We had a funky time the first time we went to this cemetery. My ghost hunting partner and I rambled around the place at night, getting a feel for it, but it took only a few minutes to realize something felt very wrong. I stood near some headstones just to the right of the entrance and I felt dizzy. It distinctly felt like something was chasing around the cemetery, zooming past me, sometimes close, sometimes far away, but speeding around like a lunatic. I had a sense of something in fright running from it. I couldn't explain it except to say that I spent the evening chasing its trek and taking shots, even though there was no breeze.
My hunting partner agreed. Something seemed to moving about. I felt it was up in the air above us, swooshing and racing, and full of mischief. I couldn't describe it any further than that, but the shots all evening showed something that appeared to be chasing something. I have a feeling about orbs that they are completely explainable, but this phenomenon felt very very odd and for a windless night, it was especially bizarre. I'll let you evaluate the photos and decide. These are only a few of them.
I have to admit this cemetery is extremely atmospheric and old west feeling and has a huge population. It's built on the tailings from the mines and I believe that attributes to the feel of it. It is very gothic and moody. If you want pictures of seriously creepy headstones in a rocky hillside setting, this place is one of the best (along with the Mayer Cemetery-will cover that in another piece).
You know that uneasy feeling most folks get in Sedona? The first 24 hours there I always have an immense headache until I acclimate and then I just feel super energetic... Well, Bisbee's Evergreen Cemetery is much like that. It feels downright uninviting and creepy.
The best way I can describe to find it is to keep driving out of town towards the mines and when you hit the round-about, turn right after the gas station--the street the gas station sits along. It's on the left. You can tell by the Cypress trees--the "dead" giveaway for any town's cemetery in the west.
Happy cemetery-ing.
Mad props to you for the amazing amount of courage you muster up to do what you do. I find the issue of ghosts absolutely fascinating but, as it stands, I'm just way too much of a sissy to go looking for them in a pro-active fashion. The feelings you describe in this post, that's how I feel sometimes just reading about stuff like this.
ReplyDeleteNice pics.
When I lived in the Sundance House in norCal we'd occasionally hear sounds of many people running or chasing one another all over the hill and sensing a feeling of urgency. It happened day or night. The only thing I can think of as a cause was that under the layers of fallen oak leaves and a centimeter of dirt there was a layer of earth and decaying debris that looked scortched, as if in an intense fire. I've always wondered if this was the cause for the "running alarm" sounds through the grass.
ReplyDeleteFrom these photos I get a sense of ... alarm, rather than outright fear? Hard to describe.
I think my weird upbringing in a Civil War field hospital and digging up relics and my parents having seances and reporters coming and going to report about the ghosts and NBC doing a 2-hour special on the haunting, kind of made me like Teflon when it comes to spooky places. I'm writing a horror novel now (actually two, but I'm concentrating on the ghost hunting one right now) and I find that it takes a lot to frighten me, so when I'm reading my novel and I get a chill-I know I've hit something that is probably universally scary. I have a lot of questions and I think my curiosity helps me from getting scared, but mostly I know I can't get hurt (except by stray dogs or stray people), so I just soak up the atmosphere. I'm a real romantic at heart and I adore creepy places and historic sites and any place others would consider frightening like abandoned buildings. I'll keep reporting about it, so long as there's folks like Stephen who enjoy reading about it.
ReplyDeleteOh, and Celyn, about the sound of folks running around the hill and the sense of urgency, you're probably onto something with the fire. I think there's a real combination of a perfect site (whether it's leylines or geology) that seems to help lock traumatic events into place. I went back to that cemetery a year later and the sense of something chasing something around was gone, but instead there was a very strong feeling of being watched, so much so that I ended up leaving, thinking that maybe locals were creeping around. I found no cars or evidence anyone was there, but I kept spinning around and searching over and over. That's a sensation that's very creepy!
Loved the story....We will be sure to check out this place the next time we stay in Bisbee. I hope soon. I appreciate the directions too.....Julie
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a great set of pics and story -i wonder if my old beater would make it to Bisbee? altho way too much of a scaredy cat to go alone! best as always!
ReplyDeleteDevin;
ReplyDeleteJust for you, I'll do a column on spooky Mesa spots :-)
The Shady Dell is a great place to stay when you visit our Bisbee town. It's right next to the cemetery and the owners are joys to be around. Hope to see some of you around my town!
ReplyDelete