Utah Paranormal Societies

Utah Paranormal Investigation Society Utah Ghost Research and Investigation Utah Ghost Organization Paranormal Utah Northern Utah Paranormal Society Wasatch Paranormal Investigations

Background

The popularity of paranormal societies across the country is growing, aided by the recent Sci-Fi Channel series Ghost Hunters. While some more established organizations, such as The Atlantic Paranormal Society, are located in the eastern half of the nation, interest in the paranormal is on the rise in the west as well. Utah’s rich pioneer, mining, and Native American heritage creates the perfect setting for paranormal activity, and paranormal societies in Utah are flourishing from the budding curiosity of Utah’s citizens.
Much paranormal interest in Utah was influenced by Clyde Lewis, local radio host of Ground Zero. Clyde's show featured the paranormal and many other controversial topics in the mid to late 1990's. When the show moved to KBER, it became the top-rated show in its time slot in Salt Lake City.
In 1999, Clyde moved his show to Portland, Oregon, where it received syndication until 2001.
Utah has a higher than average amount of paranormal investigation teams when compared to other states in the nation. With the strong Mormon presence in Utah, paranormal investigation remains a subject of criticism within the state, though it is becoming more widely accepted.

History

Utah Paranormal Investigation Society 1 Founded by Michael D. Christensen (2002?), the Utah Paranormal Investigation Society has eight permanent members and offers “para-date” investigations on an appointment basis. This non-profit organization does not believe in using mediums on ghost hunts (see parapsychology), and relies heavily on scientific instruments to give evidence for its claims.

Utah Ghost Research and Investigation 2 This group is also non-profit, with a stated specific interest in investigation and research of paranormal activity. It is based in Salt Lake City and has twelve permanent members. Important to this organization is its list of protocol, which includes such promises as “we will always make safety our number one priority,” “we will be respectful of public and private properties,” and various other rules for conduct during a ghost hunt, including integrity in recording data and maintaining equipment. Ghost hunts take place periodically according to demand and availability of staff.

Utah Ghost Organization 3 The Utah Ghost Organization was founded in 1996 by Troy Wood, a former crime scene investigator and law enforcement agent for over fifteen years. They keep no psychics on their staff, stating that they “don’t use the paranormal to prove the paranormal.” Though a non-profit organization, participants in a ghost hunt may be charged for equipment or property use. These ghost hunts take place as the organizers deem appropriate and are usually open to the public.

Paranormal Utah 4 Paranormal Utah was formed in 1999 by Russ Larsen as a way to document and study paranormal phenomenon. It is their belief that what is considered paranormal by today's standards will be eventually accepted into mainstream science, hence their slogan "Bringing the paranormal into the normal". Paranormal Utah has investigators located throughout the state of Utah and never charges for services. Though they do not claim to do exorcisms or cleansings, they do offer information to clients on living with or dealing with an entity. They will also give advice on how to rid a home of an unwanted spirit.

Tools and Methods

Each organization has its own set of tools and brand names that it prefers, but most equipment is of the same nature.

Electromagnetic Frequency Meter (EMF Meter): Not to be used near equipment like cell phones and computers, this tool can indicate a ghostly presence by sensing abnormal frequencies.

Audio Recorder: All organizations show a preference for digital audio recorders, because they tend to have less static and transfer easily to computers, but it is recommended that cassette recorders be brought for backup.

Non-contact Infrared Thermometer: A “cold spot” can be a good indicator of a ghostly presence, and this thermometer can take quick and accurate measurements to help you find cold spots.

Camcorder: Organizations emphasize the importance of getting a camera that has night vision (infrared) so you can actually see what is going on.

Wireless infrared cameras: These can be easily placed throughout a location and monitored in a centralized location. The footage can be stored on DVD, DVR, or VCR.

Motion Detector (Infrared mode): These are most helpful if set up along a hallway or in a room that is reported to have paranormal activity. If they go off, start taking pictures of the area and you will most likely be able to see orbs, mist, or other ghostly objects.

Digital Camera: This is also a must in any ghost hunt, Providing visual evidence of an area available for analysis later. 35 mm cameras are acceptable alternatives, though they are harder to transfer to the computer and digitally enhance in order to see paranormal activity.

Compass: Since compasses are influenced by electromagnetic fields from the earth, the fields from a spirit will set the needles spinning and you should start taking pictures.

Two-way radios: These are helpful when you’re in a large area at night, especially if you have members in your group with a tendency to get lost.

Laser level: When using a stationary video camera a laser level can be used to shoot a small beam across the viewable area without interfering with the usefulness of the infrared. This creates the illusion of a background light and can make it easier to determine if an object moves in front of it.

Skeptics and Criticism

Those who claim other-worldly contact have been attacked by skeptics from all areas. Professor of Psychology at Ontario’s Laurentian University, Michael Persinger has conducted tests showing that those experiencing paranormal activity are suffering from a sort of hyper-sensitivity of the temporal lobe in the brain, combined with various electromagnetic fields from radios, clocks, and computers. One woman in the study claimed that she felt a presence in her uterus and sensed a baby over her shoulder. Dr. Persinger attributes this claim to a brain injury the woman received as a child, combined with a magnetic field from her clock radio that peaked each night at about the same time she claimed to have felt the ghostly presence. Believers would argue that such a study only strengthens their side of the debate, citing the idea that spirits are electromagnetic fields and it would only make sense that those who are sensitive to this interaction would believe in its reality. Perhaps the most outspoken of the paranormal critics is James Randi, a former stage magician and performer, who is currently offering one million dollars to the person whose paranormal claims he cannot disprove. There have been no collections as of yet. The conditions Randi requires for participants are stringent, and many mediums have complained that his environment is difficult to work in. Yam, Philip. "A Skeptically Inquiring Mind."p.34-36.

Utah’s Most Haunted Locations

Salt Lake City Cemetery: The actual grave of Jacob Moritz, a mini mausoleum stands over “Emo’s” grave. Legend has it that if you circle the grave three times chanting “Emo, Emo, Emo,” then walk up to the door of the monument, you can see his face looking at you. This cemetery is also home to the headstone of one Lilly E. Gray, which has inscribed beneath the birth and death dates “Victim of the beast 666.”

Fort Douglas at University of Utah: A ghost in Civil War attire is said to haunt the fort, but his presence seems to be more protective than menacing. Employees have nicknamed this ghostly sentinel “Clem.”

Capital Theater in Salt Lake City: This theater is thought to be haunted by a former usher who died in a 1940s fire. The elevator has also been known to open when no one pushes the button, and sometimes stops at unselected floors on its way up or down.

The McCune Mansion in Salt Lake City: A popular site for wedding receptions, many claim this mansion to be haunted by a little blond girl of eleven or twelve who looks remarkably like a portrait in the house itself. Wedding parties have often arrived to find the furniture rearranged and doors locked that have no locks on them. Others also say that the lights will flicker in the middle of the night, and employees have noticed footprints that begin and end in the middle of the floor.

Old Deseret: Several reports have been made of ghosts here, the most famous being a former wife of LDS Prophet Brigham Young. Her figure can be seen in this picture in the upper right window. She usually just stares at visitors, occasionally shaking her head, but some visitors have reported her making angry, obscene gestures at them.

Shilo Inn in Salt Lake City: Laughter can be heard in the pool room of this hotel, and a pinball machine in the lobby sometimes plays itself. In the early 1980s a mother reportedly threw her three children from the eleventh floor balcony before jumping herself. The rooms where the family was staying have had several complaints of children’s voices and crying, and calls sometimes come in to the front desk from these rooms when they are unoccupied. This hotel is next to the Capital Theater in Salt Lake City, adding to the overall mystery of both places.

The Old Paper Mill: Though too dilapidated for investigation, the old mill at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon is said to be haunted by the spirits of two vagrants and their dog who died in the old mill years ago.

Spanish Fork High School: While on a ladder changing light bulbs, a custodian fell and died in the auditorium of the school. Several teachers will not go in that room, nor allow students to, in groups of less than five, as the lights have been reported to flicker, the curtain rises and falls, and occasionally sound effects will come on.