Investigation Report

Location: Phantom Hill Cemetery
Date: 13 June 2001
Personnel Participating: Cody Polston, Barbara Dobbs
Weather Conditions: Windy, Thunderstorms in the distance
Humidity: 70%
Geomagnetic Storm Activity: Active
Temperature: 89
Number of Photos taken: 135
Number with possible targets: 8
Average EM Readings: 4 mg
Average M fields Readings: 1 nt
Average E Field Readings: 1 vpm
Cold Spots detected: None
Hot Spots Detected: None
Olfactory Phenomena: None
Visual Phenomena: None
Type of Investigation: Ghost Hunt

All information and photos Copyright 2005 by Cody Polston, Bob Carter and SGHA. All Rights Reserved.

Location Description and History

Established November 14, 1851, as unit in chain of forts from Red River to Rio Grande, to defend frontier settlers and west-bound 49ers. Officially "Post on Clear Fork of the Brazos", everyday name became "Phantom Hill," either from prevalent mirages or sighting of ghostly Indian in moonlight.

Abandoned by U. S. Army on April 6, 1854, fort served in 1858-61 as stage stand for Southern Overland Mail. In 1871-72, the army again used this as a sub-post of Fort Griffin, 40 miles northeast. The adjacent village was temporary county seat when Jones County was organized in 1881. Erected by the State of Texas, 1971.

The ruins of Fort Phantom Hill (41 JS 8) are scattered over the crest of a hill 2 miles north of the Lake Phantom Hill Dam and 1/4 mile east of Clear Fork in southeastern Jones County. The site is bisected by Ranch Road 600 (see site plan) Cultural debris at the site extends over a 20- acre area. However the present day cemetery is not the original graveyard of the fort, it is the second. Opened in the late 1800's, the new cemetery on the hill has been in operation to the present day.

Reported Phenomena

There are many reports from the locals that link the cemetery with the legends of the Blue Lady that haunts Lake Fort Phantom. According to witnesses, she looks into car windows of vehicles parked by or near the cemetery.

The Investigation

This was an impromptu investigation of the cemetery where the Lady of the Lake (see Ft. Phantom Lake) also supposedly haunts.

The investigation was performed during extremely windy conditions with gusts up to 30 mph. Thunderstorms could be seen off in the distance to the east.

Suspect targets in these photographs were located by using a thermal scanner to detect cold spots. Whenever there was a fluctuation of more than 10 degrees, a picture was taken. 135 pictures were taken at the cemetery and only eight contain any possible indication of paranormal activity.

Photographs

Click on the thumbnail to view the larger image

Initial Conclusions

Many of the legends surrounding the cemetery are just that, only legends. However there is a possibility that there is a basis to some of the legends. The cemetery is quite creepy at night and the trees and gate can make very unusual sounds when the wind is right.

We did not acquire enough data to believe that the cemetery is actually haunted. Many of the targets in the eight photos we took could easily be dust or other airborne particles kicked up by the wind. No significant EM fields were located during the ghost hunt.

Back to Haunted Texas

Back to SGHA Home