‘Ghostlahoma’ coming to northwest Oklahoma in August

July 29, 2012

Ghostlahoma, Where the Wind Comes Sweeping Down the Plain and Ghosts of the Past Still Linger!
The annual “Ghostlahoma” event is making its way to Northwest Oklahoma for the first time, and is set for Aug. 18 at the Cherokee Strip Conference Center in Enid.
Ghostlahoma is a paranormal conference named after the book “Ghostlahoma — Over 100 years of Haunted History,” and began in Oklahoma City before moving to El Reno the last three years.
Tonya Hacker and Tammy Wilson co-authored the book, and decided to move the conference to Enid since Wilson is an Enid resident and community activist there. She wanted to showcase her town.
“El Reno’s convention and visitor’s bureau was willing to work with us and their community got really involved with it,” Wilson said. “Living in Enid, I said ‘Let’s try it up here and see what happens.’”
Plus, having it in Enid allows paranormal fans in the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles and Southwest Kansas to attend.
“I think that’s a plus,” Wilson said. “We look at it as a statewide event.”
The book showcases Oklahoma’s paranormal past.
“It is one of the only books solely related to Oklahoma ghost stories,” Williams said. “It’s got stories what were submitted from all over the state. Tonya and I submitted several ourselves. It’s other people’s true stories and things they’ve experienced and local legends.”
The conference will feature several speakers who will showcase their areas of expertise. There will also be local artwork available, as well as several vendors who will be selling various paranormal-themed items.
There will also be a “Haunt-rod” car show.
“We have several different things going on in Enid that day, anyway, that aren’t even related,” Wilson said.
Many of the speakers have appeared on television, and include:
•Chris Harrington of the Denton Area Paranormal Society. He will share his experiences as a paranormal investigator and what to do and not to do when investigating.
•Teri White is the owner of Oklahoma’s longest-running ghost tour, author of Tulsa’s Haunted Memories and founder of Paranormal Investigation Team of Tulsa. She will share Electronic Voice Phenomena.
•Tonya Hacker is the founder of GHOULI — Ghost Haunts of Oklahoma and Urban Legend Investigations — as well as the co-author of the book “Ghostlahoma — Over 100 years of Haunted History.” She will take a look at the evidence standards of the paranormal field and share photos, EVP, video and other evidence.
•Tammy Wilson is co-author of “Ghostlahoma — Over 100 years of Haunted History” and the founder of “Eerie Oklahoma.” She will share local Enid legends and folklore.
•Ben Gerhard combines elements of cryptozoology with UFOs and the paranormal.  He has investigated reports of monsters and mysterious animals around the world including Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, the Chupacabras, winged creatures and even werewolves. He currently lectures and exhibits at various conferences and events across the United States.
•Troy Taylor will present MURDERED IN THEIR BEDS – HISTORY & HAUNTINGS OF VILLISCA AND THE MIDWEST AXMAN - On the night of June 9, 1912, a horrific murder occurred in the small Iowa railroad town of Villisca. He is a researcher, crime buff, supernatural historian and the author of almost 90 books on ghosts, hauntings, history, crime and the unexplained in America.  He is also the founder of the American Ghost Society and the owner of the American Hauntings Tour company.  
Doors open at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 18 at the Cherokee Strip Conference Center in downtown Enid. Tickets are $25, and Wilson said anybody planning to stay overnight in Enid should book rooms now.
Contact info@iloveenid.com for more information.