Hunt for Ghosts this Weekend Aboard American Victory Ship

No one can prove it was ghosts, but people looking for spirits aboard the American Victory Ship, a World War II cargo vessel docked at Channelside Drive, have reported orbs of  light following them around; a gentle shove when no one was around, and unintelligible voices in empty rooms.

On Friday and Saturday nights, Tampa Ghost Watchers will lead two more spirited expeditions aboard the 455-foot ship docked at 705 Channelside Drive. Two past “paranormal investigations” on the ship, now a maritime museum, have elicited all manner of interesting observations.

“A couple folks have heard voices where no one was around. That has been a common occurence,” says Bill Sharpe, head of the company that’s more like a club for people interested in exploring the spiritual world.

Two 3-hour visits to the ship are planned at 9 p.m. Friday and midnight Saturday. They include a seminar and discussions about ghosts and ghost hunting, then two hours for guests to roam the nine decks on their own. You’re advised to wear soft-soled shoes – quiet is best when in search of spirits.

Tickets are $20 per person; $15 for veterans, students with ID, and people ages 65 and older. Buy them on-line at ghostseminars.com – some events sell out, so it’s best not to wait to buy at the gangplank, Sharpe says. If you find you’re too late for this weekend’s outings, check the Web site for more nighttime ship tours in August, September and October.

During two previous ship tours, groups numbered 100 to 120 people, but there are crew members and Ghost Watchers on board to answer questions and offer guidance, Sharpe said.

Sharpe, who owns South Tampa Community News, a news Web site, launched Tampa Ghost Watchers six years ago. It’s a business, he says, but really more of an outlet for his interest in the paranormal.  He believes in seeking through “the senses God gave us,” not special instruments, and he recognizes that findings may be interesting, questionable or suspicious, but never provable.

“It’s a matter of belief,” he says.

Any ghosts aboard the American Victory Ship may be one of the two or three crew members known to have died in accidents on the ship. Or, they could be some of the 100 or so dead troops transported home following the Korean War. But they might also be spirits revisiting a place that’s special to them, Sharpe says.

“It’s not unusual for a spirit to reappear at a place that has meaning,” he says. “Someone with an attachment may revisit.”

If you go, park in the Channelside Parking Garage, or check the Florida Aquarium parking lot for availability. If you decide to become a member of Tampa Ghost Watchers, a one-time fee of $25 gets you a T-shirt and admission to more exclusive events, including a stay at The Islands hotel in Cedar Key Aug. 19-21.