Paranormal Blog

Paranormal Blog – here is a selection of the Haunted Horizons articles written by Alison Oborn, Kag Allwood and the occasional guest writer.

We are passionate about sharing all things ghostly and mysterious, especially the amazing locations we get to investigate around the world, allowing you to visit them too on here.

We hope you enjoy our Paranormal Blog and that these articles give you extra insight into the world of the paranormal, dark history and the experiences we create for you.

The Port Wakefield Ghost – Is this Phantom Hitchhiker Fact or Fiction The Port Wakefield Ghost – there are many tales told about this particular phantom hitchhiker, always dressed in an Air Force uniform, often asking to be taken to a particular address, only to...
HAUNTED ANCIENT RAM INN The haunted Ancient Ram Inn… is it really haunted, and if so, who are her ghosts? This well-known Inn is a historic and famously haunted building in Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, England. Its history dates back to the 12th century, and is often...
  Mercury in Retrograde – Is it a Real Thing? Mercury in Retrograde – is it a real thing?  Have you heard people say when things have gone wrong, fall-outs occur, and all hell breaks loose, “Well, Mercury is in retrograde! What do you expect?”...
Napier Prison Ghosts – New Zealand Napier Prison ghosts, do they exist, and who could they be?  As we were flying to New Zealand to visit friends, how could we not also visit and explore these ghost stories for ourselves? We weren’t sure what to...
Prospect Place Ghosts – A Brief History and Why it May be Haunted Prospect Place Ghosts, who are they, and why are they there?  Kag Allwood and I were lucky enough to be able to spend a night exploring and investigating this fantastic piece of...
  We Saved A Life – Coincidence or Divine Intervention A Strange Tale to Tell! Just Coincidence? Have you ever had a series of events that led you to think it was all meant to be, or that maybe you were somehow steered in a...
Cousin Jack’s B&B – A Brief History Cousin Jack’s B&B has to be one of the most charming cottages in Moonta. On arriving, the first thing we noticed about this 1860s cottage, was the chimney which was doing its best impersonation of the Leaning Tower...
  Haunted Dolls – The Rise of Have you noticed the rise in the number of ‘haunted’ dolls lately?  There are a plethora of ‘haunted’ dolls up for sale online, most at an inflated price. Although to be fair, there are some stories of owners...
    National Railway Museum Ghosts – Why Would the Museum be Haunted? National Railway Museum Ghosts, do they exist and if so, why would the Museum be haunted?  We first heard the rumours many years ago, when a couple of volunteers passed on their...
    Heritage and Nautical Museum Ghosts – What is the History and is it Haunted? The Heritage & Nautical Museum Ghosts, do they exist and if so why would the Museum be haunted?  Kag Allwood and myself were invited for the evening to see...
Glenbarr Homestead Ghosts – What is the History and why Would it be Haunted? Glenbarr Homestead Ghosts, do they exist and why would they still be there?  We were originally invited several years ago by one of the volunteers who wanted us to check it...
Newcastle Castle Keep Ghosts – What is the History and why Would it be Haunted? Newcastle Castle Keep Ghosts – who are they and is it really Haunted? While we were in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, we couldn’t resist a visit to find out! The River Tyne, and...
Villisca Ax Murder House – What is the history and why would it be Haunted? Villisca Ax Murder House Ghosts – who are they and why are they there?  For this, we need to delve into the tragic history of this, no doubt, once happy...
Bluey Blundstones Heritage Accommodation, Melrose – Brief History I have been very aware of the Bluey Blundstones ghosts for many years, since I paid my first visit there when travelling back to Adelaide from the Flinders Ranges.  I had stopped in Melrose for a leg...
The Haunted Grand Hotel, Millicent – A Brief History The Grand Hotel ghosts have been spoken about for many years both at the bar and in many news stories so we were naturally excited to be invited to check it out.  We would like to...
The Haunted Sydney Quarantine Station – A Brief History Sydney Quarantine Station ghosts, it has always been on my bucket list to investigate them, and now it was Kag’s and my opportunity to do so, as we had been staying in Sydney for a paranormal...
The British Hotel, North Adelaide – A Brief History The British Hotel ghosts have been whispered about for many years and taking into consideration how old this hotel is, it wouldn’t be surprising if some of her past residents remain to this day. This wonderful...
Haunted Vernon Gate Prison – A Brief History Vernon Gate Prison ghosts have been investigated for many years now, and we were given the opportunity to visit this historic prison for ourselves.  But what was the history behind what’s left of this historic Gaol? After...
Customs House, Port MacDonnell – A Brief History Customs House Ghosts, in Port MacDonnell, are there any?  It certainly has that look about it, but just because the building is historic and looks like it could be haunted doesn’t always mean that it has ghosts. ...
Haunted Charleville Castle – Brief History Charleville Castle Ghosts, are they real?  Who are they, and why are they still there?  Kag and I were kindly given permission to visit and see if we could communicate with whoever remains in this beautiful castle. Charleville Castle...
The Cornwall Hotel, Moonta – A Brief History The Cornwall Hotel ghosts have long been spoken of, but what is the history behind this haunted pub and are the stories just tales told at the bar?  We looked into the history and went to find...
Caledonian Inn Robe – History The Caledonian Inn Ghosts have been whispered about for many years and Kag and I were invited there, to check those stories out. The Caledonian Inn, affectionally known as the ‘Callie’, sits in the lovely Limestone Coast town of Robe,...
Adelaide Gaol Ghosts – Is this Prison Haunted? Adelaide Gaol ghosts have long been rumoured, even back when it was a working prison.  But what of its history?  Why would the Old Adelaide Gaol be haunted? South Australia was different to other States in Australia...
Old Mount Gambier Gaol Ghosts, History & Executions Old Mount Gambier Gaol ghosts have long been rumoured and whispered about, but is the Old Mount Gambier Gaol truly haunted?  Mel and James, who presently run the Gaol as accommodation, kindly invited us to come in...
Gawler Spontaneous Human Combustion Gawler Spontaneous Human Combustion case, was this the first to occur in South Australia and what is it?  While researching stories for my Gawler Dark History Tour back in 2010, I uncovered one of the most intriguing stories of my tour. ...
Old Derby Gaol Ghosts & History Old Derby Gaol Ghosts have been talked about for many years and we finally got our chance to explore these stories ourselves.  Old Derby Gaol sits in the heart of the town of Derby, Derbyshire in the U.K.  Originally...
Gumeracha Hotel Ghosts History & Tragedy The Gumeracha Hotel Ghosts have been rumoured to be there for quite some time, but what was the history behind this historic Hotel and who could they be?  It certainly had a long history, dating back to 1861.  It...
Unlucky Houses – Can Some Homes Really be that Unlucky? Unlucky Houses – Can a home really be unlucky, cursed, or whatever you want to call it?  This has been a question of mine for quite some time.  It may sound weird or bizarre and...
Prince Albert Hotel, Gawler – History The Prince Albert Hotel Ghost… does it exist?  We were kindly invited to find out by the Hotel owners, as they have had a few strange occurrences that have made them wonder. Originally known as the Prince Albert Inn,...
Do Dogs See Ghosts? Do dogs see ghosts?  It is a question we are often asked ‘do you think pets and other animals see/sense ghosts?’  The honest answer …. we really don’t know!  Yes, our fur-covered friends are often seen staring into the abyss, seemingly...
Sir John Franklin Hotel in Kapunda – History Sir John Franklin Hotel, built in 1849 by James Wittaker, was the leading Hotel in Kapunda in its day.  Kapunda was a successful copper mining town that is approximately an hour north of Adelaide. The hotel was...
Golden Fleece Hotel Ghost – History The Golden Fleece Hotel ghost is one of the most intriguing pub ghost stories in South Australia.  Many would remember the Golden Fleece Hotel in Gawler by its previous name, The Old Spot Hotel.  I remember it well due...
Mount Torrens Hotel Ghost – History The Mount Torrens Hotel ghost has been talked about for many years so we went in to explore the stories and the history of this wonderful old hotel. The town of Mount Torrens is approximately a 50min drive from...
The Royal Mail Hotel – History The Royal Mail Hotel ghosts and how they came to be there can possibly be answered by exploring this iconic hotel’s past. Kingston South East is a small coastal town, about 294 km from Adelaide. Most people driving through...
ADELAIDE ZOO – IS IT REALLY HAUNTED? Adelaide Zoo – A Brief History The Adelaide Zoo was officially opened on 23rd May 1883, after much debate and concerns of animals being so near the city.  The first Director was an Irish gentleman called Richard Minchin...
GUNGELLAN HOTEL – IS IT HAUNTED? Gungellan Hotel, Freeling – Ghosts & Hauntings! By Alison Oborn GUNGELLAN HOTEL HISTORY     The Gungellan Hotel, as it is now known, was originally the Railway Hotel and is still registered under this name.  It sits in the...
IS SCHNEIDER’S ALLEY REALLY HAUNTED? An Injustice of the worst kind! (Please note, I have written this Schneider’s Alley blog slightly different to the others I have done.  I really want the information to stand out and be easy to read.  I don’t think that...
JEDBURGH CASTLE JAIL Jedburgh Castle Jail – Ghosts & Hauntings! By Alison Oborn   History of Jedburgh Castle Jail Jedburgh Castle Jail is a title that is a little misleading as this facility was never a true castle.  So just how did this Georgian prison...
MARGAM CASTLE Margam Castle – Murder & Ghosts! By Alison Oborn History of Margam Castle Margam Castle sits nestled on an 850-acre country estate roughly 2 miles from Port Talbot, South Wales.  It is, in fact, a large Victorian-era country home built to look like...
FRIDAY 13th SUPERSTITION Friday 13th superstition… do you stay in bed and pull the covers over your head and refuse to face the world?  Have you changed your travel itinerary because your flight coincided with this dreaded date?  Are you convinced that something bad is...
THE GREY NURSE PHENOMENA – HOSPITAL GHOSTS In Sickness and in Death – the Grey Nurse Phenomena by Kag Allwood The Grey Nurse hospital ghost – she is said to attend to your needs with a smile whilst she empties the bedpan or changes your...
The Dark Hedges Ghosts The Dark Hedges Gives us a Suprise – By Kag Allwood History of the Dark Hedges The Dark Hedges was made famous by the hit HBO TV show ‘Game of Thrones’.  It was portrayed as part of Kings Road used by...
HAUNTED SHEPTON MALLET PRISON SHEPTON MALLET PRISON PARANORMAL INVESTIGATION – By Alison Oborn HMP Shepton Mallet Prison, nestled in a small Somerset town in England, was originally built in 1610-1625 after King James I decreed that all counties should have their own jails. It is...
WILL I SEE A GHOST? One Guide’s Thoughts on the Subject from the Other Side – By Kag Allwood “Will I see a Ghost?” is the one question I am frequently asked at the beginning of my tour.  Either that or “Can you guarantee me...
HAUNTED WEST VIRGINIA PENITENTIARY, MOUNDSVILLE In September 2018 we were lucky enough to be able to investigate at the reputably haunted West Virginia Penitentiary.  Joined by our hosts for the night, Paranormal Quest, we had no idea how exciting the night would be. It certainly...
HAUNTED OLD LICKING JAIL In September 2019 we were lucky enough to be able to investigate at the reputably haunted Old Licking Jail.  Joined by Paranormal Quest, I think we had the best nights investigation that I have experienced in a long time. The following...
HAUNTED LEAP CASTLE LEAP CASTLE: BRIEF HISTORY Leap Castle, said to be one of the longest continually inhabited Castles in Ireland is located in Coolderry, County Offaly. Some report it to have been built around 1250 CE.  Other reports state it possibly was built in...
THE HAUNTED RAGGED SCHOOL THE RAGGED SCHOOL MUSEUM BRIEF HISTORY The haunted Ragged School Museum sits in the heart of the East End of London.  Ragged Schools, or Free Schools, were charitable institutions that gave children of poverty-stricken families the opportunity for basic education.  This...
HAUNTED ADELAIDE ARCADE INVESTIGATION BY HAUNTED HORIZONS “I am sorry, I don’t believe in such things.  But I can tell you now the Adelaide Arcade is haunted…” ~ Paul, who worked in the Adelaide Arcade at night At Haunted Horizons we are very lucky to...
HAUNTED CHILLINGHAM CASTLE GHOSTS Paranormal Investigation in search of the Chillingham Castle Ghosts In 2016 we were lucky enough to travel to Chillingham Castle.  Having seen it on numerous documentaries and TV Ghost Hunting Shows, we were intrigued to see what it was all about. ...
WHY DO GHOSTS SCARE US? “Why do ghosts scare us with such mundane behaviour? When we die, do we have nothing better to do than touch hair, rattle teacups and slam doors?” In my 30 years of researching and conducting tours, this would be one...
WHAT IS KARMA? “You harm yourself, as dust thrown against the wind comes back to the thrower” ~ Buddha on Karma I often see posts on social media regarding ‘Karma’, a word that seems to have become more and more popular of late.  “Karma will...
BIZARRE HALLOWEEN CUSTOMS Welcome to Halloween! Goblins, ghouls and ghostly experiences abound… and that is just with the Halloween trick and treaters. As I prepare to conduct our own spooky Halloween event, I thought I would look at some of the quainter customs for ‘All...
My Adelaide Gaol Ghost Story – By Nicolas Bishop “Real History. Real Frights – Our guide, Alison Oborn gave us an experience that I have not encountered on any other tour!  This is my Adelaide Gaol Ghost Story. The tour starts with a walk around...
  Being asked to service the night tours and investigations at Z Ward asylum by the National Trust, was a huge honour and one that we were excited to undertake.   It also meant that my passion for history and heritage and my desire to help...
Paranormal Field Investigators and Adelaide’s Haunted Horizons had the pleasure of meeting and working with APPI – Australian Paranormal Phenomenon Investigators, who run investigations and tours in Sydney. We all came together with Ashley Hall from the Paranormal Guide for one big investigation weekend. The...
HH OUTTAKES 2012 As Haunted Horizons Tours have grown over the past year, so has the fun, especially behind the scenes. We thought we would celebrate the year of 2012 by taking a glimpse of this. Hopefully it shows how special our guides are and...
What makes Haunted Horizons a little different? A bit of staff fun! The fact that the staff have a sense of fun and take life a little less seriously then most. Here are a couple of behind the scene moments whilst waiting for a tour...
This Adelaide Gaol Halloween tour was our launch tour at the Old Adelaide Gaol and we were pretty excited to get going.  After the obligatory dressing up… yes back into my much-loved Zombie gear and makeup…. we waited for our tour to arrive. We didn’t...
“Wow, have you done something with your hair?” Was one witty comment from a team member on the photograph I recently put up on Facebook. As I was made up like a corpse, it is reassuring to see my team members can’t tell the difference!!...
The Grand Central Hotel: Its beginnings As people stand in line at Hungry Jacks waiting for their burger or as they lock their cars just having parked in the multi-storey car park above, they would probably be surprised to learn of what stood there before,...
Old Tailem Town has a rather intriguing building – what appears to be a haunted church!  Over time we have had many people trancing out, still awake but remembering nothing.  We have had the sighting of a dark shadow figure with many feeling his touch....
By Shane Potter – 27th Oct 2012 – My Halloween Experience Well, it was a bit of an on again off again effort but I decided last minute to attend the Halloween tour at old Tailem Town run by Alison Oborn and the team at...
BLOOD MOON ECLIPSE NIGHT – PART 1 – 10th Dec 2011 By Mike Metcalfe We like to encourage our guests to write their own experiences up rather than we do it for them.  That way you get to see it from their perspective.  We will be...
My Creepy Ghost Experience at Old Tailem Town by Deanna Turner-Reid During our visit to Tailem Town on Saturday night (hosted by the fabulous team from Adelaide’s Haunted Horizons) my partner and I split from the main group and went with Anna to start investigating...
Some years ago, the show ‘The Weekender’ came in from Channel 7 to cover some of the Adelaide Gaol Ghost Stories for a Halloween Special. Alison and Jeff from Paranormal Field Investigators had the pleasure of taking the tour for them that night.  However, they...