THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Spend an overnight investigation inside Ashmore Estates, a former Coles County almshouse with documented 19th‑ and 20th‑century history. Riverside Iowa Paranormal leads structured investigations—expect briefings, historic context, and hands‑on exploration under onsite rules.
Spend an overnight investigation inside Ashmore Estates, a former Coles County almshouse with documented 19th‑ and 20th‑century history. Riverside Iowa Paranormal leads structured investigations—expect briefings, historic context, and hands‑on exploration under onsite rules.
Book with Riverside Iowa Paranormal
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Riverside Iowa Paranormal · Brodhead, Wisconsin
At the edge of Ashmore Township, Ashmore Estates sits on land that has worn many lives: a mid‑19th century poor farm, a 20th‑century almshouse, a private psychiatric hospital, and now a stop on Illinois ghost‑tour maps. Located at 22645 E Co Rd 1050 N, Ashmore, IL 61912, the estate occupies the same 260 acres purchased by Coles County in 1870 along the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad and carries the physical scars and recorded tales of those who lived and died here. Riverside Iowa Paranormal runs overnight investigations here, inviting groups to check in at 7:30 PM and begin a formal investigation at 8:00 PM that lasts into the small hours. What separates this experience from a low‑lighting theater scare is the provenance of the structure: brick and timber work from the 1870s, a 1916 "fireproof" almshouse built after sanitary condemnations, and later additions tied to psychiatric care and midcentury institutional use. Visitors will pass corridors, patient rooms, infirmary wings, and the outline of small cemeteries referenced in county records—one north of the grounds and another south of Route 16 that reportedly contains between sixty and one hundred graves. History here is raw: inspection reports in the early 1900s described vermin‑infected walls, rough floors, and small windows; later shifts turned the site into a psychiatric facility, then into private ownership before closing in 1986. That timeline matters during an investigation—different eras leave different traces in architecture, objects, and the oral histories Riverside Iowa Paranormal collects from staff and visiting researchers. On an overnight, expect methodical structure: group briefings, historic orientation, assigned sweep areas, and time for personal exploration under onsite rules; all sales are FINAL and tickets are nonrefundable. Bring durable boots, a layered jacket for cold nights, headlamps, notebooks for EVP logs, and respect for fragile architecture—this is a place with legal ownership history and active caretakers, currently restored and maintained under owners Robbin & Norma Terry. Photographers and investigators praise the grain of late‑industrial brick, the long sightlines of ward corridors, and the way moonlight slices through dormitory windows. For readers curious about history as much as scares, the site connects to broader Coles County narratives: poor farms and almshouses reflect 19th‑century public aid systems, and the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad shaped settlement patterns here. Whether you go to collect EVP, test equipment, or simply sit quietly in a place full of stories, an overnight at Ashmore Estates is a focused, hands‑on way to read the layers of life and loss the building holds. Bookings are handled through Riverside Iowa Paranormal; see https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/riversideiowaparanormal/items/678290/?asn=fhdn&asn-ref=advcollective&ref=advcollective&bookable-only=yes&full-items=yes&marketplace=yes&flow=no for tickets and arrival instructions. Travelers should plan that check‑in begins at 7:30 PM and bring photo ID and any required waivers.
moderate.
8–12 hours.
Able to stand, climb stairs, and walk on uneven floors for extended periods; not suitable for those needing step‑free access.
Check‑in begins at 7:30 PM with the formal investigation starting at 8:00 PM per the event itinerary.
The event lists the meeting point as 22645 E Co Rd 1050 N, Ashmore, IL 61912.
No. All sales are FINAL; tickets are nonrefundable per the booking terms.
The headline for this event indicates Ages 16+; confirm any age or guardian requirements with Riverside Iowa Paranormal when booking.
Bring a headlamp, sturdy boots, layered clothing, photo ID, notebook, and fully charged recording devices.
The building has uneven floors, stairs, and fragile historic fabric; it is generally not wheelchair accessible—contact the operator for specific accommodation questions.
The property began as a Coles County poor farm in 1870; a new almshouse was constructed in 1916 and later the estate operated as a psychiatric facility before closing in 1986.
Visitors should not remove artifacts or disturb grave markers; follow leave‑no‑trace principles and the property caretakers' rules to protect fragile historic fabric.
Riverside Iowa Paranormal is a paranormal investigation group based in Keithsburg, Illinois that leads guided explorations of reported haunted locations in the region. The team organizes investigative trips to documented historic sites, including Malvern Manor and the 1861 Masonic Lodge, providing visitors with structured on-site experiences that focus on observation, documentation, and respectful exploration. Malvern Manor is presented as a multi-era property that served as a family home, later a hotel, and eventually a nursing facility. Riverside Iowa Paranormal offers investigations at Malvern Manor that highlight the site's layered history and reported unusual activity. The 1861 Masonic Lodge is an abandoned structure described as lacking modern comforts; investigations there emphasize on-location evidence gathering and close observation of environmental and electronic signals. Riverside Iowa Paranormal frames each trip around clear meeting points, site-specific briefings, and hands-on investigative practices. Participants are encouraged to document findings, follow established safety guidelines, and treat older buildings with care. The group focuses on collecting audio, visual, and environmental data while sharing historical context about each location. All public materials and trip summaries reference the known histories of the sites visited. Riverside Iowa Paranormal presents experiences intended for people interested in historical research and paranormal inquiry, with an emphasis on learning about local history through investigative visits. Participants typically receive pre-visit information and historical notes to prepare for investigations. Trip descriptions include site summaries and safety reminders so attendees understand expectations. Booking details, meeting locations, and any age or access notes are provided within each trip announcement.
Book with Riverside Iowa Paranormal