Paranormal investigations Group trips?

Question

My wife and I are interested in doing some investigation, but we’ve never done it before. I’d like to try it has a hobby, just to see what it would be like. I’ve seen the trips, but haven’t gone on one because I was already at the Queen Mary (for a different reason) and although it did feel really creepy in some areas, nothing else really happened.

Has any of you gone on these group trips and seen anything or is it a waste of money?

And if you have any suggestions on a place I’d love to hear about some good spots and what you may have seen.

I just don’t want to waste money and I do understand that ghosts don’t perform on demand, but I’d like to get something out of the trip other than a good sandwich at the local deli.

Answer 1

It sounds as if you might want to avoid the tours. Someone else I believed mentioned the Whaley House (link below) and it was voted most haunted house in the U.S.

Also it certainly has other historical reasons to visit.

However, that is different from going on an actual investigation.

I suggest using the second link below in order to find a group near you that does investigations. This experience (as long as your willing to work and help the group) should be free.

There are of course some overnight investigation/parties hosted by groups at reportedly haunted locations that do charge and I list this under entertainment expenses. Some do teach some of the investigative methods, etc. but this can be learned for free if your willing to work (as per above).

Despite what you see on TV most investigations are long, boring, and produce nothing unexplained (and when they do effects are likely to be small).

Those ghosts just refuse to keep appointments no matter how much advance notice you give them.

However, learning the techniques of investigating, interviewing, and background research can be an awarding experience for some people.

Answer 2

I am a para-investigator and work online as a moderator for the TAPS team, and I can say the best way to get experience under your belt is to just get a small group of friends together and start on your own, look up local spots or place close by that offer ammature teams to come in and investigate -- there are a lot of place out there that do not charge, an if they do, there are some that charge very little, depending on what you want to do.  If you are really into the tours or trips, i would say go to www.the-atlantic-paranormal-society.com and look into j and Grant's group investigation tours, trips and seminars -- they are legitimate and help out a lot.  But like I said, the best way is just to get some people seriously interested in it as you are together and start on your own -- get permission from public locations to investigate, start our with friends, families and build it up to word of mouth an just go on from there.

Certain equipment may get expensive, but is not necessary for beginners or ammatures just trying to get the feel of things  -- you can pick up a digital recorder at any oll store for under 20 bucks that will work just fine for EVPs, and of course digital cameras or recorders. You can also find certain IR web-cams for increidbly cheap on Ebay, they are not the best of quality picture, but it is a good place to start if you are just doing it as a hobby.  

But yes, it is very important to keep in mind that the paranormal do not act on que, and that the point of the para research and investigation field is devoted on furthering the science, and gaining legitimate answers and help to client -- not specifically to finda  ghost, so if you are interested in finding hauntings or ghosts purely for hobby and fun, it may be best to start out at well known, previously investigated and documented locations that have high activity or possibility of hauntings if that what your purpose is, and not to actually start a group for help or science, but purely for your enjoyment --- then obviously dud places your not going to be interested in, but sometimes you just cannot predict that.  Looking up some well kown place in your area that have been proven to have some level activity may proove promising, but of course, in this field, it is no gaurantee.

Aslo, read up on what youre dooing -- IE, get to know the basics of the paranormal and the actual science and study of para investigation, as in the differenes between poltergeist, spirits, residual, intelligent and inhuman entities -- there is a lot that is unexplained out there that could be dangerous, and so you want to be aware of what the possibilites are and how to handle those situation if you were to come across them, and how to get out of there safely.

Also -- please NEVER ever use a ouija board.  People take this too lightly ---- the cheap-o board game that you pick up at the store is actually based upon olde, widely used devination boards from all types of culture worldwide, and though they are cheap and mass-produced, they still work in the exact same basic way and are still capable of results that are unexplained, uncontrollable and possibility of being dangerous.  It is not a matter to be taken lightly, no matter how petty it may seem.

Also, try contact a local group, tell them you are interested -- a lot of groups will welcome people on public investigtions for tours and trips, although some groups may be questionable or not the most sincere -- you can go to www.tapsfamily.com to search for a local TAPS Family Group in your area -- the TAPS team as a high standard and certain since of respect and quality they like to uphold in their own group, and that overflows into their network of Family Groups , so you can take comfort and confidence in the groups that are listed on their site that they are reliable and reputable -- though there are many other wonderful groups that have not quite reached the criteria to make it into the TAPS family, you can visit the flash chat at www.xat.com/beyondrealityradio  and ask for help -- there are tons of people on there that work in groups that can give you more in depth information and advice, suggestions and guide lines of how to get started, and even some of the TAPS team members themselve stop by and chat in their themselves that can shed more light on the situation of how to get started.

And, for the hobbyist -- ebay is a great place for beginner equipment, but if you get more serious, or want to put a bigger investment into your work or hobby, you can go to www.ghostmart.com and find all kidns of equipment there. If you visit a local government office or firestation, a lot of times they have olde thermal imaging equipment and recorders that they are willing to sell cheap, or give away if they have been recently replaced or updated, so that is also a great way to get cheap equipment to start out with.

I hope I've helped :)

--Mordi

www.wgprs.com

www.the-atlantic-paranormal-society.co...

www.beyondrealityradio.com

www.tapsfamily.com

Answer 3

We've done 3 and the best time we had was Waverly Hills, LOTS of activity.  Eastern State Penn is coming up in the spring and I've got tickets for that as well.

I heard the last time they went to the Stanley Hotel it was dead quiet.. pun intended.. :)

If you only have money for one, go to Louisville, Waverly Hills is a fantastic place to investigate.

Answer 4

HAY! I just saw that this is your first day on Y/A!!! Just want to say "Welcome" to this paranormal section.(I'm one of the "lowlies" on here.)...I don't know much...but I try to welcome people here because we need  all the people we can get so we can have new questions and maybe even people with good answers. Hope you stay on here with us and share your knowledge and experiences!!

Answer 5

If you're looking for something to happen then I would suggest you spend your time and money elsewhere.  What you see on the TV shows is the most exciting 30 minutes of an 8 hour day and even then nothing happens.

Answer 6

omg i want to do this sooo bad, if you find your answer let me know what your decision is!

Answer 7

If you live in So. California check out the Whaley house in San Diego.  http://whaleyhouse.org/ghostly.htm

Answer 8

Contact button she is a top investigator, and she is on this site.

Answer 9

I have never been on one, but it seems to me they could be fun.

They have a thing up where I live called Moose tours, where they take you out and drive you around in moose territory.

Moose dont perform on demand either, but they always seem to find some and get a show.

I am sure the ghost tours are like that. They know the places to take you where your most likely to see or experience something that may or may not be paranormal, but should be fun anyway.