THE UNKNOWN WORLD - IN THE NEWS
Christopher will be a special guest on two upcoming podcasts in June as he promotes his new book, Selfies From the Underworld: A Native American's Record of the Supernatural.
On Sunday, June 19th at 2:pm MST, Christopher will be appearing on Talking With The Source Podcast with Haffern Paranormal.
On Monday, June 20th at 6:pm MST, Christopher will be the featured guest on the Talk & Tech Paranormal Podcast with one of his friends and colleagues in the paranormal field, Keith Bailey.
Links to both shows will be posted closer to their airdates!
On Sunday, June 19th at 2:pm MST, Christopher will be appearing on Talking With The Source Podcast with Haffern Paranormal.
On Monday, June 20th at 6:pm MST, Christopher will be the featured guest on the Talk & Tech Paranormal Podcast with one of his friends and colleagues in the paranormal field, Keith Bailey.
Links to both shows will be posted closer to their airdates!
The first of the signings for Christopher's new book begins on Saturday, April 30th from 11:am to 4:pm at Celebration Metaphysical Center, 975 Garden of the Gods Unit C in Colorado Springs.
NOW AVAILABLE:
SELFIES FROM THE UNDERWORLD : A NATIVE AMERICAN’S RECORD OF THE SUPERNATURAL BY CHRISTOPHER ALLEN BREWER
AVAILABLE TO ORDER ON AMAZON
SELFIES FROM THE UNDERWORLD : A NATIVE AMERICAN’S RECORD OF THE SUPERNATURAL BY CHRISTOPHER ALLEN BREWER
AVAILABLE TO ORDER ON AMAZON
Starfest Entertainment Convention : May 13th, 14th and 15th, 2022 – Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center
This will be Starfest’s final convention after 45 unforgettable years. Christopher & James from FUTURE GHOST have been attending for over 15 years and will be presenting a special paranormal panel highlighting Christopher’s new book. Other notable Starfest guests include Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Terry Farrell, Nick Creegan, Eddie McClintock and others.
Selfies From The Underworld : A Native American’s Record of the Supernatural
Saturday, April 14th at 6:pm in Panel Room 1 of the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center
Join the stars of Haunted Hospitals, Paranormal 911, Paranormal Nightshift and other Discovery + and Travel Channel programs for a spooky, fun panel on all things that go bump in the night!
Why has paranormal phenomena fascinated and frightened us for so many centuries? From ghost stories to reality shows and horror movies, our interest in the existence of a spirit world is something shared by civilizations throughout the ages.
This intriguing field has been studied extensively for over 15 years by Christopher Allen Brewer (Scariest Night Of My Life, Most Terrifying Places in America, author of Selfies From the Underworld ) and James Manda (Paranormal Nightshift, My Ghost Story), who are collectively known as FUTURE GHOST.
Showcasing a startling collection of spirit photography and audio recordings from several well-known haunts, Christopher and James are currently featured on several Discovery + and Travel Channel programs. Interviewed by the Denver Post and filmed by 2-time Pulitzer Prize winner Craig Walker, Christopher had early exposure to the existence of a spirit world as an Oglala Sioux. In 2004 he met James, who was living down the street from an area where a 737 crashed, a spot known to locals for its haunted history.
This panel presents their findings from their 15 years as explorers of the unknown in paranormal hotspots in and around Denver, features behind-the-scenes trivia on the paranormal programs they’ve filmed, as well as an examination of the book. For budding ghost hunters to anyone who simply likes a good shiver down their spine, join FUTURE GHOST for a very supernaturally-stimulating panel!
This will be Starfest’s final convention after 45 unforgettable years. Christopher & James from FUTURE GHOST have been attending for over 15 years and will be presenting a special paranormal panel highlighting Christopher’s new book. Other notable Starfest guests include Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Terry Farrell, Nick Creegan, Eddie McClintock and others.
Selfies From The Underworld : A Native American’s Record of the Supernatural
Saturday, April 14th at 6:pm in Panel Room 1 of the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center
Join the stars of Haunted Hospitals, Paranormal 911, Paranormal Nightshift and other Discovery + and Travel Channel programs for a spooky, fun panel on all things that go bump in the night!
Why has paranormal phenomena fascinated and frightened us for so many centuries? From ghost stories to reality shows and horror movies, our interest in the existence of a spirit world is something shared by civilizations throughout the ages.
This intriguing field has been studied extensively for over 15 years by Christopher Allen Brewer (Scariest Night Of My Life, Most Terrifying Places in America, author of Selfies From the Underworld ) and James Manda (Paranormal Nightshift, My Ghost Story), who are collectively known as FUTURE GHOST.
Showcasing a startling collection of spirit photography and audio recordings from several well-known haunts, Christopher and James are currently featured on several Discovery + and Travel Channel programs. Interviewed by the Denver Post and filmed by 2-time Pulitzer Prize winner Craig Walker, Christopher had early exposure to the existence of a spirit world as an Oglala Sioux. In 2004 he met James, who was living down the street from an area where a 737 crashed, a spot known to locals for its haunted history.
This panel presents their findings from their 15 years as explorers of the unknown in paranormal hotspots in and around Denver, features behind-the-scenes trivia on the paranormal programs they’ve filmed, as well as an examination of the book. For budding ghost hunters to anyone who simply likes a good shiver down their spine, join FUTURE GHOST for a very supernaturally-stimulating panel!
If you’re looking for something supernaturally stimulating to do in the spring, there’s a really fun event coming up!
Join the stars of Haunted Case Files, Portals to Hell, Haunted Hospitals, Paranormal Nightshift and others at the 9th Annual Monastery Mayhem. April 22nd, 23rd & 24th at the Holy Cross Abbey in Canon City.
Tickets include two full nights of paranormal investigations and two nights of lodging on campus at the Sister’s House.
Last fall, FUTURE GHOST filmed a complete reenactment of MTV’s Fear there and always have a great time with great people at this location. Christopher's birthday is on the 24th, so James and him will arrive early Saturday evening and will be spending the night. They’d love for you to come hang out with them.
Be there and be scared!
Presented by Simply Ghost Network.
Join the stars of Haunted Case Files, Portals to Hell, Haunted Hospitals, Paranormal Nightshift and others at the 9th Annual Monastery Mayhem. April 22nd, 23rd & 24th at the Holy Cross Abbey in Canon City.
Tickets include two full nights of paranormal investigations and two nights of lodging on campus at the Sister’s House.
Last fall, FUTURE GHOST filmed a complete reenactment of MTV’s Fear there and always have a great time with great people at this location. Christopher's birthday is on the 24th, so James and him will arrive early Saturday evening and will be spending the night. They’d love for you to come hang out with them.
Be there and be scared!
Presented by Simply Ghost Network.
Christopher and James filming a "lost episode" of MTV's Fear at the Abbey in 2021.
It's been a year since the premiere of Haunted Hospitals third season. Christopher recently filmed his scenes for Season 4 and is looking forward to its debut later this year. In the meantime, his new book is just around the corner!
Selfies From The Underworld :
A Native American’s Record of the Supernatural
For a young Oglala Sioux, tribal beliefs regarding a spirit world have always been a reality, especially when that reality begins unfolding around him: ghosts, spirits, cryptids, the interstellar and interdimensional - some messengers, some menaces. How would a boy like that grow up, feeling haunted and hunted, where high strangeness was a standard?
Across dreamtimes, following Native teachings, spiritual practices and synchronicity, he enters territories where the paranormal is normal, the supernatural natural. Enter this realm with one of the stars from Haunted Hospitals, Paranormal 911, Paranormal Nightshift and shows such as Most Terrifying Places in America, Scariest Night of My Life and My Ghost Story. Christopher Allen Brewer invites you to uncover bizarre accounts of the unexplained, personal and tribal ghost stories - the evidence of another world superimposed over ours.
Coming this spring!
Selfies From The Underworld :
A Native American’s Record of the Supernatural
For a young Oglala Sioux, tribal beliefs regarding a spirit world have always been a reality, especially when that reality begins unfolding around him: ghosts, spirits, cryptids, the interstellar and interdimensional - some messengers, some menaces. How would a boy like that grow up, feeling haunted and hunted, where high strangeness was a standard?
Across dreamtimes, following Native teachings, spiritual practices and synchronicity, he enters territories where the paranormal is normal, the supernatural natural. Enter this realm with one of the stars from Haunted Hospitals, Paranormal 911, Paranormal Nightshift and shows such as Most Terrifying Places in America, Scariest Night of My Life and My Ghost Story. Christopher Allen Brewer invites you to uncover bizarre accounts of the unexplained, personal and tribal ghost stories - the evidence of another world superimposed over ours.
Coming this spring!
This is an Oglala Lakota’s view on cultural appropriation and spirituality. I’m sometimes asked about my personal feelings regarding this hot topic as it relates to my work in the paranormal field, so here they are. 13 minutes of them. And related things.
Wanna hear a ghost story?
Here are 4 true, personal ghost stories Christopher is sharing in the days leading up to the FUTURE GHOST panel at Fan Expo Denver, “Selfies From The Underworld” on Halloween weekend. Tickets / schedule at the link below. They hope to scare you there, but for those unable to attend, enjoy these stories…
Here are 4 true, personal ghost stories Christopher is sharing in the days leading up to the FUTURE GHOST panel at Fan Expo Denver, “Selfies From The Underworld” on Halloween weekend. Tickets / schedule at the link below. They hope to scare you there, but for those unable to attend, enjoy these stories…
FUTURE GHOST done a lot of traveling this summer, crossing some things off their wish list and collecting new stories. They visited Santuario De Chimayo and Loretto Chapel in New Mexico, both the sites of miraculous events. They investigated numerous locations in New Orleans, including the Rampart Street Murder house featured in Paranormal Lockdown. They stopped in Vegas to explore the paranormal reports at the Luxor and Zak Bagan's Haunted Museum, then traveled to sacred sites in Arizona. Next spring they're setting their sights on Resurrection Cemetery in Chicago and its vanishing hitchhiker, as well as some popular haunts in New York. Christopher has been adding to his book as he travels, realizing that although this pandemic certainly hasn't helped add much to his IMDB profile, he is still grateful to have experienced all that he has with so many wonderful souls on similar paths. Says Christopher, "Who knows what the fall season is going to look like for 2021, but there is always great mystery waiting to be uncovered and I hope to see many of your beautiful faces along the way."
On Sunday, August 8th, Christopher Allen Brewer from FUTURE GHOST was the featured guest on the HauntingLIVE! Podcast. He spoke about a number of his supernatural experiences and how they related to his background as an Oglala Sioux, as well as the shows he's been involved with and his recent investigations. Click below to watch!
Three years ago. Says Christopher: "I wouldn’t find out until it aired that this shoot was for Most Terrifying Places In America ( The Unnatural World ). I played the Historian. Poor James who helped me rehearse my lines on the drive there was supposed to play a miner but that scene was cut at the last minute! I’d been to Cripple Creek several times for investigations and conventions and was grateful to share my knowledge and donate my services for one of my very favorite programs. My scenes took awhile to film due to all the background noise of cars and planes, not to mention the clouds passing overhead and changing the lighting. Every time there was an interruption we had to stop and reset. It was a great crew and as usual the editors did a great job with the material. I was just happy to be playing hooky from work!"
You can now watch Christopher's episode of Most Terrifying Places America and others on Discovery Plus!
You can now watch Christopher's episode of Most Terrifying Places America and others on Discovery Plus!
Christopher's appearance on Paranormal Rewind from Tuesday, April 27th is now available for listening. Click the link below to hear!
One of the shows Christopher Allen Brewer and James Manda are featured on was just nominated for two Canadian Screen Awards. Congratulations and good luck to all involved!
On Tuesday, April 27th at 7:pm ET, FUTURE GHOSTS’s Christopher Allen Brewer will be the evening’s special guest on PARANORMAL REWIND, broadcasting from KCOR Las Vegas. Christopher will be discussing his appearances on the latest season of Haunted Hospitals and his history in the paranormal field as a Native American. Don't miss it!
Many of the programs Christopher from FUTURE GHOST has been involved with the past few years are now available for instant viewing on Discovery +.
Paranormal 911, Haunted Hospitals Season 2, Paranormal Nightshift, Most Terrifying Places In America ( The Unnatural World ), The Believers ( Pennies From Hell ) are now all streaming. There are also over 55,000 episodes of other shows featured on HGTV, Food Network, TLC, ID, Animal Planet, Discovery Channel and more. Subscriptions start at $4.99 a month or $6.99 ad-free. Start a 7-day free trial for the best in binge-watching!
Paranormal 911, Haunted Hospitals Season 2, Paranormal Nightshift, Most Terrifying Places In America ( The Unnatural World ), The Believers ( Pennies From Hell ) are now all streaming. There are also over 55,000 episodes of other shows featured on HGTV, Food Network, TLC, ID, Animal Planet, Discovery Channel and more. Subscriptions start at $4.99 a month or $6.99 ad-free. Start a 7-day free trial for the best in binge-watching!
The first six episodes of Christopher's new electronic communiqués are available for viewing now on the Videos page. What are these, exactly? Says Christopher:
"A friend went looking for Electronic Signatures on YouTube and found a bunch of tutorials on e-signatures. She thought my videos were business related. I suppose it depends on the business. But in my case the e is for esoteric.
I thought of all the digital traces we leave behind, digital shadows and ghosts, electronic footsteps and fingerprints. We’re machines making machines. But somewhere under all that circuitry is a beating heart and beyond that, a spirit. I thought it was going to be a commentary on supernatural events, which it kind of is, but it wanted to include and honor the realm of dreams. So I relented.
I come from a race of storytellers and at the end of the day or the end of the world, when the WiFi fails and the only machines left are biological, the gift of story is what will persevere and remain. All of this technology to tell and support a story. And these are some of mine. And like my best dreams I hope they read as strange, weird, touching, creepy, poetic, unsettling, emotional, interesting. Which could all describe most first dates of mine.
Byte-size and bona fide, I also wanted these looking very handmade. A late-night program you only saw because you just woke up to turn off the TV and saw this on PBS. They were also partially inspired by Laurie Anderson’s old PSAs. Pandemic on the loose? Confined to the house? What to do? Do you dream? Do you dream in color? Do you remember your dreams? Will these stories jog something from your subconscious and stimulate your dreams? Take a byte and find out."
"A friend went looking for Electronic Signatures on YouTube and found a bunch of tutorials on e-signatures. She thought my videos were business related. I suppose it depends on the business. But in my case the e is for esoteric.
I thought of all the digital traces we leave behind, digital shadows and ghosts, electronic footsteps and fingerprints. We’re machines making machines. But somewhere under all that circuitry is a beating heart and beyond that, a spirit. I thought it was going to be a commentary on supernatural events, which it kind of is, but it wanted to include and honor the realm of dreams. So I relented.
I come from a race of storytellers and at the end of the day or the end of the world, when the WiFi fails and the only machines left are biological, the gift of story is what will persevere and remain. All of this technology to tell and support a story. And these are some of mine. And like my best dreams I hope they read as strange, weird, touching, creepy, poetic, unsettling, emotional, interesting. Which could all describe most first dates of mine.
Byte-size and bona fide, I also wanted these looking very handmade. A late-night program you only saw because you just woke up to turn off the TV and saw this on PBS. They were also partially inspired by Laurie Anderson’s old PSAs. Pandemic on the loose? Confined to the house? What to do? Do you dream? Do you dream in color? Do you remember your dreams? Will these stories jog something from your subconscious and stimulate your dreams? Take a byte and find out."
Christopher Allen Brewer was recently a guest on Paranormal Experiences With Joe Warner. They discussed some of the new television series Christopher is involved in and featured some of the spirit photos he and James Manda have taken during their many years as paranormal explorers. Click below to view!
James and Christopher had a splendid time filming in Toronto during Thanksgiving week. They were extremely grateful for such a great crew of people and for another wonderful opportunity. Look for Paranormal Nightshift next year on Travel Channel to see what they’ve been up to!
On the evening of July 10th, Christopher was a special guest on the Spirit Realm Network with Joe Warner from Detroit Paranormal Expeditions. For the last 13 years, Christopher Allen Brewer and James Manda ( collectively known as FUTURE GHOST ) have been heavily involved in the paranormal field, with appearances on Paranormal 911, Scariest Night Of My Life, Most Terrifying Places In America, Haunted Hospitals, My Ghost Story, even Fuji TV in Japan! Christopher spoke about his background as a Native American and the supernatural experiences he's shared with James. Joe showed a collection of their most striking spirit photography & footage. They had a lot of truly scary stories to tell, but also a lot of enlightening things to share as well. Follow the link below for the video!
FUTURE GHOST founders Christopher and James took a jaunt up to Estes Park over the weekend for the town's very first comic con. In addition to the plethora of guests they encountered from Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica ( both of them being Trekkies ), they also met a legendary figure who also used to live in Colorado Springs: Cassandra Peterson - also know as Elvira!
Christopher: "Elvira was such a big influence in regards to my appreciation and love of horror. The first movie I ever saw was the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It was 1980. I was 7. Who takes their kid to that kind of movie? My parents, that's who. It was a very traumatic experience for me. I didn't understand why people would willingly subject themselves to such a visceral form of terror. During that time, I had a crummy little black and white TV in my bedroom. I've always had insomnia, so during many of those nights when I couldn't sleep, I began watching Elvira's Movie Macabre. I'd have the TV on real low, with a big blanket pulled up over myself and the set. It was a kind of a secret ritual. There was an element of the forbidden to all of it, mostly due to her cleavage and my not being allowed up so late, but I was eventually able to laugh at these b-grade horror movies and Elvira made such a perfect hostess, silly and pretty and spooky at the same time.
I found myself looking forward to more recent scary movies. The next would be The Shining, which also came out in 1980. It still scared the hell out of me, but by then I was able to understand the genre better and appreciate it for what it was. It didn't hurt that Stanley Kubrick was directing, who was also a major influence on my work. That year also saw the release of The Fog, which introduced me to John Carpenter and Jamie Lee Curtis, then Prom Night, also starring Curtis. I fell in love with both of them. When I eventually saw their first collaboration in Halloween on Halloween night, I was smitten. Earlier that year, Friday The 13th had also come out, so by that period of my childhood, I had to beg my parents to let me see it. Horror would forever reign as my favorite genre, with much thanks to the Mistress of the Dark.
Driving up to Estes Park last weekend to meet Elvira herself and take a ghost tour of the Stanley Hotel ( where Steven King was inspired to write The Shining ) was obviously a most powerful experience. Cassandra was everything I imagined her to be and the ghost tour of the Stanley was fantastic. While it wasn't our first time at the Stanley, it was made so much more memorable by Cassandra's friendliness and gratitude, her amazingly charming spirit, and the mysterious storm clouds that rolled up as soon as we approached the hotel..."
Christopher: "Elvira was such a big influence in regards to my appreciation and love of horror. The first movie I ever saw was the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It was 1980. I was 7. Who takes their kid to that kind of movie? My parents, that's who. It was a very traumatic experience for me. I didn't understand why people would willingly subject themselves to such a visceral form of terror. During that time, I had a crummy little black and white TV in my bedroom. I've always had insomnia, so during many of those nights when I couldn't sleep, I began watching Elvira's Movie Macabre. I'd have the TV on real low, with a big blanket pulled up over myself and the set. It was a kind of a secret ritual. There was an element of the forbidden to all of it, mostly due to her cleavage and my not being allowed up so late, but I was eventually able to laugh at these b-grade horror movies and Elvira made such a perfect hostess, silly and pretty and spooky at the same time.
I found myself looking forward to more recent scary movies. The next would be The Shining, which also came out in 1980. It still scared the hell out of me, but by then I was able to understand the genre better and appreciate it for what it was. It didn't hurt that Stanley Kubrick was directing, who was also a major influence on my work. That year also saw the release of The Fog, which introduced me to John Carpenter and Jamie Lee Curtis, then Prom Night, also starring Curtis. I fell in love with both of them. When I eventually saw their first collaboration in Halloween on Halloween night, I was smitten. Earlier that year, Friday The 13th had also come out, so by that period of my childhood, I had to beg my parents to let me see it. Horror would forever reign as my favorite genre, with much thanks to the Mistress of the Dark.
Driving up to Estes Park last weekend to meet Elvira herself and take a ghost tour of the Stanley Hotel ( where Steven King was inspired to write The Shining ) was obviously a most powerful experience. Cassandra was everything I imagined her to be and the ghost tour of the Stanley was fantastic. While it wasn't our first time at the Stanley, it was made so much more memorable by Cassandra's friendliness and gratitude, her amazingly charming spirit, and the mysterious storm clouds that rolled up as soon as we approached the hotel..."
A trailer for The Scariest Night Of My Life, Episode 12, featuring Christopher from FUTURE GHOST. This program is currently airing on the Travel Channel, as well as Travel + Escape in Canada and UKTV Play overseas ( both of which can be viewed with an Express VPN subscription for those here in the States ). Enjoy the teaser!
Selected clips from FUTURE GHOST's visit to the U.S.S. Hornet.
Christopher: "As soon as we landed from our Denver flight to San Jose, we rushed straight to the Winchester Mystery House for the Explore More Tour. It was Friday the 13th and all of the wildfire smoke had turned the sun an eerie, apocalyptic red. When we got there, we were disappointed to find out that you weren't allowed to take photos inside the Winchester. The tour was a little rushed and there were several guests in the party. It was a lot more touristy than we thought. They also kept referring to Sarah Winchester as “bizarre”. We kind of took offense to that. She was eclectic, suffered great tragedy and had overseen the construction of such a marvel to explore. We didn’t find anything about that bizarre, just misunderstood. As such, we were really looking forward to boarding the U.S.S. Hornet that night.
One of our favorite paranormal television shows was MTV's Fear. We watched the U.S.S. Hornet episode on the plane to get us in the mood. We would soon agree that the real gem of paranormal San Jose is the U.S.S. Hornet, which offers a few different and exciting exploration options from people who truly know and greatly admire this massive ship. Everyone was so friendly and accommodating and encouraged the use of ghost detecting equipment.
Although nothing of particular importance occurred during our tour, we had a fantastic time exploring the belly of this great foreboding whale. The stories we heard while investigating this ship at night, in the dark, were riveting, and we were able to use our equipment for extended periods of time in several different areas. The guides also had some know-how as far as ghost hunting and everyone involved had some eerie paranormal experience to share. It made the ship seem more alive, and we can't wait to return and try one of their overnight experiences."
Christopher: "As soon as we landed from our Denver flight to San Jose, we rushed straight to the Winchester Mystery House for the Explore More Tour. It was Friday the 13th and all of the wildfire smoke had turned the sun an eerie, apocalyptic red. When we got there, we were disappointed to find out that you weren't allowed to take photos inside the Winchester. The tour was a little rushed and there were several guests in the party. It was a lot more touristy than we thought. They also kept referring to Sarah Winchester as “bizarre”. We kind of took offense to that. She was eclectic, suffered great tragedy and had overseen the construction of such a marvel to explore. We didn’t find anything about that bizarre, just misunderstood. As such, we were really looking forward to boarding the U.S.S. Hornet that night.
One of our favorite paranormal television shows was MTV's Fear. We watched the U.S.S. Hornet episode on the plane to get us in the mood. We would soon agree that the real gem of paranormal San Jose is the U.S.S. Hornet, which offers a few different and exciting exploration options from people who truly know and greatly admire this massive ship. Everyone was so friendly and accommodating and encouraged the use of ghost detecting equipment.
Although nothing of particular importance occurred during our tour, we had a fantastic time exploring the belly of this great foreboding whale. The stories we heard while investigating this ship at night, in the dark, were riveting, and we were able to use our equipment for extended periods of time in several different areas. The guides also had some know-how as far as ghost hunting and everyone involved had some eerie paranormal experience to share. It made the ship seem more alive, and we can't wait to return and try one of their overnight experiences."
Selected clips from FUTURE GHOST's nocturnal visit to Alcatraz Island in October of 2017.
Christopher: "I remember a lot of this trip through the screen of a full-spectrum camera. It cast everything in this ethereal blue dream-light. It was as if the island existed in a place of perpetual twilight. I was full of wonder. Our ferry there was full to capacity. We weren't expecting so many people, especially on a chilly night tour. Of course, it was only a few weeks until Halloween...
We hung back often and explored what we could by ourselves, passing these abandoned, decaying structures, looking at this desolate dream world in hues of blue. The actual prison was packed with people, free people, loud and unpredictable. It made making a connection with the structure difficult.
James and I were placed in solitary confinement with a handful of people and had the door shut and locked on us. I wasn't claustrophobic, and could see in the dark thanks to my camera, but I could tell some people were having difficulty under such conditions. We were only there for a few minutes. I couldn't imagine what inmates suffered there, but I started to.
I backed away until my back was touching the wall. It was then I felt a sharp pain in my side, along with the impression of a man being shanked. Of all the haunted buildings we have visited, Alcatraz was the only one I had to consciously unplug from. The sense of desperation and encroaching madness was extreme, and I remember being so relieved when we finally entered the brightly-lit gift shop at the close of the tour.
It was a beautiful experience, aside from the uncomfortable vibrations seemingly absorbed by every piece of concrete, brick and steel that cover the island. Afterward, we took a fun rickshaw ride back to the paranormally-active San Remo hotel, which was a former brothel. If any of the former working girls tried molesting us in the middle of the night, we wouldn't have known, such was our exhaustion. Alcatraz took a lot out of us, and even now when I dream of that place, it's still in surreal shades of blue."
Christopher: "I remember a lot of this trip through the screen of a full-spectrum camera. It cast everything in this ethereal blue dream-light. It was as if the island existed in a place of perpetual twilight. I was full of wonder. Our ferry there was full to capacity. We weren't expecting so many people, especially on a chilly night tour. Of course, it was only a few weeks until Halloween...
We hung back often and explored what we could by ourselves, passing these abandoned, decaying structures, looking at this desolate dream world in hues of blue. The actual prison was packed with people, free people, loud and unpredictable. It made making a connection with the structure difficult.
James and I were placed in solitary confinement with a handful of people and had the door shut and locked on us. I wasn't claustrophobic, and could see in the dark thanks to my camera, but I could tell some people were having difficulty under such conditions. We were only there for a few minutes. I couldn't imagine what inmates suffered there, but I started to.
I backed away until my back was touching the wall. It was then I felt a sharp pain in my side, along with the impression of a man being shanked. Of all the haunted buildings we have visited, Alcatraz was the only one I had to consciously unplug from. The sense of desperation and encroaching madness was extreme, and I remember being so relieved when we finally entered the brightly-lit gift shop at the close of the tour.
It was a beautiful experience, aside from the uncomfortable vibrations seemingly absorbed by every piece of concrete, brick and steel that cover the island. Afterward, we took a fun rickshaw ride back to the paranormally-active San Remo hotel, which was a former brothel. If any of the former working girls tried molesting us in the middle of the night, we wouldn't have known, such was our exhaustion. Alcatraz took a lot out of us, and even now when I dream of that place, it's still in surreal shades of blue."
James Manda from FUTURE GHOST releases his newest book on Amazon!
Much like his previous work, James once again delves into dreamtime, surrealistic and synchronistic realms through a simple story told with animated characters, imaginative backgrounds and bold colors.
Jason, a lonely boy is disturbed by a recurring dream of an endless staircase laced with monsters. He learns to be brave from his imaginary friend (inner voice? or guardian angel? or the early stages of intuition). Through that new found courage he finds a kindred spirit in another little boy as they become fast friends. Drawn from the author's own childhood along with working with children at a Montessori school, deaf and blind school, as well as special needs school. He delivers another poignant almost autobiographical account in the sweet narrative.
Follow the link below to purchase the book and view previous titles from James!
Much like his previous work, James once again delves into dreamtime, surrealistic and synchronistic realms through a simple story told with animated characters, imaginative backgrounds and bold colors.
Jason, a lonely boy is disturbed by a recurring dream of an endless staircase laced with monsters. He learns to be brave from his imaginary friend (inner voice? or guardian angel? or the early stages of intuition). Through that new found courage he finds a kindred spirit in another little boy as they become fast friends. Drawn from the author's own childhood along with working with children at a Montessori school, deaf and blind school, as well as special needs school. He delivers another poignant almost autobiographical account in the sweet narrative.
Follow the link below to purchase the book and view previous titles from James!
Some things FUTURE GHOST feels you might want to know about the Winchester Mystery House before your initial visit:
When we visited the estate a few months ago, we found that the biggest enigma was that they do not allow you to take photos inside. A lot of people don’t know that. No filming and no photos at Winchester. Their gift shop / restaurant is huge. You enter and exit through the gift shop. Chock-full of the expected t-shirts and mugs, to lunch boxes, ornaments, View-Masters and light-up dioramas - anything you can slap a western-style themed Winchester logo onto.
They were expensive, too. Our small handful of goods cost us over $100. This was even before our restaurant visit ( if you’re on a budget, simply eat before visiting ). The tours themselves were $39 to $49. It might be a turn-off for some, but we know that revenue keeps the house running. Also, in all of the photos in books and on television specials, the house always appeared to be secluded. This is not the case. It’s smack-dab in the center of a busy San Jose city complex, across the street from a movie theater. From the photos, one might gather a sense of massiveness, but it’s actually much smaller in person.
You are not allowed to wander off on your own. None of the tours are self-guided. You only have scant moments to spend in each room ( as there are so many - so make sure to use the restroom first ) until your group is herded into the next portion of your tour ( we tried all 3 tours ). Definitely not the ideal conditions for a ghost hunt of any kind. Alcatraz was the same way. And much like tours in the caves of national parks, you are forbidden to touch anything. It was very restrictive.
The young people who give the tours recite from a script. Our guide didn’t know much beyond the regular spiel he was expected to memorize, so do your research on the house prior to coming. You will only be given snippets of general trivia in the course of a tour, which run an hour to just over 2 hours depending on which one you select. From the guides to the people behind the gift shop counter, no one seemed too interested in or connected to the house. It was a job and they were there to keep a business running. As such, there are things which destroyed the romanticism of the estate. We found it hard to connect with the spirit of the environment, the spirit of Sarah, and the spirits of the untold many who fell by the Winchester rifle.
Also, people kept calling Sarah bizarre, which we found offense with. She was obsessed, to be sure, but in light of the tragedies she suffered, we only thought her misunderstood. Our impressions from walking her beautiful estate was that she was a very focused, busy individual simply attempting to bring balance to the chaos around her.
We did enjoy our visit and would definitely encourage others to see this wonder for themselves. When the Lionsgate horror movie is released next month, business is expected to increase dramatically, especially during the Halloween season. Our hope is that other visitors might not be as disappointed if they know some of these things prior to visiting for the first time.
In all honesty, though, the real gem of paranormal San Jose is the U.S.S. Hornet, which offers a few different and exciting exploration options from people who truly know and greatly admire this massive ship. The stories we heard while investigating this ship at night, in the dark, were riveting, and we were able to use our equipment for extended periods of time in several different areas. The guides also have some know-how as far as ghost hunting and everyone involved had some eerie paranormal experience to share. It made the ship seem more alive, and we cannot wait to return and try one of their overnight experiences.
California is a fascinating place rich with history. Our visit also included stops at Alcatraz, the San Remo, mystical Chinatown and the Queen Mary - only a small representation of all of the paranormally active sites this beautiful state has to offer. FUTURE GHOST are very much looking forward to sharing future experiences with you from California and beyond and we thank you for your interest and support! ❤️👻
When we visited the estate a few months ago, we found that the biggest enigma was that they do not allow you to take photos inside. A lot of people don’t know that. No filming and no photos at Winchester. Their gift shop / restaurant is huge. You enter and exit through the gift shop. Chock-full of the expected t-shirts and mugs, to lunch boxes, ornaments, View-Masters and light-up dioramas - anything you can slap a western-style themed Winchester logo onto.
They were expensive, too. Our small handful of goods cost us over $100. This was even before our restaurant visit ( if you’re on a budget, simply eat before visiting ). The tours themselves were $39 to $49. It might be a turn-off for some, but we know that revenue keeps the house running. Also, in all of the photos in books and on television specials, the house always appeared to be secluded. This is not the case. It’s smack-dab in the center of a busy San Jose city complex, across the street from a movie theater. From the photos, one might gather a sense of massiveness, but it’s actually much smaller in person.
You are not allowed to wander off on your own. None of the tours are self-guided. You only have scant moments to spend in each room ( as there are so many - so make sure to use the restroom first ) until your group is herded into the next portion of your tour ( we tried all 3 tours ). Definitely not the ideal conditions for a ghost hunt of any kind. Alcatraz was the same way. And much like tours in the caves of national parks, you are forbidden to touch anything. It was very restrictive.
The young people who give the tours recite from a script. Our guide didn’t know much beyond the regular spiel he was expected to memorize, so do your research on the house prior to coming. You will only be given snippets of general trivia in the course of a tour, which run an hour to just over 2 hours depending on which one you select. From the guides to the people behind the gift shop counter, no one seemed too interested in or connected to the house. It was a job and they were there to keep a business running. As such, there are things which destroyed the romanticism of the estate. We found it hard to connect with the spirit of the environment, the spirit of Sarah, and the spirits of the untold many who fell by the Winchester rifle.
Also, people kept calling Sarah bizarre, which we found offense with. She was obsessed, to be sure, but in light of the tragedies she suffered, we only thought her misunderstood. Our impressions from walking her beautiful estate was that she was a very focused, busy individual simply attempting to bring balance to the chaos around her.
We did enjoy our visit and would definitely encourage others to see this wonder for themselves. When the Lionsgate horror movie is released next month, business is expected to increase dramatically, especially during the Halloween season. Our hope is that other visitors might not be as disappointed if they know some of these things prior to visiting for the first time.
In all honesty, though, the real gem of paranormal San Jose is the U.S.S. Hornet, which offers a few different and exciting exploration options from people who truly know and greatly admire this massive ship. The stories we heard while investigating this ship at night, in the dark, were riveting, and we were able to use our equipment for extended periods of time in several different areas. The guides also have some know-how as far as ghost hunting and everyone involved had some eerie paranormal experience to share. It made the ship seem more alive, and we cannot wait to return and try one of their overnight experiences.
California is a fascinating place rich with history. Our visit also included stops at Alcatraz, the San Remo, mystical Chinatown and the Queen Mary - only a small representation of all of the paranormally active sites this beautiful state has to offer. FUTURE GHOST are very much looking forward to sharing future experiences with you from California and beyond and we thank you for your interest and support! ❤️👻
November 16th, 2016, the season finale of American Horror Story: Roanoke airs. One of the segments includes an episode of a paranormal television series called Spirit Chasers, a name we had used for 10 years. After this episode aired, with a perfect and embarrassing summation of paranormal reality television, we decided to close the door on our former selves. Christopher’s father had passed away 18 days earlier. After speaking with a Sioux elder the night before the service, his views on our interaction with the spirit world began to change.
We had been known as The SpiritChasers since 2006 ( originally The Othersiders until a Cartoon Network program by that name surfaced ). There were no others like us. After the American Horror Story finale, we obviously wondered where their writers found the inspiration for Spirit Chasers. We then discovered by that time that there were several other paranormal teams using that name, none of them affiliated with us. Two groups were even using our copyrighted photos and one of them spun a tour from one of our earliest blogs.
It was high time we evolved into something else. By the end of that year we would come to be known as FUTURE GHOST, reshifting our focus and our intent. By the next fall season, we would go on a paranormal pilgrimage to California, visiting all of the haunted sites we had always dreamt of. We met people who inspired us while on our supernatural journey, celebrities from paranormal cinema including Linda Blair, John Cusack, Adrienne Barbeau, Jodelle Ferland, Matthew Lillard, and cast members from Stranger Things. We filmed an episode of an upcoming paranormal reality series for Destination America, did some local radio and were interviewed in a major local newspaper. We also began finishing a book of our communion with spirit for release in fall of 2018.
We have been absolutely grateful for the people we've met and the opportunities and experiences we've had. We are looking very forward to what we will be manifesting in the new year and give many many thanks to all of our friends and supporters over the years.
We had been known as The SpiritChasers since 2006 ( originally The Othersiders until a Cartoon Network program by that name surfaced ). There were no others like us. After the American Horror Story finale, we obviously wondered where their writers found the inspiration for Spirit Chasers. We then discovered by that time that there were several other paranormal teams using that name, none of them affiliated with us. Two groups were even using our copyrighted photos and one of them spun a tour from one of our earliest blogs.
It was high time we evolved into something else. By the end of that year we would come to be known as FUTURE GHOST, reshifting our focus and our intent. By the next fall season, we would go on a paranormal pilgrimage to California, visiting all of the haunted sites we had always dreamt of. We met people who inspired us while on our supernatural journey, celebrities from paranormal cinema including Linda Blair, John Cusack, Adrienne Barbeau, Jodelle Ferland, Matthew Lillard, and cast members from Stranger Things. We filmed an episode of an upcoming paranormal reality series for Destination America, did some local radio and were interviewed in a major local newspaper. We also began finishing a book of our communion with spirit for release in fall of 2018.
We have been absolutely grateful for the people we've met and the opportunities and experiences we've had. We are looking very forward to what we will be manifesting in the new year and give many many thanks to all of our friends and supporters over the years.
One of the EVPs we recorded during our stay aboard the Queen Mary. We had inquired about the infamous spirit vortex in the pool room, and what it was about this room that would feature such a phenomena. Our guide brought our attention to the ceiling, which we initially thought was inlaid with Mother of Pearl. We were informed that it was actually quartz crystal, a natural conductor, amplifier and director of energy. In the audio sample, you can hear our guide describing the properties of the ceiling, when 4 seconds in the voice of an unknown male can be heard breathily whispering, "save me".
This week’s issue of the Colorado Springs Independent features interviews and photos with James and Christopher from FUTURE GHOST, as well as colleagues Shaun Crusha and Dawn Agna from the Colorado Alliance of Paranormal Investigators and Mediums, plus Rich Horn, founder of Colorado Para-Tech! Many thanks to Alissa Smith for such a well written, balanced article. Pick up your copy today!
Over the weekend, James and Christopher had the pleasure of meeting Linda Blair at Colorado Springs Comic Con. Linda used to host one of Christopher's favorite paranormal shows, The Scariest Places On Earth. She also confirmed the reason for its cancellation: when Disney bought ABC Family, it had no idea what to do with the show as it was too scary for kids and not family friendly enough. Thank goodness for bootlegs as FUTURE GHOST have every episode! Granted, the disclaimer at the end of each episode revealed that some events were recreated for dramatic effect, but it was still spooky as hell, tremendously fun, and a perfect program to have on when getting ready for an investigation. Fortunately you can still find several episodes on YouTube. Sweet dreams, kids!
The only way is up! Last Friday, FUTURE GHOST attended Denver Comic Con and stayed across the street from the Brown Palace ( est. 1892 ). Their hotel was connected via skybridge and they were able to take a ghost tour and explore the hotel afterward.
Christopher noticed many griffins about the hotel, on plaques and plates. Being very familiar with mythology ( as well as owning an entire DVD wallet of treasure-hunting movies and programs ), he knew that griffins were believed to be the guardians of treasure. This hotel also has associations with the Knights Templar, houses a room with artifacts from Napoleon, as well as other legendary ties and mysterious architectural elements.
When asked about the griffins vs. gargoyle representation, Christopher and James were informed that some believed there was a treasure tale associated with the hotel. After an hour, Christopher and James had to return to the Colorado Convention Center ( for a photo with Hotel 1408's John Cusack ). They were invited to return to the hotel afterwards to explore.
Upon their return visit, James and Christopher decided to instead focus on the treasure aspect of the hotel. They sat at the base of the escalators, in front of a grand mirror ( mirrors tradtionally known to be portals for spirit activity ). When Christopher asked where such a treasure might be hidden, James snapped a photo of the mirror. Inside they discovered the unmistakable image of a women's hand pointed upward.
There were absolutely no guests in that area of the hotel during this period. The hand also appears as if it is manifesting from the center of the escalators, an impossibility were there a physical person present, as there would be no room for them to stand there.. The hand looks as if it dissolves near the elbow, which is probable if this is indeed a manifestation of spirit.
Quite often, a paradox presents itself in this field where one of the many mediums of our age might look at a paranormal photo and label it "too good to be true". Then they might be attracted to a corner where they report that the spirit of a man is informing him he died in that particular room in 1953. Which is more believable? In this field, which is at the end of the day the study of energy, we are frequently faced with the invisible and the unknown. We are expected to maintain a state of rationality and discernment, even though sightings of a madame who died 100 years ago are nowhere near rational.
We are often encouraged to expect a miracle, and yet when presented with the miraculous, our first thought will concern why it could not happen. We will then tear down all elements of this miracle and when we have no explanation for it, we simply label it as no more than a fluke. And yet the next time we or a loved one are facing a serious illness and we ask spirit yet again for a miracle, how do we expect that miracle to present itself when we could not embrace the last one?
FUTURE GHOST are not claiming that the hand belonged to Edna Boettcher, who in the 30's donated a set of ship models to the Ship Tavern just a few feet away. She is often seen in this area, and Christopher ( an award-winning model maker ) happened to compliment her on her donation just after exiting the tavern. There are improbabilities and probabilities. Is it more probable to believe the medium who claims that a spirit is privately communicating with them, or a photo of a blurry hand in a mirror? FUTURE GHOST know only that they asked Spirit for a clue, and they believe that one presented itself.
Christopher noticed many griffins about the hotel, on plaques and plates. Being very familiar with mythology ( as well as owning an entire DVD wallet of treasure-hunting movies and programs ), he knew that griffins were believed to be the guardians of treasure. This hotel also has associations with the Knights Templar, houses a room with artifacts from Napoleon, as well as other legendary ties and mysterious architectural elements.
When asked about the griffins vs. gargoyle representation, Christopher and James were informed that some believed there was a treasure tale associated with the hotel. After an hour, Christopher and James had to return to the Colorado Convention Center ( for a photo with Hotel 1408's John Cusack ). They were invited to return to the hotel afterwards to explore.
Upon their return visit, James and Christopher decided to instead focus on the treasure aspect of the hotel. They sat at the base of the escalators, in front of a grand mirror ( mirrors tradtionally known to be portals for spirit activity ). When Christopher asked where such a treasure might be hidden, James snapped a photo of the mirror. Inside they discovered the unmistakable image of a women's hand pointed upward.
There were absolutely no guests in that area of the hotel during this period. The hand also appears as if it is manifesting from the center of the escalators, an impossibility were there a physical person present, as there would be no room for them to stand there.. The hand looks as if it dissolves near the elbow, which is probable if this is indeed a manifestation of spirit.
Quite often, a paradox presents itself in this field where one of the many mediums of our age might look at a paranormal photo and label it "too good to be true". Then they might be attracted to a corner where they report that the spirit of a man is informing him he died in that particular room in 1953. Which is more believable? In this field, which is at the end of the day the study of energy, we are frequently faced with the invisible and the unknown. We are expected to maintain a state of rationality and discernment, even though sightings of a madame who died 100 years ago are nowhere near rational.
We are often encouraged to expect a miracle, and yet when presented with the miraculous, our first thought will concern why it could not happen. We will then tear down all elements of this miracle and when we have no explanation for it, we simply label it as no more than a fluke. And yet the next time we or a loved one are facing a serious illness and we ask spirit yet again for a miracle, how do we expect that miracle to present itself when we could not embrace the last one?
FUTURE GHOST are not claiming that the hand belonged to Edna Boettcher, who in the 30's donated a set of ship models to the Ship Tavern just a few feet away. She is often seen in this area, and Christopher ( an award-winning model maker ) happened to compliment her on her donation just after exiting the tavern. There are improbabilities and probabilities. Is it more probable to believe the medium who claims that a spirit is privately communicating with them, or a photo of a blurry hand in a mirror? FUTURE GHOST know only that they asked Spirit for a clue, and they believe that one presented itself.
One of our fan-favorite stories is now available for listening on the Anything Ghost website. We have been devoted listeners since 2006 and are so honored to have one of our paranormal pieces featured. Since then, not a Halloween has gone by when we weren't anxiously anticipating Lex's next show and every season we have used the AG theme as our ringtone. Anytime that spooky melody began to go off on our phones, we knew it meant that some exciting paranormal proposal was about to be offered. You can listen on iTunes, Android or other formats by using the link below and looking for: "10. Christopher (Colorado, U.S.) – Shipping and Receiving Ghost".
"Anything Ghost is a podcast (audio show) where the host, Lex Wahl, shares listener submitted personal paranormal experiences (ghost stories). Lex then adds his original background music and effects to enhance to the creepiness of the listening experience.
Anything Ghost was the first of the personal-ghost-story audio shows when it hit the podcast scene in January of 2006--and it hasn’t stopped since. Over the years, Anything Ghost has developed a large dedicated audience…an audience for which, Anything Ghost takes full responsibility for the bedside lamp that’s left on.
Join the mass of ghost story lovers, and jump right into listening to ghost stories from around the world Anything Ghost style..."
"Anything Ghost is a podcast (audio show) where the host, Lex Wahl, shares listener submitted personal paranormal experiences (ghost stories). Lex then adds his original background music and effects to enhance to the creepiness of the listening experience.
Anything Ghost was the first of the personal-ghost-story audio shows when it hit the podcast scene in January of 2006--and it hasn’t stopped since. Over the years, Anything Ghost has developed a large dedicated audience…an audience for which, Anything Ghost takes full responsibility for the bedside lamp that’s left on.
Join the mass of ghost story lovers, and jump right into listening to ghost stories from around the world Anything Ghost style..."
A short, humorous video Christopher put together ( literally ) last October. Those of you familiar with Cheesman's history and legends might find this worth a chuckle.
"Do you see what I see?"
Courtesy of Christopher's cousin Kim, who experienced many of the same hauntings he did growing up, we have this photo for your consideration.
Kim recently decorated her home for the holidays and noticed something odd in the reflection of her television set. Parts of her home are currently being remodeled and her children are now at that age where poltergeist-like manifestations can happen.
Looks like the Christmas Spirits are visiting a little early this year! Thank you, Kim!
Courtesy of Christopher's cousin Kim, who experienced many of the same hauntings he did growing up, we have this photo for your consideration.
Kim recently decorated her home for the holidays and noticed something odd in the reflection of her television set. Parts of her home are currently being remodeled and her children are now at that age where poltergeist-like manifestations can happen.
Looks like the Christmas Spirits are visiting a little early this year! Thank you, Kim!
Introducing Christopher's Halloween labor of love, The LEGO SpiritChasers Cheesman Park Playset! Visit our HUMOR page or click the link below for the full album. We hope to spook you this season!
Excerpts from a 2012 radio interview have been added to the “About
Us” page, including The SpiritChasers’ views on debunking, ghost hunting tools,
their paranormal backgrounds and credibility vs. celebrity. Click the link below to read more.
James Manda's colorful new book, which he wrote and illustrated himself, is now available for purchase on Amazon. It is the heartfelt story of a child coping with the death of his beloved pet. It is very endearing and very kid-friendly! Click the link below for more information. He is tremendously ecstatic and we are tremendously excited for him!
“7 Little-Known Facts About the History of the Ouija Board”
“Seven Horrific Hauntings Based on True Events”
Creating a Sacred Space, the Power of Thought and the Wise Investment of Energy. A new blog has been posted regarding the act of "smudging". We have done this in many homes and locations throughout the state and as our number one request is for home clearings, we are hoping to empower others to DIY! We have also seen many practitioners charging an exorbitant amount of money for this service. Why pay others when you can do this yourself? Click on our BLOG page and start creating a sacred space of your very own!
"Fire Destroys The Myrtles Plantation Gift Shop"
"TV Reporters Claim They Were Attacked By Ghosts in Haunted House"
Throwback Thursday! The X-Filers:
Top left : Christopher with Emmy Award-winning investigative journalist and author Linda Moulton Howe. This documentary producer-writer-director-editor's riveting reports on high strangeness are featured each week on Earthfiles.com.
Top right: With retired Sgt. John Burroughs. His new book, Encounter At Rendlesham, explores the legendary tale of the bizarre events witnessed by dozens of USAF personnel just outside an English Royal Air Force base.
Bottom left: With author and investigator Christopher O'Brien, whose books shed light on the strange mysteries taking place in Colorado's San Luis Valley.
Bottom right: With local paranormal author and investigator Stephanie Waters, owner and operator of Blue Moon Haunted History Tours.
I have always been influenced by great detectives in print ( Batman, for example ), and in cinema, those in search of hidden knowledge ( Clarice Starling, Scully & Mulder, D'anna Biers, Indiana Jones ).
The demonization of "that which is hidden" and other forbidden fruit only made me even more curious to know exactly why some things weren't so easily revealed.
As a child it began with Christmas presents and dark cellars and as I matured it became ancient knowledge and haunted houses ( more dark cellars ).
I love a good mystery, especially those that lie outside the boundary of the easily explicable - the supernatural. Thankfully, pioneers like demonologists Ed & Lorraine Warren had published plenty for me to read in my elementary school library. Believe it or not, my school featured a pretty large occult section back in the early 80's and I took full advantage of it.
One of my favorite quotes comes from a novel and miniseries by Shirley MacLaine: "In order to get to the fruit of the tree, you have to go out on a limb."
James and I, with musician and investigator Brett Leal, did so last summer, during a late-night skywatch with Christopher O'Brien near the Great Sand Dunes National Park. My idea was that we had to offer our fear to the night before we could glimpse any of it's secrets. So, sacrificing our fear, we took a dangerous night hike up through Zapata Falls.
Walking up the rocky trail with unseen creatures and who knows what else making noises in the darkness consuming us, we at last entered a cavernous space of rock. From here we waded through the icy waters of the Rio Grande, over slippery moss-covered stones, with the deafening roar from the 25-foot waterfall at the end of the crevasse.
It was like walking into the mouth of an angry giant, bellowing as our flashlight lit up the powerful falls above us. Upon returning I glanced back at the mountainous terrain we had just left. Did I just see a red spark shooting up out of the mountains? Another observer also claimed to have, then Christopher O'Brien mentioned that people had seen the sky above Zapata full of strange, bobbing red orbs.
From the red Maltese crosses the conquistadors traveling through this area marked their buried treasure with, to the unidentified craft regularly spotted in the the San Luis skies, to the unknown lifeforms known as "prairie lizards" spotted phasing in and out of this dimension on the roads here, this is a place of great mystery.
I am grateful to have stood next to so many courageous souls over the years who have ventured into the darkness and emerged with great treasures of wisdom. I wish you the same bravery in your own pursuits and hope you come back with only the sweetest fruit.
Namaste,
- Christopher
Top left : Christopher with Emmy Award-winning investigative journalist and author Linda Moulton Howe. This documentary producer-writer-director-editor's riveting reports on high strangeness are featured each week on Earthfiles.com.
Top right: With retired Sgt. John Burroughs. His new book, Encounter At Rendlesham, explores the legendary tale of the bizarre events witnessed by dozens of USAF personnel just outside an English Royal Air Force base.
Bottom left: With author and investigator Christopher O'Brien, whose books shed light on the strange mysteries taking place in Colorado's San Luis Valley.
Bottom right: With local paranormal author and investigator Stephanie Waters, owner and operator of Blue Moon Haunted History Tours.
I have always been influenced by great detectives in print ( Batman, for example ), and in cinema, those in search of hidden knowledge ( Clarice Starling, Scully & Mulder, D'anna Biers, Indiana Jones ).
The demonization of "that which is hidden" and other forbidden fruit only made me even more curious to know exactly why some things weren't so easily revealed.
As a child it began with Christmas presents and dark cellars and as I matured it became ancient knowledge and haunted houses ( more dark cellars ).
I love a good mystery, especially those that lie outside the boundary of the easily explicable - the supernatural. Thankfully, pioneers like demonologists Ed & Lorraine Warren had published plenty for me to read in my elementary school library. Believe it or not, my school featured a pretty large occult section back in the early 80's and I took full advantage of it.
One of my favorite quotes comes from a novel and miniseries by Shirley MacLaine: "In order to get to the fruit of the tree, you have to go out on a limb."
James and I, with musician and investigator Brett Leal, did so last summer, during a late-night skywatch with Christopher O'Brien near the Great Sand Dunes National Park. My idea was that we had to offer our fear to the night before we could glimpse any of it's secrets. So, sacrificing our fear, we took a dangerous night hike up through Zapata Falls.
Walking up the rocky trail with unseen creatures and who knows what else making noises in the darkness consuming us, we at last entered a cavernous space of rock. From here we waded through the icy waters of the Rio Grande, over slippery moss-covered stones, with the deafening roar from the 25-foot waterfall at the end of the crevasse.
It was like walking into the mouth of an angry giant, bellowing as our flashlight lit up the powerful falls above us. Upon returning I glanced back at the mountainous terrain we had just left. Did I just see a red spark shooting up out of the mountains? Another observer also claimed to have, then Christopher O'Brien mentioned that people had seen the sky above Zapata full of strange, bobbing red orbs.
From the red Maltese crosses the conquistadors traveling through this area marked their buried treasure with, to the unidentified craft regularly spotted in the the San Luis skies, to the unknown lifeforms known as "prairie lizards" spotted phasing in and out of this dimension on the roads here, this is a place of great mystery.
I am grateful to have stood next to so many courageous souls over the years who have ventured into the darkness and emerged with great treasures of wisdom. I wish you the same bravery in your own pursuits and hope you come back with only the sweetest fruit.
Namaste,
- Christopher
Throwback Thursday!
From 2012: SpiritChasers Christopher and James appear on national television in the Biography Channel's My Ghost Story episode #30 ( Paranormal Studies 101 ) in the segment entitled "Whispering Winds".
In January they were flown out to L.A. for their studio interview, then a cameraman was dispatched to them in Manitou where they filmed from 12-9pm, deep underground at the Cave Of The Winds attraction where their story took place.
Christopher, along with his cousin Denise and friend Julie, was flown out for another studio interview in L.A. soon after. Once again, another camerman was sent to meet him at a former cemetery - Cheesman Park in Denver - where he and his cousin shared another paranormal experience.
This episode has yet to air as My Ghost Story was sold to the Lifetime Movie Network and is currently on hiatus, but episode #30 "Paranormal Studies 101" can be purchased through iTunes or Amazon.
Happy Thursday, everyone!
From 2012: SpiritChasers Christopher and James appear on national television in the Biography Channel's My Ghost Story episode #30 ( Paranormal Studies 101 ) in the segment entitled "Whispering Winds".
In January they were flown out to L.A. for their studio interview, then a cameraman was dispatched to them in Manitou where they filmed from 12-9pm, deep underground at the Cave Of The Winds attraction where their story took place.
Christopher, along with his cousin Denise and friend Julie, was flown out for another studio interview in L.A. soon after. Once again, another camerman was sent to meet him at a former cemetery - Cheesman Park in Denver - where he and his cousin shared another paranormal experience.
This episode has yet to air as My Ghost Story was sold to the Lifetime Movie Network and is currently on hiatus, but episode #30 "Paranormal Studies 101" can be purchased through iTunes or Amazon.
Happy Thursday, everyone!
"Fact Check: Are These Horror Films Really 'Based On Actual Events'?"
"Ancient Curse On Utah Park Is Real, Say Visitors"
"An Actual Recording Of Arthur Conan Doyle's "Spirit" From A 1934 Séance"
"Meet The Real Life Christine - The Most Evil Car In America"
"7 Terrifying Cursed Objects That Actually Exist"
"How To Get Rid Of a Ghost: 3 Easy Ways"
Throwback Thursday!
A Fun Fox 21 News Interview With Christopher At A Haunted Chapel A Couple Years Back. Special Thanks To Paranormal Author Stephanie Waters For Thinking Of Us!
A Fun Fox 21 News Interview With Christopher At A Haunted Chapel A Couple Years Back. Special Thanks To Paranormal Author Stephanie Waters For Thinking Of Us!
"An Abandoned, Believed Haunted, NASA Launch Site You Can Actually Visit"
"13 Places On Earth Thought To Be Entrances To Hell"
"Wonderful Castles And Mansions That Are Haunted By Tragic Ghosts"
"Why Do Human Beings Seek Out Terrifying Experiences?"
"The Spooky TV Movie That Caused Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder"
Prom Night Trading Cards
As giddily announced earlier in the summer, Synapse Films is currently at work restoring 1980's brilliant PROM NIGHT, which stars our favorite scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis. The original negative is reportedly in poor condition and is currently at the Synapse lab undergoing splicing fixes and repairs.
While we're anxiously awaiting the results in full 1080p ( and getting ready to set up our yearly Jamie Lee Curtis shrine for the Halloween season ), Christopher has taken it upon himself to create an amusing set of virtual PROM NIGHT Trading Cards.
These may only be appreciated and understood by true PROM NIGHT fans, who might further enhance their viewing experience with the rare Japanese PROM NIGHT soundtrack playing in
the background.
Click on our "HUMOR" page to view the whole set. For the uninitiated, you can watch this cult classic in its entirety on YouTube by following the link below.
And remember, "If you're not back by midnight...you won't be coming home!"
As giddily announced earlier in the summer, Synapse Films is currently at work restoring 1980's brilliant PROM NIGHT, which stars our favorite scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis. The original negative is reportedly in poor condition and is currently at the Synapse lab undergoing splicing fixes and repairs.
While we're anxiously awaiting the results in full 1080p ( and getting ready to set up our yearly Jamie Lee Curtis shrine for the Halloween season ), Christopher has taken it upon himself to create an amusing set of virtual PROM NIGHT Trading Cards.
These may only be appreciated and understood by true PROM NIGHT fans, who might further enhance their viewing experience with the rare Japanese PROM NIGHT soundtrack playing in
the background.
Click on our "HUMOR" page to view the whole set. For the uninitiated, you can watch this cult classic in its entirety on YouTube by following the link below.
And remember, "If you're not back by midnight...you won't be coming home!"
