Experienced ghost hunters and curious skeptics both end up visiting the Pythian Castle in Springfield, Missouri because of its abundance of friendly ghosts. Despite its foreboding outside appearance and eerie indoor corridors, the historic building is not a frightening experience, said owner Tamara Finocchiaro.
In fact, she calls it “relaxing and pleasant.”
And Finocchiaro should know: She has interacted with the ghosts daily for the past 14 years.
After all that time, she said, the ghosts know her by name. And when they call to her she doesn't hesitate to answer.
“I ask them questions and they'll give me suggestions,” she admitted with a laugh. “They'll have a solution very quick. Their ideas are brilliant sometimes.”
According to Finocchiaro, when she and her husband purchased the historic castle they saved it from demolition. From then on, the ghosts won't let anyone mess with them. And they'll show concern if she becomes sick. The ghosts are so friendly with her, Finocchiaro has started to call two prominent ones Colonel and Grandpa.
Surprisingly, Finocchiaro was not only a believer. Before stepping foot in the Pythian Castle she'd never really thought about ghosts, let alone talk with them.
“My first ghost experience was here,” she admitted.
Before arriving, nobody had really warned her that the castle was haunted. But right when Finocchiaro sat down in the lobby she heard a friendly female voice call out, “Hello?” Strangely, nobody was around.
She started to get a little unnerved and began looking around the building for someone. That's when she bumped into an invisible mass in the doorway. She was stunned. When a 13-year employee finally found Finocchiaro, she casually asked, “So, have you met the ghost?”
When the Finocchiaro family had first purchased the castle they had no intentions of finding a haunted place, offering ghost tours and hosting paranormal investigations. She was in it solely for the history of the facility. But as a person who loves history, she couldn't ignore the ghosts from the castle's past.
Pythian Castle was built as an orphanage and senior citizens home in 1914, like something straight out of a supernatural horror flick. That lasted up until 1942, when the government purchased it and the castle was transformed into a military hospital in World War II. Another historic usage that seems to jump right out of the pages of a ghost story.
Despite this mysterious history, the ghosts have remained friendly and good-spirited. Since it was always a place where people were taken care of, the ghosts – which range in age from children to the elderly – seem to have all died peacefully and without malice.
People can only visit the castle by appointment. Public ghost investigations by the Paranormal Task Force, private night-time ghost tours and historic tours are all popular things to book at Pythian Castle. And it's not uncommon for guests to hear voices and whistles, walk into masses, be touched, and smell certain scents, although encounters can't be promised.
But it's safe to say that functions surrounding the military or veterans at the castle stir up “a lot of energy in here,” said Finocchiaro, “especially when they hear a military tune. During this time we often smell cigarette smoke, since people in the military often smoked a lot back then.”
Investigations are always started with a historic tour of the castle, which comes no surprise to anyone who knows Finocchiaro's love of history. Guests learn about the various spots in the facility. Then during an investigation with the Paranormal Task Force, visitors are invited to learn more about ghost-hunting equipment, including EVP demonstrations.
They break off into groups in various areas of the castle and spend 50 minutes attempting to interact with the spirits. After a midnight snack, guests are invited to try again.
After 14 years surrounded by ghosts, one thing is clear to Finocchiaro: “It never gets boring at Pythian Castle. There's always something to do. And there's always a ghost to tell you the best way to do it.”