Ghosts of Georgia Investigation report
On March 2, 2013, GOGPI investigated claims of paranormal activity at Walking Horse Hotel in Wartrace TN. The activity reported at the hotel is as follows: Hearing disembodied voices and singing, shadow figures, full bodied apparitions, piano playing by itself, and people being touched.
Walking Horse Hotel History:
From the Walking Horse Hotel web site:
The historic Walking Horse Hotel was constructed in 1917 and is recognized as the birthplace of the famous Tennessee Walking Horse. The weathered three story brick icon is located in the picturesque town of Wartrace, Tennessee, less than one hour outside Nashville.
While the hotel has had many proprietors, the most recent shares a love story that is tugging at the heartstrings of romantics everywhere. Joe Peters moved from South Florida to Christiana, Tennessee in August 2004 with his wife, Chais, and youngest son. Peters and lifelong friend LeRoy Wells quickly formed the Midnight Special Band who made their Tennessee debut in what was then Wartace’s Whistle Stop Café. In time Chais became enamored with the old hotel and often expressed her desire to see beyond its locked doors. In September 2006 she was diagnosed with cancer and passed away six months later before having the opportunity.
Four months later Peters purchased the hotel with a vision of bringing it back to life using Chais’s spirit as his guide. Renovations on the ground floor began in August 2007. In January 2008 Peters honored his wife by dedicating an intimate music venue appropriately named Chais Music Hall, which Peters describes as his proudest moment. “For 26 years, Chais shared her life with me. Now I’ve been blessed with an opportunity to share a small part of hers with others for years to come.”
Investigators & people present at investigation: Investigators – Ed Laughlin, Beth Peters, Gretchen Mann, Larry Conley, Michele Lowe, Brian, Sandi Thompson, & Pam
Weather conditions:
Meridian Passing
Date Moonrise Moonset
Time Altitude Distance Illuminated Phase
Mar 2, 2013 –
11:56 PM 9:49 AM
– 4:22 AM 39.9° 231,781 77.2%
Past Weather Conditions for KMQY
Observations prior to selected time: March 02, 2013 – 09:00 CST
Weather Conditions at March 2, 2013 – 8:56 CST
8:56 24 Hour Max 24 Hour Min
Temperature 32.9° F 37.9 at 10:56 30.2 at 5:43
Dew Point 32.0° F 33.8 at 18:01 30.0 at 4:56
Relative Humidity 96% 100 at 21:10 75 at 14:18
Wind Speed 7 mph from NW 13 at 23:56 0 at 10:56
Pressure 29.50 in 29.50 at 8:56 29.44 at 13:56
Sea level pressure 30.13 in 30.13 at 8:56 30.07 at 13:56
Altimeter 30.09 in 30.09 at 8:56 30.03 at 13:56
Weather conditions lt rain – –
Visibility 10.00 miles 10.00 at 9:56 1.50 at 5:38
Ceiling 1600 feet 4000 at 15:34 600 at 22:56
Equipment used by Investigators:
Cameras: Two Canon Rebel digital cameras and Four IR Video Cameras connected to a J2000 DVR.
EMF Meters: Electro Sensor EMF Meter, Cell Sensor, Digital EMF Detectors, Mel-8704R-KII and K-II Meter.
Audio Recorders: Sony P210 digital voice recorder and an Olympus D-10 digital voice recorder and Olympus VN-4100PC.
Thermometers: Cen-Tech mini non-contact infrared digital thermometer and an Omega HH68K ambient thermometer.
Condition of the hotel:
The Hotel was built in 1917 and has gone through some recent restoration. The main and second floor are in good shape and have been restored. The third floor has not been renovated but plans are in the works to renovate it soon. The third floor is currently being used as a haunted house for the Halloween season with different Halloween themes in the different rooms. The utilities are up to date and in working order. The outside windows and doors seemed tight fitting with little or no draft. You could hear outside noises coming through the windows.
Start Investigation 7:30 pm – End Investigation 5:05 am
No Base Readings due to size of location.
Team 1 – Gretchen, Brian, Beth- went out at the same time as team 2
1. 7:36 pm – Started Investigation
2. 7:37 pm – 3rd Floor
a. 7:51 pm – Start EVP in “Emily’s Rm.” – 8:03 pm End EVP
3. 8:13 pm – Hall – Interrupted by radio bleed through. Children talking – Had to change channels after being debunked.
4. 8:30 pm – “Possession” Rm.
a. 8:31 pm – Start EVP – 8:36 End EVP
5. 8:40 pm – “Romance” Room
a. 8:40 pm – Start EVP – 8:45 End EVP
End Sweep – went back to base
Team 2 – Larry, Sandi, Michele – went out at the same time as team 1
1. 7:36 pm – Started Investigation
2. 7:41 pm – Bathroom – Main Floor
a. 7:44 pm – Start EVP – 7:53 pm End EVP
3. 7:57 pm – Reception Hall
a. 7:57 pm – Start EVP – 8:05 pm End EVP
4. 8:15 pm – Dining Rm.
a. 8:15 pm – Start EVP – 8:25 pm End EVP
5. 8:26 – Music Hall
a. 8:28 pm – Start EVP – 8:28 pm End EVP
End Sweep – went back to base
Team 1 – Gretchen, Brian, Beth- went out at the same time as team 3
1. 9:23 pm – Reception Area – Main Floor
a. 9:23 pm – Start EVP – 9:37 pm End EVP
2. 9:52 pm – Music Hall
a. 9:52 pm – Start EVP – 10:03 pm End EVP
3. 10:09 pm – team tried to debunk phone ringing on the wall earlier in the reception area and continued to investigate reception area.
4. 10:34 pm – End Sweep – went back to base
Team 3 – Ed & Pam – went out at the same time as team 1
1. 9:21 pm – “Possession Rm. – 3rd Floor
a. 9:28 pm – Start EVP – 9:35 pm End EVP
2. 9:39 pm – “Execution” Rm.
a. 9:42 pm – Start EVP – 9:52 pm End EVP
3. 9:53 pm – Hall
a. 9:53 pm – Silent Vigil – 10:00 pm End Silent Vigil
4. 10:03 pm – “Emily’s” Rm.
a. 10:03 pm – Start EVP – 10:18 pm End EVP
5. 10:22 pm – End Sweep – went to main floor.
Team 3 – Ed & Pam – went at the same time as team 2
1. 11:00 pm – Music Hall
a. 11:07 pm – Start EVP – 11:23 pm End EVP
2. 11:24 – 11:27 pm – Reception Area
3. 11:30 pm – Dining Hall
a. 11:30 – Start EVP – 11:45 pm End EVP
4. 11:54 pm – Telephone Area
a. 11:54pm – Start EVP – 11:59 pm End EVP
End Sweep – back to base
Team 2 – Larry, Sandi Michele- went at the same time as team 3
1. 11:00 pm – 3rd Floor – Upstairs Hall
2. 11:02 pm – “Sex” Rm.
a. 11:04 pm – Start EVP – 11:12 pm End EVP
3. 11:15 pm – “Emily’s” Rm.
a. 11:15 pm – Start Silent EVP – 11:20 pm End EVP
4. 11:21 pm – Hall
a. 11:29 pm – Start EVP – 11:36 pm End EVP
5. 11:47 pm – Investigate “Execution” Rm.
6. 11:52 pm – Investigate “Possession” Rm.
7. 12:01 am – End Sweep – back to base
Team 4 Gretchen, Pam & Brian
1. 3:50 am – 3rd Floor Hall
a. 3:54 am – Start Silent Vigil – 4:02 am Started Spirit Box Session – 4:16 am End EVP
2. 4:22 am – Went to main floor – Music Hall
a. 4:23 am – Started Ghost Box session – 4:34 am End EVP
3. 4:35 am – Lobby
a. 4:37 am – Heard two large banging sounds from Kitchen area
4. 4:38 -4:45 am – Kitchen (Investigate and try to debunk loud noises heard by team)
5. 4:45 am – Lobby
a. 4:45 am – Start Ghost Box session – 5:05 am End EVP
End Investigation
Findings:
We would like to thank Joe Peters and his manager Raymond for all their hospitality and assistance while we were at the Walking Horse!
GOGPI went to the location to investigate the claims of activity in the hotel and were not disappointed.
We did not take any base reading before the investigation but did take EMF and temperature reading throughout the investigation. The temperatures were within normal range for the conditions. The EMF was normal in the usual places and high around the appliances as expected. What we did find on the third floor were normal readings on the first sweep down both sides of the hallway. About 15 minutes later we went back down the hallway in the opposite direction and found the EMF reading high along the hallway nearest the front of the building, the readings went from 1.9 to 4.8 miligause, they were originally 0.1 to 0.9. All teams experienced this and the only explanation we found was the major power lines ran in front of the hotel and may have caused the high readings.
We did record numerous EVP’s from the location. We did not capture anything on video but did have a couple interesting digital pictures. In the door way to room 202 an unusual light was captured on the door frame and no one was in the room or near it. Two pictures were taken 5 seconds apart from this one, one before and one after, and the light was not in either one of them. The camera used was a full spectrum digital camera on a tripod. The second picture was taken in the reception area between the lobby and the Chaise Lounge. In that picture a large black mass was captured, the same camera was used and the before and after pictures didn’t have the mass in them. At the time the picture was no taken there was no outside light source to cause any shadow play or any light illusions. We were unable to find any cause for either picture.
All investigation had some experience at the hotel, many experiences were the same as the claims reported by others that visited the hotel. With the experiences of many other people that have visited the hotel, all the EVP’s that we captured along with the pictures, and the experiences that our investigators had we feel that the hotel is haunted. We do not feel that there is any negative energy but perhaps the spirits of past guests that are friendly and like to communicate with the living.
Ed Laughlin
Ghosts of Georgia Paranormal Investigations
Personal Experience summaries from investigators on the investigation:
Ed:
After arriving at the hotel on Friday I was talking with the manager in the hallway on the second floor when I hear a disembodied voice coming from the direction Brain was standing, he was to my right about eight feet away. He stated he heard the voice too and said like it sounded as if it came from the room he was standing in front of, room 203. It sounded like a young child.
While doing an EVP session in the second floor hallway I was sitting across from room 204 as I glanced past the room door I saw a shadow figure standing between the windows in the room.
While investigating the third floor hallway on Saturday morning I heard what sounded like voices coming from a radio but no radio was on, Larry and Brian heard them too.
While at base Saturday evening I heard what sounded like the floor boards creaking outside the door in the hallway, sounded as if someone walked up to the door. When I opened the door no one was there or anywhere to be seen, teams were investigating on the third and first floors and no one was on the second floor where I was. When I stepped into the hallway the floor board in front of the door creaked and sounded like what I heard. Pam heard the creak too and confirm that it was the same sound. Never heard it the rest of the night. About an hour later I saw a thin shadow move across the wall in the room and disappear, no cars passed outside. Never saw the shadow before or after that time.
While investigating Emily’s room, on Saturday night, during the EVP session I got chilled, felt like the chill that comes from the bones outward, and nauseated. For me it’s the way I react to strong spirit energy that is around. After the chill passed and the nausea abated I heard a noise behind me like something dragging across the sheet on the bed, unable to determine where the noise came from.
While investigating the dining room on the first floor I heard a noise that sounded like air pressure being let off. Pam heard the noise too but she said it sounded like plates rattling, she did record the sound and it did sound like plates rattling.
In the lobby I heard a noise that sounded like the old phone cranking or the turning of metal wheels, Pam heard the noise too. I thought it was the clock about the chime and as I was looking at the clock I saw a small light colored object go across the floor on the other side of the lobby about fifteen feet away, when I shined my flashlight in that direction there was nothing there, I expected to see a toy car as that is what I saw go across the floor.
Later that night while at base watching the monitor I saw the cell sensor go off on the third floor hallway, no one was on that floor. A team went up and checked it out to see why it was going off, while they were there the cell sensor stopped and a few minutes later I saw the cell sensor go off in Emily’s room and I notified the team who investigated the cause.
Gretchen:
1. Getting the name Emma/Emily/Emeline upon entering the hotel (it stuck with me for almost an hour).
2. Hearing a three word whisper in my ear in the boys room at base shortly after arriving- female adult
3. I also heard whispering in the lobby downstairs…more like an exhale.
4. I saw an appration (plaid blue shirt and jeans or dark pants) cross from the red room (rm. 203) towards the room where the alarm goes off (rm. 205). As I turned to see who I thought was the manager, he just wasn’t there anymore.
5. Experienced a long cell sensor light/sound reading response to something I could not see. The air was thick and not comfortable upstairs. 3rd floor upstairs. There were changes in EMF which help this become evidence instead of just experience. Then I saw a moth fly from behind the cell sensor to the ceiling. I was reminded that there are no moths right now in the cold….hmmm
6. The possession room…felt an overwhelming feeling about the room being used for illegal activity, whether it was gambling or prostitution or something like that, to that extreme…I do not know.
7. I saw a black shadow third floor move from the back of the hall to the front of the hall (back of the building towards the front), main hall.
8. Heard pans crash to the floor or metal table from what we think was the kitchen, no pans out of place. This noise happened twice before we got in there to investigate.
9. Also from the lobby, heard what we think must have been the phone ring…harsh and loud metal on metal sound. Could not recreate.
10. Heard little things throughout the night I could not explain or people said was not them.
11. Laid in bed in red room (rm. 203) with Beth and experienced the mel meter going off evewry 5- 15 minute intervals. Felt the bed shift (slide) a couple of times. Felt like Beth and I were not alone. Think someone kept walking in and out of the room. Wonder if it was the apparition I saw earlier.
12. Ed and I saw a shadow while at base….go across the wall and the door with the gunshot in it.
Beth:
On the main floor I had a sense of sadness, I felt like someone had lost a loved one. Later after seeing the picture in the music room I realized who I thought had passed and then I felt she died of a lengthy illness such as cancer. It was confirmed that she had. Also felt a sense that the guy who owned the hotel had given up. He lost his love and he just couldn’t do it anymore. Felt his depression. While investigating our team and I heard a loud metallic clanging sound. As we passed by the old Victorian phone, we realized it was the phone that had rang. I heard some other strange sounds while we were down there too.
On the 3rd floor I had some visions of gambling or some type of meetings that were not exactly legal. I did not realize Gretchen had picked up on the same thing. I also picked up on girls on the 3rd floor too.
In the Red room (203), I investigated by trying to sleep in the room. I was awakens several times by the cell censors and my K-2 going on and off. I felt the bed shifting and moving like it was sliding on ice. It wasn’t really moving though. Also when I closed my eyes I felt like I was moving through a really fast tunnel at a high rate of speed. If I opened my eyes it stopped. Overall, a very strange feeling.
Brian:
Brian heard a disembodied voice in the 2nd floor hallway not long after he got there. Also while investigating with Beth and Gretchen he heard some kind of metallic noise which they could not find the source of. He also witnessed the cell sensor’s going off on the third floor with Larry and Gretchen.
Larry:
I also witnessed the cell sensor’s going off on the third floor and was able to confirm with my Mel meter, which also was getting a reading of 2.0 and when the cell sensor stopped the Mel meter read 0.0, also on the second floor in front of our room on Friday before we started our second sweep a shadow appeared on the wall to my right, and vanished.
Sandi:
Only one. I thought I saw something out of the corner of my eye when Gretchen and I were in the hall outside of our room. Unfortunately that was all for me.
Report from Michele:
Photographic Evidence:
On photo number 5 in my full spectrum pics there is a glowing figure in the “Red Rm” door, in pic 6 it’s gone!! Look at the side by side!!!
In photo number 45 there seems to be a black mass, I lightened
Personal Experiences: Included in Psychic Impressions.
Psychic Impressions:
In the music hall I saw a red haired woman, bright red hair. Era seemed to be late 50’s-60’s. Her hair was in a beehive style and long. She had freckles too. I picked up she was a “party girl” She had a white ribbon in her hair.
I also picked up a black man, a horse handler, but he did not stay at the hotel. I see him working on a farm.
While walking on the stairs between floor, the main stairs, I kept picking up “Gunshot”
The Possession Rm:
I picked up a young girl 11-12 years? She had short curly hair like orphan Annie, but sandy blond or reddish, maybe….. The era 30’s-40’s.
While coming out of Possession Rm I felt very lightheaded in the little hall with couch.
Across in the “Wheelbarrow Rm” I felt instantly nausea. I believe this is the room that the manager said was where they saw the man and little girl.
I picked up a white man, tall, thin with slicked back black hair and a thin black mustache. It was 40’s-50’s era.
Same area….Third Floor:
I picked up a man, same one as above I think, and a woman with beehive hairdo, but brown hair, she was short and minimally heavy, they were physically fighting in the hallway, holding each others arms and pushing at each other.
I then saw this same woman in a wedding dress.
Red Rm (rm. 203) 2nd floor, one with camera:
I saw the door opening and closing by itself. And that someone unseen comes and sits on the bed.
I also picked up one more little girl, same era, but she had long gold blond hair, straight, but in ringlet curls.