Group says ghosts inhabit Depot Restaurant

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Yes, they're partly basing their findings on a woman who talks to ghosts. No, they're not kidding.

A paranormal investigation group believes there are six to seven ghosts haunting the Depot Restaurant and Lounge, where the group spent a cold night investigating last month.

"And the group does not take that stuff lightly," said Ellen Allmendinger of Yakima, who founded The PAST is Present, in which PAST is an acronym for Paranormal and Spirit Team.

In addition to findings by the group's clairvoyant, the investigation included studying hours of video, hours of audio, dozens of electro-magnetic-field readings and thermal images taken with a special camera. The group will present its findings Saturday at the Depot.

"It's kind of hard when you look at the evidence to figure out what's going on," said Allmendinger, a civil engineering technician.

There are audio recordings in which noises seem to respond to questions from the investigation group. And there are photos in which unexplained things -- ghostly residues? -- show up.

What the recording equipment shows depends on whether you're open to believing in ghosts. Noted ghost-story debunker Robert T. Carroll, author of The Skeptic's Dictionary, isn't buying it. Ghost hunting, which has become more popular since the Sci-Fi Channel started airing "Ghost Hunters" in 2004, is just "junk science," he said in an e-mail interview.

"Your investigators may come up with a paranormal explanation for various bumps in the night, but they'll probably ignore alternative explanations. ... Don't be surprised if your investigators use scientific equipment to back up their claims. All their equipment was designed for some other use, and they are improvising when they say, for example, that a blip on an EMF meter indicates a 'presence,'" said Carroll, who is based in Sacramento, Calif.

In other words, it's probably just the wind, he said.

Allmendinger and her team are used to that sort of skepticism; that's why they found each other, she said.

"I've had some experiences in my lifetime that I just can't explain," Allmendinger said. "So I guess that just piques my interest. And you can't really walk down the street talking about it."

Karl Pasten, who owns the depot, was a skeptic himself until recently. The evidence collected by The PAST is Present is compelling, and he's heard from several customers since the team's investigation who have their own ghostly experiences.

In any case, he said, the idea that the place is haunted may not be bad for business.

"There are more people who are interested by that sort of thing than scared by it," Pasten said.

* Pat Muir can be reached at 577-7693 or pmuir@yakimaherald.com.

If you go

What: Ghostly evidence

Where: The Depot Restaurant and Lounge, 32 N. Front St.

When: 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday

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