{"id":7199,"date":"2012-11-01T01:10:20","date_gmt":"2012-11-01T06:10:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=7435"},"modified":"2012-10-24T11:06:17","modified_gmt":"2012-10-24T16:06:17","slug":"across-the-great-divide-34","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2012\/11\/01\/across-the-great-divide-34\/","title":{"rendered":"Across the Great Divide"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cHaunted Hotels\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Most fans of horror know that the backdrop of Stephen King\u2019s classic The Shining<\/a><\/em> was prompted by the wordsmith\u2019s stay at the famous Stanley Hotel<\/a>. Contrary to popular belief, King was living in Boulder at the time and did not write the novel while staying at the hotel- unlike the character of Jack Torrance, immortalized on screen by Jack Nickolson. He had the idea after staying in room 217 of the almost-empty hotel on the night before it closed for an extended period.<\/p>\n

The legend continues, though, and many believe it to be haunted, reporting any number of ghostly encounters- primarily in the\u00a0ballroom- during their stay.<\/p>\n

The Ghost Hunters<\/a><\/em>\u00a0television show was invited to investigate at the hotel, where the manager gleefully showed them the various places where these alleged activities have occurred.<\/p>\n

To their credit, TAPS\u00a0discovered some rational reasons for the various phenomena, such as wind and old pipes. However, they could not decipher incidents in the ballroom.<\/p>\n

The Stanley Hotel was also on call for the Ghost Adventures<\/a><\/em>\u00a0show in October of 2010.<\/p>\n

After hearing claims that paranormal activities at the hotel are due to the geological makeup of the location, Rocky Mountain Paranormal Research Society (RMP) contacted the\u00a0USDA\u00a0for information on the site. The scientists’ conclusion, based on a satellite survey of Colorado, showed \u201cnothing unusual about the aeromagnetic data in the area of Estes Park as compared to that general area of the Rockies.\u201d<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Skeptical Inquirer<\/a>\u2019s\u00a0Naked Skeptic<\/em>\u00a0column, by\u00a0Karen Stollznow, discussed RMP\u2019s investigation: \u201cDuring the investigation, The RMP researched popular beliefs and claims; they solved some mysteries, they performed valuable outreach, and they maintained the historical integrity of the Stanley Hotel. However, they didn\u2019t discover any anomalous phenomena. They found a leak in the ceiling but no ghosts.\u201d<\/p>\n

It would seem that the science doesn\u2019t back up the fantasy, as most of the activity is dismissed.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the legend has helped keep The Stanley in business as a result and they perpetuate the excitement (or feed the imagination\/sensitivities of guests) by showing the uncut R-rated version of Kubrick’s\u00a0The Shining<\/em>\u00a0on a continuous loop on Channel 42 of guest room televisions.<\/p>\n

In the movie 1408<\/a><\/em> John Cusack plays an author who travels to supposedly haunted hotels and then writes about the paranormal activity, providing both the hotel\u2019s guest list and his book sales a boost in the process.<\/p>\n

Hollywood continues to affect reality as haunted hotel investigations and tours have seen a dramatic increase in recent years.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s big business for all involved- paranormal groups get to come in and do their thing, guests are intrigued by the promise of a spooky encounter, and the hotels get free marketing out of it all, no matter what the results may be.<\/p>\n

Entire packages are sold to groups, or individuals, who can come stay at a reportedly haunted hotel and go on \u201chaunted\u201d tours. Try typing in \u201cghost tours\u201d into a search engine sometime. I did and instantly received 6.3 MILLION results. Big numbers; big business; and folks na\u00efve enough to shell out cash for a thrill- a recipe for success.<\/p>\n

Here in Detroit we have the famous Whitney mansion, now a posh restaurant, which has an exclusive agreement with a specific paranormal group. Isn\u2019t that advantageous for both parties? The Whitney gets to perpetuate their \u201chaunted\u201d history, the group gets to claim bragging rights, and no one can come in to back up or refute the claims. That\u2019s a brilliant marketing strategy that the public eats up- literally and figuratively. That helps explain why the Whitney can charge so much for their dinners and desserts.<\/p>\n

The USA Today posted an article<\/a> last year highlighting Travelocity\u2019s Top 10 Haunted Hotels and part of my web search landed me on the steps of the Crescent Hotel in Arkansas that reports to be haunted.<\/p>\n

Staff members receive regular reports from guests revolving around Room 424 and Room 202. The most famous haunted spot is Room 218, where several guests and employees have encountered strange sounds and sensations in the room such as doors slamming shut and some people have claimed to be shaken awake at night.<\/p>\n

In a clich\u00e9d tourist attraction of \u201cguests who checked out but never left,\u201d the Crescent holds ghost tours nightly at 8 p.m. Ticket prices at $18 for adults and $7 for children 12 or under.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re in a professional ghost hunting group, or just a traveler that wants a fun adventure, make sure you thoroughly investigate a location before spending your hard-earned money.<\/p>\n

Places like the Marbella Hotel have received terrible reviews by former guests about the less-than-stellar conditions including AC leaks, nasty, old furniture, dirty floors, wall tears, and debris throughout the hotel; not to mention rare cases of any actual paranormal experiences. One might have to consider that the haunting stories are just a ruse to gain business.<\/p>\n

The 16th<\/sup> Century British poet and farmer, Thomas Tusser, was quite correct when he penned the famous line, \u201cA fool and his money are soon parted.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sources: Wikipedia, IMDB, USA Today, tripadvisor.com<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a9 2012 R. Wolf Baldassarro\/Deep Forest Productions<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u201cHaunted Hotels\u201d \u00a0   Most fans of horror know that the backdrop of Stephen King\u2019s classic The Shining was prompted by the wordsmith\u2019s stay at the famous Stanley Hotel. Contrary to popular belief, King was living in Boulder at the time and did not write the novel while staying at the hotel- unlike the character of Jack Torrance, immortalized on screen by Jack Nickolson. He had the idea after staying in room 217 of the almost-empty hotel on the night before it closed for an extended period. The legend continues, though, and many believe it to be haunted, reporting any number of ghostly encounters- primarily in the\u00a0ballroom- during their stay. The Ghost Hunters\u00a0television show was invited to investigate at the hotel, where the manager gleefully showed them the various places where these alleged activities have occurred. To their credit, TAPS\u00a0discovered some rational reasons for the various phenomena, such as wind and old pipes. However, they could not decipher incidents in the ballroom. The Stanley Hotel was also on call for the Ghost Adventures\u00a0show in October of 2010. After hearing claims that paranormal activities at the hotel are due to the geological makeup of the location, Rocky Mountain Paranormal Research Society (RMP) contacted the\u00a0USDA\u00a0for information on the site. The scientists’ conclusion, based on a satellite survey of Colorado, showed \u201cnothing unusual about the aeromagnetic data in the area of Estes Park as compared to that general area of the Rockies.\u201d The\u00a0Skeptical Inquirer\u2019s\u00a0Naked Skeptic\u00a0column, by\u00a0Karen Stollznow, discussed RMP\u2019s investigation: \u201cDuring the investigation, The RMP researched popular beliefs and claims; they solved some mysteries, they performed valuable outreach, and they maintained the historical integrity of the Stanley Hotel. However, they didn\u2019t discover any anomalous phenomena. They found a leak in the ceiling but no ghosts.\u201d It would seem that the science doesn\u2019t back up the fantasy, as most of the activity is dismissed. Nevertheless, the legend has helped keep The Stanley in business as a result and they perpetuate the excitement (or feed the imagination\/sensitivities of guests) by showing the uncut R-rated version of Kubrick’s\u00a0The Shining\u00a0on a continuous loop on Channel 42 of guest room televisions. In the movie 1408 John Cusack plays an author who travels to supposedly haunted hotels and then writes about the paranormal activity, providing both the hotel\u2019s guest list and his book sales a boost in the process. Hollywood continues to affect reality as haunted hotel investigations and tours have seen a dramatic increase in recent years. It\u2019s big business for all involved- paranormal groups get to come in and do their thing, guests are intrigued by the promise of a spooky encounter, and the hotels get free marketing out of it all, no matter what the results may be. Entire packages are sold to groups, or individuals, who can come stay at a reportedly haunted hotel and go on \u201chaunted\u201d tours. Try typing in \u201cghost tours\u201d into a search engine sometime. I did and instantly received 6.3 MILLION results. Big numbers; big business; and folks na\u00efve enough to shell out cash for a thrill- a recipe for success. Here in Detroit we have the famous Whitney mansion, now a posh restaurant, which has an exclusive agreement with a specific paranormal group. Isn\u2019t that advantageous for both parties? The Whitney gets to perpetuate their \u201chaunted\u201d history, the group gets to claim bragging rights, and no one can come in to back up or refute the claims. That\u2019s a brilliant marketing strategy that the public eats up- literally and figuratively. That helps explain why the Whitney can charge so much for their dinners and desserts. The USA Today posted an article last year highlighting Travelocity\u2019s Top 10 Haunted Hotels and part of my web search landed me on the steps of the Crescent Hotel in Arkansas that reports to be haunted. Staff members receive regular reports from guests revolving around Room 424 and Room 202. The most famous haunted spot is Room 218, where several guests and employees have encountered strange sounds and sensations in the room such as doors slamming shut and some people have claimed to be shaken awake at night. In a clich\u00e9d tourist attraction of \u201cguests who checked out but never left,\u201d the Crescent holds ghost tours nightly at 8 p.m. Ticket prices at $18 for adults and $7 for children 12 or under. If you\u2019re in a professional ghost hunting group, or just a traveler that wants a fun adventure, make sure you thoroughly investigate a location before spending your hard-earned money. Places like the Marbella Hotel have received terrible reviews by former guests about the less-than-stellar conditions including AC leaks, nasty, old furniture, dirty floors, wall tears, and debris throughout the hotel; not to mention rare cases of any actual paranormal experiences. One might have to consider that the haunting stories are just a ruse to gain business. The 16th Century British poet and farmer, Thomas Tusser, was quite correct when he penned the famous line, \u201cA fool and his money are soon parted.\u201d   Sources: Wikipedia, IMDB, USA Today, tripadvisor.com \u00a9 2012 R. Wolf Baldassarro\/Deep Forest Productions<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":1,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7199","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/78"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7199"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7199\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7199"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7199"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}