Please, Do NOT Trespass at Kenilworth Lodge
19 Thursday Aug 2021
Posted Breaking the News, Haunted Florida, Hotels & Motels
in≈ Comments Off on Please, Do NOT Trespass at Kenilworth Lodge
19 Thursday Aug 2021
Posted Breaking the News, Haunted Florida, Hotels & Motels
in≈ Comments Off on Please, Do NOT Trespass at Kenilworth Lodge
24 Tuesday Mar 2020
Posted Hotels & Motels, Stanley Hotel
in≈ Comments Off on Stanley Hotel Shutters for COVID-19
The Stanley Hotel, made famous from Stephen King’s The Shining, has closed temporarily. Citing an order from local governments, the hotel posted a notice on their Facebook page earlier today. The notice does not state when the hotel and surrounding property will reopen.
14 Friday Jun 2019
Posted Artists, Artwork, Historic Places, Horror Movies, Hotels & Motels, Uncategorized
in≈ Comments Off on “Yarn Darling” Shanell Papp Loves Knitting and the Macabre
“Yarn Darling” Shanell Papp Loves Knitting and the Macabre
Shanell Papp’s upbringing fostered an interest in death and the macabre. She spent part of her childhood on a farm where she took part in caring and slaughtering the animals. Down the street was a cemetery. That alone provided ample content for her artistic endeavors. Her grandmother, owner of a thrift store/flea market, taught Papp how to knit and to crochet. Papp’s 2008 labor-intensive show Lab (Skeleton) was an instant hit and still discussed ten years later.
Papp, born in 1980, was enrolled in an MFA (Master of Fine Art) program at the University of Saskatchewan (Canada) when she began to crochet the life-sized skeleton. It took 4 months to create. Add another 4 months to create and to assemble the internal organs, and Lab (Skeleton) was born—much like Frankenstein’s Monster, a huge influence on Papp’s work.
Creating anatomically correct crochet skeletons is labor-intensive. Papp refers to medical textbooks, visiting college classes, and looking at real skeletons to maintain the accuracy in each piece. She even purchased a gurney to hold one of her creations. Papp says her art is an act of “patience, skill, and commitment.” She sees the pieces as conversation starters. Once completed and installed, Papp enjoys walking amongst the crowd and watching their reactions.
“Lab #4” depicts a skeleton on a table draped with a white tablecloth. The life-sized skeleton is made with yarn and thread and is crocheted and sewn together. It was created in 2006.
In 2013, Papp created “The Shining/Banff” comparing different rooms from King’s Overlook Hotel with one of the Banff Hotels. Needless to say, The Shining is one of Papp’s favorite horror movies.
To see more of Papp’s work: https://shanellpapp.com/
13 Friday Feb 2015
Posted Architecture, Contests, Horror Movies, Hotels & Motels, In the News
inTags
contest, grand heritage hotel group, Hedge Maze, mairim dallaryan standing, Stanley Hotel, The Shining
And the Winner Is…
The Stanley Hotel gets a hedge maze. New York architect Mairim Dallaryan Standing’s hedge maze design was selected over 300+ entries. The hedge maze will be installed this spring to coincide with the annual Stanley Film Festival, April 30-May 3.
A hedge maze was a prominent feature in the 1980 movie The Shining. However, one never existed at the Stanley Hotel, inspiration for the fictional Overlook Hotel. Tourists repeatedly inquired on the location of the fictional hedge.
After 20 years of requests, the Grand Heritage Hotel Group announced the contest last November. Entries totaled 329 from 40 states and 32 countries. A 7-member panel selected the winner last week. The contest was a huge hit!
Standing wins 2 airline tickets, accommodations, and 2 all-access passes for the film festival. Book your tickets and experience the thrill of a large-scale maze.
04 Thursday Sep 2014
Posted Books, Ghost Hunting, Ghost Tours, Hotels & Motels, Live Paranormal, Radio Show
in≈ Comments Off on Talking About Haunted Dalton
Tags
archer paranormal investigations, archer paranormal radio, dalton georgia, haunted dalton, landmark building
Tonight the API Gals are talking about their upcoming trip to Dalton, Georgia. My favorite stop will be the Landmark Building, formerly the Hotel Dalton.
Tune in tonight at 7 pm EST on http://www.liveparanormal.com.
12 Thursday Jun 2014
Posted Disasters, Famous Locations, Hotels & Motels, Paranormal
in≈ Comments Off on Oops, in the Legal Field It’s Called a Conflict
This week on Archer Paranormal Radio at 7 pm EST:
Oops. In the legal field, we call it a conflict. Larry Flaxman will not be on this week. Stay tuned for new date. This week the API Gals are talking all things airline related: Ghosts of Flight 401, Haunted Hotels that the crew stays in, etc. Plus the latest paranormal news.
Tune in to Archer Paranormal Radio every Thursday evening at 7 pm EST on www.liveparanormal.com. Subscribe to our YouTube.com channel: Archer Paranormal. Follow us on Twitter: @JMSpear, @HauntedLib, and @MagnoliaPsychic. Check out The Haunted Librarian, www.thehauntedlibrarian.com.
31 Saturday May 2014
Posted Famous Locations, Haunted Houses, Hotels & Motels, Radio Show, Urban Legends
inJust the Facts! The Historic Windsor Hotel, Americus, Georgia
Last weekend my fellow ghost hunting gals spent the night investigating the Historic Windsor Hotel in Americas, Georgia. I couldn’t attend. Seems I may have missed a great investigation. But I’m the history buff, so I still did my research. Apparently, other groups may not have.
I’m amazed at how quickly groups perpetuate urban legends without doing a little legwork. Just like hearsay is not admissible in court, urban legends shrouded as the “truth” should not make it to print. But let me back up.
History
Americus, Georgia wanted to build a winter destination for snowbirds. Two architects were in the running to design the massive hotel. Ultimately, G.L. (Gottfried Leonard) Norrman (1848-1909) won out. He envisioned a High Victorian themed hotel. The Historic Windsor Hotel opened on June 16, 1892. It cost $150,000 to build. The 5-story Queen Anne castle-like structure takes up a city block. Originally it had 100 rooms. A 3-story atrium is the focal point upon entry. The hotel was named after local businessman John T. Windsor (1847-1930). [Note: Mr. Wilson died on April 20, 1930. This is creepy since April 20th is my birthdate—just not the same year.] The hotel was a mecca for politicians, athletes, and movie stars. However, the appeal wore off by the early 1970s. The Howard Dayton family was the last private owners. They gave—yes, gave—the hotel to the city in 1978. And the pigeons moved in.
The city asked the community what should be done with the hotel: parking deck or remodeled hotel. Surprisingly, the community favored restoration. Good for them! Restoration costs are reported to be between $5 million and $8 million dollars. The hotel re-opened in September of 1991. The Best Western now operates the scaled down 53-room hotel. The 3-story atrium survived the renovations. The fourth floor was not restored and is used primarily for storage.
Hauntings
Stories of hauntings abound. People claim to hear a washing machine in the 5th floor attic. The 3rd floor rooms are most active. Certain rooms are supposedly more haunted; however, the numbers change depending on who you ask. [Note: I would expect the ghosts to roam from room-to-room anyway. I cannot locate any tragic event occurring in any one room. So this fluctuation does not bother me.]
The dining room and board room are also supposedly haunted. There is a gorgeous mirror inside that is also supposed to do something, too. Not sure the link.
The former bellman Floyd Lowery (finally a name!) worked at the hotel for 40 years. He is the namesake for the bar. His ghost is supposedly haunting the establishment. Further, all indications are that he is friendly and helpful, even in the afterlife.
The story that troubles me is the one about a mother and daughter who were murdered sometime in the 1920s. The story goes: Mother was having a tryst. The man was her husband, lover, or her “john.” Rumors are she was the head housekeeper, domestic help, and or prostitute. For some reason she lived at the hotel. The man became upset, reasons vary, and pushed the mother and daughter down the open elevator shaft, killing them upon contact. An online story identifies them as “Emma” and “Abigail.” Jenn and Lisa were given the names “Emily Mae” and “Emma.” I cannot find any of these names in any newspaper. I searched the Americus Times-Recorder, the county organ. Nothing. I would expect a story like this would have been covered by the Atlanta Constitution or the Atlanta Journal (they were 2 separate and distinct newspapers back then). Nope. I’ve searched death certificates. Online obituary listings for Sumter County. Even Find-a-Grave. Still nothing. Deep sigh.
I did, however, find that John T. Windsor’s wife’s name was Emily Amelia. There’s a link. Maybe the names were confused. Still looking.
I also found that Mr. G.L. Norrman committed suicide in 1909 at the age of 61. He designed some amazing buildings in Atlanta and Savannah and was one of the organizers for the Southern Chapter of the American Institute of Architects the same year the Windsor opened. Those, my friends, are facts. The other stuff? Not so sure. But I would expect someone would dust off some microfilm and find out. If you do, please feel free to contact me with it. I promise to share!
11 Tuesday Mar 2014
Posted Conferences, Famous Locations, Ghost Hunting, Hospitals, Hotels & Motels, Live Paranormal, Paranormal, Radio Show, Universities
in≈ Comments Off on This Week on Archer Paranormal Radio
This week on the Archer Paranormal Radio:
1. Owners of Waverly Hills Sanatorium want to convert it to a 4-star hotel. Would you book a room?
2. In the News: Lost to History. University discovers 2,000+ unmarked graves in construction expansion.
3. Parting thoughts from GhoStock 2014.
4. Why attending paranormal conferences enhances your education.
Tune in to Archer Paranormal Radio every Thursday evening at 7 pm EST on www.liveparanormal.com.
06 Thursday Mar 2014
Posted Famous Locations, Famous People, Ghost Hunting, Hotels & Motels, Live Paranormal, Media, Paranormal, Radio Show
in≈ Comments Off on Tonight on The Archer Paranormal Hour
Tags
archer paranormal hour, ghostock, portal to hell house, waverley hills, waverly hills, zak bagans
Tonight on the Archer Paranormal Hour:
1. Zak Bagans (Ghost Adventurers) purchases “demon” house. Are the “Portal to Hell” House claims falling apart?
2. Owners of Waverly Hills Sanatorium want to convert it to a 4-star hotel. Would you book a room?
3. Final thoughts from Jenn before her session “Demonic Possession as Defense to Murder” at GhoStock 2014.
Tune in tonight at 7 pm EST on www.liveparanormal.com
03 Monday Mar 2014
Posted Diseases, Famous Locations, Ghost Hunting, Hospitals, Hotels & Motels, Paranormal
inComing Soon: Hotel Waverly Hills Sanatorium
Charlie and Tina Mattingly, current owners of the infamous Waverly Hills Sanatorium, located at 4400 Paralee Lane, Louisville, Kentucky, announced plans to open a 4-star, 120-room hotel catering to the paranormal connoisseur. But would I book a room?
First, a little history:
Major Thomas H. Hays purchased the property in 1883. He built a modest schoolhouse and hired Miss Lizzie Lee Harris to educate his children. Miss Harris christened the schoolhouse “Waverley School” because of her fondness for Sir Walter Scott’s Waverley novels. Major Hays renamed the entire estate Waverley Hills. When the Board of Tuberculosis purchased the land, they kept the name but changed the spelling to “Waverly.”
Tuberculosis (TB) was known as “The White Plague.” It ran rampant in the early 1900s and prompted the opening of a sanatorium. In its heyday, the 2-story Waverley Hills accommodated 130 patients, adults and children. TB persisted. In 1924, construction commenced to build a 5-story, 400 bed facility. The renovated facility opened on October 17, 1926. However, the popularity of the prescription medication streptomycin decreased the need for extended hospital stays. This led to a drastic decline in patients. The sanatorium closed in 1961.
The sanatorium reopened as the Woodhaven Geriatric Center. Excessive reports of patient abuse led the state to close the facility in 19801982 (Websites vary). A tunnel runs underneath the building and allowed for the convenient concealment of dead bodies from patients.
Subsequent owners sought to reopen the building as a maximum security prison and a religious facility, which would have included a colossal statue of Jesus Christ. Both plans failed.
Today, the Mattingly’s run ghost tours at Waverly. Recently a proposed zoning change request passed. The submitted plans show a restaurant, conference venue, 120-rooms, museum, and liquor bottling business. Ghost tours would continue. Waverly Hills attracts over 10,000 visitors annually. But it begs the question: Would I book a room?
Honestly, I don’t know. Part of me wants to think that I would, but the other half knows that I never travel alone. So, my family would have to go along. Doubtful. That’s a lot of convincing on my part. Would it be worth it? Again, doubtful.
If Waverly Hills is one of the most haunted places on the earth, why would I submit myself to continual paranormal activity? I like my haunts in short bursts. That’s why I don’t live in a haunted house. Well, it’s one reason why I don’t. Here are some additional reasons why I would not book a room:
Room 502: Ghost Hunters conducted an investigation claiming that an unmarried but pregnant nurse hanged herself in Room 502. This story is unconfirmed and highly suspect; I cannot find anything that substantiates it. Still, no thanks.
Suicidal Nurse: Another urban legend is another nurse attempted suicide by slitting her wrists and running through the hospital trailing blood. Another generic story, but I still don’t want to see that at a conference.
High Death Rate: Rumors of exceptionally high death rates to the tune of 62,000 people have circulated over the years. Historical research brings that figure way down to roughly 8,000. Still too many deaths for me.
Existence of the “Body Chute”: While I understand the need and agree to the convenience, I am not compelled to body slide down the chute. Nor do I want to tour a tunnel of death.
Don’t get me wrong. I love to tour abandoned buildings. I think that is part of the allure to Waverly Hills—the graffiti and shear emptiness. By covering the walls and remodeling the building, the Mattingly’s are covering the true essence of Waverly Hills. A museum cannot capture that type of visual emotion. I think the restoration and 4-star hotel concept misses the point. Ghost hunters like old, abandoned buildings. It’s all part of the hunt.
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