GDG- Gettysburg Paranormal Convention

[JIM COOKE]

The folowing statement was posted to the website boroughvent.com, purporting to be from GNMP spokesperson Katie Lawhon to a site administrator, concerning group investigation of paranormal activities within the park. A group is planning a paranormal convention here (whatever that is) later in the year and apparently wanted to have some of its programs within the park.


February 4, 2008


This is in response to your email regarding ghost hunting at Gettysburg
National Military Park (NMP).

Recent news coverage of this issue did a good job in describing how the
park responds to requests from organized groups and commercial interests
that want to conduct paranormal investigations or “ghost hunts” within the
park. We do not approve permit requests for organized activities such as
this within the park because they are not consistent with the mission “to
preserve and protect the resources associated with the Battle of Gettysburg
and the Soldiers’ National Cemetery and provide an understanding of the
events that occurred here within the context of American History.”

In particular, we do not permit activities such as this, which would
disrupt or disturb other visitors’ experience of the battlefield. As a
local news editorial put it, “The park is closed to such commercial
activities, as it is to chili cook-offs, motocross tournaments and games of
chance.”

What wasn’t clear is that any member of the public who wants to visit the
park during normal operating hours for the purpose of investigating rumors
of ghosts and paranormal activity is welcome to do so, provided they and
whatever equipment they have does not disrupt or disturb the other
visitors’ experience on the battlefield and does not damage park resources.

Thank you for your interest and support for our many efforts on the
battlefield.  If you have any questions, please contact Katie Lawhon, the
park’s public affairs officer at 717/ 334-1124 x452. Thank you for your
interest in the National Park Service.

Sincerely,
/s/
Dr. John A. Latschar
Superintendent