Patti Starr is a world renowned paranormal investigator who owns the Ghost Chasers International organization founded in 1996 based in Lexington, Kentucky. Patti is also the tour guide for the immensely popular Bardstown Ghost Trek which she started in 1997 in Bardstown, KY., and the new Ghost Walk of Lexington started 2017 in Lexington, KY.
With over 40 years of paranormal research and ghost investigations Patti has captured many anomalies in photos, videos and audios while investigating haunted locations. Her goal as an experienced and accomplished paranormal investigator is to collect evidence to support the premise that life goes on even after death. She is very active as a ghost researcher, author, lecturer, consultant, dowser, and teacher. Her book, Ghost Hunting in Kentucky and Beyond, is widely hailed as a must-have resource for all serious ghost hunters.
Patti taught ghost hunting courses at the Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington, Kentucky from 2001-2008. She is currently lecturing at numerous universities, colleges, and libraries throughout the United States.
Her first book, Ghost Hunting and Beyond, came out in 2001 and was written as an instruction book to introduce ghost hunting investigation techniques for the novice ghost hunter.
Patti’s work has been documented in numerous newspapers and magazines including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Oracle 20/20, Ghost Magazine and Southern Distinction.
Patti wrote for the Lexington Herald-Leader online newspaper under the heading “Ask the Expert”. It was a forum for posing questions to certain professionals. Questions and answers were published for information and discussion purposes only.
In 2006 Patti Starr was voted as one of the Top Ten Ghost Hunter Paranormal Investigators in America from 2007 – 2012.
Patti is a frequent guest on television and radio programs. She has been featured on four episodes of the local TV station LEX 18, “Mystery Monday”. She has also been on national TV such as Biography “My Ghost Story, A&E “Airline” filmed in Birmingham, AL, at the haunted Sloss Furnaces and a film clip of that investigation was featured on the Montel Williams Show. She was also featured on the Food Network “The Best of Fright Food” filmed at the haunted Talbott Tavern in Bardstown, Kentucky.
In 2009, for her second book she signed a contract with Clerisy Press who started a series of books called “America’s Haunted Road Trip”. The publisher chose one author from each state to write about the ghosts in public places for those wishing to take a road trip to visit these haunted locations. Patti was chosen to write “Ghosthunting Kentucky”.
In 2010 Patti started the Mystical Paranormal Fair which she sold to Bev McChesney and Layla Cook in 2017, and the new name is Mystical Fair Lex. It is held at Expressive & Wellness Programs 1084 Whipple Court Lexington, KY 40511 every month. The fair includes Masters and Merchants to serve all your spiritual needs.
Patti’s Ghost Hunter Shop has closed after 16 years due to her very busy schedule. However you can find similar items by attending the Mystical Fair Lex. The vendor that carries similar items as the Ghost Hunter Shop is called Akashic Awareness .
Patti owned and operated the ScareFest Horror and Paranormal Convention, from 2008 until 2016. The new owners, Brandon and Nicole Griffith will host the con at the Lexington Center on September from 29-October 1, 2017 and for many years to come. It is herald as is one of the biggest “Horror and Paranormal” conventions to be held in the USA. It will feature many stars and celebrities from the horror and paranormal communities.
What Inspired Patti to become a Ghost Hunter
To answer your questions, “What inspired you to become a ghost hunter”, I have to say it has been a passion of mine for a long time. When I was a kid I loved to explore and check out old abandoned houses, closed factories, forgotten school houses, and even a tall smoke stack that I climbed once in a while. If my parents had only known that I was climbing this smoke stack I would have gotten the whipping of my life.
On my twelfth birthday my parents gave me a bicycle and that set me free to ride the local area to look for that perfect haunted fantasy. I would park my bike and go inside the desolate structure and walk around to see what I could feel, see, or hear. Sometimes I would get very quiet, close my eyes and try to image what the place was like before it was deserted. While listening I could hear moans, creeks, and whispers. The air around me would start to move slightly and the temperature would drop. If I were really lucky I would feel a hand on my shoulder or someone touching my back. It was usually at that moment I would start asking questions, “Is there anyone here? Hello, my name is Patti. Do you have a message for me?”
I don’t remember every being very afraid. Every once in a while I would be startled at what I witnessed but as soon as I realized what had happened I would give off a nervous laugh and then move on.
After I grew up, married and had children I would take them with me on some of my ghost hunting quests. We would walk into these hollow, cold, unconscious places to see what we could find. They were young and thought running around while yelling into the nothingness was cool. None of us knew that I would someday make this my career and become a certified ghost hunter.
In the early 1990’s I started to take my research more seriously so I began a rigorous probe into the spirit world. In 1996 I became President of Ghost Chasers International and this would include many ghost investigations including documentation with photos, audios, videos and later adding the different scientific equipment such as EMF meters, Infrared thermometers and computers.
Since I felt I was having such success with my process of ghost hunting I decided to become a professional and did so in 1999. In 2000 I became incorporated “Ghost Chasers International Inc.and in 2001 began teaching two courses at Lexington, Community College, “Introductory to Ghost Hunting” and “Advanced Ghost Hunting” which I taught until 2008.
During the Boone Tavern Get-a-way Weekend hosted by Patti Starr they did several real time EVP sessions . During one of these session Patti asked if it would be possible to talk to the spirit and it says “That’s Possible”
During the Saturday night investigation of Boone Tavern Patti and her student Susan were using two meters to confirm the answer as they were asked. Both meters would indicate the same response on the yes and no questions.
