Haunted Hotel in Ballinger Hosts First Annual Halloween Event

With Halloween just a few days away, many are checking out where the haunted houses are ahead of time and making a route. If you are looking for something that isn't just smoke and mirrors, and want the real deal with documented history and paranormal investigations, look no further.

Dan and Connie LaFave of Graveyard Shift Paranormal Investigations are the new owners of the Olde Park Hotel in Ballinger, Texas. Located at 107 S. 6th Street, it was built in the late 1800s and has been everything from a courthouse, meeting room, school house, bordello, antique shop and hotel. 

LaFave (Dan) said, "We originally bought the hotel for it's historical significance. We wanted to own something that was old and that we could kind of bring it back to life. The previous owner told us she picked us specifically to purchase it, as it 'felt right' after discussing the issue for over a year; she liked how we would continue to share its rich history with the public."

LaFave noted that the couple bought the hotel in July and have been hosting different paranormal tour groups and events since that time.  

"I've been researching the paranormal for about 20 years, and have been all over Texas helping a lot of different historical associations raise money with these sorts of things because they have strange things happening in their locations also. If anyone is interested in history/ghost tours and overnight group paranormal investigations, all inquiries need to be submitted through our official website."

Last year, around this time, San Angelo LIVE! visited the hotel. Editor-in-chief Brandy Ramirez and Creative Director John Basquez had their own unique experience that they said they will never forget, and they say the tour would definitely be worth it. To learn more on that story, click here.

This Halloween, people can enjoy their own experience.

LaFave noted, "A couple of months ago, we decided to do a Halloween fundraiser to make the money for restorations on the building. It will be our First Annual Haunted Hotel Event at The Olde Park Hotel and will run Friday, Oct. 28, and Saturday, Oct. 29, from 7:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. It's going to be a really great event and only $10 a person. We already have several people who have pre-paid online. A bonus for pre-paying online is, patrons are put on a master list, and, when they arrive, they are moved to the front of the line--kind of like a VIP privilege." 

LaFave also said, from what the couple have heard, this event has created a lot of attention, and people are planning to go to hotel by the busloads.

"They're carpooling, and there are some who have prepaid for dozens of other people," he said. "We'll have a lot of food as well as Halloween treats." 

LaFave added that for those who do visit and enter the hotel, it's like traveling back in time 140 years, and people can feel the paranormal side of it as well, "which is spooky but interesting at the same time."

"It's been really neat that we've had a lot of friends who have volunteered to come out and help us," he said. 

In August of this year, San Angelo's own paranormal investigation team, Concho Valley Paranormal (CVP), posted a video of their investigation experience. Dylan Lane, Anthony Daughenbaugh and Sara Carpenter, with guide Dan LaFave, braved checking out the 10,000-square-foot, 2-story building, with 41 rooms, and Lane said they "got a lot of activity" (click here).

On the first night, LaFave said a San Angelo news station will be broadcasting live for people to enjoy. As for what people deem age appropriate, he leaves that up to the discretion of the parents.  

"I would say just walking through the hotel at night, without the added attractions, is pretty spooky," LaFave noted.

Also, for those people wanting to catch their own footage, video cameras and video recorders are allowed.

 For more information, check out Facebook by searching for The Olde Park Hotel, and to purchase tickets, go to www.oldeparkhotel.com.