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Paranormal Tourism: Fun or Fraud? 69

Paranormal tourism: Fun

or fraud?

by Sharon Hill

Loch Ness, Scotland. Willow Creek, California.
Raystown Lake, Pennsylvania. Lake Champlain,
Vermont/New York. Pine Barrens, New Jersey.
All these locations and many more succeed in
capitalizing on their famous monsters to draw in
visitors.
Even a greater draw than monsters are
ghosts. It is standard for historic U.S. towns,
particularly in the south and northeast to have
multiple ghost tours available. I have trouble
tracking how many ghost tours exist in the
Mecca of paranormal pickings - Gettysburg,
Unexplained or unnerving experiences that any force "holding" him down in his bed.
Pennsylvania. You can't go a block without
individuals have reported in the past can not be
seeing an advertisement for such a business. I've
confirmed. Once in a while, a historic tragedy According to Rolling Stone, Rihanna avoids a
investigated a ghost tour of a historic sea side
can be confirmed at a precise location but a popular California spot "because she's afraid of
town in New Jersey and was less than
critical point is ignored: NO ONE HAS BEEN ghosts."
impressed.
ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT GHOSTS
When a town is in need of a tourist
EXIST! So, to say so matter-of-factly that a Emma Stone said that her late grandfather
attraction, should they stoop to publicizing the
spirit lingers there that causes a visitor to get the would leave quarters for her.
local paranormal lore to draw attention?
heebie-jeebies is unreasonable speculation.
Ghost tours attract families for an after-
Even if there are long-standing legends of Ellen DeGeneres said she's "seen people and
hours casual walking trip. It's a fun and safe
strange events occurring at some location, to they just wear the same clothes."
thing to do. The paranormal experience is just suggest that a place is haunted just to freak
out of reach so as to not be particularly
people out is contemptible. Ghost stories lend a Matthew McConaughey said he "was not even
frightening and the guides are meant to be
particular atmosphere to historic places. Or, one under the influence" when he saw a ghost.
entertaining and not pushy regarding belief or
may also conclude that historic places ooze with
disbelief. They let YOU decide. What's the harm
a "haunted" atmosphere cultivated by our pro- Demi Lovato said that she had a few
in using local legends to boost tourism?
paranormal pop culture. experiences with ghosts.
The latest example of jumping on the
Ghost tours and monster festivals are
paranormal tour bandwagon is Flemington, New
fun. But, their apparent frivolity disguise an Kate Hudson said that she and her mom, Goldie
Jersey. According to this story, Flemington is in
underlying invitation to buy into an idea just Hawn, have the ability to feel spirits.
need of economic revitalization. One because it's entertaining while having no basis in
businessperson is not opposed to promoting
reality. I don't begrudge businesses for offering Zach Braff said that he "saw a dead person
ghost stories as a way to help draw interest in the
ghost tours as a way to explore a location and it's once."
old hotel. Commenting on the request from the
history (because I think there actually IS a way
local paranormal group who asked permission to
to do it in an unobjectionable way), but it can Laura Linney wasn't a believer in ghosts until
investigate the building prior to renovation, he
easily go beyond entertainment and, thus, she went to a New York theater that's supposedly
explains.
contribute to the promotion of paranormal belief filled with them.
LoPiccolo, who wants to cultivate all
in our society. It's the 21st century; we need to
forms of enthusiasm for the hotel, is checking
move beyond that low level of understanding. Selena Gomez had an app specifically to detect
with attorneys and the owners to see if Cook can ghosts.
return with a crew. The editors of Weird New
Jersey magazine are also interested, he said. Celebrities Who Believe In
Sting said he "never believed in ghosts" and was
Even the paranormal investigator is open Ghosts "very skeptical about it until I lived with them."
about the public's appetite for spooky stories.
Cook [paranormal investigator] says Kendall Jenner said she's "experienced some
he'd like to bring in six to eight people, including Kristen Stewart said that she talks to ghosts.
pretty ghosty situations."
"a couple of sensitives and a psychic," along
with a recording device to try to pick up EVP Lisa Rinna said she's "always believed in the Lily Collins said that she was "visited" at night
(electronic voice phenomena), laser grids to paranormal of the spirit world." by the spirits of Ted Bundy's victims.
detect movements or shadows, and geophones to
feel vibrations. He said paranormal Jenna Bush Hager said she "felt something" Jessica Chastain thinks that she stayed at a
investigations and discoveries are good for during her stay at the White House.
haunted house in London.
businesses - the hard-core nonbelievers don't
care, while just about everyone else is intrigued. Keanu Reeves said that he saw a ghost in New "Ghostbusters" star Dan Aykroyd said that he's
I care! And I'm not particularly York and "it was cool."
had "several experiences" with ghosts.
"intrigued".
Subjective, worthless ghost investigation "Ghostbusters" star Melissa McCarthy has Kesha said that a ghost "caressed" her.
reports are available by the thousands online encountered ghosts more than once.
with permission from the property owners. A Jenny Slate said that she "grew up in a genuine
few paranormal groups will "certify" your Miley Cyrus said she stayed at an apartment in haunted house" in Massachusetts.
location as "haunted". This strongly supports the London that was haunted.
trend of businesses deliberately SEEKING this Megan Fox said that she's "heard ghosts."
type of publicity. Ariana Grande said that she had "a
ghost/demon experience."
Lea Michele said that her previous New York
Labeling a location "haunted" is silly and apartment was haunted. []
borders on fraud. Ghost stories are stories. "Luke Cage" star Mike Colter used to feel a