The Trans-Alleghany Lunatic Asylum (formerly called Weston State Hospital) housed the criminally insane, including Charles Manson. Closed in 1994 as a hospital, it was reopened in August 2007 when it was bought by Rebecca Jordan.

Rebecca called TAPS when she began hearing reports from workers and tourists of phantom footsteps and doors slamming, disembodied voices, full-bodied apparitions, etc. The result is one of the most lively Ghost Hunters shows I’ve yet to see.

Source: Sci Fi Rewind
The Intermountain

People either love Paranormal State or hate it. Over the past several months, I’ve found myself somewhat entertained by the bashing Paranormal State has received since it launched. I hadn’t heard anything good about the show until I went to Amazon and read the reviews for the newly released DVD.

Two of the five-star reviews proclaimed that Paranormal State was better than Ghost Hunters and Most Haunted. Curious, I read them from beginning to end, hoping to find some unbiased information. When I didn’t get it, I decided to go to the A&E website to watch an episode.

Paranormal State is decidedly different than Ghost Hunters in that it’s scripted. I enjoyed listening to the history of the Willard Asylum (New York), but wasn’t impressed by Chris Coffey’s theatrics. He’s the psychic who rids himself from demon possession by slapping himself. Uh-huh. I was even less impressed by the ending, where they “vanquished” the spirits with a simple prayer.

That said, I was reminded of Ghost Hunters when they used an EVP device. Whether that device was real or a stage prop, I’m not sure. I came away from this show more skeptical than ever. If you’d like to judge for yourself, you can watch the videos at A&Etv.com.

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Heather Graham enjoys taking an occasional walk on the wild side with her writing, creating paranormal novels that feature ghostly characters from beyond the grave. Her latest book, THE DEATH DEALER, is just such a novel with much of the action taking place in an historic home, the residence of several spirits who have yet to “cross over.”

Now, Heather is offering one of her readers the chance to discover whether or not his or her home is haunted. Dr. Larry Montz, a veteran field parapsychologist who founded the ISPR in 1972, created GHOST EXPEDITIONS(TM) in 1993 and is the current developing force behind the world’s first 24/7 Interactive Paranormal Observatory, Lab & Museum, will visit the reader’s home, along with a veteran clairvoyant investigator from the ISPR team, to determine if there is scientific evidence supporting the claim of paranormal activity in the home. To enter, readers must tell Heather, in 25 words or less, why their family is the one family in North America who most deserves a visit from a world-renowned parapsychologist.

It’s all in celebration of the publication of THE DEATH DEALER, (MIRA Books) in March 2008. A master of moody, supernatural thrillers, Heather tells the story of a guarded private investigator who must deal with a newfound ability to communicate with restless spirits. THE DEATH DEALER sees him turn that unwanted gift toward catching a killer who patterns murders on the ghoulish tales of Edgar Allan Poe.

To learn more about the contest and enter online, readers should visit http://www.eHarlequin.com/GhostHunterContest and follow the onscreen entry instructions. To enter via mail, entrants must print (or type) on an 8 1/2″ x 11″ plain piece of paper their full name, mailing address and telephone number and explain, in 25 words or less, and mail it to:

“The Heather Graham Death Dealer Contest”
3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 9069,
Buffalo, NY 14269-9069

Canadian address: 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON M3B 3K9.

All online entries must be received by 11:59 PM (ET) on May 31, 2008.

Travel with Nigel Danvers to an eerie seaside town on England’s east coast. Learn to use advanced techniques used by real paranormal investigators, and uncover an ancient mystery and treasure. But, beware, not all of the towns residents will help in your mission, whether they are alive or dead.

Inspiration from the haunting works of Charles Dickens, M.R. James, Arthur Conan Doyle, and E.F. Benson combines with real ghost-hunting gadgets to bring this frightening story to bone-chilling life. Success or failure in locating wandering spirits depends on your skill as an investigator. Placing motion detectors, night vision cameras, and temperature gauges correctly will reveal a location’s haunted past, and expose terrifying apparitions. With nerves of steel, and wits to match, you will soon discover long lost secrets, previously known only to the dead!

I’ve been looking for a decent ghost hunting game for years, ever since I played the once-popular Amber Journeys Beyond. Based on the review from Just Adventure, this sounds like a great game. I liked the soundtrack on the trailer, but the animation looks a bit clunky. I’ll be watching for more reviews in the future.