Who You Gonna Call? Southern Indiana Has Real Ghostbusters
Somethin' strange in your neighborhood. Who you gonna call?
Well, if you live in Southern Indiana, there is actually someone you can call... the Southern Indiana Ghostbusters!
Southern Indiana Ghostbusters Are More Than a Cosplay Group
Okay, so when I saw their Facebook page, I'll admit that I was a bit confused.
They dress up in movie-ready Ghostbusters attire and show up at events, so I figured they were a cosplay group. But their Facebook page kept advertising that if you have a ghost problem, you should call their number.
We all know (and love) the Ghostbusters franchise. And the whole schtick is that you can call them when you are having a ghost problem. Well, according to Stephen Ness, these Ghostbusters will actually investigate your ghost sightings. But there's a little bit of a twist.
The Southern Indiana Ghostbusters are an official franchise of Ghost Corps, a subsidiary of Columbia Pictures, which is owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment. Ghost Corps was created to oversee and expand the Ghostbusters media franchise.
The group's goal isn't just to dress up and make appearances, though.
What Do the Southern Indiana Ghostbusters Actually Do?
The Southern Indiana Ghostbusters' main focus is raising funds for Riley Children's Hospital and Starlight Children's Foundation by dressing up in movie-worthy costumes and making appearances around the Tri-State, oh, and doing some actual ghost busting.
There are Ghostbuster groups from all over the country that raise money for Starlight and we are proud to have our own group right here in the tri-state.
The group has investigated some famous haunts, including Waverly Hills and Willard Library, using EMF meters and cameras to record strange happenings.
Stephen told me that during one investigation at Willard Library, the team asked the Grey Lady to knock if she was present with them. She knocked three loud times. Creepy! Stephen said it was enough to take the cameraman by surprise.
The team also laid out some light-up cat toys and asked the ghost to move them. In the children's library, one lit up and moved slightly.
Stephen definitely thinks spirits from another world were with the team that night. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, I have to admit knocking and moving objects would have gotten my attention.
Southern Indiana Ghostbusters Investigate Reported Hauntings
And though they do investigate reports of our dearly departed returning to Earth for a little ghostly fun, their main focus remains on helping kids.
"We do ghost hunting with a bit of comedy relief. We don't charge for us to come investigate your ghost claims, but we do ask that you make a donation to one of the charities we support or another charity of your choice." -Stephen Ness
I LOVE that!
If you think your house, business, or another location has something spooky going on, the Southern Indiana Ghostbusters will come check it. Just give them a call (812) 29- SLIME or email: S.indianaghostbusters@gmail.com.
How to Become a Southern Indiana Ghostbuster
Stephen told me that the group currently consists of 14 members, but that number is always changing. Most folks have lives outside of ghost busting, and they are understanding of that.
If you are interested in becoming a Southern Indiana Ghostbuster, you just need a flight suit and a patch with your last name on it. The group doesn't cosplay as specific characters. You are the Ghostbuster.
Stephen said the packs can get kind of costly to build. If you want to join, they will help you build an authentic pack, or you can purchase one from a retailer like Spirit Halloween that looks authentic. So no, you don't have to be Egon, Ray, Peter or Winston. You get to be you.
How the Southern Indiana Ghostbusters Got Started
After chatting with Stephen for a while, I realized that I forgot to ask how all of this got started.
Stephen said he'd been a fan since the '80s. He grew up with the franchise. At that time, heroes with superpowers were all the rage, but Ghostbusters were a group of "normal" guys who used tools to exterminate ghosts and save humanity.
Anyone can be a Ghostbuster.
Anyone can be a hero!
So, back in 2012, the group was formed, and they've been growing ever since.
I think that's what makes the Southern Indiana Ghostbusters so interesting. What makes them heroes isn't the fact that they investigate rambunctious spirits. It's the fact that they are helping save kids.
If you'd like to book the Ghostbusters for your event or have them investigate your haunt, just give them a call (812) 29- SLIME or email: S.indianaghostbusters@gmail.com.
My Ghost Story
We have a little house ghost named Charlie. She's been with us since 2009 and has even moved with us when we built our new house. Charlie is quite the prankster. She opens windows in the winter, steals things and leaves them in piles under the bed, and laughs in the middle of the night... a lot. It's not just our family that has had run-ins with Charlie. Others who didn't know about our house ghost have shared strange things that have happened in our home with us. We always laugh it off and say, "Oh, that's just Charlie!"
Now, I'm curious! What's YOUR ghost story?
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Gallery Credit: Ashley S
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