That's a question that will be answered in the coming weeks as Paranormal Adventures USA begins scheduled tours of businesses and cemeteries around town.
The tours are scheduled to run every Friday and Saturday evening at 8 p.m. leaving from Casey's Cowtown.
Reservations are required and tickets, which are $19.50 per person, can be ordered online at www.groovyghost.com. Admission is limited to ages 12 and older. Comfortable shoes and clothing are recommended as guests will get off the bus at several locations.
Seeing the unseen
If any town deserves a few colorful ghosts, Dodge City surely qualifies.
Take for instance, Ed Masterson.
The brother of Bat Masterson, Edward J. Masterson served as marshal in the Dodge City Police Department. He was on duty the night of April 9, 1878, when he shot and killed a man who was carrying a gun in violation of the town's ordinances.
Masterson took the man's gun but as he was walking away the man pulled another pistol and shot Masterson. The marshal was able to return fire, killing the man, but died from the gunshot wounds.
The end of the story, however, depends on who you talk to.
By some accounts, Masterson is buried in an unmarked grave at Maple Grove Cemetery.
But local historian, Charlie Meade, who collects Dodge City stories of all kinds, isn't so sure.
"The story is that Ed was buried at the old Fort Dodge Cemetery, then his body was moved to Prairie Grove Cemetery," Meade said in a recent press release.
"The bodies at Prairie Grove were moved again to make way for a housing development. Ed's remains have been missing for a long time, maybe they are still buried in someone's backyard!"
Meade has heard people talk about seeing Masterson's ghost walking around the old Front Street location but he considers it a legend.
Still, there are plenty of stories of ghosts in other locations: the old Eckles Department Store, the morgue in the bank basement and at the Dodge House Hotel.
"Dodge City is a great place for ghost tours because it has such a colorful history," said Beth Cooper, owner of Paranormal Adventures USA.
"We don't try to talk anyone into believing in the paranormal. We tell the stories and history associated with each tour stop, then let our tour guests decide for themselves."
Dodge City is the most recent addition to the Paranormal Adventures USA schedule, which includes 22 cities in Kansas and Missouri.
"We offer an authentic tour experience," Cooper said. "No costumes, no pre-recorded tapes. Our tour guides are skilled storytellers familiar with the history of each location."
Cooper is interested in collecting additional stories about Dodge City. She can be contacted at beth@paranormaladventuresusa.com or visit the Web site at www.groovyghost.com.
If you're interested in taking the tour but can't make the Friday or Saturday scheduled tours, private tours are available for four or more people. Special prices apply to the private tours. The complete schedule and details about private tours can be found online at groovyghost.com.
[dodgeglobe.com]
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