Satan Crashed Our Romantic Getaway

Have you ever walked into a place and knew instantly that something was wrong... very wrong? Not by what you saw, but how you felt?

Chris and I have bought and sold many houses over the years, and I know we would sometimes dismiss houses or property because something didn't feel right. Could we feel the previous owners strife and sadness? Maybe their anger?

On the flip side, there are some homes you can walk into and feel the joy and love that a family has imparted into it.

This weekend my husband and I took the second of our Christmas gift vacations. I had booked a weekend at an old poor house that had been renovated and turned into a hotel. It had gardens, and several old buildings turned into little restaurants, vineyards, a movie theater, and a spa. All sprawled over abundant property in a lush surrounding. It sounded like the ultimate romantic getaway.

When we first pulled into the long drive that would lead us up to the hotel my mood sombered. As we stepped out of the car I felt this strange sense of despair fall over me. I tried to ignore it, and decided to not to say a word so as not to ruin my husband's vacation.

We checked in and were lead to our room. Down a long hall we carried our belongings, looking at the elaborate artwork that covered much of the building. The rooms were each named for a person who had lived in the hotel, mostly from the depression era. While the hotel was beautiful, it was eerie and dark. We settled in and went off to explore.

As we went from building to building, I felt almost an evil oppression hang over my head. I couldn't shake it. I wanted to say something, but I figured my husband would think I was weird (well, he does anyway, but this would make it worse). Finally as we sat down to dinner I just had to tell him what I was feeling. He looked me straight in the eye and said, "you too? I've felt it ever since we got here." WHOA, up until now, I just thought I was loosing it, but to have my very level headed husband agree with me confirmed that there was indeed something wrong.

After dinner we meandered through the hotel, looking at the murals painted along the walls. There were faces on the pipes, and eyes on the walls (painted.. not in my head). One of the murals read "SATAN LIVES HERE".

As we walked farther we heard a meeting going on, we peeked in and saw the sign that said NARL (you know, the pro abortion people). They were having a planning meeting, plotting the deaths of babies just down the hall from a mural announcing that Satan lived there... how freaky is that?

Outside in the dark gardens lit by fire were several Wiccan symbols. We went into one of the small stone buildings to get a cup of coffee and were greeted by a room full of gay men, and a large brick fire place that was "jokingly" (we hope) referred to as a place they burned the bodies back when it was a poor house.

As we walked back to our hotel we again explored the old photos of the poor house, and the disturbing paintings on the doors that represented those who lived and died there. As we roamed through the dark corridors... we came upon a door that was painted with a witch. Unlocked we opened up the door and peered into a blocked staircase that led up to the attic. The staircase was crumbling brick and painted in red on the wall was the word HELL.

I didn't sleep well last night. I prayed. I thought about the darkness so thick that I could feel it. I thought about something I rarely consider, EVIL. Spiritual warfare. The realm that we ignore, but does exist. Even typing it here makes me shudder. I know it sounds so weird... but I can't see how a Christian could walk into a place like that and not come away shaken.

To wrap this story up, I need to share with you what we found out about this place as we left. There was a book of the history of the building, and my husband being a huge history buff bought it as we checked out.

On our long drive home we read this book and it all started to make sense. This property and buildings started out as a poor house during the depression era. This was a place where the poor, the sick, and insane were sent against their will to work for food and board. Even children lived with the insane, the sick, and the dying. From a circus lady to a man that was infamous for "exposing" himself, the people who called this place home, led sad and crooked lives.

After this the residence was turned into a place for the sick elderly to come... and die.

Briefly, the final use of the property was for very sick impoverished children. At that point the building was abandoned and it remained vacant for years. Vandals had their way with it, and Satanists used it for rituals for several decades.

When the new owners first bought the building, it was covered in pentagrams, blood, and sacrificed animals were found all over the attic. (This explains the word hell leading up the attic stairs... it was where they did their rituals.) The current owners seem to embrace witchcraft, with art depicting witches throughout the building, tarot cards scattered about, and gardens that revolve around wiccan spirituality.

I had a wake up call this weekend. I learned two very valuable lessons (or reminders). Evil DOES exist, and is alive and well in our communities, and RESEARCH a vacation spot thoroughly before you go!