Haunted America & Other Paranormal Travels

By Sherri Granato

Haunted America & Other Paranormal Travels allows the reader to discover haunted venues in every state in America and even some abroad. Creepy tales from celebrities, ghost-riddled trains and highways, eerie phenomena, and unexplained anomalies. Its all here if you dare.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Apr 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9781489704290

Sherri Granato

Sherri Granato, her husband, John, and their three daughters have traveled the United States extensively in search of haunted venues. Their goal is to seek out those rare locations that exhibit the combination of history and mystery that draws people in. Sherri and her family live in Pennsylvania.

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Copyright © 2015 Sherri Granato.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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ISBN: 978-1-4897-0428-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-0429-0 (e)

LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 4/9/2015

Contents

Paranormal Travels; Italy, Ireland, England, And Japan

Poveglia Island, Venetian Lagoon, Italy; the Island of the Dead

Celebrities & Ghosts Stay at the Haunted Westin Excelsior Hotel in Florence, Italy

The Leap Castle, Roscrea, Ireland’s Most Terrifying and Dark Destination

George & Amal Clooney’s Haunted Estate Grounds in Sonning, Berkshire, England

The Aokigahara Forest, Japan aka Suicide Forest; the Most Horrifying Destination on the Planet

Paranormal Phenomena at the U.S. Army Post, Camp Zama in Kanagawa, Japan

Ghost-Riddled Transportation

The Abraham Lincoln Phantom Ghost Train Sightings; Paranormal Travels, from Washington D.C. to Springfield, Illinois

Famous Ghost Cars, Trains & Airplanes; Haunted Transportation; Hidden Fatalities & History; Mechanical Issues & Revamped Junkyard Cars

Strange Anomalies; Haunted And Cursed Objects From Around The World

The Fatal Poltergeist Curse

Protection Against Curses and Popular Good Luck Charms

Celebrity Ghost Stories

Haunted America And Other Paranormal Travels

Unexplained Accidents, Apparitions & Vanishing Hitchhikers Found On Alabama’s Haunted Interstate 65 in Evergreen, Alabama

The Haunted St. James Hotel; Southern Ghosts, Hospitality & History in Selma, Alabama

The Ghost-Infested Old Kennecott Copper Railroad in Chitina, Alaska

The Haunted Red Onion in Skagway, Alaska

Ghostly Flapper Girls, Paranormal Activity & Ghost Tours at the Haunted Copper Queen Hotel in Bisbee, Arizona

Enjoy Lunch with the Ghosts at the Haunted Hamburger in Jerome, Arizona

Ghost Tours & Paranormal Activity at the Crescent Hotel & Spa in Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Walking & Sleeping with the Dead in Little Rock, Arkansas

The Lovely & Haunted Victorian Rose Red Bed & Breakfast in Ventura, California

Patrick’s Roadhouse: Haunted Diner, Iconic Landmark & Quirky Celebrity Hangout in Santa Monica, California

The Queen Mary: Floating Hotel, Museum & Ghost Ship, Docked in Long Beach, California

Calico, California, the Ghost Town that Celebrates Christmas, Spring, Heritage, History & Ghosts

The Lawless and Gun Slinging Ghosts of the West Live in Bodie, California

Stay Where the Ghosts Stay, at the Famous & Haunted Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado

Enjoy Luxury with the Ghosts at the Brown Palace Hotel & Spa in Denver, Colorado

The Ghosts of the Rocky Mountain’s Dine at the Haunted Costello Street Coffee House in Florissant, Colorado

Union Cemetery, Easton, Connecticut, Home of the Ghost Lady in White

The Addy Sea Bed & Breakfast; Where the Ghosts and Guests Relax Together in Bethany Beach, Delaware

Visit Robert, the Haunted & Cursed Doll Who Haunts the East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida

Paranormal Charm at the Seven Sisters Bed & Breakfast Inn in Ocala, Florida

The Haunted & Luxurious Casablanca Inn; Premier Bed & Breakfast on the Bay in St. Augustine, Florida

Gribble House Axe Murder Site & Paranormal Experience Tour in Savannah, Georgia

Beaten & Battered Ghosts Remain at the Haunted Chickamauga Battlefield in Oglethorpe, Georgia

Take an Oahu Ghost Tour; Stay at the Haunted Hilton or Travel the Eerie Interstate H-1 in Honolulu, Hawaii

Dark Shadows and Ghostly Mirror Images Haunt the Enders Hotel & Museum in Soda Springs, Idaho

Paranormal Activity at the Ghost-Infested McPike Mansion in Alton, Illinois

Legends & Restless Spirits Roam the Grounds of the Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery in Midlothian, Illinois

Haunted Bloods Point Road; Home to Phantom Vehicles & Restless Apparitions in Cherry Valley, Illinois

Dark Shadows, Promiscuity & Gruesome Rituals at the Stepp Cemetery in Martinsville, Indiana

The Haunted Dunes State Park in Chesterton, Indiana

The Haunted Mason House Inn & Caboose Cottage Bed & Breakfast in Bentonsport, Iowa

Paranormal Remnants of Horrifying & Senseless Acts Left Behind by an Axe Murdering Madman in Villisca, Iowa

Welcome to the Devil’s Playground; the Stull Cemetery in Stull, Kansas

Discover the World’s Largest Living Ghost Town, Outhouse Tour & Waterfall in Elk Falls, Kansas

Poltergeists, Demons & Full-Bodied Apparitions at the Haunted Sallie House in Atchison, Kansas

Poltergiests at the Most Haunted & Famous, Bob Mackey’s Music World in Wilder, Kentucky

Paranormal Adventures at the Haunted Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana

The Dark & Mysterious Myrtles Plantation Mansion in St. Francisville, Louisiana

Experience the Dead Calm in Randolph Maine, the State’s Most Haunted and Dark Forest

Paranormal Travels in Bath, Wiscasset, Boothbay Harbor, Camden & Damariscotta, Maine

The Curse of Legendary Witch, Moll Dyer Lives On in Leonardtown, Maryland

Supernatural Phenomena & Ghosts Plague the Riverside Country Inn in Greensboro, Maryland

The Ghost of Edgar Allan Poe & Other Lonely Spirits Await Your Presence in Baltimore, Maryland

Tour the Haunted Freedom Trail, Beacon Hill & the Boston Commons in Historic Massachusetts

The Haunted Colonial Inn Invites You to Stay with the Ghosts in Concord, Massachusetts

The Haunted Fairbanks House; the Oldest Timber-Frame House & Museum in the Nation in Dedham, Massachusetts

The Haunted Halmich Park, Where Dark Shadows and Spirits Lurk on 13 Mile Road in Warren, Michigan

The Maple Valley Inn Invite’s Diners to Come in for Good Food & Ghosts Trufant, Michigan

Meet the Ghosts of Joseph & Molly at Forepaugh’s Restaurant in St. Paul, Minnesota

Become Acquainted with the Southern Ghosts at the Haunted Waverly Plantation in West Point, Mississippi

Welcome to the Haunted Writer’s Place; the Past’s Red Light District of the Midwest in Kansas City, Missouri

Feast with the Ghosts at the Haunted Lemp Mansion Restaurant & Inn in St. Louis, Missouri

History & Spirits in the Wild West Ghost Town of Garnet, Montana

Tortured Spirits, Cold Chills and Hidden Walkways Greet You at the Plumer Street House in Maxwell, Nebraska

Ghosts, History, Hollywood Legends & Finger Lickin’ Barbecue at the Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings, Nevada

The Ghosts of the Wild West Live at the Haunted Mizpah Hotel in Tonopah, Nevada

New England Ghosts and History at the Strawberry Banke Settlement & the Sise Inn in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Come Along if You Dare to Tour the Haunted Pubs, Taverns and Other Ghostly Outlets in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Residual Hauntings and Ghostly Reenactments at the Gabreil Daveis Taver in Glendora, New Jersey

Legends & Tortured Spirits Await You at the Trails and Remnants of the Boyd’s Sanatorium at Dripping Springs in Organ Mountain, New Mexico

Mastermind’s Set Up Varying Degrees of Courage for Ghost Hunters for New York State’s Haunted History Trail

Lily Dale, New York; Where Serenity, Talking with the Dead and Ghosts Walks are a Way of Life

The Tormented Ghosts of the Adirondacks; Remembrance & Recognition at Saranac Lake, New York

The Haunted Townsend Mansion & Raynham Hall Museum in Oyster Bay, New York

Unexplained Supernatural Activity & Ghostly Lights on the Brown Mountain Ridge in Burkes County, North Carolina

Active Spirits at the Haunted Pub Crawl and Ghost Walk in Old Wilmington, North Carolina

Mischievous Spirits Mingle with the Patrons at the Sage Hill Bed & Breakfast Country Inn in Anamoose, North Dakota

Supernatural Experiences, Dark Shadows & a Paranormal Portal at the Prospect Place Mansion in Trinway, Ohio

The Ohio State Reformatory, Home to Tortured Souls & Restless Ghosts in Mansfield, Ohio

Active Spirits in Willoughby Hills, Ohio make Squire Castle a Ghost Hunter’s Dream Destination

Friendly Ghosts & Hootin’ & Hollerin’ at Pawnee Bill’s Ranch & Museum in Pawnee, Oklahoma

Dine with the Ghosts at the Stone Lion Inn in Guthrie, Oklahoma

Enjoy Home-Style Country Food & Dining with the Ghosts at Kendall’s Restaurant in Noble, Oklahoma

Paranormal Activity & a Barbaric History at the Blackburn Sanitarium in Klamath Falls, Oregon

The Haunted Gold Hill Museum & the Unexplainable Oregon Vortex

Meet the Ghosts of the Haunted Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall in Carnegie, Pennsylvania

Legends, Ghost Riddled, Haunted & Cursed Bridges in Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Ghost Towns; The Mystery of Clairton, Pennsylvania’s Abandoned Lincoln Way

Spelunking in Haunted Caves at the Penn’s Cave & Wildlife Park in Centre Hall, Pennsylvania

Lodging and Dining With the Spirits at the Haunted Cashtown Inn, Bed & Breakfast in Cashtown, Pennsylvania

Ghosts, Festivities & Historic Haunts in the Lehigh Valley in Christmas City, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

The Logan Inn, a Paranormal Hot Spot for Colonial Spirits in New Hope, Pennsylvania

Ghosts, History & Live Entertainment at the Haunted Valley Hotel Bar & Grill in Clairton, Pennsylvania

Visit and Dine with the Spirits at Bube’s Brewery in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania

Spirits, Phantom Footsteps and a Death Chair Await You at the Baleroy Mansion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Fine Architecture, History, and Dedicated Ghosts are Located at the Westinghouse Castle in Wilmerding, Pennsylvania

Haunted Railtrails & Ghost Towns in the Blacklick Creek Valley, Pennsylvania

The Haunting & Eerie Under Water Ghost Town of Livermore, Pennsylvania

Dark Shadows, Unexplained Mysteries and Apparitions Lurk in the Deep Woods of Mudlick Hollow in Vanport, Pennsylvania

The Legend of Mercy Brown; New England Ghosts, Vampires, Disease & Death in Exeter, Rhode Island

Welcome to Charleston, South Carolina’s Haunted Poogan’s Porch, Where the Friendly Ghosts Greet the Diners

Meet Southern Ghosts at the Dark and Eerie Provost Dungeon & Old Exchange in Charleston, South Carolina

Ghosts and Paranormal Activity at the Orpheum Theater in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Visit Loretta Lynn’s Haunted Plantation Mansion & Museum in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee

Welcome to Jonesborough, the Oldest, Most Haunted & Historical Town in East Tennessee

Ghosts, Legends & History at Victoria’s Black Swan Inn, San Antonio, Texas

Enjoy Ghost Tours & Haunted Rooms at the Jefferson Hotel in Jefferson, Texas

Galveston, Texas, a City with Paranormal Significance & Supernatural Events

The Mountain Meadows 9/11 Utah Terrorist Attack; the Haunting 1857 Massacre of Emigrants at the Mercy of Mormon & Paiute Attackers

Paranormal Events, Holiday Apparitions & a Giggly Child Spirit at the Haunted McCune Mansion in Salt Lake City, Utah

Emily’s Eerie Bridge in Stowe, Vermont; One of New England’s Most Haunted Destinations

The Haunted Historic Abingdon Ghost-walk & the Martha Washington Hotel & Spa in Abingdon, Virginia

The Star of Rose Red; the Haunted Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens in Lakewood, Washington

The Spirits of Octagon House in Washington D.C.

Weston, West Virginia; Home to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Where Tortured Souls Still Reside

The Haunted & Historic Grand Opera House in Oshkosh, Wisconsin

Strange Phenomena at the Haunted & Historical Cottage Café in Plover, Wisconsin

Sleep with the Ghosts at the Ferris Mansion Bed & Breakfast in Rawlins, Wyoming

PARANORMAL TRAVELS; ITALY, IRELAND, ENGLAND, AND JAPAN

Poveglia Island, Venetian Lagoon, Italy; the Island of the Dead

Poveglia Island, referred by those familiar with its petrifying history as the island of madness or death. Visits to the island of death prove to be a terrifying experience, starting with the ghostly mist that hovers around the bell tower where legend has it that one of the asylum's psychiatrist's jumped to his death after being tortured by the ghosts that suffered and died from his brutal and inhumane treatment.

You do not have to look far to find shocking and disturbing locations on our planet, but some stand out more than others. Poveglia Island, located in northern Italy, has a reputation for being one of the most haunted and scariest destinations on Earth where time, circumstances and the people of the past have all played a part in this terrifying and very real paranormal existence. This island of the dead is where malevolent energy of past horrifying conditions remains in a state of suspended conscience still today.

Poveglia Island, referred by those familiar with its petrifying history as the island of madness or death, has a troubled history at best that dates back as early as the 5th century, when refugees attempting to flee from the barbarian invasions of the times often met with death on the island. Centuries later during the Black Death Plague, the island was used as a dumping ground for thousands of infected bodies that were discarded into huge pits where they were burned, erasing the remnants of the disease. The Italian doctors that were forced to deal with the plague victims wore special birdlike masks that protected them from their infected patients, but they too often succumbed to the sickness despite their best efforts of shielding their faces and were left on the island with those whom they had attempted to heal.

By 1793 Poveglia was no stranger to sickness, violence and vast amounts of death, and it was during this time that the first victims of yet another plague that affected Europeans were thrown to their own devices on the island of the dead after being transported there by ships. These highly infectious people were plagued by a widespread epidemic that forced them to be kept from the rest of the population. En route to Venice, Italy, Poveglia served as a checkpoint that eventually proved to be the perfect remote, sealed off zone for separating and restricting the contagious citizens from the healthy ones.

Unfortunately, the plan was not thought through in its entirety, and due to having no access to the outside world, most of the deathly ill victims died on the island. The lack of empathy, medicine and nature of the event is believed to be a large contributor to the manifestations that are witnessed there today. The most recent contributing factor leading to paranormal activity being so evident on Poveglia Island possibly comes from the quarantine station that was set up in 1922 and later converted to an insane asylum for treating the mentally ill. Doctors inflicted severe pain by the cruel method of using power drills for frontal lobotomies that sometimes resulted in accidental deaths is believed to be part of the reason that so many ghost sightings have been reported. In 1968 the institution closed down and the entire island of Poveglia has remained abandoned ever since.

Visits to the island of death prove to be a terrifying experience, starting with the ghostly mist that hovers around the bell tower where legend has it that one of the asylum's psychiatrist's jumped to his death after being tortured by the ghosts that suffered and died from his brutal and inhumane treatment. Due to the extreme and widespread belief that the island is dangerous to the living and haunted by hundreds of ghosts, it has been shut down to visitors.

The paranormal past of Poveglia makes it a ghost hunters dream for the ultimate communication with spirits. The team from the Travel Channel, Scariest Places on Earth series, felt up to the challenge of dealing with the harsh paranormal activity and brutal nature of the past events that took place on the island. The Ghost Hunters set up equipment and did not walk away disappointed. During their paranormal investigation, Zak Bagans became violently ill and then briefly possessed by a ghost that was filled with unquestionable rage. This was only the beginning of what was to come.

A heavy energy laced with an overwhelming evil feel was present to anyone who had a beating heart. The spirits lingered everywhere you turned and were caught on night vision cameras. The EVP device evidence was forthcoming as was the movement on the motion detectors. Loud bangs that were never identified circled the group from afar. Disembodied voices speaking in old world Italian were detected, the EMF hit 3.5 temperature spikes and the footsteps of the spirits could be clearly heard walking towards them. Orbs were fast becoming apparent at one point a temperature spike of 22.2 hit with a burst of dark energy and then a fast moving and powerful orb. The past terrors of Poveglia were evident everywhere they walked and the team was engulfed with a darkness that loomed over them that was nothing less than pure evil.

Victims of the bubonic plague, inhumane deaths and cruel treatment were lurking and hovering, communicating in the only way that they know how. The locals fear the island and believe that once trespassing upon its petrifying perimeter you will be forever cursed. Zak believes that the locals just might be on to something, and before leaving the very haunted asylum, the team performs a ritual with oils that were given to them in hopes of ridding the building of obvious wicked and diabolical entities with loathsome intentions towards those who dare to enter their world.

Today, Poveglia Island, the asylum and the thousands of ghosts and spirits that dwell on the 17-acre, uninhabited island of the dead are for sale by the Italian government for the asking price starting at $841 million. According to a recent report in the Telegraph, plans for the historical institution are to transform it into a luxury hotel in hopes of boosting the economy and bring vibrant life back to the lagoon.

Celebrities & Ghosts Stay at the Haunted Westin Excelsior Hotel in Florence, Italy

Night sweats, hand tremors, grand illusions and temporary disorientation. These are just a few of the symptoms that you might experience when staying in room 152 at the five star-luxury Westin Excelsior in Florence, Italy. Located in Tuscany, a designated World Heritage Site, the architects designed the elegant thirteenth century Italian oasis in the Florentine tradition. Despite the supernatural activity, the hotel has all of the bells and whistles that will absolutely delight your sense of sight, smell and sound. Enchanting, historical and glamorous, the Westin Excelsior is also listed as one of the most haunted hotels in the world by the Tauck tour experts. Armed with an American dream, Arthur Tauck started the travel company in 1925 when he set out on his first tour through New England. The company now offers a travelogue that gives feedback, advice on worldwide destinations, group travel, travel tools and reviews, including haunted hotels, cruise ships and riverboats.

Mass burials with bodies buried by the hundreds is nothing short of disastrous, but the Black Death of 1348 left the victims of Florence defenseless. Pestilence from the bubonic and pneumatic plagues were at the heart of lowering the city's population by twenty-five to fifty percent, and the inhumane disposal of human life would guarantee restless spirits running mad in a chaotic frenzy in search of a deserved and proper final resting place. The Westin Excelsior Hotel is located at the core of these prior unsettled conditions, but despite having a deep history filled with various supernatural tales of hauntings and extreme paranormal activity, artists, celebrities and politicians flock to the luxury hotel in search of old world grandeur, tranquility, rejuvenation and all of the fine elements of well-being.

A euphoric atmosphere is aimed at refreshing your tired body, and thoughtful touches include a signature Westin Heavenly Bed covered in 200-thread count sheets that entice you to completely clear your senses after an exciting trip around one of the most cultured cities where fashion, cuisine and entertainment invite you to sample it all. An on-site glass-enclosed rooftop terrace offering elegant dining awaits those who desire a low key evening while taking in the 360-degree panoramic view of one of the most lively and beautiful cities on the planet.

The Westin Excelsior is famously known for languishing their guests with some of the most decadent suites that a first rate hotel can offer the privileged, from the fifth floor Belvedere Suite with a romantic terrace that allows for views of the Arno River and the highly requested fifth floor Presidential Suite with fine eighteenth century Italian decor that includes oil paintings, antiques and semi-precious stones. This suite is requested by celebrities due to its raw splendor and complete privacy. Former President Bill Clinton vacationed over the Easter holiday in Florence and while abroad met up with Italy's President Napolitano to discuss the dream team's plan to save Italy. Mr. Clinton is well known at the Westin Excelsior Hotel in Florence, but he more than likely stayed far away from room 152 where much of the paranormal activity is reported by guests, staff, tour guides and ghost hunters. When vacationing or filming in Florence, Top Gun and Mission Impossible 5 hunk, Tom Cruise checks-in at the Westin Excelsior luxury hotel for movie-star treatment and quiet time, but the A-list actor isn't checking into room 152 any time soon, this celebrity prefers the private suites located on the fifth floor of the hotel.

Room 152 is small in size compared to the other 170 period style rooms and enchanting suites found in the luxury hotel, but it is the preferred choice of ghost hunters and assigned Tauck Directors due to the guaranteed Italian adventure of paranormal activity that occurs in the room. Fully charged with strange phenomenon and unexplained events, to date, repeated overnight stays in the room have never failed to show that someone or something is trying to communicate with whomever is willing to listen. Misplaced and missing objects are constantly reported by guests staying in room 152 only to find out later that the item was found in another location.

Dark shadows overcome the room, lights flicker, the faucets turn on and off and the feeling that someone is laying on the bed with you simply cannot be ignored. For unsuspecting guests, looking in the mirror is a dangerous game, but if you are willing to bet that a strange set of ghostly eyes will be looking back at you, then you will win. Paranormal investigators have caught images on camera and mysterious voices have been picked up through electronic voice phenomenon. Each and every one of the Taucks Directors have reported the overwhelming feeling of being watched and one became so frightened that she reported the incident and moved to another hotel entirely.

Location: Piazza Ognissanti 3, 50123 Florence, Italy. Phone: [phone]

The Leap Castle, Roscrea, Ireland’s Most Terrifying and Dark Destination

When TAPS suddenly has the urge to visit a dwelling, you know that there will be more to the visit than just tea and cake and some friendly conversation. These guys mean business and they are seemingly afraid of nothing. Perhaps that is why they stood up to the challenge of visiting Leap Castle in Roscrea, Ireland for a game of cat and mouse with some very inhospitable ghostly guests when the owner felt the need to uncover the mystery surrounding the castle's grave secrets.

The Leap Castle has a dark history that has remained throughout time and has baffled each person that has dared to purchase the castle and live there. The O'Carroll family was one of the earliest owners of the castle, occupying it around 1532. The tempersome family had a definite mix of beliefs that proved fatal. Teige O'Carroll was a warrior who threw lavish banquets that quite often ended in the death of one or all of his guests.

Mulrooney O'Carroll, brother of Teige, was a priest who did not approve of the way his brother led his life. The two men often battled, and eventually Teige murdered his brother in the chapel while he was celebrating mass. The chapel has since become known as the Bloody Chapel as it is an active spot for ghostly activity. Tech specialist Dustin from TAPS was knocked to the ground from an apparition that only showed a hooded face. The smell of stale rubber became overpowering in the room and the TAPS team soon left the chapel area. Dustin then began to feel ill after the episode and was shaken to his very core over the incident.

Other ghostly inhabitants include a demon referred to as The Elemental. This particular entity fears nobody and nothing and is quite diabolical as it exhibits a willingness to toy with the crew. The smell of rotting flesh prevails from this primitive and malevolent force. The EMF, used to measure the electromagnetic field, and the wireless audio appeared to pick up activity in the Oubliette dungeon area where the elemental seems to be the strongest. Many people were tortured and killed in this area of the castle, and the entities that remain there appear to be trying to communicate with the team.

Another ghostly spirit appears in a flowing red dress in a hallway close to the stairway. She brings no harm and is thought to be the lover of Captain Darby who was being held prisoner in the castle's dungeon. The woman engineered his escape and after a bloody battle during the escape, they eventually married. She eventually became the heiress to Leap Castle after Captain Darby had passed on.

The Darby family remained in the castle for many years, and Mildred Darby would often receive unwanted attention from the element. She held séances that drew out many other entities and eventually documented the disturbances and wrote an article to the Occult Review describing the events that took place at her séances. The ghostly apparitions that lived within the walls of Leap Castle were alive and they wanted to make their presence be known. Leap Castle was beginning to establish a fearsome reputation and ghost hunters from the area wanted to take part in the action. The only problem was that anyone that dared to enter the corridor of the castle was frightened to their wits end or harmed by freak accidents, and because of these sinister actions the castle eventually sat empty for 70 years.

The castle was again occupied in 1972 and sold in 1991 to Sean and Anne Ryan who had their minds set on making the castle livable once again. Electrical wires, bats, and many other projects needed attention, but Sean was consistently halted due to injuries from freak accidents that left him with a broken ankle, and a fractured knee in separate incidents. The Ryan's were beginning to think that they were unwelcome and began to grow tired of the paranormal activities that flooded the castle walls.

In an effort to put all of the hype to rest and get to the bottom of the hauntings, TAPS was led to the castle by Barry Fitzgerald, a paranormal investigator that resides in Ireland. Upon entering Leap Castle, TAPS was immediately drawn to particular areas within the castle. They began to set up their equipment and were soon receiving strong reactions. They witnessed the elemental with their own eyes, and were plagued with heavy pressure to parts of their bodies. Cold spots, barometric pressure drops, foul smells, and shadows were quickly apparent. Once home at TAPS Headquarters, the team analyzed their findings which included film, readings, and audio that was packed with many forms of evidence that Leap Castle is truly haunted. Upon hearing the audio, the team discovered a woman’s voice asking for help, and no female TAPS team members were on location at Leap Castle at the time of the investigation.

George & Amal Clooney’s Haunted Estate Grounds in Sonning, Berkshire, England

SonningBridge.jpg

Ghosts and 17th century luxury in the British Countryside grace the Victorian village of Sonning, Berkshire, and it welcomes A-lister, George Clooney and his sophisticated better-half, Amal Clooney to their charming and haunted English getaway now that the Newlyweds have recently become the proud new owners of a multimillion-dollar estate that is nothing short of enchanting. The popular celebrity couple has much to celebrate, including being the proper lord and lady of the massive 17th-century mansion, known locally as The Mill House. The eloquent manor sits nestled on the River Thames in the British countryside. The nine-bedroom, eight-bathroom limestone mansion offers amenities befitting of royalty. The Clooney's massive abode was formerly known as The Aberlash House and is located just an hour from the historical Highclere Castle, familiar to those who are fans of the PBS series Downton Abbey.

The estate grounds are aesthetically pleasing to the eye, complete with luxurious lawns stretching far and wide down to and along the River Thames where a charming footbridge, greenhouse and garden pavilion have been pleasantly embellished with images of blooming mature trees and massive flower beds. The view from the manor's many windows include the image of a lovely little ghost girl that frolic's about the bridge who also haunts the lower regions of Holme Park, where the king's palace once stood.

The village has long been considered haunted for hundreds of years, but a more recent account of the latest paranormal news concerning the ghost girl was reported to the UK Daily News by the world's top paranormal expert, illusionist and magician, Uri Geller, who just happens to be George and Amal's neighbor. Uri claims that strange occurrences take place on the bridge along with the sighting of a sweet little ghost girl who crosses the Sonning Bridge, which is close enough to the Clooney estate that it will be almost impossible for the celebrity couple not to come in contact with the ghost girl's image.

The bridge has a deep history that spans over several centuries, and according to the Royal Berkshire history, the Sonning Bridge has always been a well-traveled arch bridge. Completed in 1775, the haunted bridge crosses the River Thames at Sonning, Berkshire, linking Sonning with Sonning Eye /Oxfordshire. The beauty and history of the bridge have attracted many famous artists throughout the years who have been so captivated by the structure that they could not help but to memorialize it by illustrating the bridge's beauty in drawings and paintings

Sonning's Paranormal Legends, Eerie Apparitions & the Creepy White Hare Spirit

The bridge is tied to many paranormal legends that include it being haunted by the ghost of a white hare, known as the spirit of the corn. Feared by the living, it is most unfortunate for the person that comes into contact with it. In fact, the villagers feared the sight of the white hare so much that the local farmers would only cross the bridge in groups of two or more after darkness had set in.

One of the greatest legends surrounding the bridge has always been the pretty little ghost girl that has been seen by hundreds of locals and visitors to the area. Her ghost has become a familiar presence in the lower regions of Holme Park where the palace once stood, but is now home to the Reading Blue Coat School. The young ghost girl is most often seen walking along the towpath beside the Thames where she frolics playfully and then, poof, she simply vanishes into the countryside.

One particularly creepy occurrence involves the eerie apparition of Miss Rich, who by most accounts has been seen jumping a high fence on Sonning Lane at the precise moment that the clock strikes twelve. The sight of her spirit is alarming to the living when you consider that she is dressed head to toe in 19th-century garb that mimics that of heavy drapery. Her stark-white face becomes illuminated during the full moon when her apparition appears to those around her as somewhat transparent.

The Aokigahara Forest, Japan aka Suicide Forest; the Most Horrifying Destination on the Planet

According to the Centers for Disease Control, every year more than 36,000 people commit suicide in the United States and nearly one million take their life worldwide with China taking the number-one spot at an astounding rate of one person attempting suicide every two-minutes. Choosing life or death is no small matter. The tragic event leaves loved ones with a trail of unanswered questions and the emotional repercussions fester into deep scars that are permanently etched into the hearts and minds of the victim's families and friends. As I write this article I think about my own father who took his life, leaving behind loved one's who today still question what could have possibly been so bad that he simply lost the will to live. He has been forever quieted by his own choice to end his life, never affordeding his family the comfort of closure. Many culture's view suicide as morally unacceptable while a few countries motivate professional terrorists and suicide bombers to kill off as many human beings as possible, along with taking their own life in their reign of terror.

When it comes to an extremely high volume of suicides, East Asia tops the list with the Aokigahara Forest in Japan. It is considered one of the most terrifying places on earth, and it is more commonly known as the Sea of Tree's or Suicide Forest. The forest got its symbolic name after Seicho Matsumoto's novel depicted two character's committing suicide in his book titled Kuroi Kaiju, (The Sea of Black Trees). Since the book’s publication in 1960, the suicide victims has grown to a staggering 400, with approximately 100 more deaths since the 1950's.

Annual suicide patrols consisting of volunteer firemen and police search the forest in the form of a human chain on a regular basis to clean up the remains scattered throughout the Sea of Trees which is most cases is a virtual Sea of Corpses. Many of the victims are left unclaimed due to the high cost of funeral expenses in East Asia. A lack of space has forced the Japanese government to store hundreds of bodies in a protected building in the nearby village of Kamikuishiki, along with large piles of the decedent's belongings. Seventy-three bodies were recovered in 1998 alone, and seventy-eight more suicide victims were found in 2002, with an undetermined number of unaccounted for bodies due to the thickness of the of the woodlands and the inability to see the area clearly.

The mysterious circumstances as to why there is such a gravitational pull that draws in people who are suicidal has been reason enough for the Japanese government to post warning signs to Keep Out to those that are feeling like they are at that danger level. Even those who enter the woods without prior knowledge of its mysterious legends have stated that the entire grounds feels like a place of death. The massive amount of suicides in one area has led to the Aokigahara Forest being one of the most haunted woodlands in the world. Located at the base of Mount Fuji near Saiko Lake, the forest is dense with wandering trails littered by scattered and some hidden human remains, nooses and other objects intended for ending one's life. Large signs nailed to trees can be found throughout the woods with inspirational messages from life is a precious thing and please consult the police before you go off to die to think of your family and please reconsider are posted with the intent to make one rethink their choice.

Those who dare to enter the 'Sea of Trees" and survived it have come out mortified by the haunting sight of a human corpses blatantly hanging from a noose or they are terrified by the discovery of a body caught in the trees, and many visitors to the suicide forest have been frightened by disturbing encounters with the images and faces of the dead. The whole scene is far too unsettling for anyone to comprehend when you consider that you are walking straight into a forest filled with ghosts and death covered by trees that are reminiscent of a roof, making it at times impossible to know where you are, causing mass chaos during one of the most frightening experiences of your life. Ghost hunting equipment from the K-II Meter and GHS Full Spectrum Lights to EVP's and TriField Meters go absolutely bizerk, but many contribute it to the legend that there are massive underground iron deposits to which NASA debunked with their sensitive, not to mention, flawless electronic equipment.

The suicide rate in the woodlands rose to an alarming rate after the Aokigahara Forest was recommended by author Waturu Tsurumui as the perfect place to commit suicide, found in his 1993 Best Selling Complete Suicide Manual. The book's cover morbidly displays a coffin and gives details on the various methods of how to kill yourself. Suicide forest has become well known for its distressing aura that embodies you with an overall feeling of doom and the creepiness doesn't stop there. It is void of wildlife despite the fact that it is filled with lush foliage, and it is eerily silent. Once entered, the Sea of Trees quickly becomes a myriad of twisted vines, gnarled branches and a death trap to those who do not watch where they step. The uneven ground is the perfect hazard for welcoming a broken ankle or neck. The locals refer to the infested area as the Woods of Death and ghost encounters with wandering entities are common when walking through the forest of the cursed dead, whose faces have been detected in the bark among the trees if you look close enough to see it.

Suicide Prevention Month: September is suicide prevention month in the United States and September tenth is World Suicide Prevention Day. The driving force behind suicide should never be a means to the end, it should be the pathway to discovery from things that inhibit growth. Social pressure, feelings of inadequacy, hopelessness, poverty, depression, isolation, fears, unemployment, negativity and the inability to cope with pain. Savoring good moments in life, setting meaningful and achievable goals, spirituality, being around people that make you feel good about yourself, putting a smaller value on money, and not comparing yourself to others are all things that will keep you feeling positive about life even when the low moment's hit you like a wrecking ball.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Paranormal Phenomena at the U.S. Army Post, Camp Zama in Kanagawa, Japan

Just twenty-five miles SW of Tokyo you will discover the former site of the imperial Japanese Army Academy that now houses Camp Zama, the U.S. Army post located in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara in the Kanagawa province, Japan. The Army base is no stranger to terrorist attacks; two alone have been carried out by the Revolutionary Army, and it serves as an emergency shelter for the Emperor of Japan. Camp Zama is also no stranger to paranormal phenomena as has been witnessed by many military personnel over many decades. The unexplained has been a constant force where military battle grounds, camps, posts, and bases are concerned, primarily due to the nature of the unsettled beast. War, terrorist attacks, unruly nations, and death are all a part of the reason that our military does what it does.

Camp Zama has a colorful history that looks something like a vacation resort with a mixture of both historical and modern buildings. The military base is nestled in the foothills of the nearby Tankard Mountain Range, and because of the camp's unique beauty despite it being a facility with equipment and installations supported by highly trained military security and personnel, it is referred to by the locals as the jewel of the orient. You are temporarily transported by the blooming cherry blossom trees that are bursting with life just everywhere you look, and up until you see