Ghostock 7 to bring its paranomal investigations to Salem

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Ghostock 7 to bring its paranomal investigations to Salem
Apr 10, 2009
By Lauren Scaparotti
Wicked Local Salem

Salem - Salem stays spooky in the spring. It’s not Salem’s famed October season, but that doesn’t keep paranormal enthusiasts from seeking out the unexplained. That’s what they’ll be doing next week, when GhoStock brings its seventh “investigation” to Salem for the first time.

Patrick Burns, of the truTV series “Haunting Evidence,” is the host of the event. Burns says he received many requests to bring GhoStock to Salem, previously held in Georgia.

GhoStock is different than other paranormal conferences because attendees are put together in small groups and sent out to conduct their own private investigations. There are dozens of places to investigate, but only those who register for the event know the locations. Those who register early get the first pick at their top location choice.

GhoStock will be at the Hawthorne Hotel April 16-19. It all begins Thursday, April 16, with registration and a meet and greet. Also, Marley Gibson is launching her fiction series “The Ghost Huntress” in the hotel’s library the same night. Gibson took part in GhoStock 6 last year in Savannah, Ga.

She hopes people will come out to the investigations. “It’s a great event, I love it,” she said. “I’m glad it’s in Salem.”

GhoStock 7 includes lectures by guest speakers, including Salem’s own Christian Day, a co-founder of Festival of the Dead. Guest speakers will help to lead teams on their paranormal investigations. Each team will get a chance to review its evidence and present it to everyone attending the conference.

Patrick Burns said he surprises a lot of people when he says he’s still a skeptic. He sees ghost stories as a way to get people interested in history. Any place associated with a violent past is a good place to find paranormal activity. Salem’s Witch Trials and maritime history make it a prime location to find lingering spirits, he says.

Burns did face a hard time finding places that would allow paranormal investigations. Some business don’t want the stigma of being seen as haunted.

However, Burns found that when he finds paranormal activity it attracts customers and helps sales. All property owners will be presented with a report from the teams’ findings to use for what purpose they find appropriate.

Burns welcomes first time investigators to GhoStock. He wants people to get interested in the paranormal. He said, “There is unexplained phenomenon out there; [you] just have to look.”

Ghostock is a perfect opportunity for anyone who hasn’t been on a ghost hunt before. However, if someone can’t make it in person, streaming video of certain events will be on the web site for free. A chatroom will be right along with the webcast, truly making it an interactive experience.

For information on registration or to follow along with the ghost hunts, visit www.ghostock.com.