by Mike Hudgins
The occasional alarm of an REM pod broke the silence inside the historic Ravalli County Courthouse Saturday night. Flashing lights drew the attention of investigators, while the faint melody of a motion-activated music box drifted from an adjoining room.
For about 13 participants, it was all part of an evening searching for paranormal activity in one of Hamilton’s historic buildings.
Haunted Rooms America, a nationwide organization, hosted the October 24 event, giving paranormal enthusiasts and curious newcomers an opportunity to investigate locations associated with history, mystery and unexplained activity.
Leading the Montana investigations are Asia and Brandon Tuma, a Helena-area couple whose interest in the paranormal led them from exploring ghost towns to guiding investigations for others.
Asia’s fascination with the paranormal began long before her involvement with Haunted Rooms. Brandon was initially more skeptical, but that changed about six years ago during a visit to Bannack Ghost Town, where the couple experienced sounds and other occurrences they could not readily explain.
Their interest eventually brought them to a Haunted Rooms investigation at the former St. James Hospital in Butte. There, Asia learned the organization needed someone to lead investigations in Montana.
She took over the position and has spent the last year organizing events and expanding the organization’s presence in the state. Haunted Rooms now conducts investigations at multiple historic Montana locations, with plans to expand.
According to Asia, one of the organization’s goals is to introduce people to paranormal investigations, regardless of experience.
“We teach them how to use it. We teach them what they’re looking for,” she said, referring to the investigation equipment.
Saturday’s participants were divided into two groups and rotated through guided activities introducing different paranormal investigation techniques.
One session involved dowsing rods— handheld metal rods used to seek responses to questions. Participants learned to interpret their movements as possible yes, no or uncertain answers.
Other sessions featured K2 meters and REM pods, electronic devices that detect electromagnetic fields or proximity and produce lights and audible alerts. Paranormal investigators sometimes interpret these responses as possible spirit communication.
Throughout the evening, equipment flashed and sounded, with some participants experiencing more frequent responses than others.
A motion-activated music box in an adjoining room added to the eerie atmosphere, its occasional melody interrupting the quiet.
Another exercise involved the human pendulum, in which participants stood quietly while questions were asked. Forward or backward movements were interpreted as yes or no responses, with some participants swaying more noticeably than others.
The evening also included the “Estes Method.” Using this, a blindfolded participant wore headphones connected to a spirit box that rapidly scanned radio frequencies, producing fragments of sound and speech. The participant repeated what they heard while others asked questions and considered whether the words represented meaningful responses.
Team members also shared accounts of spirits they believe they have encountered during previous courthouse investigations and at other locations. They hope continued visits will reveal more about the building’s past.
One historical figure associated with the courthouse is Walter M. Jackson, who was lynched in Hamilton in October 1903. His story remains part of Ravalli County’s history and the building’s reputation for paranormal activity.
Before participants explored independently, Brandon led the group into the courthouse basement, where local lore suggests a traveling gallows known as the Galloping Gallows was once kept. According to those accounts, the structure was transported between communities for executions rather than moving prisoners to a central location.
Haunted Rooms emphasizes respectful investigations rather than attempts to provoke a reaction.
“We don’t tolerate provoking,” Brandon said, referring to confrontational tactics sometimes portrayed on paranormal television programs.
Instead, participants are encouraged to ask questions and approach the investigation with patience and respect.
The Tumas acknowledge that no two investigations are alike. Some evenings produce frequent equipment responses, while others are relatively quiet. Paranormal activity cannot be guaranteed.
Following the guided sessions, participants had the opportunity to explore the courthouse independently, putting their newfound knowledge to use as they searched for signs of paranormal activity with the equipment provided.
Between the investigation equipment, stories of the building’s past and the occasional unexplained moment, the historic courthouse provided an entertaining evening filled with curiosity and anticipation.
Whether participants hope to communicate with spirits, learn investigation techniques or simply explore a historic building after dark, Haunted Rooms offers something beyond an ordinary museum visit.
Haunted Rooms returns to the Ravalli County Courthouse on Saturday, November 7, offering another chance to explore the building after dark and perhaps encounter a bit of paranormal activity.
Visit www.hauntedrooms.com for information about upcoming ghost hunts.
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