Time: 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Brenda, Dee Ann, Misty, Mark, Joyce, John, Jerry

Several employees of the caverns, a news reporter and photographer from The Springfield News Leader and several other guests.

Conditions: Fair

Temp: 46 degrees (Cave temperature 60 degrees)

Barometer: 30.34

Humidity: 71%

Lunar Phase: Waning Crescent

Solar X-Rays: Normal

Geomagnetic: Quiet

Wind: SSE 9mph

Digital Photos Taken: 125

Positive Digital Photos: 83

35 mm Photos Taken: 108

35 mm Photos Positive: 11

Video: 0 

EVPs: 2 (See Reported Findings and Experiences)

MILLIONS of years ago, Mother Nature began forming one of her grand masterpieces which today is known as the Fantastic Caverns in Springfield, Missouri. Complete with stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, columns, drapery formations and flowstone, the beauty of the caves is breathtaking and a true wonder to behold.

The Caverns were discovered in 1862 while the owner of the property, John Knox was hunting with his dog. The cave was not explored for the first time until 1867 which was by a group of twelve Springfield women. These women ventured far into the cave leaving their names inscribed on the cave wall in what is today called the Auditorium Room.

During the Prohibition years in the 1920's, the Fantastic Caverns was used as a "Speak Easy." It was complete with dance floor and cock fights. The "Speak Easy" was closed in the mid-1920's following a shooting. It was then purchased by a vigilante group who used the caverns as a secret meeting place until 1939. Little is known about the secret meetings and what occurred during those years.

The secrets and beauty of the Fantastic Caverns remained relatively unknown until the early 1960's when the caverns were reopened to the public as a drive-through cavern. It remains one of the top tourist attractions of the Ozarks.

+ Two different tour guides of the caverns reported seeing the image of a young girl near the first bridge cross-over. Each described her as wearing a polka dot dress. These sightings were reported at different times and without the knowledge of any previous sightings.

+ Throughout the years, tourists have reported finding strange anomalies in their photographs which were taken during the tour of the caverns. This prompted the staff to request an investigation.

+ The screen which is located near the back of the cave is often found to be unplugged. The plug in is difficult to get to. The tour guides will make sure that it's plugged in before tours start and then sometimes find it unplugged again before the end of the day. (MPR later found out that there was a natural explanation for this occurrence due to vibrations or electrical surges above ground.)

+ What appears to be the apparition of a priest was captured on 35mm colored film behind the stage area. All natural causes have been ruled out for his appearance in the photo. A contrail appears behind him which indicates swift movement. Rock formations in this area give the illusion of additional entities in this photograph but have been ruled as such.

+ Several pictures of ghost mist were captured on both digital and 35 mm film throughout the cave, especially in the "Speak Easy" area.

+ A photo of an orb was captured on 35mm film in the area where Misty felt that a Native American Warrior was buried. A very faint chanting could be heard on audio tape in this area along with an additional 35mm photo of ghost mist.

+ 2 EVPs of the same male voice were recorded during Misty's reading. At least one of these EVPs was in response to what Misty was saying. Both of these EVPs were recorded near the "Speak Easy" area. See Misty's reading for details.

Readings by both psychics were given, beginning at the cave entrance and ending at the back of the cave. Each section of the cave, where the readings occurred, may not be identified.

+ (Cave Entrance) I get lots of singing, chanting and prayers being said. There was a gathering of women here. It's real heavy by the old entrance to the cave. (At this time what sounded like faint chanting or singing could be heard on the tape, however it was not audible enough to record as an EVP.) Have they ever found any loose dirt up here? There is something buried up here, something from the Cherokee Tribe. They haven't found it yet. I'm hearing lots of singing. It's coming from a warrior. He's the one that's buried up here by the stone pillar. They won't find much left of him, if anything. They may have placed him on the rocks. His bones were here at one time.

+ There were people who hid in here during a small pox outbreak. The townspeople were turning them out and trying to get them away. It's real hot and heavy here. They came up here to hide. I feel the heat of their fever. Lots of children, lots of them died. They didn't leave them in here. They took them out once they died. There were about 20 or 30 of them who died in this cave. Not all of them were children, though. Someone finally found them, maybe of group of women and they came and began helping them. There was lots of pain, suffering and emotions from that outbreak. It has left an impression here. McKinley was the name of one family. Another was Swearington or something sounding like that. There was at least 13 or 14 children. A doctor named Anderson and some women….a group came and helped them…they were not afraid to come out. I got those three names, that's all I can come up with. Research of the smallpox epidemic turned up an outbreak of smallpox in Springfield, Missouri during the years of 1899 and 1900. It is estimated that there were at least 40 deaths and many more who were afflicted and survived. Most of the victims were black. In the fall of 1899, the city of Springfield designated a quarantine area which was located on 3.64 acres in northwest Springfield. The land included the east and west banks of Spring Branch. This quarantine area became known as "the pest camp." A group of woman, called the Sisters of Mercy, volunteered to live at the pest camp and care for the sick. They also buried the victims in Hazelwood Cemetery. The Sisters of Mercy were established by St. John's Hospital.

+ (In the Auditorium Room by the Speak Easy) The heaviness in this area is from the guy that was killed in here. He was killed in like a bar fight. They fought over something stupid. There were 2 of them and then one killed the other's brother. (An EVP was recorded after this statement of a male voice saying, "My brother, Earl...I loved him dearly...revenge.") He said that was another cave.

+ The liquor was kept somewhere else in here. There was like another room where they stored stuff. (Another EVP of the same male voice was recorded here saying something that sounded like, "Prince Alpha.") I feel drugged. Cocaine.

+ (Cavern Theater) I feel there's a couple of graves back there where they haven't dug yet. Just a couple. They are Native American. I'm drawn back here, it's like something is trying to pull me back there. I think we're looking at the late 1700's or early 1800's. There was a lot of Native American activity. This was also used as a stopping ground.

+ (At the bridge where the girl was sighted by the tour guides and after being asked by the tour guide what she felt there.) I feel a man and a woman here. Was it a woman or a girl that they said they saw? (A girl) The girl was one of them that died with the small pox group. Did they say she had long hair that was pulled back. (They didn't say.) I feel a man and woman. The man was a big politician, something to do with the name Pendergas. I don't know if that was his last name or where he was from. The woman's name was Sarah or Kara Marie Jansen. She was assaulted by the politician.

+ (Cave Entrance) There were Native Americans here. I just walked through a vibration. There are more here. There is a lot all through here. You may think that you are only going back to the 1920's but you are going back into the Native American's. They knew about this cave before. They should have found some Native American artifacts in here. I can see them coming through here. (Both Misty and Joyce agreed that there was a Native American presence in the cave before it was discovered in the 1920's.)

+ (In the Auditorium Room by the Speak Easy) A man was killed in here. I think his name was Edgar but I don't know the last name. His last name starts with an F. I get more than one person killed in here. I feel good in here, there's no vibration of fear, but there is vibration of more than one person that has died in here.

+ I feel like this cave was used in the 1800's. It is rumored that there were some tours in the late 1800's by the person who owned the property but they were not organized tours.

+ There was food brought in here, alcohol and I hear music.

+ I see a tall man (6'0"). He has gray hair. He is a black man. He had a slender face and deep set dark eyes, dark eyebrows, and high cheekbones. He reminds me of Native American and African American descent. I get the name Howard. Like his first name is Howard. I get a last name of Jones. Howard Jones. He was hanged in here but I'm not picking up the year. I'm just seeing what happened to him. This man hasn't come to me yet, I'm just seeing this. There are about 8 or 10 spirits with him. This was a deliberate hanging and not accidental. I think it happened around 1910. I think they built a scaffling.

+ I see a man walking and something is wrong with his hip. He was shot through the hip but it didn't kill him.

+ Someone shows me a gold ring with a ruby in it. He says he lost it in the cave.

+ The Native American's covered their entrance into the cave so that it wouldn't be discovered.

+ I hear church music. They held church services in here.

+ MPR feels that the Fantastic Caverns are indeed haunted by several ghosts. An Indian Warrior, a priest, two men who were killed in the cave and possibly some smallpox victims.

+ MPR would like to thank Joyce Thompson for setting up the investigation of the caverns for us along with Steve, Kirk and Jeff who are were our gracious hosts for the evening. Thank You All Very Much!!!

+ MPR plans a return visit to the cave to further explore the evidence collected on our first visit. Please stay tuned for an update coming soon.

PHOTOS - The following photos may or may not include paranormal anomalies, however, we wanted to extend to you a few photos showing the beauty of the cave.  Unfortunately, the photos do not do the cave justice - you need to visit the cave personally to enjoy its grandeur!

Brenda, Dee Ann, Misty, Jerry, Mark M., Dee Ann, Stacy, Joe

Kirk and Marsha Hansen & Joey Miller

Conditions: Partly Cloudy

Temp: 31 degrees

Barometer: 30.18

Humidity: 63%

Lunar Phase: Full

Solar X-Rays: Normal

Geomagnetic: Quiet

Wind: NW 8 mph

Digital Photos Taken: 287 (pending report from Dee Ann)

Positive Digital Photos: 69 (pending report from Dee Ann)

35 mm Photos Taken: 47

35 mm Photos Positive: 6

Video: Numerous (See Reported Findings and Experiences & Psychic Reading) VIDEO PAGE

EVPs: 2 (See Reported Findings and Experiences)

+ An apparition of what appeared to be a priest was photographed on MPR's first investigation of the caves along with a few EVPs.

+ Some very good footage of orbs were filmed in several areas of the cave, but especially in the Speak Easy area. Bugs are not in the cave at this time of year (January) so they have been ruled out.

+ Joe heard a clicking sound come from the area where Misty felt that the Indian Warrior was buried. It was first thought to have come from the tape recorder that had been placed on the rock over the burial site but the recorder was still running and recording when checked.

+ During Misty's drumming ceremony, team members and guests who were on the high rock with her heard whistling. A 35 mm photo taken at this time captured a huge orb just behind Misty.

+ Misty detected a strong odor of cigar smoke at the Speak Easy.

+ 2 EVPs were recorded on this investigation. One was of a male voice in the area where Misty felt that an Indian Warrior stood high on a cliff watching over his people. This EVP sounds as if it says "Bull-Schick". The 2^nd EVP was recorded near the entrance to the cave, atop some rocks where Misty feels the Indian Warrior was buried. This was also of a male voice which sounded as if he said, "Foolishness". No one was in this area of the cave when this last EVP was recorded.

+ A sequence of photographs was taken when Misty went over to the fallen rocks where she felt the Indian Warrior was buried. Two different digital cameras captured an orb as it hovered about the area. This orb was also photographed by a 35mm camera at the same time. Video footage also filmed orb activity at the same time the photos were taken.  See VIDEO PAGE

+ A digital photo shows what appears to be a face peaking around from behind the tram. Those present on the investigation have been ruled out.

+ 4 photos of ghost mist were captured on 35mm film. The ghost mist seemed to follow the team throughout the caverns as the mist photos were not taken consecutively.

(Readings concerning certain ghosts/spirits were given in bits and pieces but are grouped together for this report)

+ The exit area used to be the main entrance to the cave. The Native American is buried down there somewhere. He was not a Chief but he was a protector of his people. He was highly respected among his people. He used to stand up high on this rock and watch over them. He still stands up here. I can feel him watching everyone. He was shot. He made his way back here after he was shot. This was where they were camped. His people tried to save him but they could not. They laid his body on some rocks. He's buried under those fallen rocks by the two pillars (near original entrance to cave). He was shot in the right side. It was a small band of Indians. They had plenty of food and water and this was their shelter. The warrior's name was Red Horse. When Misty went to where she believes the warrior is buried, several consecutive pictures were taken which showed an orb in the area. This orb was photographed by two different digital cameras and a 35mm camera at the time. It was also filmed on video. Misty drummed for the warrior and during the drumming team members reported hearing a whistling. A 35mm photo showed a large orb behind Misty during the drumming ceremony.

+ There's a little girl in here. She was one of the small pox victims. She's who the people have seen here in the cave. Her name is Sosie. Sosie likes to hide up by the exit. She runs along behind the rocks. I can't keep up with her. She runs too fast. I'm feeling Sosie real strong right now. Several bright orbs were filmed on video whenever Misty would mention Sosie especially over in the Speak Easy area and after Misty stated that she felt Sosie very strong right now. Some of the video footage even showed these orbs hovering along the rock wall.

+ I feel people coming in the old entrance. They are bouncing off the walls and ready to party. I can hear the music. This is awesome.

+ The two brothers were arguing when they came into the cave the night of the shooting. The fight was over a woman named Alisa or Alicia. The fight broke out in this area (To the right of the Speak Easy.) The woman had been assaulted by a Senator. One of the brothers wanted to keep it quiet, the other one wanted to confront him. The brothers knew the woman and had heard about the assault. Kirk Hansen (associated with the cave) revealed that the shooting that had been associated with the cave had involved two men who were brother-in-laws. Two very bright orbs were recorded on video when Misty was talking about the brothers by the Speak Easy.

+ I am getting the names of Swearington, McKinzie, Edward Stein and Redding. Stein was a politician. All of these names were prominent people.

+ (On the high rock above the Speak Easy.) There is a man up here. He's big and he's mean. He used to stand up here and look down at everyone below while he gave his speeches. This was his platform. I don't want to say much about him because we don't want to get into that history. An orb was filmed coming from across the cave and straight at the camera located on the high rock during this reading. It circled around behind Misty as she stood upon the rock. After mentioning this reading it was revealed that during the time the cave was occupied by a vigilante group, the Grand Master would make his speeches from on top of the high rock in the Speak Easy area.

+ This investigation seemed to be as successful if not more so than the first. We were able to learn more about the Indian Warrior, the brothers who had fought in the cave and the little girl who had appeared to the tour guides. Photographic and video evidence was more abundant than on our first visit.

+ MPR would like to thank Kirk Hansen and his wife Marsha for being our tour guides on this investigation.

+ The Fantastic Caverns in our opinion is one of the most beautiful caverns in Missouri and we highly recommend a visit.

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