The author covers Schenectady County news for Spotlight Newspapers and has an interest in ghost hunting.
Fort Ticonderoga is traditionally toured as the sun beats down on reenactors, but a darker excursion offers some insight into its haunted past.
The Garrison Ghost Tour at Fort Ticonderoga offers visitors a unique chance to walk the fort under the moonlight and hear stories of staff members’ paranormal experiences, where the historic incidents happened. The tour was spawned three years ago after the Syfy Channel’s “Ghost Hunters” television show aired.
“The tour really grew out of the TV show,” said Chris Fox, curator of collection for Fort Ticonderoga. “When we did the show, it was arguably at the height of the popular interest in ghost hunting.”
If you’re not a fan of ghost hunting shows, the tour might bore you. If you are, don’t expect to be “hunting” for ghosts, but rather hearing ghost stories and learning a little about the fort’s past. The night takes on a campfire atmosphere, but the stories are far from campy.
Fox has been curator since 1996, so he’s heard a lot of tales from employees and visitors.
“We just collected a lot of stories that people, mainly staff, have experienced here over the years,” Fox said. “I have no reason to doubt what people have told me they have experienced here because I know these people really, really well. I know that when they tell me these things they are serious.”
Fox even had his own experience when he heard footsteps on the floor above him.
The scariest aspect of our tour didn’t stem from some paranormal tale or experience, but something rather alive.
Bats started swooping nearby shortly after entering the fort and would later be found hanging in various places around the fort. One bold tourgoer even shined his phone’s light on a bat while standing about a foot away. Keeping my distance seemed the best idea.
Fort Ticonderoga has a bloody past and great historical significance. Constructed in 1755, the fort is home to the bloodiest day of battle in American history prior to the Civil War. On July 8, 1758, nearly 2,000 soldiers were killed or wounded during a daylong battle while attempting to capture the fort from the French army. About 20 years later, during the American Revolution, thousands of soldiers died of sickness while defending the United States from a British invasion.
If you believe in ghosts, this place seems likely to be ripe with paranormal activity, though it isn’t exactly bubbling over with action. There were around two dozen people on our tour, so maybe it was too overwhelming for the spirits.
Also, parents please heed the “ages 10 and up” suggestion. One young boy, who clearly had begged his mother to take him, spent most of the time with his hands over his face or cowering near the brightest areas. His mother said he watches “all those ghosting hunting shows” on television, but apparently being on location and hearing the stories was a little too much.
Your tour group is also going to add or detract from the experience. If everyone turns off their smartphones and flashlights, you’ll hear the tales only with Fox’s dim light as a backdrop.
Getting to see the fort at night is also a unique experience, which is far different from the loud and bustling environment during normal operating hours.
The tour, which is in its third year, is only offered on Friday evenings during July and August, but a shorter version is offered with larger groups near Halloween.
There are still a couple offerings left this month and this year’s turnout will determine if it has a fourth run, so if you’re really interested it might be best to make a reservation now.
For information on Fort Ticonderoga’s Garrison Ghost Tour, visit the fort’s website, www.fortticonderoga.org, and place your pointer over the visit tab in the top menu bar. Then click on “what to see and do” from the drop down menu and from that page click on the link “special behind the scenes tour, evening tours.”
You could also just call 585-2821, which is also how you make a reservation for the tour.
