Blog Layout

151 – Return to the Mississippi: Haunted America 2017 Recap

Mike Huberty • July 4, 2017

For the third time, we return to Alton, Illinois to do some paranormal business. The first, we did a live podcast and hung out at the haunted Maeva’s Coffeehouse. The second we went down to the Haunted America conference which was their Twentieth Anniversary.

This time, we went down in force to the Haunted America Conference to not only check out the speakers, but to hang out at a See You On The Other Side booth as well as play a few songs to kick off the conference (and thanks to the awesome Lisa Taylor-Horton for making that happen!)

sunspot haunted america ghosts rock
Sunspot Acoustic Duo at Haunted America

The booth this year was Lisa Van Buskirk from Madison Ghost Walks, Allison Jornlin from Milwaukee Ghosts , Scott Markus from What’s Your Ghost Story , and then Wendy and I. So, we had a full boat and it was a great opportunity to meet a whole bunch of cool people.

haunted america see you on the other side booth
Looking good at the SYOTOS booth

We were right across the way from Greg and Dana Newkirk’s Traveling Museum of the Paranormal and Occult , so seeing the different attendees get to play with their various haunted and cursed items was a lot of fun throughout the day.

Some of the highlights of the conference were Troy’s introduction, the speaker panel on Friday night, Paranormal Sarah ’s discussion of paranormal belief across cultures, Greg and Dana’s presentation on living with cursed objects,  and Rosemary Ellen Guiley on interdimensional beings.

It’s really amazing what Troy and Lisa pull together in Alton, it’s a small Mississippi River town that for a weekend each year becomes a paranormal hotbed with some of the finest speakers in the field attending and discussing topics of all stripes (except UFOs, for some reason Troy doesn’t like them, but don’t let him know that we love ’em!) I joke a little about Alton in the discussion, but that’s because the years I spent living in La Crosse, Wisconsin made me understand how these cities that grew up along the Mississippi River have gone through some rough times, and to be able to bring people there and create a successful fun event year after year is no small feat .

haunted america troy taylor
The gang with the man behind Haunted America, Troy Taylor!

One of the things that I thought was interesting was the people at the booth right next to ours (the South Pivttsburgh Hospital in Tennessee ) had never been to a conference before and they were so cute. The manager of the hospital said that she felt out of her element, like a “faker” because she wasn’t a “paranormal person”. I completely understand because this community can sometimes feel extremely insular and it’s very protective because outsiders in the mainstream love to be judgmental about the things that we think are awesome.

I told her that you didn’t need to be a “paranormal person” to appreciate everything, you just had to have an open mind. No one really knows the answers and anyone that tells you that they do is lying to you or they’re deranged!

This is an area where we’re all just taking our best guess. But that’s just not the world of the paranormal, that’s everything in life. We’re all just doing our best out there, no matter what it is. And everyone feels like a fraud sometimes, that they’re “getting away with something”. As long as you’re okay with yourself, that’s all that matters. We’re all just trying to get by, and all the things that we make ourselves believe that are so important, or things we torture ourselves with, in the end don’t really matter to the universe. Have fun and be your best, because it’s just “Smoke and Mirrors” anyway.

When you feel like you’re a fake
and you just want to run away
and the little mask you’re wearing breaks

Well, it’s okay. Yeah, it’s okay.

when you think they’re giving you the eye
something in you wants to die
when you’re just living a lie

Just know, it’s smoke and mirrors anyway

Well you’ve got your cross to bear
Don’t you know, that we all got our weights
And It’s not right and it’s not fair,
don’t you know, it’s gonna be okay
It’s smoke and mirrors anyway.

Ursuline Convent New Orleans
March 4, 2025
Discover the haunting history of the Old Ursuline Convent in New Orleans—legends of vampires, ghostly nuns, and eerie secrets await. Dare to explore? #NewOrleans #HauntedHistory #AmericanGhostWalks
Muriel's Jackson Square
CREDIT to Flikr DBPerko
March 4, 2025
Experience Muriel's Jackson Square, a haunted restaurant in New Orleans. Enjoy delicious cuisine with a ghostly twist in the heart of the French Quarter!
A colorful postcard from NOLA
March 1, 2025
Explore the vibrant history and culture of Decatur Street in New Orleans. From iconic landmarks to thrilling ghost tours with American Ghost Walks, discover the city's most famous street!
Jazz and Voodoo
February 9, 2025
Explore the birthplace of jazz and the history of voodoo in New Orleans. Discover how music and mysticism shaped the city's unique cultural fusion.
A statue of a man with wings is sitting on a bench drinking a beer.
By Mike Huberty January 30, 2025
Join us for a haunting night of history, spirits, and spirits! Experience Chicago's most notorious gangster history on this unique Valentine's Day pub crawl that combines chilling tales, craft cocktails, and unforgettable sites from the city's bloody past. Event Details: Date: Friday, February 14th, 2025 and Saturday, February 15th, 2025 Time: 8:00 PM - 10:30 PM Starting Location: Chicago Oven Grinder (1850 N Lincoln Ave) Tour Highlights: - Start your evening at the historic Chicago Oven Grinder, built from the remnants of a building that once housed Al Capone's lookout spot - Visit the original site of the infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre, where seven men met their tragic end in 1929 - See the Biograph Theater, where legendary gangster John Dillinger had his final showdown with the FBI 
A group of people standing in front of a building that says the vena
By Mike Huberty January 27, 2025
Lake Geneva Winter Ghost Walk - Winterfest Special Tour Experience the haunted history of Lake Geneva in its most atmospheric season during this special 45-minute Winterfest walking tour. Tour Details - Date: January 31, 2025 - Duration: 45 minutes - Times: 6, 7, 8, 9pm - Price: $12 per person - Meet at: Lake Geneva Public Library (918 W Main St, Lake Geneva, WI 53147)
A ghostly photo of a child looking downward
January 13, 2025
Master essential ghost hunting techniques with expert tips on equipment, safety, and investigation methods. Start your paranormal journey like a pro today.
Haunted in Illinois
January 13, 2025
Discover Illinois' eeriest locations, from Chicago's infamous Resurrection Mary to Aurora's haunted roundhouse. Explore real ghost stories and paranormal hotspots.
Bachelor's Grove Cemetery
By Scott Markus December 20, 2024
Explore Chicago's most haunted burial ground, where the mysterious Madonna of Bachelors Grove still walks. Uncover century-old paranormal encounters and ghostly tales.
Vampire lore in French Quarter, New Orleans
December 20, 2024
Uncover centuries of vampire lore in New Orleans, from blood-curdling tales of the French Quarter to haunting legends of immortal beings that still captivate the city today.
More Posts
Share by: