Something Touched Me in the Middle of the Night — And It Led to a City’s Most Haunted Secrets
Something Touched Me in the Middle of the Night — And It Led to a City’s Most Haunted Secrets
Courtesy Visit Macon
https://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/georgia/central-and-north-georgia/places/macon/experiences/news/a-psychic-medium-paranormal-investigator-and-actress-explore-macon-georgias-haunted-history
The spirits of Macon, Georgia, are turning the town into a paranormal tourist hub.
While staying at the 1842 Inn in Macon, Georgia, I woke up in the middle of the night and sat up. Someone had touched me on my upper arm. Once, twice, three times. My friend was asleep next to me. There was no one else in the room. Or was there?
That was my first – though not my last – ghostly experience in a historic building in Macon. The day before I left Macon, I met a paranormal investigation team called Macon Beyond who acknowledged that they too had endured a lot of eerie experiences at the 1842 Inn. In fact, I could watch their paranormal investigation of the property, and others, in their investigative video series focused on Macon’s haunted history.
The idea for the Macon Beyond video series came from host and Hollywood actress, Carrie Genzel, known for her roles in Supernatural, Jennifer’s Body, and Smallville.
“I had pitched the idea to Visit Macon about showcasing these incredible historical places that we have here but telling it from a paranormal lens and jumping into the ghosts, legends, and lore of the city,” Genzel says.
Although Genzel had ghostly experiences since she was five, she isn’t a paranormal investigator and needed a team to help her explore Macon’s haunted spaces. Ten years ago, Genzel met Morrighan Lynne, a psychic empath and spiritual medium, in Dallas, Texas, on another paranormal project. Lynne and her husband Jonathan Morgan, a paranormal investigator, reached out to Genzel the week of her pitch with news that they were moving to Macon.
“She goes in the next meeting [with Visit Macon] and is like, ‘I have my team.’ We didn’t know anything about it,” Lynne explains. “Then she’s like [to us], ‘Funny thing, I’ve got this project, so when get here, we’re going to get to work.’ I’m like, this is the weirdest, most synchronistic moment. Spirits were calling us in.”
In 2024, Lynne, Morgan, and Genzel joined a camera crew and began investigating some of Macon’s historic locations, with the intent to be mindful and respectful of their community.
“Unfortunately, Hollywood and some TV shows have a reputation of antagonizing, going for like the high sensation. We don’t do that. We really want to respect the people living, the family, and whoever now owns the historic building,” Morgan explains.
The team has investigated the Macon City Auditorium, Hay House, Burke Mansion, 1842 Inn, and the Big House Museum – home of the Allman Brothers Band – in the last two years, sharing their investigations on the Macon Beyond page and social media. As the host of Macon Beyond, Genzel opens each video with historical information and lore, as well as interviews with the owner or employees of the location.
“I’m the audience’s voice, asking the questions,” she says. “I try to do the research so that I have an idea of who may be there or who we might be talking to [in terms of spirits, to] sort of fill in what [Lynne and Morgan] may be picking up,” she says.
As the lead investigator, Morgan brings paranormal equipment like ghost boxes that scan frequencies, thermal cameras that note changes in temperature, and Rem pods, electromagnetic tools that light up and beep if an otherworldly presence is near. In the Macon City Auditorium episode, Morgan catches a figure sitting in a conference room chair with a 3D mapping device.
“I love the Auditorium because I got a lot of great evidence out of that,” Morgan shares.
Lynne, a psychic empath and spiritual medium, takes on the role of communicating between the dead and living. Sometimes this presents itself as Lynne seeing spirits, like in the Hay House when she sees a male figure standing at the fireplace mantel in the same position where William Butler Johnston, who built the house in the mid-1800s, would have received guests. Other times she may hear music from the past or physically feel something the spirits want her to feel.
“The spirits were a little apprehensive because I don’t think people investigate in this area. They weren’t sure what to do with us at first,” Lynne explains. “Now, I feel like they’re more eager, like, ‘Oh, we can connect.’”
Lynne’s gifts appeared when she was seven years old, but remained dormant until she was about 26, when she stopped ignoring her guides and angels. She first used her skills with a paranormal investigation team in Dallas and has been honing them ever since. Lynne’s approach to each historic location is different than the rest of her team.
“I ask for no information. I don’t even want to know where we’re going until we’re pulling up into the driveway,” she explains.
Once at a location, Lynne speaks to the spirits present, learning their names or what happened to them, often sifting through Macon’s long history to better understand what spirits are communicating. This isn’t easy considering Macon has been inhabited for over 17,000 years, is the ancestral home of the Muscogee Nation, and was an active region during slavery and the Civil War.
“I have to spend time figuring out which era is reaching out to me. Is it the most recent, the builders of the home? Is it the Indigenous people?” Lynne explains.
The most exciting moments in the Macon Beyond video series occur when team members have ghostly experiences that overlap.
“In our Hay House episode, I visually saw a dark orb come at me, break off to Morrighan, and she got dizzy. We never told Jonathan about that. He was in another part of the house at that time,” Genzel explains. “But he caught on his equipment on that same floor, a dark orb that looked exactly like what I saw. That was the greatest piece of evidence because I experienced it, Morrigan experienced it, and Jonathan caught it on camera.”
For Genzel, Morgan, and Lynne, the Macon Beyond project has allowed them to explore Macon’s history and learn more about the other side.
“Nobody wants to be forgotten and those that have passed on, they don’t want to be forgotten either, so it’s a great way to continue to tell their stories and share them with another generation of people,” says Genzel.
Most excitingly, the Macon Beyond videos are attracting paranormal tourists to a virtually untapped paranormal destination on par with Savannah and New Orleans in terms of activity.
Marisa Rodgers, VP & Chief Marketing Officer of Visit Macon shares that “the Macon Beyond video series and its approach to blending the paranormal with history has already seen such strong streaming numbers and impressions. Sites that have been explored have seen an increase in interest from visitors.”
This doesn’t surprise Morgan who encourages paranormal tourists intrigued by the video series to make a trip: “Macon is very active, especially from some other cities that I’ve lived in or visited.”
“It would be such an easy place to stretch and grow and practice your skills,” adds Lynne. “You’re going to get something. It feels so concentrated.”
Macon Beyond will be sharing more paranormal investigations in 2026 and will likely offer travelers the chance to join them for an investigation, too (they hosted an incredibly successful investigation event that I attended in October 2025 at the Burke Mansion). Till then, take a trip out to Macon for your own paranormal experience.
“For those that have a little bit of investigative nature to them, Macon is a fun place to come and explore and learn some new stories, haunts, and lore,” says Genzel.
10 Things American Tourists Do That Piss Off Europeans
Giuseppe Francavilla/iStock
https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/10-things-american-tourists-do-that-irritate-europeans
Some travelers just can’t help themselves.
Before y’all slide nasties into my DMs like the time I complained about New York City, let’s clear the air: I do not hate America or Americans. I spent my thirties blissfully devouring UPFs as a proud Green Card holder, and most of my nearest and dearest are American. Heck, I even married one!
With around 17 million U.S. visitors arriving on my European continent per year, we see the whole spectrum of tourists. Some are respectful and genuinely down for cultural immersion; others should have stayed put in Walt Disney World.
Today, I focus on the latter, because a 10 Things American Tourists Do That Europeans Love list is a lot less…spicy. Here are things some Americans do that make us quietly wish they would jump back on a plane and spend their holiday dollars on RVs and National Parks instead.
Telling Us Where They’re From by City Name Only
We get it, America’s big and divided. Most Europeans know Los Angeles, New York, or Chicago, but anything outside world-famous cities or without a Real Housewives franchise is lost on us.
Tucson? Cincinnati? Savannah? Sorry. Don’t know and don’t care. When you ask someone from China where they’re from, they usually respond “China.” China is as big as it is with as many provinces, but you don’t have them arrogantly assume the entire world knows where Fujian is. So, unless prompted for specifics, stating that you’re from America will suffice.
Wearing University, State, or National Park T-shirts
If we ever saw someone in a nice restaurant wearing a “University of Edinburgh” jersey, or a baseball cap with the word “Bordeaux” emblazoned across it, we’d think they weren’t quite right in the head. That, or they had just been bestowed a hideous gift by a sensitive aunt, and she’s sat there with them. So, we cannot understand why on earth someone would, by choice, have the words “Texas” in CAPS all over their body. Did the tourism board pay them? Is their state that desperate to get its name out there? Whatever the reason, those outfits need to be burned.
Wanting to Pay for Things in USD
Imagine if we came to their country and tried to pay in euros, yen, or dinars. They’d think we were out of our minds! It’s unbelievable how many Americans come to Europe expecting other countries to accept dollars. Perhaps they’re used to flashing their cash in the Caribbean islands, but this ain’t Puerto Rico. We’re not the home of Ricky Martin (swoon!), and American dollars are as useful as shoe umbrellas in Seattle. Put in the effort and go change money or pay by card like everyone else.
Making Unnecessary Small Talk
There’s something we Europeans do very skillfully, and that’s small talk. We carefully assess the situation, select the right moment to begin a conversation if one is even required, and swiftly exit before things get awkward. All parties are happy. It seems that Americans, on the other hand, prefer making small talk as excruciating as possible. They’ll do it when it’s absolutely not required, such as waiting in line for a train ticket, or grab a captive audience at the beginning of a boat ride, where the only escape is to jump overboard. Then, at the end, there’s the dreaded “we should keep in touch” scenario. Some just can’t deal with the reality that not every conversation leads to a lifelong friendship. Life ain’t a Hollywood movie.
Complaining About Walking
Understandably, back home, my American friends and family are used to driving everywhere, where it’s often safer and more practical to roll around in a jumbo truck. But knowing that most European cities are built for walking, they still complain when a walk is longer than 30 minutes. Getting around in places like Barcelona, Copenhagen, Milan, Paris, and Munich is much easier on foot and public transport, so being on your feet all day is the norm for exploring. And no, we don’t have mobility scooters in department stores. If all Americans prepared themselves for walking, brought comfortable shoes, and stopped fretting over the weather, they might actually enjoy it.
Tipping Like They’re in America
In America, restaurants pay staff almost nothing, and it’s up to customers to pay their rent. Those who tip well, therefore, get better service, and those who don’t get treated like crap. What a system! Now, in Europe, we have something called employment laws, so get this: an employer’s responsible for paying their staff right. Crazy, right?
If you tip here, you don’t get the kind of VIP service you’d get in the States. You get treated the same as everyone else, because we’re all human. No royal treatment at a Pizza Express! In major cities, a small service charge is added and distributed evenly and anonymously, but in most towns, you might round up to the nearest euro or throw whatever change you have in your pocket. Chill out, big shot.
Acting Surprised With Our Portion Sizes
So instead of tipping, how about purchasing two of everything? That’ll stop the complaints about European portion sizes. American portion sizes are well known for being far more generous than the rest of the world, with extra-large and refill options standard across casual dining. In Europe, we prefer quality over quantity. How else do you explain France’s obsession with cheese and desserts in correlation to their svelte designer-draped figures? And as for beverages, if your morning brew is 20 ounces large, you don’t love coffee. You love sugar.
Buying Souvenirs From American Chain Stores
When visiting a new destination, responsible travelers prefer to support the community by buying local. However, many Americans choose to support American businesses instead, buying souvenirs from famous chain stores they love back home. Those chains cleverly place the local name on gifts deemed as “collectible,” such as Starbucks mugs, Disney tees, and Hard Rock Café shot glasses. All trash, and a strange way to souvenir your time in a place like Rome, where there are a multitude of incredible cultural keepsakes on offer.
Claiming Foods Invented in Other Countries
Here are some hard facts Americans need to stomach: pizza comes from Naples, French fries come from Belgium, and Mexican food comes from, um, Mexico. Your state did not invent them, nor does it have the (self-proclaimed) “best in the world.” Therefore, they need to pay respect to the destinations that produce and specialize in those authentic dishes, and instead, celebrate America’s biggest and most famous culinary accomplishment: turning them into fast food! McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut have been clogging arteries for decades.
Congratulations ‘murica.
Comparing Everything With America
When Europeans travel abroad, we don’t harp on about our country half as much as Americans. Many Americans think the world is as obsessed with stars and stripes as they are, which is where the biased comparison keep on coming around, “The Asian food is better in Houston,” “The slopes are way better in Vermont,” and “It’s so much safer in NYC” (OK I made this up, even New Yorkers know that’s not true). Basically, some Americans just love America so much that nothing in Europe is good enough. My advice to them is to stop comparing, appreciate being abroad, or stay home. They barely get any PTO as it is.
Update: Hilton kicks out Hampton; DHS softens tone
Hilton said a franchised Minnesota property was not meeting its standards and values after the management company said it was fixing the problem.
DHS is projected to add 2,000 additional officers to Minneapolis.
https://www.hotelinvestmenttoday.com/Development/Franchising/Update-Hilton-kicks-out-Hampton-not-selling-to-ICE?
McLEAN, Virginia – The Hampton Inn by Hilton in Lakeview, Minnesota, has been removed from the Hilton system after refusing reservations from DHS or ICE agents and its management company, Everpeak Hospitality, now only has a statement on its now-static website about how it addressed the matter and that it welcomes all to its hotels. What happens next in this saga remains to be seen.
The bad PR caused Hilton's stock to dip more than 2% on Monday after the news broke, but HLT rebounded strongly on Tuesday, up 2.63%.
“The independent hotel owner had assured us that they had fixed this problem and published a message confirming this,” read a statement from Hilton posted on X Tuesday morning. “A recent video clearly raises concerns that they are not meeting our standards and values. As such, we are taking immediate action to remove this hotel from our systems. Hilton is – and has always been – a welcoming place for all. We are also engaging with all of our franchisees to reinforce the standards we hold them to across our system to help ensure this does not happen again.”
The Hilton statement referenced a video shot by conservative influencer Nick Sortor, who visited the property and was still told by the front desk agent that management was not accepting reservations under DHS or ICE, despite Everpeak Hotels hours earlier releasing a statement to the contrary. That is what evidently prompted Hilton's action to remove the property from its system.
On Tuesday, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the department welcomed Tuesday's move by Hilton. “Discriminatory business practices targeting DHS and deliberately undermining federal law enforcement are unAmerican and have real business consequences,” she said in a statement on X.
Pershing Square Capital Management CEO Bill Ackman, a long-time Hilton investor, defended Hilton on an X post on Tuesday, saying, “Hilton takes any discriminatory actions by its franchisees with the highest degree of seriousness for obvious reasons. It, however, does not directly control the hiring and firing decisions of personnel at the hotel in question. [It’s CEO] Chris Nassetta is highly respected by U.S. President Donald Trump and the current administration.”
McLaughlin's statement came a day after the Trump administration said that Hilton had launched a “coordinated campaign” to refuse service to DHS employees. “When officers attempted to book rooms using official government emails and rates, Hilton Hotels maliciously CANCELLED their reservations,” DHS wrote on X. “This is UNACCEPTABLE.”
Hilton issued an apology, stating that the hotel was independently owned and operated, and the actions did not reflect the company’s values.
On Monday, Everpeak Hospitality also noted that the cancellation was at odds with their policy and the same statement still remains a top their website.
“Everpeak Hospitality has moved swiftly to address this matter as it was inconsistent with our policy of being a welcoming place for all,” the Everpeak statement read. “We are in touch with the impacted guests to ensure they are accommodated. We do not discriminate against any individuals or agencies and apologize to those impacted.”
DHS is projected to be sending 2,000 additional ICE and Homeland Security Investigations officer into Minneapolis this week, per CBS News.
Hotel financing expert: Don't wait on interest rate cuts in '26
New year expected to be a solid one for 'strong borrowers,' Peachtree exec says
Jared Schlosser, head of originations and C-PACE at Peachtree Group, believes the new year will be a solid one for "strong borrowers." (Getty Images)
https://www.costar.com/article/1772031977/hotel-financing-expert-dont-wait-on-interest-rate-cuts-in-26?
The hotel financing environment is shaping up to be a "tale of two cities" for borrowers this year.
Speaking on the latest episode of the CoStar News Hotels podcast, Jared Schlosser, head of originations and C-PACE at Peachtree Group, said 2026 will be a good year for well-positioned borrowers.
"I think for well-thought-out acquisition, business plan deals, for solid cash flow, for performing deals, for strong borrowers who continue to do what they say they're going to do, there's ton of liquidity," he said, noting that "on the flip side of that, you're seeing a lot of deals that are struggling."
While there has been a lot of talk about the trajectory of interest rates and how they might affect hotel investments, Schlosser said that's the wrong way to approach the current market.
"When I send out a term sheet, the No. 1 thing that's negotiated these days is the rate floor because so many people have heard rates are going to get cut," he said. "People ignore things that are way more important than a rate floor, and they go straight to a rate floor. That just leads me to believe there's a lot of conversation out there that rates are just magically going to drop 100 or 200 basis points.
"Maybe they do," he continued. "I have no way to predict the future, but we've been saying this for the last few years, and they're relatively around the same rate as they've been since the large increase of [2022]."
One of the long-term shifts the hotel financing market has seen is an increase in private credit and a decrease in banks' willingness to lend. Schlosser said he expects this will remain the case in the medium to long term, which is more expensive for borrowers but safer for banks.
"I think that lending to an institution at a lower attachment point is a better business for a bank and they can capture deposits and treasury management and everything that comes along with that, which is the overall goal of making a real estate loan anyway," he said.
For the rest of the interview with Peachtree's Jared Schlosser, listen to the podcast above.
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