The following feature was originally published in DVINO Magazine. Laredo College encourages everyone to pick up a copy to catch the story first.
The legacy and history of the Laredo College Ft. McIntosh Campus hold many fascinating stories of bravery, success and intrigue. They also include tall tales of contact with beings from otherworldly planes.
And behind every tall tale are those whose curiosity pushes them into the unknown.
Back by popular demand this October, the Laredo College Office of Student Life hosted ghost tours in collaboration with the Laredo Paranormal Research Society to uncover the mysteries hidden within the historic grounds dating back to 1849. Outside the Kazen Student Center, an unlikely darkness washed over the campus as students awaited the tour and to find out what it means to walk through centuries of history in search of the paranormal.
With chatter at a minimum, the dead air suddenly vanished as the Paranormal Research Society entered with their equipment in tow. Student ears perked up, their eyes drawn to the gear. From the inconspicuous-looking ECTO-1 sensor to the FLIR thermal cameras, each item was placed on the table to entice students to rush forward and inspect.
Before participants got a hands-on look at what they would be using, Laredo Paranormal Research Society Co-founder Ismael Cuellar addressed the students. The organization was founded after a fateful encounter 37 years ago. The curiosity sparked that day laid the foundation for the organization’s mission.
“Curiosity. The who, what, where and how are what make us successful, we are explorers by nature, we explore science and medicine, so this is something we are trying to pinpoint,” Cuellar said. “Our mindset is scientific mythology, a point of view in science and the spiritual that at the end all comes together and we give our honest opinion on the unexplained.”
He explained that research is at the heart of the organization. Research into the unknown can lead to breakthroughs and valuable insights that can change history. Cuellar added that the curiosity and eagerness of students breathe new life into a stroll through the campus. Walking through dark corridors, instruments in hand, and searching for what lies beyond the norm is a way to connect with one’s own human spirit.
Visiting both the Pvt. David B. Barkley Cantu Veterans Memorial Chapel and the Commander’s Home—two of the campus’s most historically significant buildings—led to unexpected results.
Students can attest that between the train horns, trees brushing in the wind and the local wildlife’s chirps, barks and squeaks, Ft. McIntosh makes its own music. During the tour, however, an ominous quiet fell alongside the dark clouds. As the paranormal research tour traveled to the sites, nothing stirred, and the only sound heard was gentle footsteps.
The old Victorian façades of both buildings stared with a stoic yet menacing gaze toward the groups. As the tours entered the void, only the light of their instruments cut through. Green, blue, white and purple lights illuminated the way forward. In the darkness, the questions began.
“Is there anyone here? What is your name? Are you angry we are here? Are you playing games with us?”
What responded were intermittent sounds coming through an application designed to discern what a spirit says during the tour. Heard between the screeches and groans, the group could make out words such as “respect” and the letter “W.” After several minutes of questioning, a music box sensor rang out, filling the Commander’s Home with its melody and signaling a presence that couldn’t be seen.
“
There was a lot of activity–ghosts talking to us, shadows moving, and we found a handprint on the table. If you don’t believe, you have to start believing soon!” LC student Jose Gonzalez said after spending the evening recording footage and shining an ultraviolet light at both locations.
Similarly, Leslie Carrillo said the night was filled with frights. As it was her first ghost tour, the experience was intense, with her instrument’s sensors spiking with activity. She described the conversations with the ghosts as thrilling and said they made her a believer.
Other participants also had much to say about their experiences during the tour. From learning about the tools used in investigating paranormal phenomena to experiencing spine-tingling contact with those from beyond, it’s no wonder students left with an insatiable curiosity.
Whether higher education marks the beginning of a life’s journey or the reimagining of one, it’s no surprise that students are often the first to leap into the unknown. When curiosity meets unexpected twists and lifelong dreams, a ghost tour becomes more than just an event, it becomes an adventure. At LC, every shadowed hallway and historic corner holds the possibility of discovery, and no one can predict what might be waiting just around the bend.
“These ghost tours have been a huge hit with our students,” LC Student Life Director Pedro Rivera said. “Spending time within the Ft. McIntosh boundaries after hours gives you a chance to see how beautiful this campus looks at night. Throughout October, it’s a chance to explore the rich history of these buildings and the eerie events that have long surrounded them. You’d be surprised to hear how many bone-chilling stories are passed around by those who spend time here after hours.”