We met up with the Ocala/Gainesville meetup group at the Steak n Shake in Gainesville. (This is where 3 employees late last year were forced into the cooler and shot by a disgruntled employee. This really wasn't an opportunity to investigate here as they were open for business. But met some great people! And Hogtown Ghost hunters!
From here we went to a Bed and Breakfast called Sweetwater Inn. We were fortunate enough to be allowed to tour and investigate discreetly the two 3 story houses that have been converted. Very beautiful inside! In our last room as I was taking pictures I suddenly had battery drain. The batteries were completely charged up. It wasn't until I actually got back outside that I was able to power up the camera once again and resume taking photos. Ryan also experienced battery drain in his camera in the same house.
Once outside there was a small bridge leading to a gazebo. Had a little pond running under it with coy fish. I noticed there appeared what I first thought was a gravestone for one of the original owners by the last name of Fitzgerald. I attempted to take a picture from the bridge but decided there was to much brush in the way. So I made my way down to the stone. Once there it appeared not to be a grave site but a memorial. I got directly over the stone to snap a picture and as you probably already guessed...battery drain. Forrest was later able to go down and get a picture with good results. Although he brushed some of the weeds away from the stone and said he felt pretty weird like something had burned his hand.
We probably spent about 2 hours there. Our next stop was a place that use to be called The Purple Porpoise which now is called Gator City. Story has it that a young woman was murdered upstairs by a man and that her spirit still lingers. Upon entering we went down a long hallway. (of course we came in thru the backdoor) I noticed a door that was locked but had a window in it and could see stairs leading up. Our leader Catherine, who heads up the Ocala Gainesville meetup group spoke with the manager and told her who we were. Fortunately she gave us a tour upstairs! Mostly used for storage at this point. The murder supposedly took place near the women's restroom upstairs which is directly adjacent to the mens. The men's restroom was open but for some reason the women's bathroom was locked and the manager didn't appear to have a key for it. Besides Catherine who is psychic we also had a medium with us in the group. As we were standing next to the bathroom door and discussing how the spirit probably hides within there Forrest heard a moan coming from behind the locked door. Not once, but twice. At the same time the mediums arm that was up close to the door went ice cold.
The manager told us that the janitor that works after hours swears that the lady's spirit is there and quite active and he speaks to her nightly.
At one point Forrest took a picture of a corner wall opposite the bathrooms. When he first snapped the picture it appeared to be a woman standing there. Next time we looked at it we could actually make out a man standing there and he appeared to be holding a knife. Now to look at the picture there is nothing visible except the wall with peeling paint. I have never had an image appear in a picture and then change and then disappear completely, but in the world of paranormal I have to accept that just about anything can occur.
We did ask the manager if it would be possible to return to do an all night investigation. She is going to be checking with the owner's and will let us know. So will be keeping our fingers crossed on this one. Smile
Overall it was a great day!
Thu Jan 28, 2010 4:34 pm