Eerie Experiences Around The Augusta Area – Interview With A Paranormal Investigator

After stumbling upon a post in an Augusta group on Facebook, I reached out to someone who was asking about the most haunted places around the Augusta area.  As it turned out, that person was Ricky LaFountain Jr., a paranormal investigator.  And of course, I was super excited to make the connection.  Paranormal experiences have always been fascinating to me, and to talk to someone who investigates these things was so exciting.

We communicated back and forth on Facebook Messenger to talk about collaborating and chatting about the paranormal experiences he had.  And then we set up a phone interview.  Hear it here:

We're hoping to set up an investigation with Ricky soon... and of course, we'll bring you along with some audio and video!

Transcription:

Dub [00:00:00] Kicks 99. It's your Wake Up Krew, Dub and Cody with you this morning. We make it no secret that we like spooky stuff.

Cody [00:00:05] We do.

Dub [00:00:06] Yeah, but we really like, like, honest, like true ghost stories. Like things that have actually happened and really things that have happened here in the CSRA.

Cody [00:00:15] Yeah. Those things are so fascinating to me.

Dub [00:00:17] I've always loved, like, haunted stuff here and hearing the stories behind it. And you actually reached out to an actual paranormal investigator.

Cody [00:00:25] I did.

Dub [00:00:25] About a week or so ago. And we've got Ricky on the phone with us this morning. Ricky, good morning. How are you?

Ricky [00:00:30] I'm good. How are you doing?

Dub [00:00:32] Man, we're good. We just want to kind of give you a call and get some of your stories, man, about some of the stuff that you've experienced kind of around the CSRA. You got like a few good ones you can think of?

Ricky [00:00:44] Uh, let's see... You mean like specifically Augusta?

Dub [00:00:46] Yeah, or just around like, well, like of all the places that you've been, like, what would you say you had the most paranormal activity at?

Ricky [00:00:54] Let's see, I've only done a handful of places here in Augusta since I moved back here. One of the main ones has probably been Magnolia Cemetery.

Dub [00:01:00] Okay, so what, like when you were over at Magnolia Cemetery. Because we heard, like, you know, all some of the stories about, like, the Confederate Ghost and stuff like that over there. What all did you experience when you were over there?

Ricky [00:01:11] Well, I was over there with a small group. One of the big things we had happen is that one of the lady's cars had an air freshener hanging in the rearview mirror. There's no breeze or anything, you know, as a swinging wildly back and forth. We tried to replicate it, but couldn't. We don't know if that was actually a natural phenomenon or something paranormal.

Dub [00:01:27] Wow. Oh, but there's no there's no breeze. Right? So. So. So what? Were you all in the car or were y'all outside the car?

Ricky [00:01:34] We're outside the car.

Dub [00:01:35] Okay, So. So the ghost was in the car apparently like he's in there getting a little sniff.

Ricky [00:01:41] Yeah. We got some video of it too, on my YouTube channel.

Dub [00:01:43] Okay, very cool. Now what? Okay, where. What else? What else did you guys experience? Did you all see the Confederate ghost that everybody talks about over there?

Ricky [00:01:50] We haven't actually seen anything, but we did get lots of responses using a spirit board and some of our apps that we use to pick up, you know, like EMF and EVP.

Dub [00:02:01] Yeah, Yeah. So like when you guys saw, like, the spirit box, like, I think I've seen these on TV, is this the kind that like, it kind of like, lights up or kind of explain that to me a little bit or, or to our listeners because I think I know which one you guys are talking about, but like, kind of clarify it for us.

Ricky [00:02:16] There are different types of spirit boxes. The one I use actually emits AM/FMt signals and it scans so fast it can't pick up any specific words. So when they do get like a word or response, you know that it's something potentially intelligent because it's scanning too fast to pick up any specific phrases.

Dub [00:02:31] So you guys have actually gotten like word like responses to questions with words from from paranormal spirits, right? Like, like what kind of what kind of things did you get?

Ricky [00:02:40] A lot of times is really random and hard to make out because a lot of static. For example, we may get like a name like Henry or John. We got a few names actually that were actually lining up with some of the grave markers we were at.

Dub [00:02:51] Really?

Ricky [00:02:52] I can't remember right off hand, which names that were that would be my content again. But things like that you potentially get, you might get like a hello or just random words really, and you kind of determine if it's specifically intelligence towards you or if it's completely random or you're just picking up some, you know, random words.

Dub [00:03:09] Right? So but y'all but y'all were like you were say you were standing by a grave and the person's grave was like John or whatever, and you were getting the names John or whatever on the spirit box?

Ricky [00:03:18] Yes.

Dub [00:03:19] Alright, that's weird.

Cody [00:03:19] That is so...I'm fascinated by this kind of stuff. I have to know, though, like, how did you, like, really get started with this?

Ricky [00:03:27] Well, what got me into the paranormal when I was a little kid, and this is probably 40 years ago, I was asleep in my parents room, went from, you know, when it came and got me, it put me in my room when I went to bed. And when I woke up one night and some caught my eye standing at the other side of the room. And what I saw was this silhouette like a dark shadow, a shape of a man standing there. And it was wearing like a hat. And it started walking towards me before it got to me, you know, jumped over the side of the bed and ran out of the room. And actually, if you look at it now on Google it's something called the Hat Man. It's actually been seen by a ton of people.

Cody [00:03:56] Mmhm. I've heard of it.

Ricky [00:03:58] And that's what my very first memorable experience in the paranormal world, that's what got me into it.

Cody [00:04:02] So how long have you been doing like these paranormal investigations?

Ricky [00:04:06] I've doing them on and off for years. I move around a lot, but I had groups in Oregon, Washington State. I've done things in Florida, South Carolina. But my focus now is here in Augusta with the potential, you know, history of the area.

Dub [00:04:18] Yeah. So so where. Okay. Like, like of all your travels, like what? What is the best or what is the biggest experience that you ever had? Like, whether it was in another state or whatever, what's something where you were like even somebody who has done these as many times as what you have, you walk away going, Okay, that was freaky?

Ricky [00:04:35] That would be an easy one. That was when I was still living in Oregon. We actually went to a friend of a friend's house that was having issues and while we were there all kinds of stuff was going on. She actually saw the reflection of this guy in a mirror behind us. By the time we turned around, it was already gone. But we got EVPs of people just wheezing and coughing and stuff. You couldn't hear while you were there. There was just all kind of freaky stuff going on in that place.

Dub [00:04:55] And we would love to like, go and do one of these one night. Man. Like, one of these, like. Go back to Magnolia's.

Cody [00:05:01] I definitely want to go to Magnolia. I don't even know where it is, actually.

Dub [00:05:04] It's over off of like, like Walton way, right or not? Not Walton Way, but the kind of like, over by Surrey Center right Ricky kind of. It's kind of like is across the street from Surrey Center.

Ricky [00:05:13] It's pretty close to downtown. I can get you the exact address. But I definitely go back out there too and re-investigate. The only thing is you can only be there during the day because they close the gates at night.

Dub [00:05:22] Right.

Cody [00:05:23] Well they laughed at me because I asked what time the cemetery closed. Because I wanted to go there at night.

Dub [00:05:30] And, well, the good thing is, now, even especially in the next few weeks, with it getting darker earlier, you can still be there, you know, at 6:00 and it's still going to be dark. So, well, dude, hey, please let us know. We would love to, like, go out there here within the next couple of weeks, man. So let's, let's coordinate something. And I know you said you want to get back out there. We'd love to let go and just, like, be a fly on the wall and kind of like experience it. Looks like we we hopefully we'll get something set up with Ricky the Ghost Hunter, and we can go out and check out Magnolia Cemetery.

Cody [00:05:56] Fingers crossed.

Dub [00:05:57] Yeah. Maybe it'll be scarier than The Exorcist.

Cody [00:06:00] I hope so.

It's Spooky Season, a season filled with all things ghosts, goblins, spirits, and haunts.  But the truth is, there are creepy things right here in our own backyard year-round.  Haunted Augusta? Yes, the city and surrounding areas have many stories and experiences!

What is Spooky Season? It's that time between Summer break and the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. The weather (usually) starts to cool down.  The days get shorter. And the Fall decor starts to show up!

For some, Spooky Season can start in September.  Of course, this is when Fall officially starts.  And it's often when the Halloween stores start popping up.

You might start enjoying Fall-themed fun, like checking out the local corn maze and pumpkin patch and decorating for Fall.  And even if you don't start in September, by October, Spooky Season is usually in full effect.

October is full of fun events - both non-spooky and downright terrifying! There are bonfires, pumpkin carving, scary movies, Halloween treats, costumes, and haunted houses. Granted, not everyone loves the Halloween season.  But there's still many who do get into the spirit!

In Augusta and the surrounding area, you'll hear of haunted houses, churches, cemeteries, and more.  Many eerie stories have been passed down from generation to generation. And sure, the stories may simply be just that - stories.  But there are some that come from lived experiences. And Augusta is full of great paranormal experiences and stories.

Whether you want to simply celebrate the Halloween season, or you truly are intrigued by the paranormal, Augusta has a lot of places to explore. We reached out and asked you all for the most haunted places in Augusta, and you did not disappoint!  There are so many places with ghost stories and eerie experiences.  Some of these we've heard of, and others were new to us.

This was probably one of the most common cemeteries that people mentioned when we asked for haunted places in the Augusta area. According to Augusta Recreation & Park's this is "one of the more unique and interesting burial places of the South." The land was once part of a plantation.  And the first official burial was in August 1818. The cemetery is over 60 acres, with 5 Jewish cemeteries, and one Greek cemetery included.

There is a Crape Myrtle tree at the dead end of Third Street that's said to be the oldest tree in the state. Also, the east wall of the cemetry was once fortified during the Civil War to protect the city.

Address: 702 3rd Street, Augusta, GA

At Magnolia Cemetery, you'll find Wylly's Mausoleum. Wylly Barron was a gambler, who was also very superstitious. In the 1860’s, Barron won in a gambling session and the loser was furious.  The loser placed a curse on Barron, saying when he died, he wouldn’t have a grave to shelter him.

Wylly was terrified, but continued his gambling.  He attempted to gain favor with the Lord though, and began donating large sums of money to charities.

He also bought a mausoleum at Augusta’s oldest cemetery- The Magnolia Cemetery.  He demanded his body to be sealed in the mausoleum when he died and the key be thrown into the Savannah River.

His mausoleum is the only one that has no door, and no keyhole.  He was convinced he would outwit the curse the sore loser had placed upon him.

Check out more about Wylly Barron here.

Horn Creek Baptist Church is located in Edgefield and is said to be one of the oldest churches in South Carolina.  It was founded in 1790 just after the Revolutionary War.  The actual meeting house was built in 1822.

Inside the meeting house, the ceiling has a decorative painted desgn.  There are also angels painted in each corner.  Horn Creek is right behind the building and can be access from the single door behind the pulpit.  They often used the creek to baptize members.

Efforts were made to restore the building once the Edgefield County Historical Society took ownership.

Address: Old Stage Road, Trenton, SC

Apparently, Cry Baby Bridge is located near Horn Creek Baptist Church. To get there, you have to go down an old dirt road. Some say when you visit the bridge, you can call out into the darkness to let a spirit know you have their baby.

According to South Carolina Haunted Houses, Hotel Aiken is home to many ghosts.  And Room 302 is supposedly the most haunted room.  The story is it's the ghost of a man who commited suicide by jumping from the window.  Some guests have seen the ghost of a stooped over old woman.  There's also a ghost who seems to have a fascination with turning on the television in Room 225.

Some people have seen shadowy figures in the halls, heard toilets flush on their own, and doors open and close for no reason.  And other reports include hearing crying, whispering, or screaming. Maid carts have even mysteriously moved when left unattended!

Address: 235 Richland Avenue West, Aiken, SC

The Partridge Inn has been a huge part of Augusta history for over a century.  This hotel’s historic appeal has drawn guests from all over.  But, it is apparently the most haunted hotel in Augusta.

It was originally built as a private home in 1836.  It’s seen many renovations and conversions throughout the years.

Legend has it that the ghost of a woman named Emily remains there.  The story is, she was getting ready for her wedding and found out her groom had been killed.

His death was tragic– having been mistaken for a soldier wanted for treason, and shot on sight.

The bride was devastated.  According to the story, she kept her wedding dress on for several weeks, before she eventually died.

Staff and guest have reported seeing Emily in her wedding gown in the hallways and the rooms.

More about The Partridge Inn Spirit, HERE.

Back in the 1800s, Augusta was a booming industrial center.  The canal contributed to many great things happening in the industrial arena.  During the Civil War, Powder Works was the most important, but after the canal expanded, the building was pulled down– except for the 153-foot tall chimney.  This served as a memorial to the Confederate dead.

Sibley Mill was built on that site. Haunted Rooms America shares the story from the early 1900s.  At this time, men and women worked together on the weaving machines. One particular lady had an affair with a married co-worker.  In 1906 that co-worker would come barging into the mill to shoot the woman.  Apparently he did it because she had ended their relationship.

That was all it took.  Since then, employees would report strange occurrences and sighting of the woman in the weaving room.

Rosemary Hall is located in North Augusta and was built around 1902. It’s said to be haunted by the spirit of Mrs. Jackson- wife of the original owner of the house. This ghost is most often spotted in room 205, but she’s also been seen walking up and down the main staircase as well.

Some guests have reported strange occurrences happening– like items disappearing and reappearing in odd places, along with hearing footsteps and televisions that seem to turn on and off by themselves.

More from Haunted Places.

There are believed to be two different ghosts at the Ezekiel Harris House.  It’s thought to be one of the most haunted places in Augusta.

One ghost is believed to be that of a soldier who was hanged from the stairwell during the Revolutionary War.  Some visitors have heard creaking sounds– much like that of something swinging from a rope.

Some have seen this ghostly figure at times, and others report having a sensation that a rope is being tightened around their throats.

The second ghost is that of a female spirit, although no one is quite sure who she is.

More on the story with Haunted Rooms America.

Is Augusta University one of the most haunted buildings in the area?  Possibly!

According to some, there are several spirits that dwell there.

The most well-known spirit is that of Emily Galt.  She died over 140 years ago under terrible circumstances.  Her fiance had passed away, so she chose to join him and jumped to her death from a window in Bellevue Hall.  Emily, and her little sister, Lucy, apparently etched their names into a window pane, along with the date 1861.

Some people say they’ve heard what sounds like a couple arguing.  This is believed to be because Emily didn’t want her fiance to fight in the war, but he felt it was his duty.

Other weird occurrences include TVs turning on by themselves and phones that seem to have random issues.

The Benet House, which is the university’s admissions office, is also thought to be haunted.  Some people report a gray figure flashing quickly by doorways, hearing footsteps, and a chair that rocks by itself.

At Walker Cemetery, there are stories of the spirit of a Confederate soldier walking among the graves, wearing a long grey coat and yellow sash.

The college campus was once the site of many Civil War-era homes, and a military arsenal, which may be a big factor in people believing it to be haunted.

More on Augusta University spirits here.

When asking around about “haunted” places and things in Augusta… this one was the first that most people mentioned.  Since I’m not from here, I’d never actually heard about The Pillar, and was intrigued!

Apparently there once was a farmers market at Fifth and Broad Streets.  This was wiped out from a rare tornado in 1878, but the pillar remained.  Many believe this was a result of a curse brought on by an evangelists.  He had tried to preach there, but was denied.  As a result, he declared the market would be destroyed.

Sure enough, the tornado tore through the town, but left the pillar behind.

Local legend was that if anyone tried to move the pillar, they would die immediately, or at least soon after.  Word was spread about the curse, and some accounts tell of unfortunate workers who were killed in the process of trying to move the pillar.

It eventually came to be believed that anyone who touched the pillar would die.

Unfortunately, this isn’t an attraction you can see anymore.  It was destroyed back in 2016 by an out-of-control car.

Roadside America has more on the story HERE.

Here, someone visited the site, and talks about the legend behind it!

This site is significant in South Carolina history.  It's associated with the Cherokee War of 1760-1761. The site houses gravestones marking where 23 Long Cane settlers were killed in a massacre by Cherokee Indians.

Address: McCormick County, Troy, SC

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