What Happens During a Paranormal Investigation at The Felt Estate?
This year, we're welcoming back Adam Berry, former co-host and executive producer of Kindred Spirits on the Travel Channel, to lead an exclusive paranormal investigation at The Felt Estate in Holland, Michigan. If you've never done one of these before, the whole idea can feel a little mysterious. What are we actually doing when the lights go off? Are we hoping to see a ghost, or is it something else entirely? Below, we're answering the questions we hear most, straight from the source, so you know exactly what to expect from a paranormal investigation at The Felt Estate before you arrive.
Quick Answers: Paranormal Investigation at The Felt Estate
What is it? A guided, equipment-based paranormal investigation of the historic Felt Mansion and Carriage House in Holland, Michigan, led by Adam Berry of Kindred Spirits.
When is it? October 23 and October 24, from 6:00 PM to 11:30 PM.
How much does it cost? $200 per ticket, limited to 40 investigators each night.
Will I see a ghost? Maybe, but it's rare. Most guests experience subtler signs, like cold spots, EMF spikes, or unexplained sounds caught on a recording.
Is it scary? Some spaces feel unsettling in the dark, but the evening is built around respect and history, not jump scares.
What if I want something lighter?Hauntings & History Nights offers a candlelit, self-guided version of the estate's ghost stories without a full investigation.
What Should I Expect at A Felt Estate Paranormal Investigation?
Our focus is on learning more about the stories of the people who came through this house before us. We approach every investigation in the context of the estate's history, and always with respect for those who have passed. The goal is not to have spirits perform for us like it's a show. We don't provoke, and we don't prod. We ask questions and we listen.
This is a slower, more thoughtful evening than what people often picture when they hear the word investigation. Think less dramatic confrontation and more quiet conversation. There are moments when activity picks up, and when that happens, we may be able to communicate using paranormal investigation equipment. Some guests over the years have reported seeing spirits, but that's not something we can promise, and it's not the norm. The same goes for hearing voices in real time. Most communication happens through the tools and devices we bring along, not through a dramatic face-to-face encounter, and that's by design. We'd rather guests leave with a handful of real, well-documented moments than a night full of forced theatrics.
Who Leads the Investigation?
Adam Berry isn't walking into this alone. He's joined by John E.L. Tenney and Jessica Knapik of the What's Up Weirdopodcast, and together the three of them bring decades of combined experience investigating haunted locations across the country. Adam is best known as Executive Producer and co-star of Kindred Spirits on Travel Channel, and he also hosts the podcast This Haunted Life. That kind of experience matters here. A paranormal investigation is only as good as the people guiding it, and this team has spent years learning how to read a space, ask the right questions, and know when something is worth paying attention to. The investigation will be led by Adam Berry and John E.L. Tenney with a Q&A moderated by Jessica Knapik.
will I actually see a ghost?
Maybe. It's possible here at The Felt Estate, but it isn't common, and we've had very few documented sightings over the years. Visual encounters tend to be the rarest form of activity, even in places with long, layered histories like ours. What guests experience far more often are smaller, quieter moments: a cold spot, a flicker, a feeling that something in the room has shifted. Those subtler signs tend to be the real story of a night at the estate, not a dramatic apparition down the hallway.
It helps to walk in with the right expectations. A lot of what people know about paranormal investigation comes from television, where every episode needs a big reveal by the end of the hour. Real investigations rarely work that way. Most of what you'll walk away with is a recording worth reviewing later, a strange reading on a device, or a moment that felt different in a way you can't quite explain. That's usually enough to make the night memorable. And to be clear upfront, this isn't a haunted house attraction with actors jumping out at you. Paranormal activity is never guaranteed, and that's part of what makes it real.
Is a Paranormal Investigation at The Felt Estate Scary?
Certain rooms and certain corners of the property can feel unsettling for some guests, and that's a fair reaction to have in an old house after dark. But spirits, like people, come in all kinds. Some are warm. Some keep to themselves. That's exactly why we walk into every investigation with respect rather than fear.
The mansion itself has always been a welcoming place. It was a family home, built in the 1920s by inventor Dorr Felt for his wife Agnes, the matriarch for whom the house was affectionately nicknamed. It was here that Agnes passed away, just six weeks after the family moved in. Later, the estate became home to the Order of Saint Augustine and a group of cloistered nuns, then a dormitory and classroom space for students and priests during its years as St. Augustine Seminary. Since then, it has hosted countless visitors curious about its history as one of West Michigan's most storied haunted mansions. That legacy carries forward. Guests often say they can feel the weight of the estate's history before they ever pick up a flashlight or an EMF reader.
That layered history is part of what makes this location so compelling for a paranormal investigation. Few buildings hold that many different chapters under one roof: a private family home, a religious community, a place of education, and now a historic site open for tours and events. Every one of those chapters left something behind. Some of it is simply memory, carried in the walls and the way people talk about the house today. Some of it, guests say, is something more.
What Kinds of Paranormal Activity Happen at the Estate?
Generally speaking, paranormal activity falls into two categories: residual and intelligent. Knowing the difference changes how you interpret what happens during an investigation, so it's worth breaking down side by side.
| Residual Activity | Intelligent Activity | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An echo of something that happened repeatedly in a space | A spirit aware of your presence and able to interact |
| Does it respond to you? | No, it simply repeats | Yes, it may answer questions or respond to devices |
| Example | A spirit seen sweeping the same floor over and over | A spirit that answers yes-or-no questions through a spirit box |
| How it's tied to location | Fixed to one spot, tied to routine rather than intention | May stay in one place, move between rooms, or move between buildings |
A residual haunting doesn't respond when you speak to it, and it doesn't change based on who's in the room. It's more like a recording that plays on a loop. Intelligent activity is different. Some spirits stay tied to one specific location and rarely move. Others travel between rooms or even between buildings. Certain spaces act almost like portals, where more than one spirit may come and go. That's part of what makes an old estate like ours such an interesting place to investigate. You're rarely working with just one story, and different groups on the same night can walk away with completely different experiences depending on where they spend their time.
Why Do Investigations Happen in the Evening?
Spirits aren't necessarily more active at night than during the day, but as the evening goes on, activity does tend to increase. We also turn the lights off, or leave them off, because it helps everyone focus. Without the visual noise of a lit room, guests tend to notice more, hear more, and stay receptive to what's happening around them. Darkness removes a lot of the distraction that daylight brings, and that shift in attention is often what makes evening investigations feel more productive.
We don't run investigations all night, either. Spirits, much like the living, were used to sleeping once the house went quiet. Part of showing respect for this place means giving it rest, too, and we plan the evening's schedule with that boundary in mind rather than pushing guests or the estate itself past a reasonable hour.
What Equipment Do You Need for a Paranormal investigation?
If you've watched shows like Kindred Spirits or Ghost Hunters, you've probably seen a lot of specialized gear. There's plenty of equipment out there, and the investigation team will bring some of their own tools for our event. But you don't need anything elaborate to get started. Most first-time guests are surprised by how accessible this hobby actually is. Here's what people commonly use during a paranormal investigation:
Flashlight. Spirits are often said to interact with flashlights and other electronic devices, so something as simple as a flashlight can become part of the experience.
EMF detector. This measures electromagnetic interference. That interference can come from ordinary sources like wiring or cell phones, but investigators also watch for unexplained spikes that can't be traced to a known electrical source, which some believe may be given off by a spirit's presence.
Spirit box. Sometimes called a ghost box, this device scans quickly through AM or FM radio frequencies and produces a stream of static and audio fragments. Some investigators believe spirits can manipulate that stream to form words or short phrases, which makes a spirit box one of the more direct tools for asking a question and getting a real-time response.
REM Pod. This small device sends out its own electromagnetic field from an antenna and lights up or sounds an alert when something disturbs that field. Investigators often set it down in a room and ask a spirit to approach it, since a REM Pod is built to flag movement or energy nearby rather than being carried around like a flashlight.
Infrared thermometer. Also called a temperature gun, this tool checks for sudden cold spots or temperature swings in a room, which some investigators treat as a possible sign of activity.
Camera. Photos, especially into mirrors, are worth taking throughout the night. Flash is fine to use.
Audio and video recorder. You might not notice something in the moment that becomes clear later, when you go back and review the footage.
Dowsing rods or specialty tools. Some guests bring these along too, and there's no shortage of options if you want to dig deeper into the hobby.
It's worth knowing the difference between a normal EMF baseline and an unusual one, since a house full of old wiring will naturally register some readings before anything unusual even enters the picture. And the delayed discovery is part of what makes investigations so engaging. The night doesn't necessarily end when you leave the estate. It can continue the next morning when you sit down with your recordings. None of this gear is required, though. A phone with a camera and a flashlight app is enough to fully take part.
How Does the Investigation with Adam Berry Work?
The evening starts with a meet and greet, followed by a question-and-answer session moderated by Jessica Knapik of What's Up Weirdo, and an overview of the estate's history and hauntings. That history matters more than people expect going in. Understanding who lived here, who worked here, and who passed through these rooms gives every later moment of the night more context.
From there, guests move into a four-hour paranormal investigation of the mansion and carriage house, led by Adam Berry and John E.L. Tenney. Tickets are $200 and limited to just 40 investigators per night, held on October 23 and October 24 from 6:00 PM to 11:30 PM. Because space is limited, tickets are sold in advance only through feltmansion.org, and sales close at noon on the day of the event.
A few practical details worth knowing before you book: this experience is best suited for guests age 10 and up, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. As a historic home, the mansion and carriage house are only accessible on the first floor without stairs, so guests should be comfortable navigating multiple flights and some uneven ground between buildings. Restrooms are available in both buildings.
What are the Rules For a Paranormal Investigation at The Felt Estate?
Respect comes first, and a few simple guidelines keep the night running smoothly for everyone. Here's what to know before you go:
Lead with respect. This is the spirits' home before it's anything else, and we're the visitors. We're here to learn, not to provoke.
Record freely. Video and audio recording is welcome throughout the night, and photography is encouraged.
Announce your flash. If you're using flash on your camera, say "flash" out loud beforehand so other guests can look away or close their eyes.
Use your normal voice. It's tempting to whisper once the lights are off, but whispering can get picked up on someone's audio recorder and mistaken for something paranormal. Speaking at a regular volume keeps the investigation accurate.
Keep flashlights pointed down. Point your flashlight toward the ground as you move so you're not blinding anyone nearby.
Watch your head in low-clearance spaces. Basements in particular have some low clearances, and old houses were not built with modern ceiling heights in mind.
Speak up if something feels off. If you feel uneasy, unwell, or simply ready to head out, tell someone right away so the group can keep track of everyone.
Stay with your group. Stick together until it's time to regroup for the night, so everyone can be accounted for.
Who Should Join a Paranormal Investigation?
Curiosity is really the only requirement. Some guests come as longtime believers who track paranormal shows and own their own equipment. Others come skeptical, mostly along for a friend's birthday or a partner's request, and end up surprised by how much they enjoy the evening regardless of what they experience firsthand. Both types of guests tend to leave with a new appreciation for the estate's history, even if their beliefs about spirits haven't shifted at all.
Because the evening involves low light, uneven floors, and older staircases, it's worth thinking honestly about mobility and comfort before signing up. This isn't a fast-paced event, but it does involve walking between rooms and buildings for several hours. Comfortable shoes make a real difference.
Want Something Lighter? Try Hauntings & History Nights
Not everyone wants a four-hour investigation, and that's completely fine. If you're more curious about the ghost stories themselves than the equipment and technique behind an investigation, Hauntings & History Nights is built for you. It runs October 29 - 31 and it starts with a presentation in the estate's chapel, where people who have personally experienced the estate's paranormal activity share their stories firsthand.
From there, guests walk a 90-minute self-guided path through the mansion, carriage house, and grounds, lit only by candlelight, with access to areas of the estate not normally open to the public. You're welcome to bring your own flashlight, EMF detector, or other paranormal tools if you want to do a little investigating of your own along the way, but there's no obligation to. It's a more atmospheric way to experience the same history, without the full commitment of an overnight investigation. Tickets are limited and available only in advance, so it's worth planning ahead if this sounds like your speed.
A Different Kind of Evening at The Felt Estate
A paranormal investigation here isn't about jump scares or theatrics. It's a chance to sit with the estate's long history, from the family who once called it home, to the nuns and seminarians who filled its halls, to the countless visitors who have come since to learn its stories. Joining Adam Berry, John E.L. Tenney, and Jessica Knapik for this year's investigation means stepping into that story for a night, with curiosity and respect leading the way.
Tickets for the paranormal investigation are $200, limited to 40 guests per night, and available only in advance through feltmansion.org. If a full investigation isn't quite what you're looking for, Hauntings & History Nights offers a lighter, candlelit way to explore the same haunted Michigan mansion. Either way, we hope to see you at The Felt Estate this fall.
Adam Berry is a paranormal investigator, television producer, and performer best known as co-star and executive producer of Kindred Spirits on Travel Channel. His path into the field started with a personal encounter in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, an experience that pushed a childhood curiosity about the paranormal into a lifelong pursuit. He went on to co-found the Provincetown Paranormal Research Society before competing on Ghost Hunters Academy, a win that earned him a spot on the original Ghost Hunters series. There, he built a long-running partnership with fellow investigator Amy Bruni, and the two eventually left to create Kindred Spirits, now in its seventh season. Berry also hosts the podcast This Haunted Life and continues to lead investigations and events at haunted locations around the country, including this year's visit to The Felt Estate.
What's Up Weirdo is a podcast hosted by longtime friends John E.L. Tenney and Jessica Knapik, built around their real phone conversations about the paranormal, the occult, UFOs, true crime, and horror. Tenney is one of the most recognized investigators of paranormal and occult phenomena working today, with over a dozen books to his name and TV credits including Unsolved Mysteries, Paranormal State, Ghost Stalkers, and Kindred Spirits. Knapik is a noted cosmetic tattoo artist whose work has been featured by Cosmo, Vogue, Elle, and MTV, and she spends much of her time visiting haunted locations and paranormal events across the country. Together, the two bring decades of combined experience and an easy, unscripted chemistry to the podcast, and to live events like this year's investigation at The Felt Estate.
The Felt Estate is a non-profit historic landmark located between Holland and Saugatuck along the shores of Lake Michigan. The estate features the magnificent Felt Mansion, a 110-year-old Chapel at Shore Acres, a Carriage House, water garden feature, and gardens. The Felt Estate serves the West Michigan community through historic preservation efforts, guided mansion tours, and seasonal public events that bring the estate's century-old story to life.
The Felt Estate
6597 138th Ave., Holland, MI 49423
General Inquiries: (616) 335-8982
contact@feltmansion.org