Ghost Hunters Converge on Asylum at Weston - WOWK-TV

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A ghost-hunting tour, the West Virginia Witches Ball and The Asylum haunted house are coming to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston.

A former psychiatric hospital, the asylum opened in 1864. The main building is one of the largest hand-cut stone masonry buildings in the country. At its peak, the hospital was home for 2,400 patients. Some paranormal enthusiasts consider the site to be among the most haunted locations in America.

Scare Asylum is a special ghost-hunting event scheduled on Sept. 19. Participants will investigate the asylum with several ghost-connected television personalities, including Rob Demarest of “GHI,” Kristyn Gartland of “Taps,” “Ghost Hunters” and “Psychic Kids,” Chip Coffey of “Paranormal States” and Chris Fleming of “Dead Famous and Unknown Magazine.”

The activities begin at 7 p.m. with a one-hour question-and-answer session followed by group investigations of the asylum. The event concludes at 6 a.m.

As a premium option, Coffey will conduct a “crossing over” group gallery reading for a limited number of participants. Cost for the overnight event, including the gallery reading, is $240.

Other autumn special events at the Lewis County site will be a Fall Festival and carnival Oct. 22-25 and Asylum Haunted House tours Oct. 1-31 (closed Oct. 30 for a visit by the Travel Channel). The tours are being relocated to the four-story “TB” building this year. Hours are from dusk until 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The West Virginia Witches Ball costume party is scheduled for Oct. 31.

There will be a costume contest with prizes awarded in various categories, including scariest and most original. Four live bands are slated to perform; other activities will include a drum circle and a belly-dancing performance.

A mystic circle activity will involve tarot readings and palm readings.

The ball begins at 7 p.m. and concludes at 2 a.m. Although children will be admitted, it should be noted this is an adult-themed event.

“This is a first-year event,” said Operations Manager Rebecca Jordan Gleason. “It’s going to be pretty cool. We’re hoping this will bring more people to Weston and to Lewis County.”

Motor sports fans will gather for Mud Mania on Sept. 11-13. Events will include an all-terrain vehicle mud bog, speed pit, hill climb, sand drags, hare scramble and lawnmower drags. Spectator admission is $10.

“This is the ultimate four-by-four family weekend,” Gleason added. “There will be camping, trail rides and a live band, too.”

For details on all events, visit www.talawv.com or call (304) 269-5070.

rebecca, i take it you didn't research the company who is sponsoring this event prior to booking the event. you've been given some good information here. ticket buyers, beware. anyone who thinks paying over$200 for a "gallery style reading" from a "psychic" really ought to do some research as well. it's a scam. go to csicop.org and look around regarding psychics.

We also have R.A. Mihailoff (Leatherface from Texas Chainsaw Massacre) coming to town from October 8th through the 11th.

This is a tourist destination that attracts thousands of people each year to our community. It brings in the tourism dollars necessary to keep this Historic Landmark standing and our community alive!

Also - Our family has yet to pocket a penny made here. Ask yourself what you do to make things better in your community? Personally, I volunteer 90 hours a week to a good cause, my brother and father do as well.

So the preservation work is ONLY made possible by our outdoor events, our festivals, and our tours. So if you're reading this, and have a mind of your own...stop on by!

This event as most all events held at the old weston hosptial is stigmatizing to individuals with mental illness. They have taken a historical building and turned it into a mudbog/amusement park. Apparently supporters of the "TALA" are willing to sell their soul for some tourism dollars. People that lived in that hospital when it was open and expereinced horrible things do not want their experiences sensationlized to make the Jordan family richer. People with disabilities deserve the same respect and dignity that everyone else does. Until individuals stop financially supporting this stigma, it will continue to perpatuate. People with mental illness are our friends, family members, and neighbors that can and do recover. The Jordan family had the opportunity to do historical preservation here, and chose to exploit people with disabilities for money instead. Sure they offer "historical tours" if you can get to them between the ghost hunts and the mud bog around the cemetary.

Halloween is not Satan's holiday. To be honest nothing to do with Halloween and Witchcraft have anything to do with Satan. More people need to be less ignorant, and truly check facts before opening their mouth's.

Satan's Holiday honored big time! He will be happy.

What is "Children of the Paranormal Hogwasher"?

.Slappy, what would you have them do with the building? What can you think of that fills every hotel for 50 miles. That would also raise tourism in Weston by 15% last year? They do this almost every month. What are you doing for your community? TALA is paying at least 10 employees. Has dozens of volunteers If you know something and would like to share it I hear that they have public meetings on Thursdays.

The TV show that 'Chip Coffey fan' references exploits children, encourages magical thinking, is clearly semi scripted and most certainly isn't reality. Coffey is a has been that never was tv actor that not too long ago, was giving 'cold readings' as a telephone 900 number "psychic".

Id pay 250.00 just for a chance to visit with Chip Coffey at his house, McDonalds, Eat and Park...who cares about WESTON! We have Moundsville near here and we will take the money if Weston doesnt want it or appreciate it Slappy! Apparently some people dont know who Chip is or his talents. Every watch Children of the Paranormal Hogwasher? That show will make you a believer if you dont believe or are you one of those they must be devil children? Your not worth my energy if you are. (Talk to the hand) I hope the show gets picked back up or atleast an update on all those kids he helped. I worried about the youngest ones going back home and how their friends and school systems treated them. LOVE that SHOW and Paranormal State! I have no idea who the heck Chris Flemming is? I wanna go!

Does anyone know if they found out what happened to all the money that many ticket holders are saying was stolen? I think I'd research Brent Fair and Odyssey Star Productions before I gave them my credit card. Or just go to the movies instead of listening to 'cold readings' and save a wad of money.

Heads up editors - Chris Fleming is NOT coming to this event, he wasn't even aware that he was suppose to appear at this event , evidently his image was used to lure fans there- you might want to research a story before you post it

i think they should swap the prices for the mud pull race and chip coffey's "reading". lame enough as it is to pay such money for something so ridiculous - if this is being put on by "odyssey star productions" and the brent fair peeps, someone might want to research those two names before forking over their money.

If you folks want a story, look in to Odyssey Star Productions and how they blame their associate Brent Fair for stealing the money people paid to attend this event. Who really has the money is anybody's guess. If Chip Coffey really was psychic, wouldn't he know better?

Amazing how many people will pay big bucks to make something out of nothing. Perhaps they should conjure up more money for educating our children on matters of truth.

I am all for trying to bring stuff to Weston, but it would be nice if it could be done with a little bit of dignity and respect for the building and it's history.

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