Discover the chilling true stories and infamous paranormal encounters haunting the grounds of Volo Museum.
Mall 1 - 4th Floor
The Boy Outside the 70ft Window
While shopping on the fourth floor of the antique mall, a woman caught sight of a young boy standing alone near a window. Thinking he might need help, she turned toward him—only to realize he wasn’t inside the building. He was standing outside the glass, nearly 70 feet above the ground, where there was no balcony, ledge, or possible place to stand. Terrified, she stumbled backward, grabbed her camera, and captured this chilling photograph.
Doll Planking on the 4th floor stairs
The night before, we checked the camera footage—and there was absolutely nothing there. But when we returned the next day… HELLO! Something had suddenly appeared. Marilyn saw it first. She yelled for Lisa to come upstairs immediately. The fear in her voice told me this wasn’t something ordinary. Whatever it was, it hadn’t been there the night before. So how did it get there—and what was it trying to tell us?
Tina Bree and the Skeleton Orb
Local morning-show hosts Joe and Tina from Star 105.5 entered the antique barn as skeptics, accepting a dare to spend the entire night inside. But as the hours passed, something strange began appearing in every photograph Tina Bree took: mysterious glowing orbs. The most chilling image came from the fourth floor, near the same 70-foot-high window where a ghostly boy had once been spotted outside. Look closely at the photo…one orb appears directly face-to-face with Tina, attached to what looks like a full-bodied figure with a skeletal face. They came looking to disprove the stories…but did something inside come looking for them? Was it the same boy that the other woman encountered?
Mall 1 - 3rd Floor
The Pointing Staircase Dolls
More than once, employees have locked the antique mall for the night, leaving every aisle silent and every display exactly as it should be. But when they returned the following morning, they discovered several dolls sitting together on the staircase—dolls that had not been there the night before. Even more disturbing, every doll had been carefully positioned to point upward in the same direction, as if trying to draw attention to something waiting above. No one could explain who moved them, how they got there…or what they wanted the employees to see.
A Heavy Push and Pressure Without Permission
While working alone inside Booth 306, a vendor suddenly felt an unexplained pressure pushing heavily against her chest. She shouted for it to stop, but instead of releasing her, the invisible force pressed even harder. Terrified, she fled the booth and raced downstairs to the cashier, crying and visibly shaken. The cashier immediately followed her back upstairs to investigate, but Booth 306 was completely empty. Nothing had fallen, no one was hiding nearby, and there was no explanation for what had touched her, or why it refused to let go.
The Reappearing Baby Buggy
One morning, by booth 538, a worker arrived to open the antique mall and discovered a vintage baby buggy sitting directly in the middle of the aisle. It had not been there when the building was closed the night before, and no one could explain how it had moved from its display after everyone had gone home. Sometime during the night, someone, or something had rolled it out and left it waiting in the empty aisle.
The Lonely Floating Toys
While organizing her space, an employee looked up just in time to witness something impossible. In Booth 325, a train slowly lifted itself from the shelf, floated through the air, and gently settled onto the floor, perfectly upright on its wheels. It did not shake, slide, or tumble from the display. The movement was slow, controlled, and strangely deliberate, as though unseen hands had carefully picked it up and placed it down.
A Pinch in the Arm Can Do Mental Harm
As a customer explored Booth 746, she suddenly felt a sharp, forceful pinch on the back of her arm, as though unseen fingers had grabbed her skin. Startled and in pain, she hurried away to find her husband and brought him back to the booth. Although they found no one, and nothing, that could explain what happened, a visible mark remained on her arm. Whatever had touched her was gone, but it had left something behind to prove the encounter was real.
Mall 1 - 2nd Floor
Kids Playing by Elevator Shaft
On several occasions, Antique Mall owner Lisa has been closing the building alone when she hears the unmistakable sound of children running and playing on the floor above her, near the elevator shaft. Each time, she climbs the stairs to investigate, only to find the floor completely empty. Just across the street lies the historic Volo Cemetery, where children are among those buried. Down the road stands the lonely monument of Fisher Family Cemetery, where local legend claims numerous children who died from scarlet fever were laid to rest. Are these sounds merely an unexplained echo inside an old building, or are the children still gathering to play after everyone else has gone home?
Discovery Channel’s “Ghost Lab” Show Catches Shadowman
Intrigued by decades of reported paranormal activity, investigators from the Discovery Channel series Ghost Lab arrived at the Antique Mall with a full team and a trailer packed with advanced equipment. After hours of patient investigation and careful analysis, they captured what they believed was evidence of the Shadow Man, a mysterious dark figure reportedly seen throughout the building by both employees and guests. Their chilling discovery was featured on Ghost Lab and broadcast to a national television audience. Was this finally proof of the same shadowy presence that has haunted the Antique Mall for years?
The Mysterious Top Shelf Blowout
Recently, a tall gentleman was walking past Booth 12 when something strange happened inside the glass display case beside him. Without warning, every item on the top shelf was violently thrown onto the floor, yet the objects on all the shelves below remained perfectly still and completely undisturbed. Why was only the highest shelf affected at the exact moment this unusually tall customer passed by? Was it simply a bizarre coincidence, or did an unseen presence notice him and reach out from the other side of the glass?
Mall 1 - Staircase To 1st Floor
Star 105.5’s Joe and Tina and the Shadowman
During their overnight investigation, Joe Cicero and Tina Bree from Star 105.5 entered the same hallway where the Discovery Channel’s Ghost Lab had captured evidence of the Shadow Man. With Matt from promotions and Daily Herald reporter Lee Filas nearby, Tina suddenly lurched forward into Matt and immediately insisted that someone had pushed her. She had not tripped, and no one had touched her. After spending hours inside the Antique Mall documenting unexplained activity, the skeptics who entered on a dare began to wonder if they were truly alone.
The Infamous Car Part Room
It may be filled with car parts today, but this room has hosted several vendors over the decades, and its unexplained activity seems to remain. On one occasion, a collection of books was removed from a shelf high above the window and placed perfectly in a row across the middle of the floor. Another time, every Pixy Stix in a nearby jar was pulled out and spread across the floor. These objects did not simply fall. They appeared to have been deliberately removed and arranged. The merchandise and vendors may have changed over the years, but whatever occupies this room seems determined to make its presence known.
Mall 1 - 1st Floor
Spirit Trapped In An Elevator Shaft & Grey Door Slamming
One night, Marilyn was checking out a customer when someone jokingly asked, “Is the ghost locked up?” Everyone laughed, but as the customer turned to leave, three thunderous bangs erupted from inside the elevator shaft. The pounding was so violent and unexpected that Marilyn ran from the building in tears. In a separate incident beside the same elevator shaft, a massive wooden door suddenly slammed shut with tremendous force. Three decorative plates hung on the neighboring booth, yet only one fell and shattered. Strangely, it was the only plate with a religious theme. The other two remained perfectly unharmed. Was something inside the elevator shaft answering the joke, and why was that particular plate singled out?
The Cashier Who’s Past Reflection Cast
A visitor once photographed a mirror that hung in this very spot along the back wall. When the image was examined, the face of an older man appeared within the glass. His white hair and distinctive glasses were clearly visible. Employees immediately recognized him as a former cashier who had passed away. What made the photograph even more chilling was that the person who took it had never known the cashier and had no knowledge of his death. Was the image simply a strange reflection, or had a familiar face returned for one final appearance at the place where he once worked?
Mall 2
Spirits Outside Walkway Window
This isn’t a static collection behind ropes. It’s a rotating showroom of collector cars—where the lineup is always changing, and many of the vehicles are actually for sale. Get closer than you would at a traditional museum, and if something catches your eye, there’s a good chance you can take it home.
The Spirits Attack When A Cashier Turns Her Back
While counting money inside Mall Two, an employee suddenly felt a powerful punch directly in the middle of her back. She immediately spun around and shouted to the floor walker, “Something just hit me! Something just hit me!” Stunned, he jumped from his seat and insisted that things like that did not happen in Mall Two. She quickly corrected him. This was not her first unexplained encounter there. No one was standing behind her, yet something had struck her with enough force to make its presence unmistakably clear.
A Cursed Painting That’s Long in the Tooth
A regular customer purchased this painting and brought it home, but it was not long before strange things began happening. Lights switched on by themselves. She heard children running and laughing through the house, and a music box melody played in the middle of the night. Terrified, she returned the painting and said, “I do not want my money back. I just need to get rid of it.” Then came an even more disturbing discovery. A tooth was embedded between the canvas and the frame. The painting was later purchased by another man who soon lost his job and began suffering serious health problems. Even the former cashier pictured here experienced frequent health issues during her time working near the painting, despite never having those problems before. This video was recorded last year, and she no longer works here. Was it all an unfortunate coincidence, or did something attached to the painting affect everyone who came too close?
The Outward Explosion of a Glass Showcase
Without warning, the glass of a display case appeared to explode outward with tremendous force. The direction of the shattered glass made it look as though a foot had kicked through from inside the case, violently forcing its way out. The incident was so sudden and terrifying that D fled the area in tears. Was it simply a bizarre accident, or was something trapped inside the case trying to escape?
Many People Walking & A Cherry Pipe Smoke Smell
Among the old military uniforms and historic relics, many cashiers have caught fleeting figures moving through their peripheral vision and heard the unmistakable sound of people walking through the aisles. Believing customers are browsing, they enter the area to offer assistance, only to discover that no one is there. Employees have also reported the distinct scent of cherry pipe smoke, even when there is no apparent source nearby. In paranormal tradition, detecting a familiar scent with no physical source is sometimes called clairalience, and pipe tobacco is considered a classic example of a spirit revealing something about its former life. Are these merely echoes inside an old building, or are the former owners of these relics still walking among them?
Mall 3
Another Outward Explosion of a Glass Showcase
Without warning, the glass of a display case appeared to explode outward with tremendous force. The direction of the shattered glass made it look as though a foot had kicked through from inside the case, violently forcing its way out. The incident was so sudden and terrifying that the customer fled the area in tears. Was it simply a bizarre accident, or was something trapped inside the case trying to escape?
The Man Who Jumped Through a Golden Portal
Of all the stories told inside the Antique Mall, this may be the most unbelievable. Yet both an employee and a customer swear they witnessed the same impossible event in this very room. A shimmering, golden portal suddenly appeared in the corner, sparkling with an otherworldly light. Before they could understand what they were seeing, a man leaped directly into it and vanished. Moments later, the glowing opening disappeared without leaving a single trace behind. It sounds like something from a science fiction movie, but ask the cashiers and they will confirm the story. Did these witnesses glimpse a doorway to somewhere else, or something even stranger?
The Rumbles of Many Spirits Mumbles
Booth 703 is one of the most elaborate and fascinating exhibitor displays in the entire Antique Mall, filled with unusual pieces, many of which come from real animals. On several occasions, the booth owner has stayed late into the night to decorate and organize the space when she heard the unmistakable sound of multiple people talking and mumbling nearby. Each time, she stopped working and searched the surrounding aisles, only to find them completely empty. But the moment she returned to her booth, the voices began again. Was she hearing sounds carried through the old building, or had the strange collection attracted a group of unseen admirers?
A Frenzy of Activity in the Central Corridor
If Mall 3 has a paranormal crossroads, this corridor may be it. More unexplained activity has been reported here than anywhere else in the building. Countless employees and guests have described seeing mysterious figures, sensing unseen presences, or feeling that someone was standing beside them when no one was there. Reports have included apparitions resembling men, women, and children, suggesting that this hallway may be traveled by more than one spirit. Why do so many different encounters seem to gather in this exact location? As you walk through, pay close attention to every shadow, every sound, and any strange feeling that you are not alone.
A Boy, A Girl, and a Playground in the Corner
In the far back corner of Booth 721, visitors and employees have frequently reported seeing a young boy and girl playing among the toys. The children appear only briefly before vanishing from sight, but some believe their playtime continues long after the Antique Mall closes. Employees have returned the following morning to find toys scattered across the floor, as though small hands had been playing with them throughout the night. Are the toys simply shifting after hours, or do these mysterious children return when the building becomes quiet to play one more game?