Ghosts in Utah's State Parks?

Salt Lake City – Utah’s state park museums reveal and preserve Utah’s history, which may include ghosts. Museum employees and paranormal investigators say activity has been recorded at Frontier Homestead and Camp Floyd/Stagecoach Inn state park museums. Are these parks really haunted?

According to Frontier Homestead State Park Museum Manager Todd Prince, digital voice recorders used in a recent investigation of the Hunter Home at Frontier Homestead revealed growling, knocking, and whispering voices within the empty home.

Joseph S. Hunter, an early settler of Cedar City, built the Hunter Home in 1866. Various Hunter family descendants lived in the home over the years, which is the oldest remaining home in Cedar City. The Hunter Home was moved to Frontier Homestead in 2005 to protect the home from demolition.

Camp Floyd/Stagecoach Inn has hosted both novice and experienced paranormal investigators who record their eerie encounters on tape and film. Recordings show orbs or balls of light, which some believe to be energy fields. Other recorded findings include whispering, sounds from moving furniture, mists and ribbons, and unexplained streaks of light.

Once home to members of Johnston’s army, this area was a bustling community until 1861 when tensions between north and south resulted in civil war. Troops were ordered back East for the emergency and nearly all the buildings were dismantled or demolished. Today, only the cemetery and the commissary building remain.

Beginning Ghost Hunters recently joined in a paranormal investigation of Camp Floyd on Saturday, October 24 as visitors brought their own tape recorders, film, digital and infrared cameras. Park staff assisted participants in the use of their equipment in finding paranormal orbs, mists and sounds. Following a brief presentation, these visitors were able to practice ghost hunting techniques and investigation. Materials are still being reviewed from the investigation.

To visit Camp Floyd, take Lehi Exit 279 off I-15, which is Lehi's Main Street. Continue west along this street, which turns into Highway 73. Continue along this highway to the town of Fairfield, approximately 22 miles from Lehi. Once in Fairfield, follow the highway signs into the park.  Admission fees are $2 per person or $6 per family.

For more information on these museums or upcoming events, visit http://www.stateparks.utah.gov/  .