Over the past few weeks, I've found myself reflecting on how much In the Shadows Paranormal has grown. When I started this journey, I thought it was about investigating historic places and sharing stories from Colorado's past. It still is. But somewhere along the way, something else happened. A team began to form. People with different backgrounds, different talents, and different perspectives came together because they shared one thing in common—curiosity. We've laughed. We'

As some of you may know, several members of In the Shadows Paranormal, live in Pueblo and Pueblo West - several miles from the Aspen Acres Fire. Sandi Hughes captured her thoughts and words through a a video we'd like to share with you. Our thoughts are with the firefighters, the people and animals living in that area. Sandi Hughes: After a long, dry winter without much snow, the Colorado landscape was left dry and somewhat barren. The Colorado and Arkansas rivers were seeing

Last week, I attended the Colorado Creative Industries Summit in Trinidad. Surrounded by filmmakers, museum professionals, artists, historians, and tourism leaders, I found myself returning to a simple question: Why do places matter? Throughout the summit, speaker after speaker talked about the power of storytelling—not just as entertainment, but as a way to connect people to communities, history, and one another. As I listened, my thoughts drifted south to a windswept hillsi

Last night I attended the Pueblo Historical Society dinner at the beautiful Pueblo Union Depot, and I left feeling incredibly grateful. Grateful for the people who fight to preserve these places. Grateful for the historians, volunteers, board members, storytellers, and community advocates who understand that old buildings are more than brick and wood — they are containers for memory. Walking through the Depot, looking at the craftsmanship, the tile floors, the woodwork, the o

People often ask what it’s like bringing my mother, Bonnie, along on paranormal adventures. First of all, let me be clear: Bonnie does not frighten easily. Dark basements? Fine. Old cemeteries? Fine.Abandoned buildings with questionable structural integrity and “mysterious” cold spots? Apparently also fine. But she does have limits. A few years ago, I brought her along on an investigation. The room was quiet except for the occasional creak and the dramatic whispering that par

Some moments don’t feel like much at the time. Just a conversation…a little laughter…nothing out of the ordinary. Until later. We were at the St. Nicholas—just talking, like we often do. Nothing staged. Nothing scripted. Just a real moment with real people in a place that holds a lot of history. And honestly? A little humor. Because if you can’t laugh while talking about unexplainable things…what are we even doing? https://youtube.com/shorts/ENkjujHwFf0 And then there’s Roy…

Most people think National Paranormal Day is about ghosts. It isn’t. At least—not in the way people expect. There’s something quietly unusual about this day. It doesn’t come with a clear origin story or a universally agreed-upon meaning. It exists somewhere between curiosity and skepticism, between history and experience. And maybe that’s the point. Because the paranormal itself has always lived in that space—just beyond easy explanation. For some, it’s entertainment. For oth

The first National Woman’s Day in the United States was observed on February 28, 1909. By 1911, the observance had spread internationally, eventually becoming what we now celebrate each year on March 8 as International Women's Day . But decades before that, something remarkable was already happening. In the mid-1800s, during the rise of Spiritualism , women began speaking publicly, leading gatherings, and guiding conversations in ways that were rare for the time. Séance circl

The word seance carries a mysterious aura today, often linked to ghostly encounters and spiritual communication. Yet, its origins tell a very different story—one rooted in the simple act of sitting. Understanding how seance evolved from a straightforward term for a session or sitting to its current meaning reveals much about cultural shifts and language development over centuries. A traditional seance setup with candles and a crystal ball on a wooden table The Original Mean

There are weekends that entertain. And then there are weekends that confirm something deeper . Pueblo Paranormal Weekend was never meant to be theatrical. It was meant to be respectful. Intentional. Rooted in place. From the moment we stepped into the Pueblo Heritage Museum, the tone was set: this wasn’t about chasing shadows. It was about listening. Fire Hose Company No. 3 – A Full House. The Fire Hose Company No. 3 Museum sold out — and what moved me most wasn’t the numbers

The loudest paranormal investigations aren’t usually the clearest ones. In fact, the calmer the conversation, the more honest the experience tends to be. We live in a culture that rewards reaction — jump scares, dramatic claims, bold declarations. But, when it comes to exploring the unknown, heightened emotion can distort more than it reveals. Fear changes perception. Expectation fills in gaps. Noise becomes meaning. I’ve found that when we slow down — when we treat a space,

There is a quiet thrill in stepping into the shadows of history - where whispers linger and the unseen beckons. We gather our tools, not just as instruments, but as keys to unlock stories untold. Each item carries a purpose, a promise to bridge the gap between the known and the mysterious. What do we bring with us on these journeys? How do these tools shape our understanding of the paranormal world? Paranormal Investigation Tools: Our Trusted Companions When we embark on a pa

Pueblo’s layered history holds stories that don’t always rest quietly. This February, In The Shadows Paranormal invites you to a guided weekend experience that blends heritage storytelling with hands-on paranormal investigation at select historic locations in Pueblo, Colorado. This is not a jump-scare event or a free-for-all investigation. It’s a small-group, respectful exploration designed for curious minds—whether you’re new to paranormal investigation or have experience i

This photograph captures Roy Bourquin standing in front of the former St. Nicholas Hospital in Cripple Creek—now the historic Hotel St. Nicholas . His presence in this image is not incidental. Roy lived and worked at the hospital for more than twenty years, remaining there until his death in 1958, and his story is deeply woven into the history of this place. Born in 1889, Roy’s early life was marked by severe hardship after a devastating accident left him without both hands a

A Year-End Call to Preserve Heritage and History As the year comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the places that quietly carry our stories—our history, our voices, and the lived experiences of those who came before us. Heritage sites are more than buildings. They are keepers of memory, culture, and community. Several organizations and historic locations are especially close to my heart, and I want to share ways you can support them as we head into the new year. Pueblo H

Cripple Creek, Colorado "Historic, haunted, and bursting with paranormal energy—Cripple Creek is a ghost hunter’s paradise!" I think every building there ahs something going on! Spooky Rating: 👻👻👻👻👻 St. James Hotel, Cimarron, NM "Wild West meets restless spirits—bullet holes, shadow figures, and an unmistakable vibe." Spooky Rating: 👻👻👻👻👻 Taos, New Mexico "Land of Enchantment, or whispers? Taos feels like one big ghost story waiting to unfold." Spooky Rating: 👻

This is not a tarot deck. This is not a game. It is a field-born spirit It is a field-born spirit question deck — created during real investigations, in real places, with respect for the unseen and the stories that linger. Each card offers a thoughtful prompt designed to invite communication, not command it. Use it during paranormal investigations, personal reflection, or moments when you feel called to listen more closely. Energy is currency. — In The Shadows Paranormal Th

A Journey into the Unknown Have you ever felt a chill run down your spine? A whisper of the past brushing against your ear? In Colorado, the air is thick with stories—tales of the unexplained that beckon us to listen. We find ourselves drawn to these mysteries, seeking to understand what lies beneath the surface of our history. The Allure of the Paranormal The paranormal world is a tapestry woven with threads of intrigue and wonder. Each thread tells a story, each whisper car

Sometimes justice doesn’t arrive through evidence alone. Sometimes it arrives through memory. In 1977, Teresita Basa—a respiratory therapist living in Chicago—was found murdered in her apartment. The case quickly went cold. There were no witnesses. No clear suspect. Then something unexpected happened. A coworker began experiencing vivid episodes—speaking in a voice that was not her own. Through her, details emerged: a man Teresita trusted, the theft of her jewelry, the locati

The latest episode of the Shenanigans In the Shadows podcast has just landed, and it promises to captivate anyone interested in the paranormal. Episode three, titled Lost Spirits and Found Legends , takes listeners on a journey through the haunted history of the Hotel Saint Nicholas in Cripple Creek, Colorado. Hosts Carly and Gail share personal experiences and stories from their paranormal investigations, offering a unique glimpse into the mysterious world of spirits and le