This weekend I didn’t see a ghost.

I know that sounds like a weird statement, but considering I went on a ghost tour of Lawrence I was hoping to see a ghost. Like really, I wanted to see a ghost. Instead I saw frat boys, cemeteries and the inside of a purple bus.

I went on a ghost tour of Lawrence through Ghost Tours of Kansas, LLC. Fellow editor, Abby Gillam, and I met with our tour guide and about thirty other people at the Eldridge Hotel on Saturday night October 27th. We started our tour at the Eldridge Hotel and learned the history of the resident ghosts there. You can learn more about the Eldridge hauntings here: http://www.eldridgehotel.com/#About.Ghost

Next we loaded ourselves on to a big purple bus (seriously) and drove around Lawrence. We drove by several private residents and heard the ghost stories associated with them but did not go inside. We stopped next at the Sigma Nu Fraternity on KU campus, and after some negotiations with the frat boys were allowed inside. The frat boys were distractingly attractive as they told us personal stories of the hauntings at the fraternity. You can read more about the ghosts of Sigma Nu here: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/jul/24/paranormal-investigators-coming-kus-sigma-nu-house/

After Sigma Nu we were bused over to Pioneer Cemetery, also on KU campus, and besides being very cold and dark it wasn’t very scary. Although apparently patrons had photographed full body apparitions there before. I didn’t see anything though.

We ended our tour at a children’s cemetery on Haskell Indian Nations University campus. The history of Haskell was by far the most disturbing story told that night (which you can read about here:http://cjonline.com/stories/110401/mid_haskellghosts.shtml). And although we didn’t see any ghosts there either, it was eerie to be in the presence of so many deceased children.

Generally the tour was a fun venture, and a neat way to get to know Lawrence. I’d suggest it, but word to the wise: buy your tickets well in advance. Our tour was overbooked, and some people had to wait until later to go.

Have a fun, and safe, Halloween!
Mara