Ghost Hunting- Be mindful, respectful, and careful

I really want to write about this because a situation happened recently to some friends, and I thought this was something that didn't need saying....but apparently it does. I lead a ghost walk each month. We go to places where we CAN go. The reason I say "can" is that many cemeteries do NOT allow people in after dusk. They aren't afraid that the ghosties will get you, that isn't it. The problem has a few aspects to it.

First, there is the issue of people getting hurt.Imagine someone gets spooked (no pun intended), and runs. They trip, they fall, maybe even hit their head on a tombstone. They can become seriously injured (or even become the next ghost in the place from the bump on the head). You can easily twist ankles, get a branch in the eye, or fall into water in the dark. You don't want to be hurt, and the cemetery doesn't want to pay your hospital bill.

The next issue is that there is unfortunately a lot of idiots around that think it is fun to desecrate cemeteries. They tip over stones, paint on them, and hang things on them. Imagine how you would feel if this were your loved one. It is easier to tell people to keep out of the property, rather than interview everyone who goes in, to see if they are a hoodlum. When you are found in a cemetery, you are assumed to be up to no good.

Another issue. Not everyone in the cemetery at night is a ghost or a nice person. People go to do all kinds of things in cars, some won't harm you, but when you come too close to a mobile meth lab you may find a bullet whizzing past your head (and yes that has happened to someone I know). People also use the woods around cemeteries to make meth. It is important to know where you are, and for the owners to know you are there. They need to also know you are there THAT night. Not, "Oh I talked to some guy 3 years ago and he said it was OK". The property may have changed hands, the person may not have had permission to give you permission, or the rules may have changed recently.

Another issue. MANY families are not so into Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures when it involves their kith and kin. I know of a man who wandered through a country cemetery just taking pictures of the moon, and the stones (not ghost hunting). A family member of some of the deceased lived near by, took a shotgun to the cemetery and told him to "get out!". This person wasn't even "ghost hunting". People don't want a bunch of folks disturbing their loved ones for pictures, excitement and EVPs. Not everyone is amused, and they are paying for the right to have their loved one there undisturbed.

Many cemeteries are off limits after dark. One local cemetery locks up and lets police dogs in training have the run of the place at night. They get their exercise and it keeps drug addicts out. Imagine jumping over the wall and having a German Shepherd police dog land on your butt, with no officer to call him off. It would be a long , long night.


When you are in a cemetery after it closes (usually dusk), you are trespassing. A sign will be posted at the entrance to let you know if it is closed or not and when. A friend went into a New England cemetery with some friends and was charged with trespassing and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, as one boy was 16. There was also a charge of disturbing the peace. That was a little expensive , don't you think? There is a local cemetery that we asked permission (more than once) to get into , and they do not allow it , on the grounds that they are there to protect and make a peaceful place for loved ones (which is true), they gave me the law that they would charge me with, I looked it up, it was disturbing the peace.

Never go onto closed property. Just like you wouldn't stroll into a closed store after hours, you can't stroll onto cemetery property. NEVER go onto or INTO any property without permission. It may look old and deserted, but someone owns it, even if it is the county for back taxes, and they will be very UNamused. Most of the issues there are with liability when someone gets hurt.

Don't assume that because a property says one person has permission, that means that anyone else does, or that they can bring 20 of their friends. That is rarely the case. Most places will make you sign a waiver before allowing you on the property, if they don't ask...you may not be dealing with the real owners.

Beyond what I have already talked about , there is another issue. When people make a habit of trespassing, it ruins it for the rest of us. Cemeteries go on high alerts around Halloween and September when frats are pledging. They are routinely patrolled here locally, to see what people are up to (it is a great place for people to do drugs).

What happens when people go tromping around cemeteries is that they start cracking down on people passing through. There are a few locally that are OK with it, and some that are not. You need to know which are which, and ask them directly. Just because we go to a certain place on a ghost walk, doesn't mean it is OK the next night to take 5 of your best friends through there.
We have a place where the local law comes and checks on us each time. They know who we are, they are just making sure it is us, and if we are OK. They never want to hear the EVPs though.....

No building, no property, no matter how run down, empty and forlorn looking, is available to you to investigate. You go where you are asked to go, or where you receive permission to go, no where else. Don't ruin it for the rest of us please. If I hear of anyone who goes on ghost walks with us, taking it upon themselves to tromp through cemeteries, they will not ever go on a ghost walk again, and I will make sure that they cemetery knows they have been on the property. Just one ghost hunter getting hurt and filing a claim will be the end of any cemetery allowing us to go in. If you don't have permission, you don't go.

I have written several times before about this and being safe out there, but it needed to be said again. Remember, never go alone, go with an experienced person, have permission, no one under the age of 18, and do not have anything illegal on you, including alcohol. Make sure you are aware and watching out for drug manufacturers and addicts, and animals (yes animals). Never touch anything , move or remove anything. Be careful, don't run, and be sober when you go.
There are many groups around that go to quality sites that will be happy to take you. While you are there be respectful, quiet, and do not damage any property.

Be safe out there!!! I don't want to have to go and get bail money for anyone just because they watched too much Zack TV, and please don't ruin it for the rest of us. THANKS!


Peshaui Wequashimese






(C)2012 Dr R M Wolf. May not be used, copied or reproduced without prior written permission.