Tag: paranormal

The Baker Hotel Ghost Walk

On By AngeliaIn Don't ever leave the house145 Comments

First off, let me get this straight, I am NOT big on paranormal. In fact, it scares the stuffing out of me. I almost lost my cookies when we visited this Old Haunted Cavern over a year ago.

I DO watch Ghost Adventures, but only because my husband likes it Zak makes me laugh.

However, this was suggested as a great photo-op, and that is one thing I can’t resist – a great photo-op. Plus, it is this week’s Travel Theme: Spooky by the wonderful blogger Ailsa.

So, maybe I ventured outside of my comfort zone, and took off about an hour away to a place said to be haunted, on a night with a full moon, in a town nick-named for CRAZY water. It landed me on the steps of the biggest and creepiest hotel I have ever seen in my life.

The Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells, Texas.

And let me just give credit to our tour guide Angela of The Baker Hotel Ghost Walk. She is the real deal. There are a few copy cats, but she is the one that put all the work into the research of the history and stories.

I’ll be honest with you. I took way too many photos for one post. I lost one whole battery (luckily I had two) in just a few hours (normally it takes 8-10 hrs per battery). I battled many other camera problems – mainly focus issues and a flash that would just up and DIE, off and on. I did not PHOTOSHOP any of these. They are straight out of the camera. I did add my watermark, but nothing else was altered.

The ghost walk starts on the front steps of The Baker Hotel. We get a run-down of its history, and its ghosts. At the back of the building, where we proceed, is a pole marked for a tipsy woman who jumped from the roof (trying to land in the pool). She didn’t make it. Angela advises this ghost likes to mess with men, and sometimes you can smell her lavender perfume. As soon as she said that, I smelled Lavender very strongly. So did several of the people with me. Coincidence? Maybe…

I took this shot of Jason (after the tour). Looks to me like something is by him coming off the pole back left of the photo. He says it is some “tree” or something. Although, it was not in ANY of the other photos I took of him in the same spot.

The other part of the tour was down a few blocks (we covered 10 blocks). The guide advised some people get sick in this area, because a lot of children were abused and died at this house. It was the home and business of a Doctor, and an orphanage for children of parents who could no longer afford to keep them during the depression era. I DID feel sick. Both times when I walked by there. Coincidence? Maybe…

Our minds are a powerful thing. Apparently, so is the paranormal.

Regardless, this place is spooky with a capital S. Solely for the upside down crosses, and because the owner of the property still lives on the third floor. Photo above is the second floor. The first and second floors have no electricity and he is known not to be right in the head (too much Crazy water?).

My daughter had fun messing with me on the tour.

We explored on our own for more than an hour after the tour ended. That is when I got most of the photos that show “something”. All of them at, or around The Baker Hotel.

If anyone can explain these photos, I’d like to hear it. Look for the mists and the orbs. My husband had the other camera and he didn’t get anything taking the same pictures. And his battery never drained either.

This is me across from the pool. Taking a photo of the hotel. See next pic.

This is the photo I took. I must admit. It freaked me out a little. It was not raining. No fog. My lens was not dirty. I don’t think simple street lights could make those orbs. It was a clear night. See collage at the top where I took a photo of the moon. They say, The Ghost Adventure guys stayed here in September. They named it one of the most haunted places they have been to. Could that be true?

It sure looks that way to me.

Oddly enough, I didn’t get scared. I felt uneasy a few times, but mostly calm. The only time I really freaked was when we heard noises from the window we had just peered through on the Mezzanine level.

This is the Mezzanine area we were at.

This is the area where the window was. I SWORE I got a photo of that window, but I couldn’t find it on my camera. Coincidence? Maybe….

Inside where we looked.

We heard a loud chang above us. ALL of us heard it. Then, within minutes, a ching, and a crack right by the window we had just peered through. My heart did a flip-flop! Jason says it was not a ghost, but trespassers inside the hotel. But really? That is hard for me to believe. For one thing, it’s a $500.00 fine and there are cops driving around every few minutes. For two, why didn’t we hear them walking around, or see them with flashlights? Go back and look at the photo above and imagine walking through that area in complete darkness. Could you navigate that room without making a peep? Without flashlights on? In the pitch-black? Wouldn’t we have heard them talking, shuffling, or banging their way around?

Jason is a non-believer.

I, however, am NOT. But strangely, I’m not as frightened as I thought I would be.

Even when I stood outside The Baker – by myself (being by yourself is a WHOLE different experience). I felt sick again, and I felt pressure on my sinuses; a sign of energy in the air. I pretty much made a mad dash to find the others. At the time, I was under a window where many have seen a mistress looking out. Coincidence? Maybe…..

So…that is my story. And These are my photos.

Haunted or not…this is one fascinating building with a rich history about it, and around the entire downtown.

I plan to go back sometime soon. In the daylight preferably…..

Do you believe in the paranormal?

Old Places are Haunted – The Longhorn Cavern State Park

On By AngeliaIn Mon Dieu! and all that stuff.15 Comments

We didn’t plan on visiting a haunted place. We just thought it would be cool to see a cavern, and maybe some bats.

But the haunt was on us.

We didn’t see any bats, or cool cave formations.

In fact, we didn’t see anything. But something was there.

[insert evil laugh]

But, I’m getting ahead of myself. You probably want to know how we came to such a place.

See, earlier this spring Jason, and I took a trip to the Lake Marble Falls in the Texas hill country. There are several lakes in the area, including Lake Marble Falls, and Inks Lake. Lots of fun things to do and see, plus many recreational activities; including camping, hiking, boating, and fishing.

Good stuff. Beautiful country.

I had a free hotel stay and we wanted to explore.

Inks Lake

I should have known when I was photographing a “hawk”, then realized. It wasn’t a hawk. It was a flesh-eating zombie bird; aka – vulture. That our little “adventure” was only going to get worse. Yikes!

Zombie bird…looking for dead flesh.

I think I got a little shiver at that point. Give me a Bald Eagle, not a morbid vulture.

After our bird watching, we proceeded to the Longhorn State Cavern. The one we thought would be so cool with gorgeous stalactites and the like.

Instead, the cavern was closed (because it was getting dark!). This place was known to be occupied over 400 years ago by the Comanches. Then, it was used as a Confederate strong-hold that manufactured gunpowder. Even worse, it was the hide-out for legendary outlaw Sam Bass.

Let’s face it, this place had some bad mojo in its history, and that was pretty obvious when we stepped out of the car.

I could feel a presence in the air. Like something electric and thick. I had the creepiest feeling of being watched even though there was no one in sight.

The eerie quiet was palpable.

We decided to risk our lives to check out the water tower first.

Winding staircase, that wasn’t very sturdy.

Unescapable window inside the tower.

The top of the tower.

Texas hill country view from the tower vista.

The view? Pretty amazing. But I kept hearing creaking from the stairs. It made me very jumpy. I suppose I’ve watched too many episodes of Ghost Adventures. Ever notice how they jump a lot? Yeah. Like that.

For that reason, I left the tower and Jason, and took off on my own to explore (no idea what I was thinking here! Why? Why? Why?)

Alone, the skin prickles got worse. Especially the eyes on my back.

I came across these old military quarters.

It screams haunted.

I wasn’t touching that place with a ten foot pole. Just look at that spooky doorway. No way was I checking too see if that door opened. Nuh-huh!

I walked to the left of this house and discovered this trail.

I’m not sure Why, but I felt this deep desire to go there. To see what it led to. Was there a look-out? A cemetery? Another house? I had to find out.

By myself.

Of course, I might as well have wee’d myself, rather than going down that path. Just beyond those curves, there are dead gray trees. A forest of them.

Tree after tree, a pale gray. The trunks made a vertical pattern that was hard to see through. I would catch a glimpse of “something” from the corner of my eye, but when I stopped to look, I couldn’t see any movement. Of course.

I kept going. There was no end in sight. Every twist and turn led to more twists and turns.

At that point, I kept hearing footstep scrapes behind me. I would look, but nothing was there (or was there?). Eventually, I couldn’t take the suspense.

I’m really lucky, I didn’t fall and break neck, or my camera getting out of there. I decided running was the best idea, back the way I came.

I was so happy when I emerged and found Jason. He’s alive! He’s alive!

We, then, decided to pursue the entrance of the cave, even though the place was closed, and I had the willies. AND IT WAS GETTING DARK (gulp!). We had to see, right??

Looks harmless enough, if you like HOLES in the ground, which I don’t. You can fall in holes. Holes are bad, and dark, and scary.

The path to the entrance is VERY pretty though. It’s a trick……to delude you….

This is the last thing you see before getting to the cave entrance.

And the entrance is gated, and padlocked. To keep people out in?

I got brave enough to get right at the bars of the gate, then I felt a push of cold air blow right past my face.

I left tread marks back up those stairs.

The dark was descending quickly, and the hair on my arms stood up. Is it just me, or is there someone in that window?

So, we ran got out of there.

Of course, we looked the place up after we left, and discovered all kinds of things about it. Most especially, the paranormal activity recorded by Austin Paranormal.

What??? Told you something was there!!!

They do cave tours in the middle of the night. Paranormal Cave Tours. Can you believe that?!?!

It’s creepy enough during the day.

I don’t think my heart could take it at night. The witching hour? Deep inside a COLD, dark cave? With things that go bump in the night? Umm, no thanks!

So that was our adventure with a paranormal place. And? I have a whole new respect for Zac’s dramatics.

If you like haunted places, I urge you to visit and see for yourself.

Mwah HA HA!

My Paranormal Experience

On By AngeliaIn Mon Dieu! and all that stuff.24 Comments

Well, it’s that time of year again……HALLOWEEN……where all the ghosts and goblins come out! SCARY!

Run and hide, if you will, I am about to divulge my paranormal experience. Sister, please don’t read this post, I can’t be responsible for you not facing the dark ever again, mkay?*

First, I have to tell you – I don’t think all physics are full of baloney – Why? Because I do believe there is an energy between people.

For instance, driving down the freeway, I often “sense” a car is about to change lanes – into MY lane. I speed up or slow down and sure enough they get over. *I was right*

I can tell you are still unbelieving, okay. One night this summer, I awake from a DEAD sleep. I don’t mean, I slowly wake up, uhhh, what’s-going-on kinda thing? I mean UPRIGHT in bed, eyes wide open, What the heck? It was 417AM. I looked at the clock on the phone, like I always do when I wake up out of dead sleep (more on that later). I saw some flashes of lightning. I went back to sleep.

Come to find out, later in the day, Jason tells me his X called him at 417AM that morning because her weather alarm went off. He had the girls and she was worried about tornadoes and stuff. It was exactly the same time. We even checked his phone to verify it was exactly – down to the minute.

Or even this last week, Sydney and I were trying to decide where to go eat. It came down between two places. Neither of us could make a decision, I thought SURELY there is coin flip application for iPhone. HA. There was, I downloaded it, we flipped the coin and found our direction. The next day…..Jason had downloaded the same app, the SAME day.

You understand what I’m saying, there is some “energy” or something. How else can such coincidental things happen, over and over? And I could go on and on, but I won’t – not on that anyway.

My paranormal experience (not the only one but ONE of the ones) happened summer of 2008. I lived with Uncle Bub, and my ex-mother-in-law Susie, in a very small house in central Arlington, an OLD house. The bathroom was ONE person, standing room only. My bedroom had a blow up mattress which took up all the space. Not much maneuvering room at all, anywhere.

One night, my alarm went off, desktop one with glowing red letters. It was somewhere around three am. NO, I did not set it to go off at three in the morning. No way, no how, but it did go off. I silenced it, checked it, and couldn’t find anything wrong with it. I had turned on the lights and everything, nada. I went back to sleep.

This began to happen NIGHTLY. No, I wasn’t dreaming. I actually got a kick out of it (at first). Grandma died in this house. She was a jokester. I bet she is just having fun with me. The alarm would go off in the middle of the night, I would turn it off and say to the pitch black, “Very funny, Grandma”. I would go back to sleep.

That was until, I found out the guy that lived in the house before? Shot and killed himself in that one person bathroom. Yeah. That’s what I said. After that, I wondered….who WAS haunting me? And why? It was no longer funny. It was downright terrifying. *They say there are no ghosts only demons, shudder *

That night my alarm went off at three in the morning (as usual), this time when I turned it off – I won’t lie – I wanted to whimper. The room was freezing cold. Not just the A/C is on, it was, but I mean bone chilling FREEZING cold. Also, I had *unplugged* the alarm in the wall. The alarm going off – was my cell phone alarm – that I didn’t set for three am. *Did he DIE at three am?*

I began losing important things. The biggest one, my glasses which disappeared off the nightstand. I found them MONTHS later under the rug – in the middle of the rug – in the doorway to my bedroom. Alarms continued to go off, whether I set them or not.  Sometimes, the room was a meat locker in the wee hours of the night.  Salem never growled, so I hoped, whatever this “energy” was, it was harmless.

I’ll admit, I was pretty darn happy to get out of there, six hellish months later. When I moved out, the first night in my new house, my cell phone alarm went off – around three am.

To this day, it’s never happened again………………..

Happy Halloween!