ArtRojasDesign

We’re off to Mexico for another episode of lies, deceit and misinformation. Zak and Aaron are visiting the Island of the Dolls which we first saw in an episode of Destination Truth with Josh Gates. Yes, this is a wickedly creepy place riddled old, dirty, rotting dolls that are strung up in trees, across lines and on the walls on the small hut. It doesn’t matter what you’re afraid of, seeing all those severed heads and broken bodies would give anyone the creeps and make you jump. That being said, I’m going to ridicule the hell out of Zak for being a complete pansy on this investigation, so much so, that he nearly knocks Aaron down when one of the dolls make a noise behind him. Way to be a man, Zak.

The history of the island goes back to Don Julian who was grief stricken over a girl who drown while he was unable to save her. He then brought dolls to this island in memoriam of her and for decades he has placed dolls all throughout the island. Don Julian even died on this island and it said a water spirit (mermaid) took away his spirit. Unfortunately, Don Julian never cleaned any of these dolls and they are covered in cobwebs and are home to nasty looking spiders.

As the investigation begins, Zak is utterly befuddled as to how a fire could start on the island in a fire pit, at a campground, loaded with supplies and with a metal grate over the rocks. Dear me, are you really that stupid? You’re not alone out there! Someone is camping there! It’s pretty damn obvious considering all the supplies they brought. Not a single thing paranormal about that.

Next we have Zak bringing out the most cursed doll in the world and some cats running scared. This coincides with some dolls laughing. Of course this must be the paranormal rather than a couple of cats running from humans and someone leaving a motion sensing doll to scare people who come out there. Just because Zak is touching and waving his hand in front of a couple of dolls on one walls, doesn’t mean the doll making the noise isn’t on the opposite wall. This is also the part where Zak nearly bulldozes Aaron to the ground as he runs for his life. I’m pretty sure Zak ruined those pants he was wearing.

As they continue on into the night, they bring in Drunk Pedro to confirm he hears the voice of Don Julian on the different devices Zak has brought. They even bring another doll that can measure readings and what do you know, it doesn’t go off. Shocking.

However, Zak is firmly convinced that spirit energy comes darting out of the shrine to Don Julian. This is obviously a mouse, but oh no, this is spirit energy according to Zak. Funny how this black mass looks like a rodent.

Zak finally gets up the stones to take the haunted doll out of the bag and place it next to the one that can take readings. Again, nothing happens, yet Zak swears the ground underneath the doll gets hotter even though the readings from the camera don’t detect this massive temperature spike.

While Zak claims they’re in the middle of nowhere, it’s pretty damn obvious they aren’t. Clearly cats are on this supposed island, there are dogs in the distance and if there are dogs there are owners and that’s who’s making the noises they keep hearing. To play on the legend of this island, someone has placed sound activated dolls out there, but of course Zak isn’t going to show those. And clearly someone is out there camping, but this too must be the work of the spirit world. I mean how would it look if there were other people on their haunted and isolated dessert isle. Boy, wouldn’t they feel silly.

Yet again an absolute farce of an episode with fake evidence at every turn. No matter how dramatic Zak makes it out to be, there is nothing haunted about this island, it’s just creepy. Yes, bodies were thrown into the river, but none of them are making an appearance despite Zak’s antics. This is just more confirmation that Zak and his team are making stuff up and are either staging evidence or bending what they see to fit their horror story. You can’t help but laugh at these guys.

Are you really going to tell me that’s not a mouse?

Other Articles of Interest:

• Ghost Adventures – Hauntings of Vicksburg – Demons and Dolls – Part 2
• Ghost Adventures – Museum of Madness – S15E07
• Ghost Adventures – The Haunted Museum (Old Wengert Mansion) – S12E13
• My Favorite Destination Truth Episodes
• Paranormal State – Ghost on the Tracks – S05E04
• Ghost Adventures – Ripleys Believe It or Not – S16E01
• Ghost Adventures – Poveglia Island
• Ghost Adventures – The Haunted Museum Live – Halloween Edition
• Ghost Adventures – The Queen Mary – S10E01
• Ghost Adventures – Sallie House – S10E06

For this episode the guys head out to St. Louis to investigate the Lemp Mansion and Brewery. The Lemp family came to St. Louis from Germany and established the first Lager Brewery. This was a new style of ale for the region and it took off with great success. Unfortunately, the family was plagued with tragedy as 3 members of the family committed suicide in the home.  William Lemp Sr and Jr both killed themselves in the house via a gunshot wound to the head. Charles Lemp later died the same way and was the last Lemp to live in the house. Not to be outdone, Elsa Lemp, daughter to William Sr also took her own life by way of the gun, but she died at a different residence. Clearly, there are cases of instability and most like mental illness in this poor family.

But mental illness isn’t good enough for Zak and the gang. Oh no, this has to be the work of a curse and it has to be tied to the Native Americans. The problems with this family have are because of dark energy and must be linked to the tunnels under the mansion and brewery. It’s rumored the Indians used these tunnels and they of course suspect restless spirits are at work down there. This is confirmed when they aren’t able to open one of the doors that leads into the tunnels. Let’s just ignore the fact that the workman says he doesn’t have the keys.

This certainly ranks as one of the worst episodes and really proves that Zak is an arrogant ass, a bully and quite frankly a pansy. I first have to say I’m sick and tired of their cut scene reenactments that are so over the top as to look stupid. The whole intro to this show talks about their credibility and their reputation and then within seconds they’re showboating and using theatrics to try and make the place dark and sinister. It’s pretty damn pathetic.

But on to the investigation. It should come as no surprise that even before they walk in the door, Zak is talking about all the dark energy and the family being cursed. This coupled with the horror movie style dramatizations seals the deal that this place is demonic right off the bat. No need to be objective, their minds are made up and they are shaping the show to fit their mindset. Is it me or does it look like they’re modeling their characters after those in Grave Encounters?

The claims are also pretty damn outrageous. Pictures are supposedly turned upside down and chairs move around the place. There is also the feeling of sadness and loss as you go from room to room. There is even talk that the spirits yell at you.

As they investigate they of course see orbs of energy flying around and every voice hey hear is dark and sinister. There’s even the standard slamming of the metal door.

The big moment to me was Zak down in the cellar of this building where he about soils himself, yet again. He claims he’s uncontrollably staring into the room and then when he hears a noise he jumps out of his skin and damn near knocks everyone out of the way to make an escape. He then bullies Aaron to go into the same room because he’s too damn scared to do it himself. Seems like Aaron and Nick are a bit tired of the crap and opt to leave him down there alone while they check out the upper floors. Zak damn near has a fit and starts spewing obscenities at them. They keep going and ditch him.

Shortly thereafter Zak’s flashlight goes out and he instantly starts to panic. He’s shaking, his voice is cracking and he demands Nick and Aaron come back to save him. You can even see when he hears a noise he almost soils himself a second time he’s so damn scared. I was laughing at his plight and how much of a pansy he is when left on his own. He did this same damn thing last episode where some blob shows up on his Xbox Kinect and his voice goes into a shrill panic that something is coming right at him. My god, he’s been doing this for 10 years and this is what happens when he’s alone? Grow a set!!

Since nothing is happening with this investigation they turn to the standby of orbs and "I feel heavy sadness in this room". Junk is flying around the room which Zak states is spirit energy and while laying on the bed in the Master Bedroom he says how sad he feels. Give  it a rest.

They didn’t capture anything of note in this investigation, but since they made such a big deal about the dark energy, curses and Indian burial grounds, they have to milk everything little thing as much as they can. Plus, what sort of haunted restaurant can the owners run if these guys don’t find anything? Sales would plummet!

Yes, the Lemp family suffered a great deal of loss in this house, but they don’t have anything that supports their baseless claims. They scared the crap out of themselves while standing in the dark like Shaggy and Scooby. Seems more likely this family had illness and they sadly crumbled to the pressures they put themselves under.

This episode was a joke and I can do nothing but laugh at just how childish Zak can be.

Other Articles of Interest:

• Ghost Adventures – The National Hotel – S06E04
• Ghost Adventures – Mackay Mansion – S13E02
• Ghost Adventures – Commanders House – S16E12
• Ghost Adventures – Baggy pants but cool investigations
• Ghost Adventures – Sacramento Tunnels – S04E23
• Ghost Adventures – Haunted Victorian Mansion – S08E06
• Ghost Adventures – Prospect Place
• Paranormal Lockdown – White Hill Mansion – S02E08
• Ghost Adventures – Sin City Exorcism – S15E15
• Ghost Adventures – La Palazza Mansion – S04E09

For this adventure Zak, Nick and Aaron head out to California to visit the floating museum of the Queen Mary, a steam liner that one served as an opulent cruise ship for the rich and famous, but was then pressed into service as a troop transport. While it didn’t see actual combat, it brought back plenty of men who did. And it wasn’t the enemy that caused damage to the ship, but an accident that involved it’s own escort ship. The two collided which killed hundreds of men on the smaller boat. From reports, many of those deaths were caused when men were literally pulled into the wake of the massive propellers of the Queen Mary. Certainly a grim way to go.

There are reports of figures and the voice of a little girl heard in multiple places from the pool to the hallways. Interestingly, there are no reports of a girl ever being killed on board. There are also reports of numerous voices as well as shadow figures. Multiple groups have investigated this location including Peter James who may have done first documented paranormal investigation on board. His video also records the voice of a girl. Some claim it’s the same little girl. Based on the activity, many claim this to be the most haunted ship in the world. Mind you, they never say how many ships are on the list. While the ship didn’t see combat deaths did occur, both from wounded soldiers being brought back and from prisoners who apparently died in the less than spectacular conditions below decks.

Right from the start the team feels like they’re experiencing the paranormal and without any real evidence to support it, they conclude it to be dark energy. There is a claim the voice of the little girl heard by Peter James is the same girl that was captured 20 years later. There was some sort of forensic analysis, but let’s not give out the name of the company that did the work. that would be silly. This feel of dread seems to be based on feeling dizzy in the area by the pool and that the "voices" seem angry. Billy feels he’s choking on smoke while filming and a bad vibe is running through the place. They haven’t captured any real evidence yet, but it’s time to draw conclusions

Zak brings in Debby Constantino to validate the voices they hear. Without skipping a beat she picks out the voices are angry and that since there is no reported death of a little girl, the voice must be an imposter and something sinister. Zak has contacted some friends of Peter James who brought his favorite jackets with them. Zak jumps at the chance to do a séance (which he’s been against multiple times in the past because of the evil spirits that slip through) and immediately states he hears a door opening which must be the presence of Peter. He also concludes that balls of light are heading straight for those same jackets. Any ball of light they see is deemed spirit energy and it always seems to end up in someone. It either comes down on top of their heads or sneaks up and goes in through their backs.

As the investigation goes on they feel the presence of someone, Nick claims to get pushed right around the door 13 where a sailor was killed. And according to Zak it was a suspicious death. No evidence to support that claim, but that’s what he’s going with. They see a figure move in front of an open door and hear a girl calling out to them. Oddly, the voice of the girl sounds remarkably like Debby Constantino who just happens to be off by herself. Additionally, Zak says he sees more orbs making their way into both him and Debby as they work their way around the ship. Clearly a ship of this age can’t have dust or particles flying around, it has to be spirit energy.

Armed with what appears to be a Kinect attached to a camera or some such, Zak claims to get a figure coming right at him. Oh course, he nearly soils himself as it sounds like he’s on the verge of screaming. It’s an interesting phenomenon to be sure, but it could be anything and who knows what their device is registering. They put a lot of faith in an Xbox toy from Microsoft.

So far the ship has revealed orbs, voices, bangs, knocks, pushes and a full figure walking in front of a door. Oh my goodness, it’s the most haunted ship in the world!

From, where I’m sitting, I’m not convinced by a single piece of evidence they caught. I don’t believe the ship is anything more than a creaking, old, metallic boat that makes plenty of odd, but perfectly natural noises and I don’t believe any of the voices they captured are real. They went into this investigation utterly convinced the ship is haunted and as soon as they put a foot on the ship they state their is a demonic presence. How in the hell can they be objective and debunk anything when their mind is already made up? It happens all the time, but is more and more blatant with every episode.

I’ve been less than impressed with how Ghost Adventures conducts themselves and this has pretty much pushed me over the edge. It’s really getting hard to tune in for this nonsense any more. It’s degraded to showboating and overly dramatizing every little thing that happens. Every place they visit is haunted, all the spirits are evil, all the orbs are trying to take over Zak and demons are parading around as kids. And this is what they believe before opening the front door. The idea of waiting for the evidence to come in before coming to a conclusion is a lost idea for these guys.

I used to enjoy the locations they went to and hearing about the history. It’s just become too "emo" for me. Not everything is a portal to hell. As with so many other shows, I think this one has run it’s course.

Other Articles of Interest:

• Ghost Encounters: The Queen Mary
• Ghost Adventures – USS Hornet – S04E08
• Ghost Adventures – Hotel Leger – S16E05
• Ghost Adventures – Crazy Town – S07E13
• Ghost Adventures – Clovis Wolfe Manor
• Ghost Adventures – The National Hotel – S06E04
• Ghost Adventures – The Star of India – S12E06
• Ghost Adventures – Lechtworth Village – S05E06
• Ghost Adventures – Washoe Club and Chollar Mine
• Ghost Adventures – Asylum 49 – S14E11