Book Review: Haunted Ozarks

HauntedOzarksbookcover

Haunted Ozarks by Janice Tremeear is a well-researched, finely written work full of interesting stories of haunted places, paranormal events, and actual history in and around the Ozark Mountains. Numerous references of mountain superstitions appear throughout  adding to the ambiance of haunted folklore. The author makes the narrative of ghostly supernatural activity interesting without all the over-the-top hyperbole often found in books with similar subject matter. It was both entertaining and historically informative. An enjoyable read I would recommend to anyone interested in the paranormal and/or history of the Ozarks.

Eureka Springs, Arkansas and the haunted Crescent Hotel.

Crescent Hotel Eureka Springs

There are many places in my home state I enjoy visiting but few can compare to the beauty and interest of Eureka Springs, Arkansas and the folks that call this place home. Beautiful scenery, tourist sites, boating, fishing, hiking and just about all manner of outdoor recreational fun galore aside, there’s also a unique side to this area: its less than corporal inhabitants. By that, I mean ghostly haunts and otherworldly spirits.

A number of buildings in this area reputedly hold inhabitants from the ghostly realms. Among the more famous is the beautiful (and some say beautifully haunted) Crescent Hotel. In fact, their ghosts are so famous the Crescent is known as America’s most haunted hotel.

“Officially known as the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, its legend has been formed from the many guests who checked out but have never left.

These famous spirits include Michael, the Irish stonemason who fell to his death while building the hotel in 1885, Theodora, the cancer patient of the Dr. Baker hospital days who seems to need help finding her room key, Norman Baker in his white suit and lavender shirt, Morris the cat, a mystery patient in a white nightgown who appears in the luxury suites at the foot of your bed or any of the innumerable…”

In fact, the Crescent is so haunted they even conduct official ghost tours of the place which will end in the morgue. Yes, there’s an old morgue.

The tour and ghost hunting is still (possibly) on my list of things to do. If they are as interesting as the rest of Eureka Springs, the adventure shouldn’t be a disappointment, spooky haunts or not.