I’m always excited when I come across tourism departments that promote paranormal tourism. Today I discovered another one when I read an article published by The City Wire about the new “Haunted Arkansas” web page on the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism’s web site.
Haunted Arkansas appears under their Things to Do section and keeps company with other favorites travelers like to know about, such as Arts & Crafts, Dinner Theaters, Festivals & Events, Fishing, Girls Getaways, Nightlife, and Shopping…just to name a few. (They have more categories, which makes it look like there’s lots of ways to enjoy Arkansas!)
Anyway, the web page is pretty cool. It has scary music accompanying eerie images describing some of Arkansas’ more notable Haunt Jaunts, including the Crescent Hotel, the Old Arsenal, and the St. Francis County Museum. Then there are descriptions about some of what you’ll find and where.
But it doesn’t just tout haunts. It also references folklore legends like the White River and Fouke Monsters. (The White River monster is allegedly a serpenty/sea monster type creature. The Fouke monster is an ape-like Big Foot kind of beast.)
They also list where you can find ghost lights, ghost tours, and include links to ghost hunting groups within the state. (As well as a link to author Charlaine Harris’s website. I didn’t know she was from Arkansas…until now.)
At any rate, it’s pretty cool to see Arkansas embracing their haunted history and promoting paranormal tourism. I appreciate their effort to cater to so many different traveling interests…including those of the ghost enthusiast.
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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