Stillwater Oklahoma October 2022 | Page 35

Y es , it ’ s almost time for Halloween – for ghouls , goblins , monsters and , of course , ghosts .

In over 20 years of journalism , I ’ ve had the pleasure to “ ride along ” with several Oklahoma paranormal investigation teams .
These assignments have met varying levels of success . No , I don ’ t believe in ghosts . I believe in science and the potential that what many people think of as “ spirits ” or “ ghosts ” are , in fact , experiences we will someday soon be able to explain with modern physics concepts .
One of the groups I “ rode along ” with was Insight Paranormal , the Oklahoma division of TAPS ( the Trans-Atlantic Paranormal Society featured in the Ghost Hunters TV shows ). A physics professor from
Oklahoma City University was a member of the team and was trying to prove that connection between “ spiritual ” encounters and actual science . I actually worked for Insight for about a year , researching locations a week or two ahead of an investigation , much as a producer might do for one of those aforementioned shows .
During my “ ride alongs ,” and as an actual investigator , I ’ ve had several experiences that even the broad label of “ physics ” struggled to explain .
The following are four of the spookiest , strangest places I ’ ve been – and all are open to the public , in some capacity .
Beware : If you continue reading , a spook or spirit may follow you home !

The Chisolm Trail Museum , located right across the street from the mansion , includes the original Kingfisher downtown , relocated in all its Old West splendor . There are also thousands of historical items on display .

Chisolm Trail Museum and Horizon Hill Mansion 605 Zellers Ave . / Kingfisher 405-375-5176
Open to the public : Open for tours Monday-Saturday 10 a . m . -5 p . m . Check ctokmuseum . org for event schedule .
Why ’ s it spooky ?
The Horizon Hill Mansion that once belonged to the third territorial governor of Oklahoma , Abraham Jefferson Seay , is gorgeous and looks right out of a horror movie . The Chisolm Trail museum , located right across the street from the mansion , includes the original Kingfisher downtown , relocated in all its Old West splendor . There are also thousands of historical items on display .
While covering an Insight investigation at the locations in July 2016 , disembodied voices , strange lights and unexplained sounds permeated the properties .
Midway through the evening , myself and three Insight investigators were conducting an electronic voice phenomena ( EVP ) session in one of the long display halls of the museum .
I was seated about 30 feet away from the others , near an old printing press ( journalist catnip ). We all heard the distinct sound of someone walking from near the others to me , holding a drink with ice cubes , rattling in a glass .
Our three flashlights shot up and the noise continued , though no one was there . The sound was barely audible on any of our recordings .
STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 35