Paranormal investigation held at WreckCreations ahead of Chillicothe Ghost Walk

CHILLICOTHE ― Below the bright exterior of WreckCreations' selfie booths and paint room is a dark, eerie basement filled with forgotten relics and endless rooms to explore. The basement is the latest focus of the Chillicothe Ghost Walk's paranormal investigation.

The Chillicothe Ghost Walk, sponsored by the Chillicothe Halloween Festival, is an annual tour of local establishments. A historical deep dive and a paranormal investigation prepare each location for the tour. This year, the tour includes the city council building, Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop, Tea of Life Apothecary, Crystals & Claws, Old Capitol Brewing and WreckCreations.

"To make sure that we are giving people the most we can during the tour, we do the investigations to get perspectives," said Vice President Adam Days. "Whatever readings that our investigators or psychics and paranormal experts find, we incorporate that into the script so that people are hearing not only the history but what also is coming from sensitive and experienced investigators."

WreckCreations is a local business at the 2nd Street bank building that offers selfie booths and a paint splatter room. The atmosphere shifts upon entering the basement as the bright interior turns into the destruction dungeon, WreckCreations' rage room where visitors are invited to destroy household items to their heart's content.

Brandy Gleason of Guiding Light Healing Therapies led a paranormal investigation at WreckCreations on Aug. 12. She started on the first floor, where she examined the old bank vaults and safe deposit boxes. She described an anxious energy and odd smells.

She walked slowly from room to room, examining things that called to her. She said her fingers move to feel the energy. Objects of interest were often met with moments of silence while Gleason focused.

"I'm not a nervous person, but I'm shaking," Gleason said. "Somebody's trying to talk to me."

She described a feeling of sheer panic in the bank vault and a mob of people dressed in business suits rushing to get into the safe deposit boxes.

Upon entering the basement, said there was "heavy energy" in the air. She described the smell of rubbing alcohol and antiseptic. She said it was suddenly harder to breathe. She began to feel sick, hot, dizzy and sweaty.

Sissy Burggraf of the Chillicothe Halloween Festival followed Gleason, diligently taking notes of every word and movement. After the investigation, the committee will meet to discuss what to share on the ghost walk.

The basement vault was filled with old newspapers, documents, discarded checks and more. Gleason and Burggraf looked through the piles of forgotten paperwork.

Gleason described three middle-aged men in suits digging around in the basement and looking for something. She said these three men were responsible for what was happening upstairs. She said a long hallway connecting the buildings was the mens' escape route to mask their criminal activity.

The long hallway used to connect the buildings underground, but has since been closed off. The inconsistently lit hallway leads to nothing but exposed pipes, a low ceiling and an ominous handprint on the wall.

Gleason described a nurse asking her to follow her into a tunnel. The ghost walk committee gathered around as Gleason squeezed into the small, dark space. Committee members talked amongst themselves and described a strong breeze and odd music coming from the tunnel.

Traveling deeper into the neverending basement, Gleason discovers a woman in a dress, someone hiding in the elevator room, a nurse trying to mask a smell and many people lying in cots. She said the spirits are reliving this moment and don't realize it.

Upon exiting the building, Gleason said she felt significantly better. With her insight, the Chillicothe Ghost Walk committee is ready to open the space to the public.

Locals will have the chance to explore WreckCreations and other local businesses during the Chillicothe Ghost Tour from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23. Tickets are $10 and are available online at ChillicotheHalloweenFestival.com/Ghost-walk or at the Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitor's Bureau at 230 N. Plaza Blvd. Tickets will also be sold in front of the Majestic Theatre the day of the event.

Proceeds will benefit the Chillicothe Halloween Festival, which is scheduled at Yocatangee Park Oct. 13-15. A portion of the proceeds from the festival go to local nonprofit organizations.

"We want this to be something that people can have a great time, a great experience, a lot of fun and help make Chillicothe and Ross County better and bigger," Days said. "We want to empower people and impact their lives and we want to have fun doing it. It proves that monsters aren't always bad."

Gleason will be at the Chillicothe Halloween Festival and may make an appearance at the ghost walk.

Megan Becker is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. Call her at 740-349-1106, email her at mbecker@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @BeckerReporting

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Chillicothe Ghost Walk hosts paranormal investigations