photos in the hopes we’d catch one of the many ghosts that had been spotted there. (Sadly, I did not.) We also learned a bit more about the history of the hotel.
Apparently, it was built to be a fireproof fortress. Every floor has catwalks that run from the hotel to the bluff behind it, so that in the event of a fire, guests could easily escape the building.They looked very cool during the day -- super creepy at night.
And then, we ventured down to our first spooky spot -- the basement where a speakeasy used to be during Prohibition.
Our guide said this had always been a very active space. After giving a demonstration with the dowsing rods, she had Haley go through a series of questions, determining that we were speaking to a ghost that commonly came out during tours. It was weird. And fun. I couldn’t really tell where I sat on the “is it real” argument, but Haley and Charla were very firmly on “this is real.” We then walked around and hit a cold spot where a lot of ghosts seemed to be hanging out. My meter went haywire. Charla’s was also going off. Haley asked a few questions with the dowsing rods before getting freaked out and wanting to leave.
Both of them said they felt chills. I didn’t, but again, it was still fun.
We worked our way up the floors, taking pictures and videos in a mirror where ghosts would sometimes pop up behind you (they didn’t in my photos, whichI’mbummedabout). Iwasdrawntoallthecreepy fire escapes, though going through all my pictures afterwards showed that the only thing in them was my reflection. Charla and Haley foundaroomwherethey felt something (once again, I didn’t). I did actually end up scaring myself, though -- I went around a corner and caught someone going into their room while looking at my camera screen. In the moment, my brain was screaming “GHOST!” and I actually dropped to the floor in laughter once I realized it was merely a human.
Weendedupaccidentally losing the tour and missing the first part of the talk about the ballroom at the top of the hotel.
All in all, it was a very fun evening. I personally didn’t see or feel anything, but there’s always next time. We’re hoping to do the paranormal investigation of the Crescent Hotel when we eventually get back. Regardless, I loved hearing all the stories, legends and history of the Basin Park.
Andwell,whenyouthink about it, anywhere can be a spooky, creepy place.