My Spooooky Experience With The
TN Wraith Chasers At All Access Coach Leasing

by Holly Marie Tong

I’m led to recall the famous words of the fictional Ghostbusters: “Who You Gonna Call?” Well in all seriousness in this case, I would recommend you call the TN Wraith Chasers comprised of Founder/Team Leader Christopher Smith, Investigator/Researcher Scott Porter, Case Manager Steven McDougal AKA “Doogie,” Investigator Brannon Smith and Equipment Tech Joseph Tucker. You may find yourself wondering precisely what a “Wraith Chaser” is. For starters, a Wraith Chaser is one who researches the paranormal seeking the truth by being skeptical and logical about their studies.

This particular group of guys have already taken part in countless investigations in many historic venues and landmarks around Tennessee and Kentucky….and they do this for free! Why? Because they are all driven by the will to learn and the desire to present others with the truth of what they see, hear and experience in what is known to be “hot spots” for unexplainable activity.

Now to answer your likely question of how the TN Wraith Chasers came to be? Each team member had previously had an unexplainable occurrence or a founded drive that caused them to ponder the supernatural. One important aspect to point out, is that the Wraith Chasers are a group of men that have been raised to follow the Bible and seem to share strict upbringings in common. This common ground caused me to relate to them and to realize that they are never out to fluff or create anything that is not there, nor are they ever out to disprove or discredit anything in the word of God, but rather to give respect to it and to provide studies and possible answers to the opposing realm that is difficult to understand or explain.

Chris, who had a frightening occurrence in his grandfather’s barn years before was seeking answers. His desire to learn is what caused him to apply and win a spot on Syfy’s “Ghost Hunters Academy.” He was able to train and learn under paranormal investigators Steve Gonsalves and Dave Tango of Syfy’s number one rated television show “Ghost Hunters.” Meanwhile, Scott, Steven, Brannon, and Joe were all also curious about the paranormal based on different reasons and experiences. Through some mutual connections and common goals, they collaborated forming the TN chapter.

When I was given the chance to join the this group of guys on an investigation, I jumped on it as I found myself very curious about not only what they do, but what kind of experience I may have in the process! Interestingly the investigation that I happened to be part of took place at “All Access Coach Leasing” in Gallatin, TN. As an active member of the Nashville music community, this was a particularly fascinating location for me to visit on that simple fact alone. “All Access Coach Leasing” is the business behind all the famous tour buses you associate with your favorite singers of numerous genres. Outside of the building you won’t be able to miss the numerous Prevost tour buses surrounding the area. Upon walking in the well kept, professional setting you will see the walls lined with autographed photos of the entertainment industries biggest stars as they are all clients of this successful leasing company.

First though, it is important that I stress to you right now, that when these guys go in for a study, they simply do not fall for every noise or shadow. While they keep a close eye on their surroundings, they are not suspecting a ghost to be around each and every corner. They are trained skeptics and extremely logical by trying to explain “noises” or “questionable” happenings by first thinking about all outside influences such as dust, pixels, wind currents, hot and cold air, and other scientific or environmental influences.

Unlike what you may remember from Ghostbusters, the TN Wraith Chasers are equipped with everything from full spectrum cameras, numerous other kinds of cameras that pick up on different lighting, a camcorder, K-2 meters, walkie talkies, monitors, tripods, digital thermal guns and a “bunch of other stuff” that I the newbie simply cannot remember (haha). In all seriousness though just the detailed setup and preplanning within itself shows their professionalism and knowledge. They go in treating each investigation like a crime scene.

We first met for an introduction and a question/answer session with Eric Blankenship who currently co-owns this business with Jim Boreli. Eric began by telling us about the history of the building and the strange happenings that current workers claim to be experiencing. He told us that locked doors sound like their opening whenever the secretary is there late at night, workers suggest that items they put in one place mysteriously end up in another. He went on to say that he can never keep a battery operated clock working in this room because in no time at all it simply stops no matter where he hangs it. However, we were all in agreement that this could possibly be caused by something scientific or environmental. Eric also recalled a strange incident that was reported by another employee in which it really sounded like someone was working in the garage, yet he was the only one there. Getting goosebumps yet? I am all over again.

Once the setup was complete, it was time for us to begin our studies and divide up into sessions and two groups each time. Two of us would watch the cameras upstairs while the remaining group would go downstairs to the declared “hot spots” and begin the investigation. As we switched off throughout the night, unexplainable incidents continued to occur.

My first indicator that something was off took place when we were setting up. Scott and I both felt that the cord we were working with was being jerked on, when there was no one around that could possibly be doing so. Next strange occurrance, was a growl/possible message that was recorded on the MP3 player. I was the only one in the main room at the time and after the guys had all walked away, the chair across from me (that should not have made any noise) sounded as if someone were getting up or sitting down. When I yelled for the guys, we witnessed the shadow go across the wall and this voice was picked up. As the night went on, my walkie talkie experienced very strange interferences. I was the only female in this building, yet my particular walkie talkie had a series of high pitched female voiced squeals on several occasions. Not only that, but the guys downstairs was convinced that I was upstairs talking when I hadn’t said a word in a long time. They were certain that I was carrying on a conversation when really I was silently sitting upstairs watching cameras at the time. We also picked up “knocking on the door” in which no one was behind. We experienced strange incidents with the lasers in which it was clear something else was going on (the sound footsteps was later detected). We also later discovered that we had gotten K-2 hits that we didn’t know about at the time. I found myself standing in a “cold spot” at one time in which there were no vents near me. I also made a comment about the Route 66 clock in the kitchen being “off” on its time. Chris and I both took a look at it, and then I watched as it mysteriously went backwards, not forwards, but backwards from 6:16 to 6:00. Could this be explained by something else? Possibly, but it did cause me to shiver. However, even if all the above could possibly be explained by outside influences, we later experienced an incident that would forever change my take on everything. Throughout the night during the different sessions, the guys would mention different “names” and things that would be associated with the history/the people who were associated with it. Well, there came a time when the very “name” (that I must withhold for privacy reasons) that was said by Scott, was repeated….and I don’t mean repeated by one of us. Yes, that’s right. As we all listened to the faint yet very clear, female voice over and over again, we all came into agreement of what was being said.

We ended our investigation in the early morning hours and the guys went home with evidence that they would spend countless hours restudying/replaying so that they could present the owners and employees with the truth at the reveal. A couple weeks later, we all met back at All Access Coach with Eric, his family and some other employees to show them what we had found. I thought it was truly interesting how much can be discovered later because sometimes the very things you couldn’t see or hear at the time will pop up later. These later discoveries take place because the guys are so technical and the equipment they are using makes it difficult for paranormal activity to slip on by.

www.tennesseewraithchasers.com