When people read the title "Gas, Grub, and Ghosts" for the first time, they're probably not quite sure what to expect. Some turn it off after the first few minutes when they find it's nothing like "Ghost Adventures." There aren't theatrics, no one's getting possessed (usually), and there aren't a lot of scenes shot in night vision with investigators jumping at every noise that only they seem to hear. Those who keep watching find that it's actually a window into the life of a ghost hunter. In real-life, there are often cases that produce little or no evidence, and the evidence is often subtle. "Gas, Grub, and Ghosts" features many of these cases but the focus is not only on the investigations. In fact, the investigation footage only covers the "Ghosts" part. This series provides an overview of the entire trip to and from each investigation. "Gas, Grub, and Ghosts" is actually the story of Virginia Paranormal Investigations and our attempt to share our love for the adventure that is exploring the unknown.
Noah, Paul, and Jeff 2009
I've been venturing to haunted locations since the late 90's. Back then my friends and I would spend all night traveling the haunted roads of the Brandywine Valley. It wasn't just the dark eerie roads that made it fun; it was also the stops we made along the way. Wandering into a 24 hour gas station at 2 AM, ordering a cheese dog, and scarfing it down in the parking lot was always a good time. In the photo to the left, Noah, Paul, and I stopped at an A Plus for some snacks after driving down Devil's Road in the summer of 2009. This was shortly after VAPI was established and at that time we were primarily investigating haunted roads and historic sites. Noah decided to ride in the bed of the truck, hence the wet spot on the back of his pants.
Kyle, Scott, Jeff, Linda, Kim 2015
Before long we started taking on larger cases such as old plantations, asylums, old prisons, and a battleship. The videos would focus solely on the investigations and leave out all the fun behind-the-scenes stuff. There was so much more to be seen than just the investigations. Along our travels we would go to small towns, eat at unique places, and visit obscure locations. We decided to showcase some of these locations in a separate video series called Paranormal Pit Stops. In this series, we wanted to inform others of the options that were out there after sunset. Perhaps an interesting concept, but I'm sure some wondered why paranormal investigators were reviewing food. None the less, we had a good time doing it and maybe it added a little diversity.
As we started taking on more residential investigations, we came across some very interesting reports. A lot of these cases were nothing like the stuff you'd see on the popular ghost hunting shows, and some for good reason. In May of 2017, we received a call from a woman in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. She reported that there was a portal in her basement, the spirit of a witch who was hung in the attic, a wolf-like creature outside, and random male genitalia that would appear in her pictures. The house was a duplex and the neighbors reported experiencing activity as well. We decided to take the case and head to Pennsylvania.
It was a rainy night as we drove along Route 13 north on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Linda and I were discussing the trip and considering pulling into a Royal Farms for some coffee. At this point I suggested that we record a video, kind of a vlog, about the entire trip, featuring not only the investigation but combining it with the Paranormal Pit Stops and other random moments. As we ventured into the night, we stopped at a Royal Farms, Wawa, and a few other places along the way before spending the night in Delaware. The next day we traveled to Lebanon where we met the rest of the team at a pizza place for a bite to eat. Before heading over to the location, we went by a Turkey Hill for some coffee and learned of some local legends and lore from the staff. Overall it was a long, interesting investigation and we found ourselves arriving in Delaware well after sunrise. Later that day, while traveling along Route 13 south in Virginia, we were discussing names for this new series and decided on "Gas, Grub, and Ghosts."
David, Linda, Jeff 2017
We have had many adventures since then and posted several episodes. Each one is nothing like the stuff you'll find on TV and probably for more reasons than one. This article is just an introduction to the series and the story of why it came to be. My goal for future posts is to document each adventure and give the reader more insight than provided in the videos. Prepare to open a window into the life of a ghost hunter.
When people read the title "Gas, Grub, and Ghosts" for the first time, they're probably not quite sure what to expect. Some turn it off after the first few minutes when they find it's nothing like "Ghost Adventures." There aren't theatrics, no one's getting possessed (usually), and there aren't a lot of scenes shot in night vision with investigators jumping at every noise that only they seem to hear. Those who keep watching find that it's actually a window into the life of a ghost hunter. In real-life, there are often cases that produce little or no evidence, and the evidence is often subtle. "Gas, Grub, and Ghosts" features many of these cases but the focus is not only on the investigations. In fact, the investigation footage only covers the "Ghosts" part. This series provides an overview of the entire trip to and from each investigation. "Gas, Grub, and Ghosts" is actually the story of Virginia Paranormal Investigations and our attempt to share our love for the adventure that is exploring the unknown.
