Reacting to Exploring With Josh Hawthorne Hotel Ghost Investigation
Hey there, my spooky cats! 🧙♀️ Welcome back to the blog, and if you're here from my YouTube video, Reacting to Exploring With Josh Hawthorne Hotel Ghost Investigation, then you already know what we’re talking about today. That’s right—the famously haunted Hawthorne Hotel in Salem, Massachusetts!
I picked this video to react to because I actually stayed at the Hawthorne myself not too long ago. So I thought it would be fun to compare notes with another ghost hunter, and see what matched up, what didn’t, and what we can learn from each other. And let me tell you, I was shocked (in a good way) to find that we actually caught two EVPs during our stay—something we didn't even realize until we were reviewing the footage later. Total ghostly surprise!
Now, if you haven’t heard of the Hawthorne Hotel, let me give you the spooky scoop. It’s one of the most haunted places in Salem, with the sixth floor and Room 325 getting the most attention. Guests report faucets turning on by themselves, ghostly children crying, and even a woman in white floating around the halls. Some people think the hotel was built near Bridget Bishop’s apple orchard (she was the first person executed during the witch trials), but turns out, that’s not quite accurate. Her orchard was nearby, not directly under the hotel. Still, it makes for a creepy backdrop!
Josh and his team stayed in Room 325, we stayed on the 6th floor, and they brought out a ton of equipment—some familiar, some I haven’t tried yet. He used those red sensory goggles with the Estes Method, and I gotta admit, I’m not sure how I feel about that. Red lights and sensory deprivation can cause hallucinations, so I’d rather not go chasing ghosts that only exist in my brain. I want the real deal!
Josh also used the Spirit Talker app, which we’ve tested a bunch of times in haunted and non-haunted locations. So far, it seems to spit out words no matter where we are. That doesn’t mean it’s totally fake, but I think it works based on EMF interference or radio signals, not actual spirits whispering sweet nothings in your ear. Same goes for Ghost Tube. Also any close by magnets will instantly make the app spit out words. We’re still testing both apps, but let’s just say... I’m skeptical.
We both tried classic EVP recording too, and that’s where things got interesting. One of the EVPs we caught at the Hawthorne showed up both on our voice recorder and on our video’s camera mic, which has never happened to us before. That definitely made my ears perk up! Still, we didn’t hear it in real time, which makes me wonder if it was a background sound or something else. But hey, it’s one of the more intriguing captures we’ve had so far.
Josh’s team got excited over flickering lights and doors moving, but I’ve worked in hotels and old buildings long enough to know that stuff just happens. Bad wiring, creaky hinges, people walking down the hall—it’s all part of the haunted hotel vibe. Not necessarily ghosts.
That’s why I do these peer reviews—not to make fun of other investigators, but to learn from each other and figure out what’s legit and what might have a more earthly explanation. I always try to be fair, because hey, maybe one day we WILL get undeniable proof. And when that day comes, I want to make sure I’m using the best methods possible to catch it.
So if you’re a paranormal investigator and you want me to look at your video, send it my way! You can drop it in the comments or email me at darkwhimsicalart@gmail.com. I’d love to see what you’ve captured and give it the ol' spooky cat once-over.
Until next time, stay spooky, stay curious, and keep chasing those ghosts—but maybe bring a Faraday cage just in case. 🧟♀️✨
🐈 Meow for now, Spooky Cat Lady out!