Helen's Bridge - Asheville, NC

Now, as much as I despise being called a "Ghost Hunter" (as you all know), sometimes it's true. It truly is good to have a hobby and just geek out with your friends and do a little hobby time. Being serious investigators all the time can wear a team out. So if you're a team leader or founder of a group take them out for some honest fun once and awhile. That is what I did!

Why is it that in any urban legend or ghost story you only get a general description of where to go for the location? Of course, I only had a general idea as to how to get there and where it was since NO ONE ever posts directions to this sort of urban legend location.

Yeah well, in keeping with tradition...here is a map showing a general road in a general location, this may or may not be the actual location of Helen's Bridge.

(Just kidding! These are the actual directions to Helen's Bridge and the driving directions are posted below.)

The legend is that the Zealandia castle caught fire and a young woman lost her only child in the flames. Helen was so lost without her daughter she hung herself from a small stone bridge not far from the castle. Since then it is said that if you go to the bridge late at night, turn off your car, and call her name you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of her. Dressed in a long gown, it is said that she may ask you if you have seen her daughter. If it so happens that you do see her your car will be unable to start for a while.

Ghost hunters, paranormal enthusiasts, and teenagers looking for a scare, have flocked to this site for many years. It is obvious that the local teens hang out here with the amounts of litter and trash that lay about and the amount of teens that came to explore while we were there. During the 1940’s there used to be many Indian burial locations and it is rumored that these graves were disturbed. Apparitions and orbs have been documented (ORBS!) and some people have even described being pushed, slapped, scratched, and kicked. It is very possible it is not Helen but another darker entity. Zealandia website owners ask that no one provoke the “spirits” that lurk on or near the bridge.

Being the sort of skeptic's that we are, provoking is our specialty. Don't get me wrong, we respect the dead but stories of slapping, hitting, and scratching, is too irresistible for us. An entity that is willing to do physical harm is not just a lonely spirit and we want evidence of that particular existence.

Look closely above our heads the rocks are shaped like a skull. We thought that was cool, (not paranormal)

We had two recorders running at the same time on opposite ends of the bridge we had been calling for Helen for about fifteen minutes when jokingly a member asked "have you seen my daughter?" This is the response we got. Click Here. We were not kicked, scratched, punched, etc. as we had hoped and expected. The woods are loaded with thorny vines so any scratches we did get was from the greenery.

So go and have fun my paranormal friends! Send us your pictures of Helen's Bridge here and be entered for your chance to win Season 1 of Ghost Adventures on DVD! (The pictures do not have to be paranormal in nature.) You can also be entered to win just by commenting on this post. The winners will be announced within one month of this post.

Please, tell us what you think and leave comment below. Remember to "like" us on facebook by following the link on the right. You can also follow us on twitter @WNCPRS as well. If you would like us to investigate your area, send us an email here.

Christmas Soldier Program

In conjunction with Smoky Mountain Authors (click here for their website), I am proud to announce that we are the new parents of 150 male soldiers and 25 female soldiers overseas this year. Support our Christmas Soldier Program and help out your troops! We are encouraging you to DONATE!

These soldiers are stationed in Afghanistan in various outposts outside of any major military facility. Our soldiers are living in tents with limited water supply, limited food supply, and no laundry facilities. This means no restrooms, no showers, no place for our soldiers to clean off. Some sites have no entertainment and the way they prepare their food is microwave or jet boil. One or two sites may have a stove. They wash their clothes maybe once a week in buckets of water and laundry soap and shower using baby wipes. Females must keep their hair in military standards and some of these women are ethnic and must use hair gels, hair ties, and mousse, which is all in short supply. (Needless to say, the females must take care of their own feminine product issues while stationed in an outpost as well.)

On behalf of numerous soldiers and sailors currently stationed in Afghanistan for the Christmas holiday, please donate. I remember everyday that I am privileged enough to come to work, or sit at home, warm, and with my family, while these men and women are overseas fighting for my right to be here, right now. It’s our turn to return the favor. Remember why they are there and support them too! Any item you can donate is welcomed and our soldiers do appreciate it.

We are currently taking donations of nonperishable foods, feminine products, and shower kits for our soldiers overseas during this holiday season. Two shipments will be made; one on December 15th and one on January 1st. If you are making a cash donation via the button on the right your money will be used to purchase the listed items for the soldiers. If you live in the WNC area send us a message here and we'll come pick up your donations!

Private Residence - Investigation

We received a request to investigate a private residence. After speaking with him over the phone we decided that the investigation should proceed. His wife heard heavy breathing when she was outside. He heard his name being called when no one in the house truly called for him. His child refused to sleep in his own room and complained of someone hurting his feelings whenever he was in there. He feels oppressed and uncomfortable in his own home.

Our investigation began the night of November 17th 2012 (my camera decided that it was 2011 however so the dates on the pictures are incorrect.)

The only picture that had anything other than dust "orbs" or creepy crickets, is of the back wall of the basement. (You all know how I feel about "orbs" and if you don't you should probably read this because I will never post pictures of orbs and call them paranormal.) The wall is painted flat white which removed the flash flare, thankfully. I took this first picture and immediately took the second picture. We walked over and touched the location of the shiny spot and found that it was exactly like the rest of the basement wall. Theory would have it that the shiny spot would appear every time the camera flashed. We were never able to duplicate the shiny spot again.

Unexplained shiny spot

Where is the shiny thing?

However, after reviewing all the evidence gathered we came to the conclusion that during the time of our investigation nothing paranormal existed in the house. We did not capture any EVPs during the time we were there and provocation did nothing to increase the activity.

This is not to say that the clients are not going through something in the house or in their lives. As a research team we are simply not able provide evidence of the paranormal at this time in this house. They have been made aware that for peace of mind they have options for cleansing the house. Unfortunately, due to their religious background this may not be possible. We have been invited to come back at a later date for another investigation.

Update: The client has informed me that since we investigated he no longer feels the oppressiveness and he is finally able to take a deep breath.