Artisan Inn

Here is a recount of my experiences at the Artisan Inn, in DeLand going back to 2008.

I had been attending monthly meetings with the National Committee of Women in the Arts at the Artisan Inn's banquet hall since 2008. I was given the opportunity to display my artwork in June 2009 in the inn's art gallery. And that is where I had my first paranormal experience.

When I was alone in the room, I felt an extreme longing or sadness looking out the window. The gallery was rumored to be the original owner's room of Edwin and Jeanette Barnhill. Jeanette Barnhill died while owning the inn, and her husband was later declared insane. Another odd occurance happened while I was on a step stool. A painting came off the wall at me with with a force that would have had to pick the painting up off the hook instead of just falling down. Was this a sign that something didn't want my paintings on the wall?

There are also a lot of paranormal reports in the second story banquet hall. This room has been investigated by several paranormal groups. They have found high EMF (electromagnetic field)
readings. Witnesses have also reported an apparition of a woman looking out the banquet hall window.

The first floor hosts activity in the lounge, restaurant, and basement where guests and employees have seen apparitions and objects move.

With so many reports, I got a chance to stay overnight on my birthday on Nov. 21, 2009. It was quite a memorable night in room 302. With the feeling of being watched when I was alone in the room, to the extraordinary dream I had of being dragged out of bed. Needless to say, I had to sleep with the lights on.

Chryst, the owner of the Artisan believes "spirits are the heart and soul of the building." The Artisan Inn has a history of hosting guests living and non living since 1927. The inn recently refurbished their restaurant where you can catch a bite to eat and possibly experience something paranormal for yourself.

For more information on the Artisan Inn: http://www.delandartisaninn.com/

The Beginning...Kenwood Inn

Located in old town St. Augustine, this is the inn that had such an impact on me after staying there on Halloween of 2008. It made me a true believer of life after death and my ability to communicate with spirits.

The experiences I had there opened my mind to paranormal occurances and dream visions. The intereactions with the two resident spirits Rammond and Lavendar, inspired me to write a book on haunted inns.

My favorite room #7, has had reports of Rammond tucking guests into bed and moving objects. I experienced both reports for myself. Another female spirit has an obsession with books in the room. Everytime I stayed in the room, books were hidden under the bed. When I asked owner Pat Dobosz about them, she had no idea how or why books would be under the bed. She also told me that recently a guest reported an unknown force flipping through her personal book during the middle of the night, only to be found on the opposite night stand the next morning. After staying in this room several times, I had this inner desire to start writing and researching the inn.

I found a lot of historical research on the Kenwood Inn through the St. Augustine Research Library. Constructed in 1886, one of the original owners was named Rammond LaBorde.
I also found record in the St. Augustine City Directory of a woman living in the inn from 1924-1927. This same woman belonged to the National Conservators of American Women, which was a professional writers group of the time.

My experience with Lavendar's spirit, who I think resided in the inn during the 1920's has lead me on the journey of writing spirits stories and paranormal activity in my book "Haunted Hospitality." During one stay, I envisioned Lavendar's violent and mysterious death in the inn.
Maybe some day I will find some answers on my quest for the truth.

But for now, my journey has just started...... I will take to the road again on July 11, where I will be in Micanopy, Gainsville, Highsprings, and Cedar Key, Florida.

For more information on the Kenwood Inn: http://www.thekenwoodinn.com/

Stanford Inn

What an adventure I had when I stayed at the Stanford Inn, in Bartow Florida, Wednesday June 16th. Owner Tony Grainger supplied me with incredible amount of information on the Stanford Inn history, and paranormal activity. He even arranged for Apollo Paranormal Investigations and Psychic Gemini Rose to meet with me at the inn to discuss the paranormal evidence they had gathered on their 3 previous investigations of the inn. We spent several hours going over numerous EVP's (electronic voice phenomenon) that were recorded of voices and laughter in the tea room at night when no one else was downstairs, to loud tapping and bangs, and whispers. The highlight was a tour of the inn's most active areas.

Psychic Gemini Rose, had great insight about the spirits that reside in the inn. She picked up on original owners Cora Wilson, and husband Thomas Lee Wilson who had built the house in 1899, and seem to live separately in the house in the here after.

I stayed in the "cabbage rose" room that used to be Cora Wilson's old room. I definately felt Cora's energy in the room.

This trip was wonderful in the fact that I received insight from so many different sources. Apollo Paranormal found scientific proof of paranormal activity, to add to all the varied personal experiences from guests alike. I would highly recommend staying in the Stanford Inn to experience the lovely historic "My Girl House" and possibly catch something unexplained for yourself.

Thanks Tony for your gracious hospitality! Information on the Stanford Inn can be found at http://www.stanfordinn.com/

Haunted Hospitality: Guide to Florida's Haunted Inns

Join me in my adventure as I visit Florida's historic and haunted inns.

Last Sunday June 7, 2010, I visited Old Powder House Inn (built in 1899) , in St. Augustine.

Katie, the innkeeper put me up in a lovely room named "Serenity." And that is just what it was. For being one of the most active rooms in the inn, it was one of the most peaceful and relaxing rooms I have stayed so far. It over looked old town from the second story balcony. I was hoping to have an experience from Mrs. Capo, one of the inn's original owners. The only thing that I couldn't explain was the bathroom light coming on in the middle of the night.

The next morning, I had a delicious homemade breakfast and talked to Katie about the paranormal activity in the inn. The highlight was seeing the "haunted painting" of a conquestador located in the Miranda room.

The Old Powder House Inn was filled with nothing but positive energy. Information on the inn can be found at http://www.oldpowderhouse.com/

Next week Wednesday June 16th, I am headed to Bartow, Florida to the Stanford Inn. This inn was filmed in the movie "My Girl."