Cody Polston 
Ghosts reported at the hotel include both Shaffer and his wife Lena, a cowboy that is said to have hung himself in the bathroom between current rooms 17 and 18, a “big fat lady all white with a big yellow and red face”, a woman who cooks in the restaurant kitchen, and a ghostly little … Read moreShaffer Hotel, Mountainair, NM (Paranormal Claims)
The Shaffer Hotel was built in 1923 by Clem “Pop” Shaffer who moved to Mountainair in 1908 with his wife Pearl to practice his blacksmith trade. He set up his blacksmith shop with an adjacent hardware and casket making shop on Main Street, but Pearl died of pneumonia before the end of their first year … Read moreShaffer Hotel, Mountainair, NM (History)
I was interviewed for a short story on ghosts in New Mexico. I was asked to provide the top 5 places in the state that may have a chance at actually being haunted. My interview is at the very end on page 2. Click on the images to enlarge.
I was interviewed by the Albuquerque Journal for this article, although I’m misquoted in places and some of Bob’s dialog is incorrectly attributed to me. But overall, it isn’t too bad.
1. Abstract This multiphase study was performed to discover if the information presented or reported by ghost hunters and paranormal investigators will affect the basis and perceptions of a “haunted” location due to an increase in myth building and the bias of the information presented. 2. Method Two placebos were submitted to the client in … Read moreGhost Hunter X; a qualitative study on the effects of ghost hunting on myth building and bias in “haunted” locations
Having a ghostly encounter is predominantly a human experience. Therefore it is important to consider those experiences. If you want to investigate haunted places seriously, your best tools of the trade will be your ability to talk and draw information from your witnesses. I rely upon interviewing witnesses more than any other method of investigation. … Read moreThe Lodge at Cloudcroft, witness accounts
In 1993 the Alamogordo Daily News ran an article entitled” Alamogordo native reflects on past, present, and future of his 90-year life”. The article is about Paul Hernandez who spent most of his life as an employee of the Lodge, working continuously there for 61 years. He has many fond memories of working for Mr. … Read moreStill looking for the genesis story, the Lodge at Cloudcroft
Gail Porter and Chris Fleming comb New Mexico, searching for the spirit of the wild west outlaw Billy the Kid. They visit the courthouse where he shot his way out of jail. they then hook up with Bob and myself in a historic building across town.
Josefita Otero dies on October 19th, 1951. But dies in San Diego CA. Josefita Manderfield (1874-1951) was the daughter of William and Josefa Salazar Manderfield. Manderfield’s father was the founder of the Santa Fe New Mexican. She was married to George Washington Armijo, who was a Rough Rider and later a delegate to the … Read moreLuna Mansion, Los Lunas, NM (History, Part 2)
Today the ghost of Bobby Darnall is said to haunt the KiMo theater. It is believed that Bobby is prone to playing tricks and pranks on the crew if they do not appease him by bribing him with doughnuts or other trinkets, leaving them out before performances so that he won’t interfere with the show. … Read moreNew insights to the KiMO Theater
The few other reported “sightings” are typical of psychosomatic response episodes that are common in poorly lit areas. Additionally, all of evidence that the woman in black is a ghost is loosely based solely on the fact that she mysteriously vanishes. The chapel has a south doorway which is often left open in the warmer … Read moreOur Lady Of Guadalupe Chapel, Old Town Albuquerque (My Opinions of the Hauntings)
A newspaper article that ran in 1983 about the ghost of Rebecca at the Lodge. It appears to be the first news article that mentions the ghost.
We visited the prison several times in October of 2005, mostly to familiarize ourselves with the facility as we were going to be the first ones to lead tours through the pen at the end of the month. The tours focused on the events of the riot and the locations where previous movies had been … Read moreNew Mexico State Penitentiary, Santa Fe, NM (Investigations Summary of 2005)
Cody talks with the Weekly Alibi about ghost hunting. Click the image below to enlarge.
Locals in the area say that the bridge is a hot spot for suicides and that the bridge is haunted by ghosts that tempt people into jumping to their deaths. However, there is a specific ghost that is often seen on the west side of the bridge. According to witnesses, the ghost appears as a … Read moreRio Grande Gorge Bridge (Paranormal Claims)
Built in 1965, it was called the “Bridge to Nowhere,” as there was not enough funding to continue the road from the other side. At 650 feet above the Rio Grande and 1200 feet across, it is the second highest suspension bridge in the United States. The Rio Grande Gorge at this location is 1200 … Read moreRio Grande Gorge Bridge (History)
The secrets of Tombstone Arizona exposed, Electromagnetism and EMF meters, Persinger and McFadden (how their theories relate to the paranormal) Odd occurrences (of a ghostly nature?) in Tombstone, the town too tough to die.
The Ambrosio Armijo House was built between 1880 and 1882 of adobe as a store and house complex. It originally consisted of two square shaped buildings with pitched and gabled roofs joined by a small structure or passageway in the center. The Sanborn Insurance maps of 1891 and 1931 shows that the building has undergone … Read moreLa Placita Restaurant, Albuquerque, NM (History)
The first floor of the south elevation of Section 2 has two large, two pane fixed windows. These windows are wood with a major horizontal mullion dividing the windows in an approximately 1/3 – 2/3 pattern. The second floor of the south elevation has four windows, three matching those on the second-floor east elevation, and … Read moreFoster’s Hotel, Chama, NM (Description of Interior)
The long-expected engagement in New Mexico came off at Valverde, on the east bank of the Rio Grande, four miles above Fort Craig on Friday, February 21. The battle commenced at eight o’clock in the morning and lasted until sunset. The action was commenced by a portion of Col. Baylor’s regiment, 200 strong, under the … Read moreThe battle of Valverde, a soldier’s account of the battle.
The battlefield itself lies in wilderness and is mostly unmarked. The first problem was locating where the events of 1861 occurred. Adding to this problem is the river itself which has changed it’s course several times over the years. With the assistance of a local historian and archeologist, we were able to locate the location … Read moreValverde Battlefield (Photos Gallery)
