Ashmore Estates - Open House for Transworld Attendees

4-15-2009 - Those interested in touring Ashmore Estates with interest in possibly purchasing the building, operations and grounds should contact Scott Kelley 217-512-9499 or email spookmeister@ashmoreestates.net.

*CORRECTION* Haunted Attraction Magazine (Used Haunts For Sale) Issue #50 (3-21-09), page 77: Ashmore Estates buildings, grounds & Equipment are being offered at $175,000. Built in 1916 as the Coles County Poor Farm Almshouse, it has been a haunted attraction since 2006.

*UPDATE* The Sci-Fi Channel show's Children of the Grave II, name has been changed to SoulCatcher and should air later this year.

Press Release (2-21-2009) Ashmore, Illinois:
Ashmore Estates is for Sale. We are offering to those interested in the property the opportunity to schedule a private tour of the grounds and building. The building is used as a haunted attraction in the fall each year. Both the building and haunted attraction are for sale. The haunted attraction is not currently set up as the building is used in multiple ways throughout the year. Most recently the building has added AirSoft Close Quarters Combat to the list of activities people can come here of enjoy.

Ashmore Estates was built in 1916 as the Coles County Poor Farm. Replacing the original county farm which had burned, the new building was all brick and concrete - designed to be fire proof. Residents, called inmates, lived on the farm and worked, often until their death. Poor, often of unsound mind and body, the inmates were diagnosed with mental infirmities such as “fool” and “idiot”.

In the mid-1970's, the building, renamed Ashmore Estates, became an intermediate care facility for the developmentally disabled. An addition was added, increasing the size by one half. In 1987, Ashmore Estates closed and was turned over to the county. Windows were boarded, all the furnishings and patient records inside. Over time, vandals broke in, stole the furnishings, the toilets and even the wiring and plumbing. No one knows what happened to the records.

For 19 years, the building belonged to the ghosts and trespassers. Local youth dared each other to go in, only to race out again in fear. Ghost sightings abounded. Paranormal investigators itched to explore suspected paranormal activity.

In 2006, Scott Kelley bought the building, for use as an entertainment haunt. Only after buying the building, Kelley learned of the frequent paranormal activity inside. Weeks after buying it, Kelley's wife had a paranormal sighting. Sightings have continued since then, by actors, guests and during numerous paranormal investigations.

Ghosts or no ghosts, the show must go on. And it has. Since 2006, Ashmore Estates has hosted an outstanding haunt featuring 50+ actors and plenty of scares. Nearly every room in the the 3 story, 15,000 square foot building is haunted by live ghouls. Many guests travel for hours to attend, sometimes more than once a season.

Outside of haunt season, the building is still busy. Flashlight tours are available nightly, by appointment. Tours, done in the dark, are creepy but not scary. Tours cover the history and legends about the building. Guests travel through the entire building, from patient's rooms to the elevator control room. The “crematorium”, a tank built into the boiler room wall, is a favorite.

Lock-in summer slumber parties, open to the public, have included ghost hunting, paranormal investigation training, scary movies and other similar events. Groups of 10 or more can schedule a private party, if desired.

Paranormal investigators regularly reserve the building for ghost hunting – and they have always found it to be a very active building. Because of it's appearance and activity, Ashmore Estates is often referred to as a mini-Waverly, after the world famous haunted Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Kentucky.

Ashmore Estates' reputation for paranormal activity lead the Sci Fi Channel's Booth Brothers to its doors. In June of 2008 they filmed the documentary “Soul Catcher”. The building was also filmed in October of 2008 for “American Horrors”, a British paranormal series. Future movie projects are being considered at this time.

Those interested in attending the open house can find maps and information on the main site (links below) or call Scott Kelley at 217-512-9499. Please dress according to the weather – the building is not heated and paranormal activity causes cold spots!

Price $175,000, Contact:
Scott Kelley (217) 512-9499 or
Leonard Pickel (972) 951-5100

Message Board Attendance:
myspace.com/ashmoreestateshaunt | myspace.com/thespookmeister

questions: spookmeister@ashmoreestates.net
note when emailing by the above link you must remove the <remove this> from the address line for the email to go thru

THE ONLY OFFICIAL WEBSITE FOR ASHMORE ESTATES

Map since 3-3-2009