Legend states that on Halloween, the veil between the realms of the living and the dead thins. Spirit activity spikes as phantoms and malevolent entities cross over, flooding the mortal plane with ghostly energy. It’s no coincidence that Halloween night also happens to be a fantastic opportunity for ghost hunters and curious minds to connect with the other side.
Ghost hunting on Halloween has become as much of a pastime as trick-or-treating. Friends gather in allegedly haunted locations, calling out into the ether, hoping for the whispered reply of a lost relative or the chilled air of a benevolent entity. Often, it’s a fruitless endeavour.
For a more productive Halloween ghost hunt, the location and tools matter. Cities racked by tragedy or at the center of momentous change tend to draw more spectral activity, which can be manipulated based on what’s in your ghost hunter’s toolbox.
Best Cities for a Ghost Hunt
For more than 500 years, North American history has been ripe with controversy. From the European diseases and violence that wiped out populations of Native Americans to a nationwide division that pitted brother against brother, death and conflict laid the foundation for the contemporary United States. The land upon which charming cities and towering metropolises were erected had long been stained by blood and scorn. Some more so than others.
Select historic cities across the United States have drawn a greater concentration of spectral energy. Significant events, notable murders, scandals and debauchery, and powerful tales of love and loss act as conduits for the dead, lending to a thrilling ghost hunt in some of the nation’s most haunted cities.
Baltimore
The waters of the Patapsco River carry the essence of those who succumbed to piracy to the heart of Charm City, where that energy manifests as lost souls in the Fell’s Point neighborhood. Locations like the Admiral Fell Inn hotel and Max’s Taphouse deal with frequent encounters with the departed, which ramp up on Halloween night. October 31st may also be the prime opportunity to try to connect with Edgar Allan Poe, who died mysteriously while in the city in October 1849. The Horse You Came In On Saloon remains a favorite haunt of Poe’s, and it may be worth grabbing a drink and waiting to see if the tortured author emerges.
Salem
Finding a spot for a ghost hunt in Salem is as easy as picking a plot of ground on its 8.29 square miles of land. The emotional toll of the trials, as well as the 20 executions, left the landscape of America’s hub for witchcraft and tragic history saturated in negative energy. Though frightening to many, for a well-equipped ghost hunter, it’s a veritable playground of spectral activity. Artifacts preserved in The Witch House draw the spirit of a young girl and an invisible entity, while giggles and the sounds of children playing echo throughout the House of the Seven Gables. Between hunts, stop in Wicked Good Books for a refresh on local history and the opportunity to engage its many onsite spirits.
Savannah
Savannah’s canopy of live oaks gives the city a fittingly haunted aesthetic. Tendrils of Spanish moss snake toward the ground, like wisps of ectoplasmic residue left by the many apparitions that haunt the Georgian city. From the infamous Bonaventure Cemetery to the inviting 17Hundred90 Inn and Restaurant, the Hostess City of the South is dotted with old haunted buildings. Madison or Lafayette Square could be good spots to set up shop and sweep for sudden drops in temperature or spikes in the electromagnetic field that may emanate from the nearby haunted businesses and homes
St. Augustine
As America’s oldest city, St. Augustine has been the center of controversy and tragedy, from the years-long conflict between the British and the Spanish to devastating hurricanes. Visions of the past replay throughout The Ancient City, startling guests of Casa de la Paz and students of Flagler College. The infamous lighthouse and Castillo de San Marcos Spanish fort are among the most visited haunted hotspots in Northeastern Florida. If you can catch them on a quiet day, they can be ideal for testing out new equipment or running EVP sessions. However, any quiet spot in St. Augustine can produce potential evidence of ghostly activity.
Building Your Ghost Hunters Toolbox
Since shows like Ghost Hunters (2004) and Paranormal State (2007) introduced a broader audience to ghost hunting, the act of sitting in dark rooms and calling out to the dead has become a prevailing activity on Halloween. Once reserved for psychics, parapsychologists, spiritualists, and theorists, the niche has become more accessible to the general public. With that, an entire industry of consumer-friendly ghost tech was born.
To improve the chances of detecting or communicating with nearby spirits, Ghost Daddy offers a variety of gadgets and artifacts that work well in the field. Staples like the EMF Pump and EMF Detector pair well with Medusa’s Net Laser Grid and the Devil’s Marble Motion Sensor Ball to help score coveted evidence of activity.
EMF Pump and Detector:
A must-have for any ghost hunter, the pairing of an EMF Pump and EMF Detector draws in nearby ghosts and alerts of their presence. Ghost Daddy’s EMF Pump produces an electromagnetic field (EMF), which spirits are believed to use to manifest. The Phantom-X USB-C Rechargeable EMF Detector registers the ambient EMF. When it spikes beyond base levels or fluctuates rapidly, a spirit may be drawing energy from the pump and nearby electronics to cross into our realm.
Medusa’s Net Laser Grid:
It’s every ghost hunter’s dream to see a full-sized apparition. It’s the holy grail of the industry. Medusa’s Net Laser Grid helps by casting a broad net of green lasers to create a grid. Anything that crosses the grid will be visible, even if otherwise hidden to the human eye. Paired with the Hydra Flexible Tripod, the pocket-sized laser can be stabilized to project one of five grid patterns for up to 10 hours. Or until a nearby spirit drains the battery.
Devil’s Marble Motion Sensor Ball:
Trigger objects are either used to detect approaching spirits or entice intelligent haunts to manifest. The Devil’s Marble Light Up Motion Sensor Ball does both, with a motion sensor that reacts to nearby movement. Slight vibrations can set off the ball, which flashes hard-to-miss lights to alert of a presence. Being in the shape of a ball, the Devil’s Marble can also be used to connect with responsive spirits. Ask it to touch the sensor and see if the lights flash to determine if a ghost will communicate.
Dowsing Rods
A more traditional tool of the trade, unlike the other equipment, dowsing rods require no battery. That means spirits can’t drain them, leaving things like the EMF detector and Devil’s Marble without power. Dowsing rods do require patience and focus, but when used properly, the lightweight copper rods held firmly in each hand are said to cross when a spirit is nearby. Alternatively, the spirit can answer “yes” and “no” questions by moving the rods in a predetermined direction.
Ghost Hunting on Halloween
There are staples that every ghost hunter should have: a notebook, a camera, and a voice recorder. Documentation allows hunters to revisit potential evidence and interactions with spirits to piece together undeniable proof of a ghostly encounter.
Halloween may be an exciting holiday for ghost hunters, but the same rules apply as if it were any other day. Respect is the greatest addition to any ghost hunting equipment. Respect the dead, but moreover, respect the locations. Many are hundreds of years old, and the history contained within tells important stories of a budding nation, warring factions, and the pains of progress.
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