Hotel Parq Central Albuquerque, New Mexico January 4, 2011

The structure was originally designed as a hospital by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe (ATSF) Railway in The ATSF created a hospital association that constructed medical facilities along their rail line from Chicago to Los Angeles to serve the employees and, in some cases, the community. They called all of them the ‘Santa Fe hospital”. The original location for this hospital was on South Broadway. That building was eventually bought and converted into a school, and the hospital association built the “new” site on Central Avenue. During the 1970’s, the facility was used as a psychiatric hospital for children and young adults. The hospital was closed in The most recent survey date for hospital oriented services was January, The last occupants of the building were by Austin-based Youth and Family Centered Services, which ceased its operation there in March of The building was purchased by the current owners, Memorial Ventures, LLC in Renovations were completed in the fall of 2010, bringing to the community a luxury, 74 room, boutique-style hotel.

There are many stories related to paranormal activity at this location, with several incidents occurring during the time the building was being occupied as Memorial Hospital. The following “excerpts” are from an internet blog regarding the activity: “I spent over a year in that place as a patient. Memorial Hospital is in my nightmares. They would move the units around yearly. Each time I was there I was in a different section in the hospital. I spent 4 to 5 months on the second floor. Which in my opinion was the LEAST haunted, to say the least. On the top floor right wing is where children would see a woman apparition lurking the hallways. That's also where I would wake up in the middle of the night having my blankets jerked off of me. Or to wake up with scratches on me with cracking, clicking sounds circulating through my room. There were countless suicides in the buildings not to mention the deteriorating psyche of thousands of children. (for example: The second floor bathroom right next to the elevator. A boy hung himself. Which led to us having everything of ours taken away. We use to be able to use Nair until a girl drank a bottle on the second floor. Another child also killed himself with a bed sheet in the quiet room on the second floor.) “ “My name is Robert C. I was a patient at Memorial as well. I am anxious to see what kind of complaints you will get from people unfamiliar with the hospital. I still have the nightmares I had in that god forsaken place. I hope you will begin to believe. I have always been a practical person. But after my discharge from the hospital, I looked at life differently. Sometimes you have to see it to believe it. And to the gentlemen that was in Memorial as well for a year... I know and I will never forget. I now go to church, but once in a while they visit me. I was in the hospital when I was 13 for jumping in front of a truck. I know now that suicide is not the way, but the stories ARE TRUE.” The LMSS team had the opportunity to tour the property on two occasions, and spent an evening in November, During the overnight stay, no known activity and/or evidence was documented. LMSS spoke to current staff members regarding their experiences while working at the hotel. Several employees reported feeling a sense of ‘being watched’; whispering in their ear; movement of objects; and, a general sense of heaviness in the buildings.

The LMSS team performed the investigation at the hotel on Tuesday, January 4, 2011 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The team consisted of 5 members (2 groups) researching, documenting, and recording the 2 nd and 3 rd floors of the hotel, as well as the residences building (formerly known as the “surgeon’s building’) of the facility. The residences building is located approx. 100 yards behind the hotel, and is one of the original buildings to the site. This structure required minimal refurb, and contains several guest rooms with a common area living room. During the course of the investigation, several employees (housekeeping, maintenance) were actively working in the hotel. Their location and presence during each session was identified and documented. Equipment used during the investigation included Sony digital voice recorders, Sony digital video recorders, Nikon digital cameras, K2 meter, GAUSS meter, temperature probe, laser grid scope, and Maglight flashlights. Each group, in their respective locations, obtained base EMF readings, performed EVP sessions, observed/photographed the area, and applied the Maglight flashlight technique. The team members captured over 160 digital pictures, 4 hours of audio recordings on three digital voice recorders, and 3 hours of digital video recordings.

While performing the investigation, at least three of the team members experienced some type of unexplained activity. Those experiences included: voices and/or whispering near their location; a distinct coldness near or on their body; and, a sense of being ‘watched’. After review of the digital photos, it was determined that no anomalies were indicated via digital photography. After review of the digital voice recorders, there were several “sounds and/or whispers” identified. However, LMSS was unable to quantify and qualify those episodes as paranormal in nature. There were no unexplainable incidents in the residences building. LMSS team members applied the flashlight technique – a procedure that requires an entity or spirit to directly answer questions in an affirmative manner by turning on a flashlight. There were several occasions when a positive response was indicated, and those responses were documented via digital video recording. These recordings were obtained on the 2 nd floor, near rooms 213 and 214, as well as on the 3 rd floor near rooms 314 and 315. No other anomalies were observed or recorded, i.e. EMF spike or temperature changes in either location.