The ChillX Zone

Spooky Happenings Mark June 29

ALTON, Illinois (June 29, 2025) — As dusk settled over the banks of the Mississippi, dozens of paranormal enthusiasts gathered. They came for the final night of the Haunted America Conference. This is the nation’s premier four-day symposium for all things unearthly. Under a moonlit sky, teams armed with flashlights, EMF meters, and tape recorders spread out. They explored three of the region’s most storied haunts: McPike Mansion, Cheney Mansion, and Franklin Lodge.

Into the Night

At precisely 10 p.m., investigators slipped past creaking gates. They moved into shadowed hallways. They were in search of proof that something beyond our world still lingers. McPike Mansion’s grand staircase reportedly groans under unseen footsteps. Cheney Mansion’s dusty parlor has long been the scene of disembodied whispers. There are sudden drops in temperature. At Franklin Lodge, a former frontier outpost turned private residence, a mournful spirit is said to wander. Its cries echo across the grounds.

“I felt the temperature drop near the mantle clock,” one attendee recalled after a séance in Cheney’s drawing room. “Then… heavy footsteps, but no one was there.”

Many participants were drawn to the allure of high-tech gadgets. However, they chose to leave behind thermal cameras and night-vision scopes. They preferred the raw intimacy of a simple flashlight beam and their own senses.

Tonight’s Schedule

• 10 p.m. — Ghost hunts commence at McPike Mansion, Cheney Mansion, and Franklin Lodge
• Workshop Tracks — Spirit Mediumship • Ufology • Cryptozoology
• Media Coverage — Local TV crews on-site; participants agree to silence phones during investigations

Staying Grounded

For both skeptics and true believers, there’s a singular thrill in traversing ancient hallways. This thrill is especially felt while the rest of the world sleeps. It isn’t about Hollywood-style frights. It’s about those fleeting moments when logic falters. It’s when a whisper in an empty room leaves you questioning what you thought you knew.

As midnight approaches, the air hums with anticipation. Tonight might yield definitive proof. It could also present another tantalizing mystery. One thing is certain: on June 29, the boundary between the known and the unknowable feels thinner than ever.